2001 Preservation Award Winners
Lamoille
Housing Partnership
Since its inception in 1991, the Lamoille
Housing Partnership has been working to preserve historic
downtown buildings for use as affordable housing. Highlighted in
this year’s nomination are three projects:
In Hardwick, the Lamoille Housing
Partnership rehabilitated three derelict historic buildings
into safe and decent housing as part of the Highland Hill
Housing project. These properties were in serious disrepair,
and certainly would have been condemned had LHP not stepped
in. Now they serve as an important source of affordable
housing and a valuable record of Hardwick’s architectural
heritage.
In Morrisville: when first built in 1902,
the Romanesque style Drowne Block housed the downtown five
and-dime with professional offices upstairs. Not atypical, the
second floor offices were eventually converted to apartments,
and in time those apartments became rundown. Last year the
building’s owner converted the storefront into a downtown
post office. Lamoille Housing partnership made the project
possible by condominiumizing the upper floor into 8 beautiful
new apartments, retaining the historic windows, woodwork and
hardwood floors.
Also in Morrisville, the Copley House,
completed this past summer, has an interesting history. This
gracious Queen Anne style structure was built in 1896 as a
summer residence. In 1932, Alexander Copley converted the home
into Morrisville’s first hospital, attaching a carriage barn
to the east end for added space. In 1968, a new hospital was
built, and the Copley building became a nursing home. But the
20th century was hard on the building. Tragically the original
wrap around porch was removed to make way for a tacky one
story addition; and, in time, the building became run down.
Lamoille Housing Partnership stepped in, completely rehabbed
the structure, removed the insensitive addition, and
reconstructed the wrap around porch, so that today the
building’s façade looks much as it did in 1932. Recently
reopened, Copley House serves as home to 20 residents with
severe and persistent mental illnesses.
For 10 years, Lamoille Housing Partnership has
worked to improve the housing stock in Lamoille Valley. Of the
84 units in LHP’s rental housing portfolio, 81 are in historic
building. LHP describes the work as satisfying: “for the heart
and soul of a building will always be in the people who live
within its walls.”
Vermont
Youth Orchestra for the Elley-Long Music Center
The Elley-Long Music Center is the result of
the generous donation of a unique historic building by St.
Michael’s College with the commitment of the Vermont Youth
Orchestra Association to find a permanent quality rehearsal
space for 350 student.
The building dates from 1895 and was
originally a riding hall at Forth Ethan Allen, in Colchester. It
was subsequently acquired by St. Michael’s College and served
a variety of functions, including a gymnasium, before it became
a storage facility. VT Youth Orchestra had been searching for
many years for better rehearsal space for its growing number of
orchestras. After considering building a new structure, the
riding hall was offered by St. Michael’s, and was immediately
embraced by all. This was an opportunity to have great rehearsal
space, and at the same time reclaim an important historic
structure.
Thus began the challenging capital campaign
to raise the $2 million needed for renovations. The founding
gift that made all of this possible came from Carolyn Long, in
honor of her father, Dr. Harold Elley, and hence the Elley-Long
Music Center name was born. A very ambitious campaign was
launched and headed by VYOA Executive Director, Caroline Widden.
Funds were secured from a HUD grant, the Kresge Foundation, and
countless very generous benefactors.
Celebrating its grand opening November 17,
this magnificent structure features large original windows, and
a newly uncovered original wood ceiling, which opened the
structure up and gave it better acoustics. An architectural
highlight is an array of arched windows in the front, a motif
that has been continued in the interior new walls. This
magnificent structure now houses several smaller rehearsal rooms
as well as two large rehearsal areas that can accommodate two
orchestras simultaneously in sound-proof rooms. Thus, the
rebirth of this beautiful historical building!
Housing
Vermont for the Exner Block, Bellows Falls
The Exner Block was built around 1905 just
off the Square in downtown Bellows Falls. It included six retail
spaces and six duplex apartments above, with the intention that
the retail spaces would be run by shopkeepers who, along with
their families, lived in the building. By the 1920s, when the
Exner family bought the building, it had gone through many
changes. Due to its proximity to the railroad station, it had
been converted to a rooming house. And from the 1970s, Mary
Exner, whose father purchased the block, lived in the building
alone until she moved into a nursing home and died in the
mid-1990s. Subsequently, the bank ended up with the building and
placed it up for auction in the fall of 1997. The Exner Block
was extremely dilapidated, with serious foundation problems,
water coming through the roof, and a mechanical system that
needed total replacement.
