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Welcome to Waterbury's
Historic Walking
Tour
Page 4
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This symbol designates that a granite plaque appears on this
building or area. The plaque indicates the original name, date
of construction and historic Waterbury logo.
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| As you pass the school you proceed down Burleigh Hill and
cross Tannery Flat where for many years stood mills for the processing
of animal hides. William Wells and C.C. Warren had tanneries
located across Thatcher Brook. On this flat stood the first two
houses to be demolished in the 1927 flood. |
MILL VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT
Mill Village is the area of Stowe Street just north of three
overpasses of Interstate 89. The outstanding natural feature
of the district is Thatcher Brook, which drops approximately
50 feet in a very short distance. The buildings date mostly from
the mid- to late 19th century when Mill Village was an active
industrial area. There were three dams on the brook to power
a number of industries. Today it is a quiet residential area. |
| THE
GRIST MILL, Waterbury Feed Company, 92 Stowe Street, is the
only remnant of the industrial past of this neighborhood. A former
grist and feed mill built around 1835, this squarish brick building
has been restored recently after a long period of disuse and
deterioration. Remnants of the dam and penstock are at the rear
of the building. |
| 24. At 103 Stowe Street is the RYDER-BAKER
HOUSE, built about 1850. This Greek Revival house has also
been restored following a disastrous fire. Stylistic highlights
of this house are the three-bay portico, temple front and recessed
second floor porch. It is the finest design example in the district. |
| 25. SEABURY-JEWETT HOUSE,
100 Stowe Street, is a neo- colonial of wood frame and brick
veneer with wood shingles above. Note the brick porch with battered
piers supporting the roof, a two-story bay, and a roof dormer. |
| 26. The REVEREND BROWN HOUSE,
111 Stowe Street is a good example of the combined residential
and working agricultural structure so common to rural Vermont.
It dates to about 1855. An extended ell connects the house to
two barns. |
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Due to its harmonious architecture and streetscapes, the overall
effect of Mill Village is a visually pleasing unit; but the thread
of its industrial past links the buildings through their common
focus on the water power of Thatcher Brook and makes the area
a coherent example of 19th century industrial Vermont.
Continue up the hill to view other houses, and cross Thatcher
Brook to Route 100. Turn right (north) and pass through the district
called Colbyville, where two waterfalls provided power for a
variety of industries beginning about 1800 when a wool carding
mill at the lower falls and a potato whiskey plant at the upper
falls existed. Later the Colby brothers began the manufacture
of willow ware - largely baby buggies. In the mid-1900s this
area included 15 buildings and employed 60-100 men.
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| The COLBY
MANSION, built by George Colby about 1871 is an unusual high-style
structure following Mr. Colby's theory of architecture which
fostered local climatic conditions over classical orders. The
Mansion's appearance has been revived. The interior contains
largely original design and woodwork while the exterior also
maintains its original charm. |
| As you continue north on Route 100, you will be paralleling
the tracks of the Mount Mansfield Electric Railroad which was
completed December 18, 1897, and ceased operation on May 2, 1932.
The route was 11.9 miles long running from Waterbury to Stowe
carrying freight, passengers and mail. Take the first right after
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory (Guptil Road). |
| The GUPTIL
FARMHOUSE, second building on the right, is an excellent example
of a Greek Revival farmhouse built circa 1845. A classic cottage,
this five-bay 1-1/2-story structure has twin interior chimneys.
The unusually elaborate central door is framed by pilasters and
Doric columns, three-quarter sidelights, and a full transom.
The barn across the road (now Tanglewoods Restaurant) replaced
an older barn in 1944. The 131-acre farm ceased operations in
1961, yet fifth-, sixth-, and seventh- generations of the original
family still reside on the property. |
| Driving farther on Guptil Road you will notice the intermingling
of old and new buildings. As you approach Waterbury Center, across
from the Post Office, note the farm on the right with its eight-bay
brick farmhouse and barn (MINOTT HOUSE). |
| Beyond
the green, on hollow Road, stands the GREEN MOUNTAIN SEMINARY
building. It was completed in 1869 as the Free Will Baptist Seminary,
with an entering class of 106 gentlemen and 104 young ladies.
The two lower floors were used as classrooms with the third
and fourth for gentlemen's rooming. Note the entrances on intersecting
wings and on the gable ends of the main structure. A belfry tower
and walkway were removed in 1941; the exterior of the building
is largely in original condition. |
| Green Mountain Seminary |
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| Return
to Route 100 by continuing along Hollow Road and turn right to
see the WATERBURY CENTER COMMUNITY CHURCH, completed in
1833. It contains timbers from the Lyon farm and bricks four
layers thick to support the walls. In 1858 a second floor was
added. This is now the sanctuary, reached by stairways on either
side of the double-door entrance. During the Iranian hostage
crisis, the marvelous old bell, brought from Boston in the 1880s,
was rung once daily for each hostage. On the day of their release
the bell pealed 444 times. |
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Also visit LITTLE RIVER STATE PARK, where the reservoir
covers what had once been some of the area's most fertile farmland.
Take a hike to the "ghost settlement" on Ricker Mountain
following a map/guide from the park ranger station. To reach
the state park, drive from the intersection of Route 100 on Route
2 west for 1.7 miles, turn right and follow the signs to the
park. On your way to Little River State Park, notice the EZRA
BUTLER HOUSE at 73 North Main Street. This is the home of
Waterbury's first permanent settler, Ezra Butler. This was the
first frame house built about 1800. Ezra Butler was also the
13th Governor of Vermont.
This concludes this historic walking tour.
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| Waterbury's
Historic Walking Tour |
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CV Chamber / P.O. Box 336 / Barre, Vermont 05641
1-877-887-3678
GO TO:
[email protected]
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