Differences in Site Numbers Used in Published Town History and Vermont Historic Sites & Structures Survey
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DIFFERENCES IN SITE NUMBERS USED IN PUBLISHED TOWN HISTORY AND VERMONT HISTORIC SITES & STRUCTURES SURVEY Addison County PLEASE NOTE CAREFULLY: The site numbers on the maps and lists of historic properties in the published town history following this page DO NOT correspond to the Vermont Historic Sites and Structures Survey (VHSSS) numbers on the individual survey forms in this town survey. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation conducted a resurvey of all historic properties in each town in Addison County in preparation for the publication of a county history in 1992. New historic sites were added to the VHSSS, but a new VHSSS survey form was not filled out for each new site, as the information was entered directly into a computer database. Therefore not all sites in the published history have a corresponding VHSSS form. For the town history publication all historic sites, from both the original survey and the resurvey, were assigned new numbers for the published maps and lists. The new numbering system for the publication starts in the upper left hand (NW) corner of each town and proceeds sequentially from left to right, top to bottom, or clockwise around the map. For those towns in which further surveying was done after the initial publication map numbering was completed, there may be some scattered map numbers that are out of sequence. To see if a property in the published history also has a VHSSS form, compare the maps in the published history with the VHSSS maps. If the location you are interested in has a number marked on both maps, the building has a VHSSS form. • THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE OF ADDISON COUNTY VERMONT STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES RIPTON VERMONT DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE Structures referred to in the text that are listed in the State OF ADDISON COUNTY Register of Historic Places are identified by a number or Including a listing of street address in parenthesis corresponding to the Register listings and maps immediately following each town history. the Vermont State Register of Historic Places The list uses standardized terms to provide information on readily identifiable exterior features of Register sites. This Published by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation information is gathered by surveying the exteriors of the Printed in the United States of America structures. There may be discrepancies between demon- ©1992 The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation strable or asserted building dates and those dates given All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used, here. reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in For further information on The Historic Architecture of any manner, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or Addison County or the State Register of Historic Places, please articles, without written permission from the Vermont contact the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, Division for Historic Preservation. Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-3226). The activity that is the subject of this publication has been Editor—Curtis B. Johnson; Assistant Editor— Elsa Gilbertson; financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Addison — Susan E. Hollister; Bridport — Tracy A. Cunning; Service, Department of the Interior. However, the contents Bristol—Caroline E. Kane; Cornwall— Kevin D. Murphy; and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Ferrisburgh — Kevin D. Murphy; Goshen — Traies Haydon Roe; the Department of the Interior. Granville— Rose Anna Zingleman; Hancock— Rose Anna This program receives Federal funds from the National Zingleman; Leicester—Traies Haydon Roe; Lincoln— Rose Park Service for the identification and protection of historic Anna Zingleman, Taryn E. Monell; Middlebury Town — Tracy properties. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the A. Cunning, Elizabeth F. Pritchett; Middlebury Village— Elsa Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in depart- Gilbertson; Monkton — Taryn E. Monell; New Haven — Kevin mental Federally Assisted Programs on the basis of race, D. Murphy; Orwell—Taryn E. Monell; Panton — Tracy A. color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who Cunning; Ripton — Traies Haydon Roe; Salisbury—Traies believes he or she has been discriminated against in any Haydon Roe; Shoreham —Taryn E. Monell; Starksboro — program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Caroline E. Kane, Elsa Gilbertson; Vergennes — Susan E. Federal assistance should write to: Director, Equal Oppor- Hollister; Waltham — Traies Haydon Roe; Weybridge— Rose tunity Program, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Anna Zingleman; Whiting—Traies Haydon Roe; (Principal Park Service, P.O. 37127, Washington, D C. 20013-7127. photographer— Curtis B. Johnson). This pamphlet is an excerpt from The Historic Architecture