Housing Vermont purchased the building at
auction with the intent of creating affordable housing. At a
Selectboard meeting, Andy Broderick, then vice-president of
Housing Vermont, heard a slightly different vision for the
building: affordable housing and retail space for artists.
Over the next year and a half, $1.5 million
was secured from various state and federal sources for the Exner
Project. In the Fall of 2000, two years after the building had
been purchased at auction, the Exner Block opened providing 10
affordable living/workspaces for artists and six retail spaces
with a focus on the arts. The renovation of this extraordinary,
tin-sided block provided a tremendous catalyst toward downtown
Bellows Falls revitalization.
Housing Vermont is to be applauded for their
mission to provide quality affordable housing and partnering
with a local organization to make the Exner Block vision, a
reality.
Barre
Historical Society for the Old Labor Hall, Barre
The three-story brick Labor Hall in Barre was
constructed in 1900 by immigrant granite workers, volunteering
after their six day work week. The building housed a meeting
hall, cooperative store, bakery and bottling works, and the
Granite Workers Union. But, the historic significance of the
Labor Hall goes well beyond the building itself. For nearly four
decades the Labor Hall was an epicenter of radicalism and reform
attracting internationally known political and labor
leaders-Samuel Gompers, Mother Jones, and Emma Goldman, to name
a few. Here Socialists, Anarchists and Union leaders vigorously
debated the future direction of America’s labor movement.
As important as its early history is, its
rescue effort, headed by Karen Lane, is also an important story
of perseverance. Ms. Lane came to Barre in the late 1970s to
head Barre’s Ethnic Heritage Project. She and others sought on
several occasions to secure the building, which had become,
after auction, a warehouse in the late 1930s. Those efforts were
fruitless. In 1994, when Karen was notified about plans for
foreclosure and sale, she swung into action. With
co-conspirators JoEllen Mulvaney and John Hanna, they
reinvigorated the Barre Historical society, jawboned the bank
into providing an option at a reasonable price, and began a
fundraising campaign.
The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board
made an initial grant of $50,000 toward acquisition and
community fundraising secured the balance. With the building
saved from the auction block, the Historical Society undertook
other grants and fundraising activities now totaling over
$500,000. As in the beginning, union members donated time, labor
and money. Last Labor Day, the building reopened. In contrast to
countless memorials honoring the prominent and powerful, this
building is once again a living and working community hall that
pays homage to the ordinary workers who struggled and died
trying to achieve a decent life for themselves and their fellow
laborer. The Historical Society’s rescue effort to save and
restore this critically important building, inspire all of us.
Duncan
and Megs Keir and the Town of Huntington Selectboard for the
Fuller House Project
In February 1999, the Fuller House, located
in the center of lower Huntington Village, was described as
standing on its last legs. Two years later, after much hard
work, the house is a bright spot on Main Street, serving as the
post office, temporary home of the library, and private offices.
There are many people who contributed to the success of this
project. However, it was primarily the combined efforts of
Duncan and Megs Keir, representing the private sector, and the
Selectboard for the Town of Huntington, representing the public
sector, which are most directly responsible for this model
preservation program.
When the US Postal Service announced in 1998
that it had outgrown its current Huntington location, one
location, a lot outside of the main village was identified as a
possible new building site. But there was strong sentiment for
the Post Office to remain in the village to assist the community’s
goal of creating an attractive village growth center. At that
point, Duncan and Megs Keir viewed the 1840 Fuller House as a
good candidate. They were able to purchase the run-down property
and received a small grant to do a feasibility study.
Financing became a challenge, but multiple
interests rallied, with the Town leading the way with a Commerce
and Community Development grant, subsequently loaned to the
Fuller House. Additional support came from private investors as
well as from state and federal programs. The long and
interesting struggle culminated in April of this year when the
US Post Office moved in for business.
Through the insight, determination, and
perseverance of the Keirs, the Selectboard, and numerous
Huntington residents, the goals as expressed in the Huntington
Town Plan were achieved; i.e., preserving and protecting
historic resources and directing growth to the town’s village
districts.
