Hell's Gate, Vermont

Definitely an interesting name that I came across when writing in my Civil War Navy blog concerning the capture of  a blockade-runner at Hell Gate, Georgia.  I'd never heard of it so had to do some more research. Turns out, it is a channel near Savannah.  Then, I found out the captured runner became a US Navy ship on blockade duty and also towed a monitor to South Carolina.  Its first commander went on to become a rear admiral and commanded the monitor USS Saugus at the Battles of Fort Fisher.

Well, anyway, back to this Hell's Gate in Vermont.  Turns out it is a name that a Vermont town is called and that it got that name from the War of 1812.  I'd never heard of a Georgia, Vermont.

From the Hell's Gate Vineyard site.

Georgia, Vermont was given that during the War of 1812.  An embargo on Canadian goods was established. The war was not popular among New Englanders in general.  Vermonters began a substantial trade with Canada in spite of the embargo.

The citizens of Georgia, however, chose to support it and created a blockade to stop the illegal trade causing the smugglers to give the town the name "Hell's Gate."  That name stuck for many years, even after those who remembered why it came to be were gone.

Today, the town, located in Franklin County and bordering Canada, has a population of 4,375.

Civil War General George J. Stannard was born there and cmmanded Vermont troops.  After the war, he served as Doorkeeper to the US House of Representatives.

Stuff You Didn't Know.  --Brock-Perry