of Addison County. The complete volume contains a short history of Addison County, chapters for each town in the county, and a guide to Vermont architecture. An abbreviated version of the architecture guide is found on the back cover of this pamphlet. The town chapters use historic architecture to tell the developmental history of each town from the first years of white settlement to World War II. Most of the photographs are contemporary to show the historic structures as they stand today. Sources used to prepare this book are listed in the select bibliography found in the complete county volume. CAUTION Most of the historic structures included in the town histories are privately owned and are not open to the public. When viewing, please be courteous. FOREWORD Historic structures are part of our daily lives in Vermont. We of Addison County is part of the effort by the Division for live in them, we shop in them, we continue to use them for Historic Preservation to encourage and enhance the apprecia- the purposes for which they were built, or we find new ways tion and thoughtful use of our historic architectural resources to use them. Whether buildings or bridges, on the farm, in and to save and protect them for the future. This publication the village, or in the city, these historic resources are a living identifies and documents the resources making up the rich history of the state because they stand as powerful and readily architectural heritage left in our stewardship, and gives visible reminders of our past. citizens of today information that is needed to plan for their Historic buildings also make a major contribution to the preservation. celebrated Vermont environment that is crucial to both our I hope the book will assist and encourage local preservation economic prosperity and to our personal well-being. Historic efforts, that it will be used by the property owners to learn downtowns provide attractive places to shop and work. about their buildings, by local officials in planning for the Industries locate in Vermont because of the quality of life future of their towns, as a resource for teachers of Vermont here, and the presence of our history is one aspect of that and local history, as a guide for residents on Sunday drives, quality. The travel industry in Vermont continues to grow. It and as a way travelers from all over can learn about is clear from every survey that travelers come to see our Vermont. More than this, I hope it helps us all recognize our countryside with its historic buildings, green fields, forests, heritage and the value of preserving it. hills, and mountains. We must make a constant effort to protect historic buildings and their surroundings and be ready to intervene to prevent Eric Gilbertson the forces of both man and nature from destroying what our Director ancestors placed on the landscape. The Historic Architecture Vermont Division for Historic Preservation 205 Side by side on a curve in the center of Ripton village, the RIPTON Town Hall (A2, 1864; former Congregational church), village school (A3, c.1900), and Methodist Church (A4, 1862) form the social and civic center of Ripton and symbolize the spirit of community characteristic of many small Vermont towns. he town of Ripton lies on the western town did not occur until the 1820s. The slope of the Green Mountains between Center Turnpike connecting Middlebury to Tthe summit of Bread Loaf Mountain the Connecticut River Valley brought and the chasm of Ripton Gorge. The Center travelers and settlers through Ripton, Turnpike (now Vermont Route 125) was con- including the Honorable David Chipman of structed through Ripton in 1808, following Middlebury, who established the first sawmill the South Branch of the Middlebury River in town on the Middlebury River just above from Middlebury to Hancock. The village of Ripton Gorge. He then chose a site at the Ripton evolved along the turnpike at the site corner of the turnpike and the Lincoln Road of the first sawmill in the town. Although to build a home for his retirement. His large many farmed in Ripton throughout the nine- Federal style house (Al) constructed in 1828 teenth century, its economy was largely fueled is the only one of its kind in Ripton and is by its forests. Lumbering enterprises peaked highlighted by an unusual bellcast door hood. in the 1870s and 1880s, when the population In the surrounding hills, farmers cleared reached a high of 672, but depletion of land along the many small tributaries of the available timber led to a decline in the com- Middlebury River. Around mid-century, munity after 1890. As hill farms and mills many constructed their first, simple wood- were gradually abandoned, the popular sum- frame homes; peaked lintelboards applied mer resort at Bread Loaf Inn became the over the windows and above the front doors foremost attraction. Simple farmhouses in the were often the only decorative elements. The hills, the houses and churches of Ripton peaked board above the doorway of one village, and the cluster of cottages surround- farmhouse (4) built about 1855 is enriched by ing the Bread Loaf Inn now form the archi- small dentils.