New Hampshire vs. Vermont: Sibling Rivalry Between the Two States

New Hampshire vs. Vermont: Sibling Rivalry Between the Two States, Lisa Shaw (ed.), Williams Hill Publishing, 1997

New Hampshire and Vermont are two small, lightly populated, states stuck next to each other in northern New England. Little does anyone know that a Hatfield and McCoy-type feud has been going on between them for years, a feud that won't end anytime soon. The feud is explored in this book by contributors from both sides.

Vermont has its liberal political outlook and its statewide ban on highway billboards. New Hampshire, on the other hand, is very conservative and its first-in-the-country Presidential primary makes it the center of the American political universe every four years. People in Vermont wear funny sandals and talk about world peace. New Hampshire residents sell liquor at toll booths and drive without seat belts. The one thing they agree on is their hatred of Massachusetts.

Every weekend the roads are full of European sedans in custom colors packed with casual clothing and the latest sporting equipment bearing Massachusetts plates. Every driver is in a major hurry to relax, so woe to anyone who gets in front of them on the road. But, once they get outside of Massachusetts, they stop at every stone wall, covered bridge and quaint country store quickly enough to activate their car's air bags. The other thing that people from Massachusetts do on their weekends is shop at outlet malls. Seeing (or more accurately, hearing) several women wearing noisy nylon jogging suits heading for the nearest sale rack is something to behold.

Vermont looks like a postcard. New Hampshire's largest city, Manchester, has a main street that concludes in a dead end. People in Vermont go out to eat and listen to National Public Radio. The first thing one sees in New Hampshire is a toll booth where the attendant has a hard time making change from a $5 bill, followed by a state liquor store.

This book is hilarious and a little eye-opening for this native New Englander. It equally insults the people of both states, it's very easy to read, and is highly recommended.