National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
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NPS Form 10-900 / ; •-.* r,T*"~*€)MB.No. 10024-0018 (Oct. 1990) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property __________________________________________________ historic name Mount Philo State Park other names/site number 2. Location street & number 5425 Mount Philo Road____________ for publication city or town ____Charlotte______________________ ^vicinity state Vermont________ code VT county Chittenden code 007 zip code 05445 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this S nomination D request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property S meets D does not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant D nationally 53 statewide 3 locally. (D See continuation sheet for additional comments.) C - 1C -/ 1 - Signature of certifying^icial/Title Vermont State Historic Preservation State of Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property D meets D does not meet the National Register criteria. (D See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of commenting official/Title Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification I hereb/ certify that the property is: Date of Action 5Z entered in the National Register. D See continuation sheet. C] determined eligible for the National Register CH See continuation sheet. [H determined not eligible for the National Register. I I removed from the National Register. n other, (explain:) _________ Mount Philo.,.SjEa't.e Rark- Chittenden County, V;ermon£. Name of Property = County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) D private D building(s) Contributing Noncontributing D public-local H district 3 7 buildings E public-State D site 11 D public-Federal D structure sites D object i i structures 1 1 objects 16 9 Total Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously listed (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) in the National Register Historic Park Landscapes in National and State 0 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Recreation & Culture/outdoor recreation Recreation & Culture/outdoor recreation Landscape/park_____________________ Landscape/park___________________ Landscape/forest_____________________ Landscape/forest__________________ 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) OTHER: CCC State Park foundation concrete walls _ wood roof asphalt other stone Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) NFS Fonn 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Mount Philo State Park Section number 7 Page I Charlotte, Chittenden County, Vermont Narrative Description Mount (Mt) Philo State Park, created in 1924 as Vermont's first state park, is located in the rural town of Charlotte approximately 1.0 mile east of US Route 7, between Vermont's Green Mountains to the east and Lake Champlain to the west. The park is surrounded by agricultural and wooded lands. Situated along the slopes and crest of the highest landform in Charlotte, Mt. Philo State Park provides panoramic views of Champlain Valley farms, Lake Champlain, the Adirondack Mountains of New York to the west, and the Green Mountains to the east. The park lies at elevations between approximately 340 feet and 980 feet a.m.s.l. and is comprised of 168.57 acres. The property is primarily wooded with a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest, though the crest of the mountain has been partially cleared to accommodate picnic and recreational areas, and panoramic views. A small portion of the north slope of the mountain is partly cleared for camping sites, hiking trails have been blazed through the woods, and a paved road winds its way through the park, encircling the landform. The park contains buildings, structures and sites constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, along with both older and more recent structural elements and sites. The contributing components, those attributable to the CCC and those associated with earlier recreational use of the mountain in the late 1800s and early 1900s include: (1) landscape design, (2) the park road, (3) a stone culvert and associated stone wall, (4) the parking area, (5) hiking trails, (6) a ranger's house, (7) a combination park building that incorporates an enclosed recreation shelter, an open picnic shelter, and a public comfort station, (8) overlook areas, (9) picnic and recreation areas, (10) nine stone fireplaces, (11) iron railings, (12) camping grounds, (13) a toilet building, and (14) power lines. The inventory of more recent contributions to the built environment within the park includes: (15) the park entrance gate and fencing, (16) a radio antenna tower and associated building, (17) a NFS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Mount Philo State Park Section number 7 Page 2 Charlotte, Chittenden County, Vermont contact station, (18) a combination garage and shower/toilets building, (19) a recycle shed, (20) three lean-tos, (21) metal fireplaces, (22) metal cooking grills, (23) water fountains, (24) picnic tables, and (25) signs. Additionally, two components remain solely as archaeological evidence: (26) the site of a former wooden observation tower, and (27) the site of a metal fire tower. The more recent alterations and construction at Mt. Philo State Park have not significantly altered its original conception and design and the park continues to reflect the historic conservation and recreation trends that helped shape it. In fact, the recent contributions reflect the park's continuous association with and response to Vermont's recreational needs and tourism industry and they represent the latest phase in the park's evolution as a recreational area since the late 1800s. The park preserves not only the efforts of the CCC, but also the tangible remains of earlier efforts that were significant in shaping Vermont's recreational landscape and that were instrumental in forming the foundation for Vermont's tourism heritage. Inscribed in the landscape at the park are the reminders of two significant efforts in Vermont's recreational history: first, early attempts at tourism by private Vermont citizens, and second, the efforts that represent a time period in American history when the nation's early conservation ethic and social reform movements were combined to help create a state park system. Through its long association with recreation in Vermont, Mt. Philo State Park maintains its historic identity and the park retains its integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. Contributing Components (1) Landscape Design, ca. 1938 The development of Mt. Philo State Park's natural landscape and landscape architecture was guided by the park planning policies of the National Park Service (NPS) with portions of the NFS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Mount Philo State Park Section number 7 Page 3 Charlotte, Chittenden County, Vermont plan implemented by the CCC. A 1938 Landscape Plan for ML Philo State Forest Park, State of Vermont depicts the notion of comprehensive park planning that was in place by the early 1930s, in which the park is conceived of as a whole with areas set aside for administrative, recreational and conservation purposes. The plan shows the extensive wooded areas set aside as natural landscape and the large tracts of land defined for evergreen and pine grove plantations at the park. While preserving wooded areas at the park, the plan simultaneously acknowledges the necessity of land for greater human impact and it allows for areas of more intensive recreational use. Park buildings, camping and picnic grounds, hiking trails, roads, and overlook areas are all accommodated