John Deere, the founder of Deere & Company, one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural and construction equipment in the world, served his blacksmith apprenticeship in Middlebury in 1821 at the age of 17. He was also responsible for being the inventor of the first commercially successful steel plow, which was a horse-drawn affair, back in 1837.
The town of Middlebury, which makes up part of Addison County in Vermont, is a relatively sprawling community, together with its 38
John Deere, the founder of Deere & Company, one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural and construction equipment in the world, served his blacksmith apprenticeship in Middlebury in 1821 at the age of 17. He was also responsible for being the inventor of the first commercially successful steel plow, which was a horse-drawn affair, back in 1837.
The town of Middlebury, which makes up part of Addison County in Vermont, is a relatively sprawling community, together with its 38.8 square miles of land and 0.39 square miles of water. You could say that it's something of a hot-spot for nature, given that the surrounding areas generally consist of forests, rivers and lakes. There's certainly no shortage of things to do, either, both in and around Middlebury. For those who wish to get out and about on a regular basis, the town is certainly attractive to renters.
The demand for one-bedroom apartments and rental homes in general is high in Middlebury, while at the same time, there's a healthy turnover of properties. What this means is that there's almost endless possibilities of rentals for you to choose from.
How Long to Find the Ideal Property Rental?
It's easily possible to locate your ideal property within three to four weeks' time. However, once you do, you shouldn't hesitate to ensure the paperwork is fully in order and pay the required deposit and first month's rental fee. Any hesitation on your part could mean your dream place is quickly snapped up by someone else.
When Should You Look?
Middlebury is host to a liberal arts college of some 2000 students. While most of them live on campus for the duration of their schooling, some seniors do live off campus and are looking for rentals come the start of school in the fall. In addition, Middlebury has a robust summer language school with lots of visiting faculty. Keep the school's calendar in mind when planning your move to Middlebury.
For those who enjoy nature, Middlebury certainly makes for a very attractive choice. Just over to the east of the town are a variety of lands devoted to forest, while a little to the southwest is the Cornwall Wildlife Management Area. If you travel about 12 miles directly to the west, you'll arrive on the picturesque banks of Lake Champlain.
Washington Street: If you're looking for apartments or rental houses in Middlebury that offer a wide variety of local amenities close by, then Washington St. is certainly worth a look. Here, you'll find six schools within a mile, together with 15 restaurants and two grocery stores, including the Middlebury Natural Foods Company on Washington Street and Greg's Meat Market on Elm Street.
Daisy Lane: Not far from downtown Middlebury, Daisy Lane is an attractive place for those in search of a rental apartment. There's a Hannaford Supermarket just around the corner on Court Street and no less than six schools located within a mile.
May Apple Lane: Offering beautiful views over Adirondack and easy access to a number of local amenities, including Fire and Ice Restaurant on Seymour Street, Ramunto's Sicilian Pizza on Macintyre Lane and Jessica's at the Swift House Inn on Stewart's Lane, and you've got an ideal place to find an apartment.
East Main Street: With easy access to U.S. Route 125 and within walking distance of three restaurants, including Costello's Market Inc. on Maple Street and the Downhome Deli Market on Ossie Road, East Main Street should be on your list of places to see if you're into walking to libations and bites to eat.
Getting Around
Leaving Middlebury, U.S. Route 7 travels north-south and makes its way through Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. Routes 23, 30, 116 and 125 also journey through Middlebury. The local bus service is administered by Addison County Transit Resources. Private aviation services are offered by the local Middlebury State Airport, while commercial flights are provided from Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport in the south and Burlington International Airport to the north.
Things to Do in Middlebury
The Town Hall Theater provides regular top-class theatrical and operatic productions. Otter Creek Brewing, which is located on Exchange St., is suited to the heavy beer drinker and the connoisseur alike. Visitors can enjoy a beer or more at the bar while watching the entire bottling process. However, it's not all about the beer. You can also avail yourself of some extremely tasty food at Otter Creek Brewing. For a brew of another form, check out Lincoln Peak Vineyard on River Road where you can enjoy tasting or drinking any one of ten different wines that are all produced on the 12-acre vineyard. It's a family-run affair which helps ensure quality wines and is now one of the largest wine producers in Vermont State. The Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History over on Park Street offers a variety of displays which all have a Vermont focus. This includes period furniture, art work by a host of local artists and a whole gamut of other interesting artifacts. Restaurants proliferate in Middlebury. The Swift House Inn Restaurant, also known as Jessica's Restaurant, on Stewart Lane, has its setting within an 1812 stately home and is surrounded by attractive gardens. The restaurant serves only the freshest local produce which is sourced from Vermont farms. Storm Cafe on Mill St. serves an eclectic array of foods, including French and American. A definite added bonus to accompany the dining experience is that the restaurant is situated on the banks of Otter Creek, which frequently is more of a raging river than a little creek.
