STRAFFORD VERMONT

Andy Silovich

Strafford History

• The town was chartered August 12, 1761

• Chartered to 64 individuals

• Consist of Strafford, South Strafford, and Old City Falls

• Strafford is home to an abandoned copper mine that once produced the second largest amount of copper a year (now it is one the EPA’s superfund list)

STRAFFORDRandolph

TOWN HOUSE

BARRETT HALL

MORRILL HOMESTEAD

United Church Of Christ

TOWN HOUSE

• Completed in 1799

• Local Gathering Place For Entire Town

• Built atop of man made knoll so it could be seen by everyone

• Has held Town Meeting For Over 150 Years

• Architect Unknown

Exterior

• Large Steeple on face of building

• Steeple contains bell and clock mechanisms that were added after completion

• Has undergone many renovations in its over 200 years of life, including new beams to hold the clock and bell, new siding, addition of simple heating.

Interior

• Two Floors

• Large beams hold up overhanging second floor

• Built so all could see stage

• No heat until late 1800’s

• Large number of windows to provide light

Significance

• The Town House has four yearly events, Town Meeting, Newton School Graduation, 4th July Talent Show, and Voting Takes Place in the Building in November

• There have many published photos of the town house including one on the cover of National Geographic

Condition

The Town House is in relatively good shape for its age, however in recent years the balcony has been made off limits for safety reasons. It is a extremely cold building with no insulation.

FUN FACT: Town meetings have been held every year for over 150 years, except one when the outdoor temp was -17 F.

Barrett Hall

• Built in 1897

• Destroyed by Fire June,1 1938

• Rebuilt 1938-1939

• Designed By Curtis Barrett honoring his parents Hiram & Hannah Barrett

Exterior

• Uses Doric Columns around entrance

• Built in South Strafford

• Has undergone many renovations, including new steps, handicap access, and repainting

Interior

• Two Floors

• Downstairs used for gatherings

• Concrete Foundation

• Beams running length of lower floor to support auditorium above

• Auditorium on second floor

• Used for many different social gatherings

Significance

Barrett Hall is used by all branches of the community. The school uses it to put on plays, the lower level is home to senior lunches every Wednesday, and the entire hall is available for rent if one desires the space.

Condition

On the exterior the hall is in relatively good condition, however on closer inspection one can see large cracks in the foundations that are notorious for leaking water during rain storms.

FUN FACT: The three pictures on the wall in the above photo are of Curtis Barrett, Hiram & Hannah Barrett

Justin Morrill Homestead

• Built in 1849

• Designed by U.S. Senator Justin Morrill.

• Seventeen room home

• Justin Morrill know for Land Grant Act

Exterior

• The Morrill Homestead is the 19th century Gothic Revival style

• Homestead Consists of Many Different Buildings, including barns, tool sheds, ice house, and corn crib

• Large Number of windows to provide natural light during the day

Interior

• The house is a historical site that has been restored to its original condition

• It is fully furnished

• Elaborately furnished

• Windows imported from France

• Note: This is a Picture of one of the elaborate painted windows from the house

Significance

The Morrill Homestead is a window into a world that has gone by. Over the years it has been restored to its original glory and then preserved as a place of learning.

Condition

The homestead is one of the best preserved buildings in Strafford to this day. There is almost always a project going on to try and replicate Justin’s plans for the grounds. There is even a project going on now to build a old demolished barn that will house some of the more climate sensitive objects.

FUN FACT: Everyone that goes to VTC knows the name Morrill, think about it Morrill, Morrill Addition same spelling coincidence, I think not.

United Church Of Christ

• Built in 1839• Built in the Center of Strafford near the

Town House• It is the oldest church in Strafford• Consists of two parts, the original church

and an addition• The addition once served as a local pre-

school and is know used exclusively by the church

Exterior

• Meeting House style building• Max capacity of about 150• Unknown Architect• The addition can be seen off the back of

the original church• The site for the church was chosen

because of shallow bedrock in the surrounding areas which limited the locations it could be built

Interior

• Pew as old as the Building

• Extremely tall ceiling to give the feeling of being close to god

• White walls keep your attention on the sermon and the alter in the front of the building

• Large Windows allow light to flood in from outside

Significance

The significant of the church is none other than a church, However some of the people that have walked thought the doors are what make it so important. One of the most important was the Late William Sloane Coffin. Coffin was a civil rights leader who was close with Martin Luther King and who fought for equal rights for everyone up to the time of his death.

Condition

The United Church of Christ is in good shape. Three years ago the old granite foundations were replaced with modern concrete foundations to provide better support. The pews are as old as the church itself and have withstood the test of time.

FUN FACT: The bell in the steeple was rung by children when it was birthdays when the other half of the church was a pre-school.

All of the buildings that I chose have been very important in the evolution of Strafford. The strange thing about all of the buildings I chose is that they are still performing the jobs that they were built for, on the exception of the Morrill Homestead. This seems odd that buildings that are over 100 years old are still doing what they were built for. It shows that the people that decided to build each of them knew the importance and need of having buildings like these in a developing town.

I believe that because all of these buildings have played important roles in all Strafford residence lives, we will always be willing to make the necessary personal sacrifices to keep the buildings in the same shape that they are in know. And with any hope the buildings will stay were they stand for hundreds of years to come.

Sources

• STRAFFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

• Plaques in, on or around each building

• Local knowledge and conversations with local people