Vermont’s
Summer
Adventure
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Great rides and attractions for the
whole family including Disc Golf &
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3984 Vermont Route 11, Peru, VT just 6 miles from Manchester, VT
802-824-5522 Open Memorial Day through Columbus Day
glassmaking classes • gifts
lighting • fine art
glassblowing studio & gallery
79 Elm StrEEt • manchEStEr cEntEr Vt
manchesterhotglass.com • (802) 362-2227
rk miles at 80!
A
family business is like a
house. When it is built with
a sturdy frame and structure,
using high-quality materials
according to a well-drawn plan, it
can last for generations. By building
its reputation on a foundation of
trust, honesty, and accountability,
the Miles family has cemented
its business as a dependable and
successful regional institution.
According to third-generation family
business owner Joe Miles, the origins
of the Miles family in Southern
Vermont dates back to the 1800s.
Before moving to Vermont, Joe’s
great-grandfather, Frederick Miles,
owned and operated an ironworks
factory in Copake, New York. At the
time, most ironworks were powered
by charcoal combustion. Logging
operations in New York State had
drastically reduced the number
of trees in the surrounding areas,
and charcoal had become a pricy
commodity.
So, Frederick bought land on Red
Mountain in West Arlington in 1886,
where he set up a logging operation
to source fuel for his ironworks
business. He ended up selling the
timber that he logged and milled to
local outfits and businesses. He also
owned and operated a small water-
powered mill on the Battenkill River.
After acquiring property on Railroad
Avenue in Arlington, he transitioned
into the lumber supply and hardware
business and opened the Miles
Lumber Company in 1927.
When rk Miles first opened the
doors of its Manchester location
80 years ago in 1940, the company
started as a lumber and hardware
10 manchester life | manchesterlifemagazine.com