For this week’s installment of Knight Neighbors, I am highlighting a town that Saint Michael’s students think they know very well, but most actually don’t. This week I am highlighting the home of Saint Michael’s, Colchester, Vermont.
The town of Colchester had a reported population of 16,986 people during the 2000 census, which of course has grown since then. Like many of the towns in the area, Colchester was founded when King George III of England granted a charter through Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire in 1763 for the land where Colchester is. Colchester used to include the area where the current city of Winooski is, but in 1922 Winooski broke away from Colchester and formed their own city.
Colchester is home to three schools. Colchester High School, Colchester Middle School and the Malletts Bay School for students K-4.
Colchester is home to Saint Michael’s College, but most students forget that that is only one corner of Colchester, and that there is plenty more in Colchester than just the school. People don’t often realize that there is access to Lake Champlain in Colchester. You can go across town to Malletts Bay and have access to swimming, boating, kayaking and many other recreational activities. There is even a scuba diving center in Malletts Bay where people can learn the basics of diving or go on more experienced dives if you have done it before. There are a number of different parks in Colchester that have ball fields, hiking paths and many other options. Colchester also has its own bike path which offers a unique opportunity that many other bike paths do not. The town of Colchester has a bike ferry from Colchester to Grand Isle when you take the causeway in Colchester. The ferry has a limited schedule so check ahead to make sure it is running. One other unique thing that Colchester has to offer is they have a drive-in movie theatre. The drive-in opens in late spring and stays open until the fall. The theatre offers double features on all of its screens.
Colchester is a town that Saint Michael’s students do not explore as much as they should considering they live here for four years. With all that it has to offer, students should get out and enjoy what their hometown has to offer before their stay is done.
Information Credits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchester,_Vermont
http://www.localmotion.org/
Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colchester_vt_highlight.png
