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© The Mountain Times 2010
Historic Sites
Vermont's rural landscape is scattered with historical sites ranging from antique covered bridges to the homes of some of our country's most notable founding fathers, patriots, and developers. We are the crossroads of many an historical trail or path, worn by the travels of our forefathers - the first Vermonters. Many pleasant days may be spent traveling the back roads, visiting the many historical sites of our area. Some of these sites include:
Brandon
Chartered in 1761, Brandon quickly became an important mill town with both saw and grist mills operating on more than 20 sites. Abundant local iron ore led to the production of stoves and other iron products. With the coming of the Burlington-Rutland Railroad in 1849, Brandon became a center for the manufacture of railroad cars. Formerly a major area for marble quarrying, only one site remains active today.
The layout of the town is unique C it has two village greens, with the Neshobe River flowing between them. During the boom years of the 1800s, many fine homes were built and most of them are still in use today. In particular, Park Street, a broad, straight avenue with beautiful homes set back from the road, is a study in early American architecture.
Many of Brandon’s earliest residents were very involved in the anti-slavery movement of the mid-1800s. Stephen A. Douglas, prominent 19th century American statesman, was born in Brandon in 1813 and his birthplace has been recently renovated and is open to the public as the Brandon Museum and Visitor Center. The Museum follows the lives and thoughts of early Vermonters and abolitionists as well as the career of Douglas. For more information, call 802-247-6401 or www.brandon.org.
Bridgewater
Bridgewater Mill, Rte. 4. Historic woolen mill, now a shopping mall and furniture factory. Equipment once used displayed on all floors.
Castleton
Historic District, Main St. The district includes a collection of outstanding Federal and Greek Revival residences, religious, and commercial buildings.
Historical Society Museum - The museum is located in the Higley Homestead, a brick house built in 1811. Collections pertain to Castleton and include furnishings, paintings, costumes, documents, and photographs.
The walls of the house have some original stenciling, as well as restored stenciling. The historical society also owns the Old Cobbler Shop on Main Street and is open to the public on Colonial Day. Hours and Admission: Summer and Fall, Sun 1 - 4 p.m. Donations requested. (802) 468-5328.
Castleton Colonial Day - Oct. 6 - Tours of 19th century houses and public buildings as well as crafts, carriage rides and antiques. Main St. Castleton. Admission. Call (802) 468-5756 or (802) 468-6621.
Fair Haven
Historic District, downtown. Forty-two religious, residential, commercial, and public buildings, including two marble homes, surround the spacious tree-encircled green.
Hubbardton
North of Castleton, off Route 30, Hubbardton includes visitors’ center with lounge, museum, diorama, and audio-visual display. Hubbardton was the site of Vermont’s only Revolutionary War battle on July 6, 1777. The battle brought the British to a standstill and they were ultimately forced to give up pursuit and return to New York.
Hubbardton Encampment, Hubbardton Battlefield, Hubbardton, Activities throughout the day include tactical maneuvers, enactment of military camp life in the late 1700s. For information call (802) 759-2412.
Killington
Prepared by the Sherburne Historians
Pico and Killington were both owned by the late Mortimer Proctor of the Vermont Marble Company. Pico was given to him as a 21st birthday present in 1910. He sold it to Pico Ski Inc. in 1948. Killington Peak was bought by Mr. Proctor in 1919 from M.E. Wheeler of Rutland and given to the State of Vermont in 1938. The Vermont Marble Company sold around Killington Peak some 6,000 acres of land to the State in 1945 to be included in the Coolidge State Forest. This is the land which the Sherburne Corporation had leased from the State for its ski lifts, lodges, etc. in 1957.
In the early days, almost anyone who had a little extra room was expected to take in travelers. More formally recognized hostelries were Josiah Wood’s Tavern Stand at the Mission Church, the Coffee House on Elbow Road in North Sherburne, and Ruftis Richardson’s hotel near the Harley Gifford house. But the most recent and best remembered one was adjacent to the present Grange Hall. It was build in 1840, enlarged for a tavern in 1863, and run by Benj. Maxham for 18 years.
In 1889 Augusta Bates Taylor, great aunt of Oren Bates and grandmother of Mrs. Florence Taylor Hall owned the hotel. Since that time Killington has burgeoned into a major American resort community, visited by in excess of 1 million visitors per year. For more information about the history of the Town of Killington, please visit the Vermont Room at the Sherburne Memorial Library.
