The Chittenden Historical Society. Chittenden, Vermont.
HBPC Initates Phase III
in Grange Hall Restoration
The Historic Buildings Preservation Committee is beginning Phase III of the renovation and restoration of the North Chittenden Grange Hall. This year’s goal is to achieve the installation of the accessibility lift, pouring the cement floor in the lower level and re-slating of the roof.
With the completion of this year’s project, work can finally begin on restoration of the interior of the original 1833 building, as well as finishing the interior of the newer lower level space and addition.
In 2000 the society, working under the Board of Selectmen, formed the Historic Buildings Preservation Committee (HBPC) to restore and repair the town’s historic public buildings. At present restoration of the North Chittenden Grange Hall is under way. The 1833 building originally housed a Congregational Church, but by the early 1880s it became a Grange Hall. In 1906 it was purchased by the town and used as a town hall, alternating with the one in South Chittenden. Having fallen into disrepair, it is being restored for use as a cultural and recreational center to embrace all ages of residents.
It is a landmark building sitting on a hill overlooking the village of Holden and still retains many of its original features, beaded wainscoting, period moldings, a small balcony and coffered ceilings. In 2006 Phase I to install the well, septic field and relocate the entrance to the original location was accomplished. Phase II in 2007 and 2008 included many much-needed structural improvements, new windows sized to match original ones, exterior painting, and the addition of a small addition to house the accessibility lift, bathrooms, and a second means of egress.
Besides the town appropriation, for this fiscal year the restoration is being helped by grants from the State of Vermont and Cultural Facilities Coalition, The Windham Foundation and its sister organization the Bunbury Company, and a Vermont Community Foundation Sustainable Communities Grant through the Marjorie A. Pierce Fund.
This project was assisted by Preservation Grant, made possible by a partnership between the Freeman Foundation and the Preservation Trust of Vermont.
Contributions may be made to the Town of Chittenden HBPC, c/o Chittenden Town Treasurer, P.O. Box 89, Chittenden, VT 05737.
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. Advance orders are now being accepted for delivery beginning November 1, 2008. Place your order now to guarantee availability this fall. 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.
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.