Walking the llama trail - The North Star Monthly

12 NOVEMBER 2009 THE NORTH STAR MONTHLYSeeking solaceWhat lured a chief justice to GreensboroPhoto by Virginia DownsGreensboro residents have fond memories of the summerswhen Justice William Rehnquist vacationed in their town.Don’t let your growing business outgrow your insurance.Hopkins OilPropane – Oil – Kerosene – On & Off Road DieselTAKEME!You started small – just you and a computer. Got a partner. Brokeground on a new building. Added new equipment. More employees,another partner. Suddenly it’s ten years down the road andthat small business you started with isn’t quite so small. AtSawyer & Ritchie, we can make sure that your insurance needsreflect the company you have today, with full coverage solutionsfor property, liability, workers’ comp, commercial auto and more.No matter how fast your business grows, we’ll make sure yourinsurance keeps up.John BlackmoreGeorge CoppenrathSam KemptonNO, ME!OUT OFTHE WAY,SHORTY!Agentle breeze blewthrough the screenedwindows on the porch whereI sat with United StatesChief Justice William Rehnquist,talking about the summersof contentment he hadspent here in his Greensborovacation home. The leaveson a branch of the mapletree next to the porch blazedforth with shades of orange.“I see you have a hint ofwhat’s to come up here,” I commented.Yes, and that is a regretI have that I am never able to beup here in foliage time,” theChief Justice said. “That’s whenthe court gets underway.”The time was 1998, a fewdays after I had attended a meetingat Highland Lodge with myhusband where the Justice gavean informal talk to lawyers andjudges from the area. The obviousdelight he took in Vermontprompted me to ask if I couldinterview him sometime aboutwhat had attracted him to theNortheast Kingdom.Justice Rehnquist greeted meBY VIRGINA DOWNS198 Route 2W. Danville, VTP.O. Box 196802-684-3411nwjinsurance.comA DIVISION OF NOYLE W. JOHNSON, INC.I CANBE YOURS!ADOPT-A-TANKThese poor homeless propane tanksare looking for a good home. PLEASE HELP.Now offering 24-hour Oil & Propane Service810 Red Village Road • Lyndonville • 802-626-9859 • www.bournes.netthe day we had agreed upon witha warm smile as I walked up hisdriveway. He introduced me tohis oldest friend, Bob Brachman,who was visiting him from Wisconsin.They had attendedkindergarten together in Shorewood,a Milwaukee suburb, andhad kept up their friendship overthe years.“Bob complains that my croquetcourse has a bit of a tilt,” helaughed. “It’s not an orthodoxcourse — more of a pitch andputt course.” He pointed to thesloping lawn. Spirited croquetgames were very much a part ofrecreation for the Rehnquistfamily and their guests, youngand old.I placed my tape recorder ona footstool close to the justicewith my notes on my lap as wetalked on his porch. My firstquestion was what had drawnhim to faraway Greensboro fromthe nation’s capital. He hadbought his Vermont retreat backin 1974, two years after he hadbeen confirmed as an associatejustice of the United StatesSupreme Court.“We began to look aroundfor something either in theNorth Carolina mountains ornorthern New England where itwould be cool in the summertime,”he said. Before the familymoved to Washington, they hadlived in hot Phoenix from 1953to 1969 where he practiced law.Always looking for a cool summerhome back then, they hadowned a forest cabin in northernArizona, and at one time a smallfarm on a western Coloradomountain slope.“We saw an ad in a Vermontbrochure for Highland Lodge,and it said they had a tenniscourt.”He glanced at me with a grin.The Justice’s love of tennis waslegendary in this part of theNortheast Kingdom. “And, ofcourse, Dave and Carol SmithAmerican GirlDoll PartySunday, November 81 - 4 p.m.Door Prizes & RefreshmentsGames & Special CraftsAll are welcome! You won’t want to miss this special event!20% off one itemFull Line of 18” Handmade Doll Clothing Furniture AccessoriesMiriam from Wool Away!will be giving knitting lessonsDowntown, St. Johnsbury, VT(802) 748-1912were running it then (parents ofDavid Smith, who now managesthe business with his wife,Willie). My son was in collegebut my wife and two daughterscame up with me. Dave andCarol were so nice. They sawthat the girls met some of thesummer people’s children.”Then the Rehnquists foundthe home that was to becometheir vacation retreat. “Havinggrown up in Wisconsin, I was interestedin being close to an inlandlake where it would be quietand restful, but still have enoughactivity so you could stay herefor weeks at a time and not feeltotally isolated. We wanted aplace that was not a ‘see and beseen’ place,’” said this man whois known for his unpretentiousmanner. “This seemed to fill thebill.”What delighted the Rehnquistswas the space that Greensboropeople naturally gave them.“I never had to bring up the subjectof our need for privacy. Peoplehere just seemed to know itinstinctively. It shows howthoughtful they are,” he recalled.He added that Caspian Lakereminded him of “some of thenicest lakes in Wisconsin. AndVermont has Willoughby, too,with those spectacular fjords.”When his three grown childrenand the eight Rehnquistgrandchildren came throughoutthe summer for their vacations,the lakefront kept them happilyoccupied. “The property camewith deeded rights to the Lodge’sbeach and dock. I pay them acertain amount a year for the useof their towels, canoes, paddleboats,rowboats, chairs andthings like that. It works outbeautifully.”His son James had four children.“When they’d come, insteadof visiting me, I’d visitthem. I’d give them some moneyand they’d cook things theythought I’d want. We’d play cro-