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© The Mountain Times 2006
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
• There is a well-preserved 19th century architecture in quaint historic downtown Brandon. A self-guided walking tour is available any time. For information or reservations call (802) 247-6401.
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. There is an annual potluck picnic for the public, 3rd Thursday afternoon in June at the Hubbardton Battlefield. Hours and Admission: Summer and fall, Sun 1 – 4pm. Donations requested.(802) 468-5328.
• Castleton Colonial Day - TBA - 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 468-6621.
East Poultney
• East Poultney Day - TBA - Giant Flea Market on an old-fashioned village green includes food, arts, crafts, and antiques. Tours of Union Academy 1791, Melodeon Factory 1850, East Poultney Schoolhouse 1896. East Poultney Green.
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, TBA - Activities throughout the day include tactical maneuvers, enactment of military camp life in the late 1700s. For information call 802-273-2282.
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. Collections relate to the Montvert Hotel mineral springs resort, A.W. Gray Horsepower Factory, local organizations, and individuals. Hours and Admission: Memorial Day to late Oct, Sun, 2 – 4pm or by appointment. Free.
Orwell
• Mount Independence State Historic Site. Orwell, VT (802) 759-2412. Visitor Center and museum open Wed.-Sun. Revolutionary War fortification, new Interpretation Center, historic hiking and walking trails.
Pittsfield
• Pittsfield Historical SocietyTown Hall, Pittsfield, VT • 802-746-8147
The Pittsfield Historical Society meets every third Monday of the month at the Town Hall at 7:00 PM Hours and Admission: April - November, first and third Tuesday of the month from 1:00-3:00PM 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. Small gift shop sells our award winning book, Pittsford's Second Century, 1872-1997, historic town maps and other publications. Contact Person: Jean Davies, Curator or Lois Blittersdorf Hours and Admission: April to Nov, Tues, 9am – 4pm, as well as Sat, 9am – 4pm in July and Aug 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 Rd. ran through the area. Site of revolutionary war encampment in 1777.
• Plymouth Notch Historic District, birthplace and Summer White House of Calvin Coolidge, Rte. 100A. (802) 672-3773. Ten buildings open daily, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM; Aldrich House is open most weekdays year-round. Admission is $5 for adults, children under 14 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.
• Poultney Historical Society. 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 Aug, 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 www.slatevalleymuseum.org
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.
• 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 Rutland
• Historic district, downtown, Marble St.
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 memorbilia 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. Hours and Admission: N/A
Woodstock
• Billings Farm and Museum, Rte. 12. (802) 457-2355. Historic working farm with extensive exhibits and programs on New England rural life. Meticulously restored farm manager’s house, furnished in the style of the last century. Special programs nearly every week throughout the summer.
• Covered Bridges. Woodstock has three - the Middle Covered Bridge (1869), just off the green; the Lincoln Covered Bridge (1865) on Rte. 4; the Taftsville Bridge (1836) on Rte. 4, Taftsville.
• Dana House, The Woodstock Historical Society, 26 Elm St. (802) 457-1822. Gracious old mansion furnished with Woodstock antiques.
• First Ski Tow in the U.S. Historical marker at Gilbert Meadow site, Rte. 12.
• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3368. Daily 10-5, spring through October 31 - The only National Park to focus on conservation history and the evolving nature of land stewardship in America. Opened in June 1998, Vermont’s first National Park preserves and interprets the historic Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller property. The park was created in 1992, when the Rockefellers gifted the estate’s residential and forest lands to the people of the United States. Today, the Park interprets the history of conservation with tours of the mansion and the surrounding 550-acre forest. The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion and gardens are by guided tour only. $6 for adults and $3 for children under 16.
All content © The Mountain Times 2006