Mendon
Civil War horse grave. Sugar and Spice Restaurant, Rte. 4. Behind restaurant is a boulder marking the site where General Edward Ripley buried his horse, Old John. (802) 773-1581.
Middletown Springs
Historical Society - The Green, Middletown Springs, VT, (802) 235-2376. The society was formed in 1969 to create the Mineral Springs Park and to restore its ornate springhouse. It has also preserved the Adams House (c. 1800), the Elisha Leffingwell tin shop, and the cemetery.
Activities include genealogy and local history research, a maple festival, strawberry festival, Apple Festival, and other special days. Hours and Admission: Memorial Day to late Oct, Sun, 2 - 4 p.m. or by appointment. Free.
Orwell
Mount Independence State Historic Site. Orwell, VT, (802) 759-2412. Visitor Center and museum open Wednesday-Sunday. Revolutionary War fortification, new Interpretation Center, historic hiking and walking trails.
Pittsfield
Pittsfield Historical Society Town Hall, Pittsfield, VT, (802) 746-8147. The Pittsfield Historical Society meets every third Monday of the month at the Town Hall at 7 p.m. Hours and Admission: April - November, first and third Tuesday of the month from 1 - 3 p.m. or by appointment.
Pittsford
Pittsford Historical Society, Inc. Eaton Hall, 3399 US Route 7, Pittsford, VT. Museum: (802) 483-2040. Curator: (802) 483-6623. The museum features a time line of Pittsford history, covered bridges and builder Nicholas Powers, Granger cast iron stoves, photographs, paintings, and revolving exhibits in a former Masonic hall/public school. Extensive genealogical records, files on local industries, businesses, organizations, etc. Videos on Pittsford, walking tours, historic site information and more. Hours and Admission: April to November, Tues., 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., as well as Sat., 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in July and August and other times by appointment. Admission by donation. Accessible to the disabled.
Plymouth
Camp Plymouth State Park on east bank of Echo Lake. (802) 228-2035. Old Crown Military Road ran through the area. Site of revolutionary war encampment in 1777.
Plymouth Notch Historic District, birthplace and 1924 Summer White House of Calvin Coolidge, Rte. 100A. (802) 672-3773. Ten buildings open daily, 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Aldrich House is open most weekdays year-round. Admission for adults $7.50, children 6-14 $2, under 6 free. The entire area provides tangible reminders of the simplicity and frugality of the Coolidge era.
Poultney and The Slate Valley
Straddling the state’s western border, the historic Slate Valley includes the villages of Fair Haven, Castleton, Poultney and West Pawlet in Vermont and Granville in New York state. The cultural heritage of the valley is unique, with ethnic communities, traditional crafts, decorative roofs, architecture and landscapes associated with the rich history of the slate industry.
An historical marker on Rte. 30 and Main St. notes two prominent journalists’ ties to the area. Horace Greeley, founder of the New York Herald Tribune, resided here; and George Jones, co-founder and editor of The New York Times, was born and raised in Poultney. The Horace Greeley House is now a popular tourist stop that is in East Poultney across from the Green.
Poultney Historical Society. East Poultney, VT, (802) 287-5268. The society has several buildings it has restored as museums: the schoolhouse (1895), the Melodean Factory (1854), and the former Union Academy building (1791). Displays are of local clothing, tools, melodeans, carriages, furniture, and metalworks. There is also an antique printing press from Vergennes. Hours and Admission: June to August, Sun, 1 - 4pm or by appointment. Not accessible to the disabled.
The Slate Valley Museum, Water Street, Granville NY interprets the industrial and cultural heritage of the region, with exhibitions, self-guided tours, special events and guided tours, and a shop featuring books, local crafts and unique gift items made of slate. (518) 642-1417,
Proctor
Wilson Castle. Built in 1890 by Dr. John Johnson for his English noblewoman wife. The red brick mansion has towers, turrets, arcades, balconies, 13 fireplaces, and extensive porches that overlook the valley. (802) 773-3284.
Rutland
Rutland Courthouse Historic District, Court St. and Center St. Significant buildings include the county courthouse built in an Italianate style, the Rutland Free Library, and numerous Queen Anne-style residences.
Rutland Downtown Historic District, Merchants Row and Center St. Built during Rutland’s railroad era, the downtown includes 19th century commercial buildings often decorated with marble. The downtown is considered one of the most historically significant in Vermont.