East
Braintree Congregational Church
The Braintree Christian Church, founded in
1817, was originally located on top of the hill on the north
side of Peth Village. In the late 1840s, the membership
disagreed over what branch of religion it would follow, and it
was decided to move the church to East Braintree, hoping its
location on a main road (Route 12) would result in increased
membership. Officially dedicated in the present location in
1852, it reorganized in 1871 as a Congregational church, which
it remains today.
During the 150+ years in its present
location, the church became known for the tilt of its steeple.
Whether this tilt dates back to its original construction or
early renovations its unknown. However in 1974, the lean became
more pronounced and a few supporting timbers were replaces. This
did not correct the problem, and in the summer of 1998, when its
bell refused to ring, it was discovered that the structure had
seriously deteriorated. If it wasn’t taken down and repaired,
it probably would come down on its own!
Given the cost ($22,000+) to repair, the easy
way out for a congregation of 14 members would have been to
permanently remove the steeple and do a roof repair. In what
they called a “leap of faith,” the Trustees voted to pay Jay
Southgate $1,600 to remove the steeple and winterize the roof
while they campaigned to raise the needed money for repairs.
They applied for grants, launched a Save the
Steeple Fund, held benefit concerts, a raffle and food sales. A
local country store provided a jar for patrons to contribute to
the Fund. Services donated by volunteers such has painting
shutters and trim and repairing the weathervane helped keep
costs down. On March 2nd, 2000, with the help of generous grants
from the VT Division for Historic Preservation and the
Preservation Trust , plus fundraising proceeds, the restored
steeple was hoisted back into place. It stands erect for the
first time in recent history, preserved for current and future
generations. A huge accomplishment for a congregation of this
size, and one worthy of recognition!
Paramount
Center, Rutland
http://www.paramountvt.org/
The Paramount Theater and members of the
Rutland region have together completed a very successful
historic restoration of the Paramount Theater as well as an
acclaimed inaugural season of performances. Throughout the year
audiences embraced the theater and blend of diverse offerings
presented within its shimmering elegance. And while the theater,
in all its brilliance, has been a delight to behold, it was the
spirit of the dedication and devotion of the community that
shone most brightly.
Built in 1913, the 1,000 seat Paramount
theater was constructed for live performance. The outstanding
acoustics, excellent sight lines, and richly decorated
auditorium made the Paramount the premier venue for performing
arts in southern Vermont. But fashions and economics change, and
the theater closed in 1975. The theater sat empty and neglected
until the Center on the Alley, Inc. was formed to purchase the
theater for use as a performing arts center. In 1988, the
Paramount Center, Inc assumed ownership. Although in a state of
disrepair, the theater was structurally sound and essentially
intact with much of its decorative detail remaining. Long range
planning and fundraising began. The firm of Nimtz, Berryhill,
and Fegeil developed the architectural plan, and in January
1999, the John A. Russell Corporation was selected for the
historic restoration. Construction began that spring.
The successful restoration of the Paramount
Theater was completed in February 2000 and an opening Gala in
March honored the artisans and contributors who made the
historic restoration project possible. Its restoration has been
the final perhaps most meaningful component of Rutland’s
successful redevelopment campaign.
City
of St. Albans for the American House Annex and Franklin Heights
In early 1996, the Franklin Lamoille Bank,
owner of the American House Annex and Franklin Heights
buildings, in downtown St. Albans, indicated to the City that
they intended to demolish the building. While in a severe state
of deterioration and unoccupied, demolition would tear a hole in
the downtown commercial district and remove one of St. Albans’
oldest buildings.
Built in 1815, the American House annex and
Franklin Heights Building is listed on the National Register and
occupies an important visual street intersection. The City took
a rare and bold move, buying the building in order to save it.
Teaming up with Lake Champlain Housing, a local non-profit
housing group, they developed a plan for creating retail/office
space on the lower two floors and housing on the upper two.
Rehabilitation plans included compliance with the Secretary of
Interior’s Standard for Historic Preservation. The Town
applied for and received funds from a number of sources
including the Vermont Community Development Block Program, HUD,
Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, funding from the City
and other sources.
The renovation of the American House Annex
and Franklin Heights Building has allowed the City of St. Albans
to demonstrate to the local downtown business community their
commitment to the downtown. By investing in the project, the
City was not only able to preserve a downtown landmark, but also
to enrich the economic and architectural fabric of the downtown
St. Albans community.
