The Chittenden Historical Society. Chittenden, Vermont.
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NEW PHOTOS ADDED
Feb. 4th we added some new photos to the Phase III photo album. See the Projects page.
FALL MEETINGS
August
Lindsey Bishop, the 2009 Muzzy Davenport Award for interest in local history at Barstow School, presented her independent study of the Battle of Hubbardton in the Revolutionary War.
September
As a preservation measure, the Society is digitizing its old pictures.
In September, some of the collection was shared on screen, enhancing
the details captured by early photographers. Bette Deatte found a
photo of herself waving at President Eisenhower along Mountain Top
Road.
Later in October, The Society presented a “Then and Now” program
to Barstow grades K-2 using these old photos to show how town and
school looked ca 1900.
October
Vermont
Humanities Council speaker Don Wickman inaugurated all events at the Grange
Hall in North Chittenden at the Chittenden Historical Society meeting in
October. A potluck supper preceded his well researched and well presented
program on George Houghton, Civil War photographer, using slides of the original
pictures taken by Houghton of Vermonters during the war.
October supper and speaker at the Grange Hall
November
At the annual meeting, officers were elected for the year 2010 as follows:
- President: Bob Webster
- Vice-President: Bob Muzzy
- Secretary: Karen Webster
- Treasurer: Fran Wheeler
- Directors: Bob Muzzy, Elmer Wheeler, Reggi Dubin, Newt Wetmore
CATALOGUING
For the cold winter months, the Society will not be open every Tuesday afternoon, but will be happy to open by appointment. We will resume our Tuesday afternoons in March. While away from the desk, we are working to update our family files, news clippings and lists and to undertake other conservation measures.
CEMETERY
This fall we were delighted to help a Churchill relative find roots. Mary Churchill Dickson is pictured below in Wetmore Cemetery between the headstones of her great, great, great-grandparents, Caleb and Sarah (Hawley) Churchill, who came to the old Philadelphia part of Chittenden from Plympton, Massachusetts, in the early 1780s. Furthermore, we found that her ancestors were charter members of the Congregational Church, now the Grange Hall, and their children were christened there.
Churchills, 5 generations apart
FALL HIKE
A happy coincidence this fall led to a delightful and insightful hike to the site of the old Steam Mill in North Chittenden. The adjoining land owner called to offer her trails to the site, which we had already planned to visit. Hikers were treated to refreshments afterwards by our hostess, Susan Leikin.
Following our leader, Bob Muzzy, we explored the trails to the once-extensive site. Amongst the mill meadows, we found pre-war truck fenders, pipe, buggy springs, and possibly a charcoal kiln evidenced by the shaped bricks, despite the chest-high goldenrod.
After passing the Steam Mill Schoolhouse site, we found remnants along the way of other activities, such as a mine shaft and what may have been a blacksmith’s shop. The still beautifully squared cellar hole is shown at right.
The mill was once known as the Pierce and Naylor Mill. Charles Reed Holden brought the first mill steam engine there in 1868, initiating the big lumber boom in town.
We are trying to learn more of this area and its residents. If you have any information to share, please contact us.
A cellar hole along Steam Mill Brook
The Society endeavors to sponsor a spring and a fall hike each year. The public is welcome to join us.
The destinations of our hikes are chosen at the March organizational meeting of the Society. If you are interested in a particular area, come to the March meeting on the second Thursday evening at Town Hall at 7:30 pm.
** 2010 DUES ARE DUE **
Phase III Completed!
of Grange Hall Restoration
For those who haven’t stopped by...
The lower level of the Grange Hall has been completed. It will be open for community use within the next few weeks. See photos at right. We thank the Select board, Preservation Trust, The Vermont Cultural Coalition, The Windham Foundation, the Vermont Community Foundation and Chittenden residents for their help in renovation.
Society Publishes Town History
The Chittenden Historical Society announces the publishing of a book, Chittenden, Vermont: A Town History.
Written, compiled and edited by Fran Wheeler and Karen Webster, the new volume holds over 300 pages of town history from its beginning in 1780 and gives the early history, and the businesses, industry, military, school and church history that filled two and a quarter centuries. Genealogy of the earliest settlers is included.
The first printing is 300 books, priced at $30 each plus shipping for out-of-town orders. As of July 24, 2009, there are only a few books left. Place your order now while they last. Please call for availability. All profits will go to the Chittenden Historical Society.
To order a book, download the order form and mail with your check to the address on the form.
(2008) Memorial Day at the Grange Hall
The Chittenden Historical Society will host a Memorial Day Observance at the Grange Hall on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26 at 11 am. The Royal S. Baird memorial stone will also be dedicated on Memorial Day. Royal Baird, the uncle of Bob Baird, was shot down over Guam in World War II. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Pittsford, but Royal’s parents arranged for a memorial stone and flagpole to be placed near his home in North Chittenden at the junction of Stoney Hill Road with West Road. With increases in modern travel, the placement of the memorial created problems with traffic and with snow removal. It has been moved several times before finding its new home.
Thanks, Chittenden
The members of the Historic Buildings Preservation Committee wish to thank the residents of Chittenden for voting to continue funding for completion of the renovation and restoration of the North Chittenden Grange Hall. Everyone on the committee is looking forward to returning the building to daily use. Please come to the Grange Hall on Memorial Day to see the Grange Hall and enjoy a thank you lunch.
with lowered ceiling joists
remaining in place.