Rutland Historical Society 96 Center Street, Rutland, VT, (802) 775-2006. The society is located in the former Nickwackett Firehouse, built in 1860. Collections focus on the history of Rutland, Proctor, West Rutland, and City of Rutland and include costumes, manuscripts, documents, books, and photographs. Hours and Admission: Mon., 6 - 9pm; Sat., 1 - 4pm, and by appointment. Free. Displays are accessible to the disabled.
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Historical Society - Route 103, Cuttingsville, VT, (802) 492-3706. The museum is located in the former Cuttingsville Church originally built in 1842, later renovated and rededicated in 1891. The historical society displays 19th century household items and furniture, costumes, photographs, books, diaries, toys and other town memorabilia.
The collection also includes video and audio tapes of townspeople and special events, and current Shrewsbury history in scrapbook form. Hours and Admission: July to October, Sat. and Sun., 1 to 3 pm. Free.
Wallingford
Modest and elaborate 19th Century buildings and homes line a wide tree lined street. Buildings include Italianate, Victorian, Greek Revival, and Neo Classical styles of architecture. Of interest to mention only a few of the special structures are the Old Stone Shop, original mill of a pitchfork factory built in 1836. The Greenhill Cemetery dedicated in 1770 offers an interesting stroll and a spectacular view from the highest point of the grounds. The 1818 School House where Paul Harris, Founder of Rotary International went to school as a boy.
The school house is the meeting place for the Wallingford Memorial Rotary Club and houses some wonderful Paul Harris memorabilia. Harris grew up in Wallingford and mentioned that the values he learned as a boy in Wallingford formed the basis of the world-wide organization of service he established
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Wallingford Historical Society, (802) 446-2336. The museum is located on the second floor of the town hall. The permanent exhibits are of costume accessories, clothing, photographs, furniture, and other town memorabilia. Genealogical records are also available. Hours and Admission: Open during town office hours. Free; contact the town clerk for admission. Not accessible to the disabled.
West Haven
West Haven Historical Society, Inc., 2919 Main Road, West Haven, VT, (802) 747-6267 or (802) 265-4576. Our collection of town reports, photographs, memories and memorabilia will be housed in the Center School once restoration has been completed. We meet the 1st Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. New members welcome.
West Rutland
Historic district, downtown, Marble St. Many visible remnants of the once vibrant marble industry, now being revitalized by a growing art community.
Woodstock
Woodstock, known as the Shire Town of Windsor County, may be considered the birthplace of the conservation movement. Much of Woodstock’s historic and environmental preservation can be traced to the dedicated efforts of George Perkins Marsh, Frederick Billings and Laurance & Mary Rockefeller. Marsh, the nineteenth century congressman largely responsible for the Smithsonian Institute, was author of the “ecologist’s bible”, Man and Nature. Billings built the Northern Pacific Railroad, purchased the Marsh homestead and reforested Mt. Tom and Mt. Peg under the influences of Marsh’s writings. His granddaughter, Mary Billings French, married Laurance S. Rockefeller and together they perpetuated the tradition of environmental conservation and commerce.
In 1998, the Rockefellers offered their home and woodlands to the National Park Service forming the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park- the first and only national park in Vermont. It joins the other unique attractions in Woodstock including Billings Farm & Museum, The Woodstock History Center, Norman Williams Library and Green Mountain Horse Association.
Woodstock has welcomed tourists to the area since the mid-1800’s. The Woodstock Inn opened in 1892 and now operates, Suicide Six Ski Area, The Health and Fitness Center and a Robert Trent Jones Golf Course.
Winter sports were never quite the same after that January weekend in 1934 when the first rope tow, operated by a Model-t engine, opened on Gilbert’s Hill just north of Woodstock’s village. The country’s first Poma lift replaced the rope tow in 1954. Skiers from all over the world have enjoyed Woodstock’s hospitality and vital ingenuity.
Today, Woodstock is a year-round tourist destination and considered one of the “prettiest towns in America”. We have 30 miles of hiking trails available right off the Village Green leading up Mt. Tom or Mt Peg. The History Center offers Architectural Walking tours regularly during the summer and fall; sign up at the Info Booth on The Green. Come to Woodstock and enjoy the traditions of the past blended with the comforts of today.
All content © The Mountain Times 2010