The Chittenden Historical Society. Chittenden, Vermont.
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Cataloguing
Some elements of the Historical Society are moving upstairs. The Society is in the process of revitalizing and refitting the little room upstairs in Town Hall as a resource room. A major factor in the decision is that the computer can be left on a desk instead of being disassembled and put into the vaults as is now necessary because the little room downstairs sees so much use by other groups. Also the Society will have more room for books, pictures and other materials and artifacts of interest.
The Society is open to welcome visitors on Tuesday afternoons between 1:30 and 5.
Grange Hall
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.
Phase I was to install the well, septic field and relocate the entrance to the original.
Phase II included improvements to the building itself.
- complete architectural and engineering plans
- all state permits required so far have been obtained
- leveled the sagging floor
- leveled the basement floor and add gravel
- installed insulated sub-basement heating ducts
- installed engineered iron support beam system under floor
- replaced rotted southeast corner post and other damaged pieces
- built shell of addition to house lift and baths
- added cement block to the foundation and raise grade
- attach well and septic service into building
- original balcony and coffered ceiling revealed
- restoration of the exterior shell
- replace windows to original tall design
- exterior painting and grading
Phase III has included the installation of the accessibility lift, pouring the cement floor in the lower level and re-slating of the roof. The final steps will be finishing the interior of the new lower level space and addition.
Phase IV will consist of restoring the interior of the original 1833 building.
This restoration project has been made possible thanks to the Chittenden community, Preservation Trust through a grant from the Freeman Foundation; Vermont Cultural Facilities Grant (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); The Windham Foundation; and the Vermont Community Foundation.
Contributions may be made to the Town of Chittenden HBPC, c/o Chittenden Town Treasurer, P.O. Box 89, Chittenden, VT 05737.
Cemetery Work
The Chittenden Historical Society is working with the Chittenden Cemetery Commissioners to restore its historic cemeteries. Boy Scout Troop 105 from Rutland, under the direction of Shamus Fagan as an Eagle Scout project, in conjunction with the Cemetery Commissioners, spent several Saturdays removing brush, trees and overgrown plantings from historic Wetmore Cemetery and uncovering a number of stones in the process.
Under the guidance of Cemetery Commissioner George Butts, the stones are presently being mapped and their location placed on a grid for future reference.