New Windows
The new windows, restored to the height of the original ones, are 50 percent taller that the old windows. All nine have now been installed, including the east windows that were boarded over before 1900. No one alive today has seen the light effect all nine windows have on the interior space of the Grange Hall.
to reveal once taller windows.
with new windows installed!
North Chittenden Grange Hall Receives Grant
January 11, 2008
Dave Sargent, Chairman of the Chittenden Board of Selectmen, receives an award of $15,000 from Governor Douglas at the 2008 Cultural Facilities Grant awards ceremony held on January 11 at the State House in Montpelier. Also shown are Alexander Aldrich of the Vermont Arts Council and Karen Webster, chair of Chittenden’s Historic Buildings Preservation Committee. The award to Chittenden is to support the installation of electrical wiring, security and emergency lighting and for the purchase and installation of an accessibility lift in the North Chittenden Grange Hall.
More than $200,000 was awarded for the Cultural Facilities Grant program. The State of Vermont funds the program through an annual appropriation in the Capital Budget. The Vermont Arts Council administers the grant, in conjunction with the Vermont Historical Society, the Vermont Museum Gallery Alliance, and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, all working together as the Vermont Cultural Facilities Coalition. Now in its 19th year, the purpose of this grant program is to assist Vermont nonprofit organizations and municipalities to enhance, create or expand the capacity of existing Vermont buildings to enable citizens of all ages and abilities to enjoy more cultural events while increasing their participation in the heritage of their communities. Freeman Foundation and the Cerf Community Fund grants, both through Preservation Trust of Vermont, are also supporting this project.
Ballot Item
At Town Meeting, voters will be asked to renew for ten years the $20,000 per year appropriation for historic building restoration that has been in effect since 2000. Therefore, a positive vote will not increase taxes. When restoration is finished, the Grange Hall will become a cultural and recreational center for the town, available for art, music and dance programs and lessons, speakers and even dinner and theater. As indicated by Alex Aldrich at the awards ceremony, development of the arts brings vitality to a community. Also, opportunities will exist for exercise classes, family movie nights and private rentals for weddings or other social events. All money is handled through the Town Treasurer. Additionally, other funds are being sought through other grant opportunities and a capital campaign. Donations are indeed welcome in time, materials or money, payable to the Town of Chittenden, Historic Buildings Preservation Fund, P.O. Box 89, Chittenden, VT 05737.
For those who aren't familiar with the Grange Hall, it is the building opposite the beginning of Middle Road. Constructed in 1833 to be a Congregational Church, it became a Grange Hall by the early 1880s and was purchased by the Town of Chittenden in 1906 for use as a Town Hall. Many residents fondly remember social gatherings there. Sadly, the building fell into disrepair and it was closed to the public in the 1960s.
The building is amazingly sound despite its age. From a historical aspect, the building is quite interesting with its wide-board wainscoting, period moldings, balcony and high windows. Notwithstanding earlier renovations, many original features remain.
Building Plans
An effort to restore the building for community use began in 1995. As the project gathered momentum, more people became involved. Members of the Chittenden Historical Society joined the effort, and a Historic Buildings Preservation Committee was formed under the Board of Selectmen in 2000. The town voted to raise $20,000 a year for preservation of the town’s historic buildings. Soon the committee realized that to become a vital community resource, the Grange Hall project needed to expand to use of the lower level and to include bathroom facilities and lift for accessibility. As the funds grew in the Historic Buildings Preservation Committee fund, many hours were spent in planning and getting permits. Additional land, generously donated by the Fredettes, was needed to accommodate the septic field. Then the design was changed from a pumped system to a simpler gravity flow one. All this took time. In 2006, Phase I to install the septic field, drill the well and move the road to its original place was completed.
Phase II, now in progress and awarded by bid to local builder Dave Dutton, www.ddbuilder.com, is addressing structural issues: leveling the sagging floor and adding an engineered steel beam system of support, replacing the rotted corner beam, constructing the addition to house the bathrooms and lift, replacing the windows to their original tall height, blocking in lower level wooden exterior and adjusting the exterior grade, and adding a stairway between floors. The outside shell will be finished, restored, repaired or replaced. Painting will take place this spring.
Phase III, to begin in 2008, will involve interior renovation and construction, such as adding electricity and the accessibility lift. A small catering kitchen is planned for the lower level. With the development of both levels, the space available for activities will double. Although much work needs to be done before the Grange Hall will be ready for use, the committee is looking forward to the building’s active use by the community for cultural, social and recreational purposes.
For more information, contact a member of the HBPC: Terry White, Bernie McGee, Dave Sargent, Bob Muzzy or Karen Webster.
- Winter 06 Newsletter (244 KB PDF)
- Summer 07 Newsletter (304 KB PDF)
- Winter 07 Newsletter (748 KB PDF)
- Summer 08 Newsletter (300 KB PDF)
- Vermont Arts Council Grant, Jan. 11, 2008
- Memorial Day at the Grange 2008
- Winter 08 Newsletter (448 KB PDF)
- Summer 09 Newsletter (528 KB PDF)
- 2009, Renaming the Fish Hatchery (193 KB PDF)
- 2009 First Events at Grange Hall (115KB PDF)
- 2009 Winter Newsletter (389 KB PDF)