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his tour identifies and describes 14 sites, structures built for business and
state government, and some early homes that have now been converted for office
use.
Site
|
Date
Built
|
Edward
Dewey House
(128 State St.) |
1889-90 |
| Vermont
State Capitol |
1836 and 1859 |
Vermont
Dept.
of Agriculture
(116 State St.) |
1891 |
Vermont
Dept.
of Personnel
(110 State St.) |
1870 |
Pavillion
Office Building
(109 State St.) |
1971
(reconstruction) |
| 107
State St. |
1825-6 |
| 99
State St. |
1816 |
| 89
State St. |
1810 |
Washington
County
Courthouse
(65 State St.) |
1844 and 1880 |
Episcopal
Church
(64 State St.) |
1867-8 |
Jailhouse
Common
(22-24 Elm St.) |
1867-8 |
| 4
Langdon St. |
pre-1853 |
| 41-45
State St. |
1874 |
Walton
Block
(17 State St.) |
1879 |
Edward
Dewey House (1889-90)
128 State Street
 This
building is pure Queen Anne, with different roof lines, assorted windows, and
varying textures. Dewey was a merchant before rising to the presidency of National
Life Insurance Company. The home was designed by George Guernsey and later moved
350 ft from the site of the State Office Building to its present location. Presidents
Taft and Coolidge were entertained here.
Vermont
State Capitol (1836 and 1859)
Website: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/sthouse/sthouse.htm
Between 1778 and 1808, Vermont had no permanent seat of government, and its legislature
met 47 times in 13 different towns around the state. In 1805 Montpelier was established
as the permanent seat of legislature, provided the town erect suitable buildings
and convey them and the land to the State by September, 1808. Subscriptions and
pledges were made, and the land was the gift of Thomas Davis, son of Jacob Davis,
 the
first permanent settler of Montpelier. The first wooden State House, "whittled
out of use" by Representatives' pocket knives, was replaced in the 1830s
with a Barre granite building designed by Ammi B. Young. It looked similar to
the present Capitol, but was smaller. But in January, 1857, fire destroyed the
Capitol so that reconstruction was necessary, with only the portico remaining.
For the third time, Montpelier raised the funds. Architects Thomas W. Silloway
and Joseph R. Richards, designed the exterior and interiors, respectively. Standing
on a small rise with a spacious and carefully landscaped approach, this Greek
Revival building combines dignity of purpose with grace and beauty. Ceres, the
goddess of agriculture, stands atop a gold-leafed dome.
Vermont
Department of Agriculture (1891)
116 State
 Originally
built as the fourth home office of the National Life Insurance Co., this gothic
structure is of sandstone and Vermont brick. It is determinedly asymmetrical with
4.5 stories of varying height, windows of different shapes and sizes, a conglomeration
of roof styles. Over the door is a semi-circular frieze of elaborately carved
wood. The corner tower and 3 story bay in front and the small turret to the rear
break up the massive qualities of this fortress-like structure. Being a prosperous
business, it was built with the latest of technical improvements including speaking
tubes between floors and an elevator.
Vermont
Department of Personnel (1870)
110 State Street
Built for the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Daniel Baldwin, one of the
founders, had his first home on this site. Vermont Mutual constructed this elegant
mid-Victorian with its steep mansard roof on the site. The modillion cornice,
tall pedimented windows with bracket above and below, and the center entrance
graced with modillioned pediment supported by four Corinthian columns all contribute
to the symmetrical proportions.
Pavillion
Office Building (1971)
109 State Street
 This
office building is a reconstruction of the exterior of the Pavilion Hotel of 1876.
This earlier building in turn replaced the first Pavilion, built in 1807. All
three stood on the same site. This spot on the corner of State and Governor Davis
Avenue was historically used as a tavern and hotel for legislators during sessions
and by vacationers. The present modern building duplicates the historic exterior,
and was built with modern building techniques. The bricks were made from 19th
century molds and some of the materials from the old building, such as wooden
verandah spindles and granite sills and keystones, were again reused. With its
inviting plazzas and mansard roof, it is a striking example of Steamboat Gothic
architecture. Visit the Vermont Historical Society Museum.
107, 99,
and 89 State Street (1825, c. 1816, and c. 1810)
All three of these buildings represent the vestiges of what State Street looked
like in the 1820s, with stately, substantial brick homes.
107 - The brick building behind the service station was built somewhat
later than the high Federal style of its neighbors, yet it has many earlier
Georgian features including the gables, whose raking parapets extend over
the roof and include tall, paired chimneys, and the relatively steep roof
pitch. The result is a structure of grander proportions. It was moved to the
back of the site in the 1950s. Visit the interior (now Thrush Tavern) to see
the corner rosette style of the molding around the doorways.
- 99 - The center building represents a more typical example of the
Federal style with tall windows and a slightly inset doorway. The detailing-heavily
detialled cornices and a fanlight over the doorway-is also indicative of this
period. In plan it represents an "I" house, with the front portion
being one room deep and an ell added behind.
- 89 - The building to the right resembles very closely #99 but was
probably built slightly earlier. The similarity of the two may be due to the
influence of Asher Benjamin, whose builder's guide, The American Builders
Companion, contained many examples of details of this type. This was likely
one of the first houses along the Street.
Washington
County Courthouse (1844 and 1880)
65 State
 This
is the third courthouse for Washington County. The second was enlarged in 1879
but a fire the following year made a major reconstruction necessary. The Greek
Revival structure has a ridged roof surmounted by a graceful clock tower. Local
granite was used around the door and for the sills and lintels of the windows.
During 1968-69 the interior was remodelled to a modern look. However, the wooden
stairway has been left intact. Behind the courthouse stands a brick jailhouse.
Episcopal
Church (1867-1868)
64 State Street
The gothic church, built of Vermont granite, originally had a stone broach spire
crowned with a finial. The spire was removed for reasons of safety, but the exterior
otherwise has changed little, considering the fact that it has lived through a
disastrous fire and the 1927 flood. The parish house was added in the late 1930s.
The interior features a vaulted Gothic ceiling and rose window.
Jailhouse
Common (1857)
22-24 Elm Street
Can you see the change in brick type between the second and third floors? This
building was originally a 2.5 story Greek Revival with pitched roof, built as
the town jail. In 1911 it was made wider by two bays, taller by 1.5 stories, and
the roof was flattened. Its appearance was changed from mid-century classic to
early 20th century functional brick.
4 Langdon
Street (before 1853)
This simple frame building with restrained Greek Revival details was originally
located at the other end of Langdon Street-across the river and fronting on Main
Street. Before brick became widely used for downtown architecture, most towns
in Vermont boasted similar store buildings. James R. Langdon moved the building
in order to create his mall shopping complex on his private Street. (see 90-98
Main-Langdon Street on the Main Street Tour).
41-45 State
Street (1874)
 The
site for this three story building has always housed a prominent bank (until recently).
This building has undergone many physical changes. Originally built of brick with
little ornamentation, the mansard roof with unusual round dormers was added at
the end of the century. Further modernization in the 1920s covered the first floor
with stone blocks and replacement windows, at the same time reducing five entrances
to two for a more dignified appearance.
Walton
Block (1879)
17 State Street
Stamped sheet metal ornaments and 8 cast iron columns adorn the facade of this
Italianate business block. It is named after the owner, Samuel Walton, bookbinder
and merchant. In 1967, this building was the first to be extensively rehabilitated,
both inside and out, in keeping with the original architecture.
Tour text is copyrighted, 1991, Montpelier
Heritage Group. Used with permission.
Page updated May 2003 |
