/U~2,^ NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 10024-0618 ' (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 tiox 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 corripFete~alI items."~ 1. Name of Property____________________________________________________ historic name WILSON HOUSE___________________________________________ other names/site number Barrows House. Mt. Aeolus Inn___________________ 2. Location street & number VI I lage Street__________________________N /$ not for publication city or town Dorset (East Dorset Village)__________________N/[A] vicinity state Vermont_______ code VT county Benn i ngton____ code 003 zip code 05255 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this (3 nomination O 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 S statewide K] locally. (D See continuation sheet for additional comments.) & November 1, 1995 Signature of certifying official/Title / ' Date Vermont State Historic Preservation Office 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: /Uyj /^Srgnature,of^tie Keepelj / / } Date of Action 5l entered in the National Register. / L/ ^ , D See continuation sheet. (_0/^-^^~^ D determined eligible for the National Register D See continuation sheet. CH determined not eligible for the National Register. CD removed from the National Register. d other, (explain:) Wl I son House Bennlngton County. Vermont 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.) ^private Q building(s) Contributing Noncontributing D public-local D district 1 buildings D public-State D site D public-Federal D structure sites D object structures objects 1 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 N/A_____________________ 0 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Domesti c/hoteI Domestic/hotel 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Greek Revival___ foundation stone walls __ weatherboard roof asphaIt other s I ate marb1e Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-O018 (8-86) , United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet wri Section number 7 Page —!—— Be n n ' DESCRIPTION Situated at the central street intersection of the mostly residential East Dorset village, the Wilson House (hotel) incorporates a main block, rear (east) ell, and connected former barn surrounded by informally landscaped grounds. The three blocks share two-and-one-half-story height, post-and-beam framing and clapboard sheathing, and gable-roofed form. The main block and east ell display basic Greek Revival stylistic features such as smooth corner pilasters and molded eaves entablature. The eaves-front, eight-by-three-bay main block carries continuous shed dormers on both slopes of its roof. A multi-bay porch with chamfered posts on pedestals wraps around the main (west), north, and south facades. The eight-bay main facade includes two entrances, the primary having multi-pane sidelights and transom; its window openings contain the six-over-six sash common to the building. The east ell also contains two entrances on both its multi-bay north and south eaves facades along with a greater variety of window sash. The former barn has been altered somewhat (especially in its fenestration) by conversion to meeting space and lounge; a massive stone fireplace chimney has been added to its north eaves facade. Appended to the barn's east gable facade, a one-and-one-half-story, gable-roofed former chicken coop has been converted to domestic use. The Wilson House stands in the southeast quadrant of the central street intersection in the small village of East Dorset. The north-south street and primary axis of the village, now known as Village Street, was formerly part of U.S. Route 7. That highway was shifted one block westward when reconstructed during the 1960s, and the street was then terminated at the north edge of the village. The east-west street, known historically as East or Peru Street but now called Mad Tom Road, was terminated previously at the east edge of the village after being abandoned where it ascended the steep mountain on that side of the valley. The hotel dominates the village center, being the largest single building. Diagonally across Mad Tom Road to the northeast, the Congregational Church constitutes a somewhat smaller local landmark. In front of the west-facing church and directly opposite the Wilson House's north facade, the informally landscaped church grounds serve as a central green shaded by a few deciduous trees. Across Village Street from the hotel's main NPS Form 1 0-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0078 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Wl I son House Section number _Z__ Page —I—— Bennington County, Vermont (west) facade, the historic two-story general store building has been converted to apartments. The Rutland Railroad depot stood next to the north of the general store until its removal after the abandonment of passenger service in the 1950s. Away from this central nucleus, both streets are predominantly residential in character. Paralleling the edge of each street next to the hotel, a sidewalk laid with thin rectangular slabs of local marble delimits the narrow strip of lawn along the west and north perimeter of the building. In front of the main (west) facade, two similar walkways of marble slabs link the sidewalk and the two-tier marble block steps serving the two entrances. Aligned with the walkway to the main (north) entrance, a rectangular marble horse block is placed at the outer edge of the sidewalk. A square marble hitching post now stands next to the horse block's south end; the post has been moved from its original position about 15 feet to the south. Short coniferous shrubs are planted at intervals between the sidewalk and the front porch. Only two mature maple trees now survive on the front strip of lawn to provide shade for the hotel. Several maple saplings have been planted recently to replace other trees that previously formed a continuous row along the front and north side of the building. Other mature shade trees stand along the south edge of the lawn occupying the more expansive south grounds. The Wilson House consists of three distinct but connected blocks - the main hotel block paralleling Village Street, an east ell block paralleling Mad Tom Road, and a former barn that now constitutes an east wing connected to the ell. The three blocks share simple rectangular plans, two-and-one-half -story height, post-and-beam wood frames, clapboard sheathing, and gable-roofed form. The Greek Revival style main block and east ell block retain their original domestic uses. The third and easternmost block was originally a detached carriage barn? it was extended westward during the 1920s the few feet necessary to connect it to the east ell, and then adapted to domestic uses (now a meeting room and lounge) relating to the hotel. The main block of the Wilson House rests on a mostly invisible foundation of mortared rubble. The wood-framed, post-and-beam structure is sheathed with clapboards of medium exposure. At the corners, broad smooth pilasters with molded capitals support a OMB Approval No. T024-00J8 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet WiI son House, Section number _Z__ Page_!__ Bennington County, Vermont simple entablature that follows both the horizontal and raking eaves. The roof now lacks an interior chimney. Oriented parallel to the north-south street in front of the building, the main block's gable roof is asphalt-shingled on the peripheral surfaces surrounding the continuous dormers. The shed-roofed dormers displace most of the original west and east roof slopes, being full-length (five bays) on the west and half- length (two bays) on the southeast slope (the latter is limited by the east ell's intersecting roof). Reflecting their c. 1920 origin, the dormers display plainer treatment than the main block; they are clapboarded with a narrower exposure, their corners are trimmed with plain boards, and their eaves have a plain frieze below a simple molded cornice.