Castleton College: The Old College Quadrangle

Text from historical markers on the quadrangle.

The Old College Quadrangle

Founded in 1787, Castleton originally was housed in a single building located near the present town library. The first building erected on the present campus was the “Old Seminary.” Its cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1829, by Colonel Noah Lee, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, and Soloman Foot, Principal of Castleton Seminary and later President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate during the Civil War. The “Old Seminary” stood above Seminary Park until January 3, 1924, when it was destroyed by fire. Woodruff Hall, the cornerstone of which was laid on August 23, 1924, now occupies the site.

Like its modern namesake, it commemorated Captain Abel E. Leavenworth and his son Philip R. Leavenworth, Principals of Castleton Normal School from 1881 to 1912. Castleton’s Fine Arts Center, which opened in 1969, stands upon the site of “Philips House,” the Leavenworth family home and later a residence for students.

Fine Arts Center

The Castleton Medical College building — the “Old Chapel” — was given to Principal Harriet Haskell in 1865. For over a century it stood next to the “Old Seminary” and later Woodruff Hall; it was moved to its present location outside the Alumni Gate when the Fine Arts Center was built. This building, Wright House, and Woodruff Hall are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The “Old Chapel” Castleton Medical College (1818-1862)

Above: Castleton Medical College was the first such college in Vermont. This structure, built in 1821, was originally located on Main Street west of the present town library. In 1864 a leading citizen presented the building to Harriet Haskell, Principal of Castleton Seminary. It has served the College as dormitory, classrooms, and chapel and is a reminder of traditions which date back to the College’s founding in 1787. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Click to view large.

Click to view large.

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Calvin Coolidge and Plymouth Notch, Vermont

On September 23, I went to the Calvin Coolidge Homestead in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. Coolidge was the 30th president. You can find visitor information here. There was a Cheese and Harvest Festival going on, so it was crowded but fun. I posted a slideshow of the photos here. If you wish to view the individual photos and read the detailed comments, go to my web album here or to my Flickr set here.

I must return as soon as I can to view the cemetary and the Coolidge gravesite.

Technorati tags: Plymouth+Notch Vermont Calvin+Coolidge

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Photo Hunters: Architecture

Hartford Municipal Building
Hartford, Connecticut

This building replaced the Old State House as the seat of city government when it opened in 1915. The design is of the Beaux-Art style, constructed of brick and faced with white Bethel, Conn. granite, with a copper and tile roof. All of the entrances are bronze. The 3-story central atrium is 25' wide by 150' long, decorated with panels depicting scenes from Hartford's history.

I took these photos when I lived in Hartford. I love this building and many others in Hartford. Hartford was the center of great architecture in the Golden Age, when Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe lived there.

I made a movie of these shots which can be seen HERE.
Thank you for stopping by! I can't wait to see the other posts!
For more photos, click "Read More" below.


Hartford's Municipal Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

http://hartford.omaxfield.com/munibldg.html

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Hartford Municipal Building, Hartford, Connecticut

A short video (1:07) I made of still photos of Hartford City Hall when I lived there.

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Newport: National Register of Historic Places

PHOTO BY ROBIN SMITH

HISTORIC NEWPORT
Newport City's downtown is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The city is seeking to become a designated downtown under the Vermont Downtown Program.

Newport City On National Register Of Historic Places
It Is Now Seeking Downtown Designation

BY ROBIN SMITH, Staff Writer

- NEWPORT CITY -- Newport City is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

That recognition is the first step among many to becoming a designated downtown in Vermont, and gaining the tools, expertise and funds to explore the city's untapped future.

The city's downtown coordinator, Patricia "Trish" Sears, is hosting a special gathering on Jan. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gateway Center. Sears and a team of experts will lead a discussion of the process of becoming a designated downtown, and the benefits.

Sears wants to ask this question of everyone: "What should Newport look like in five years?"

Sears is inviting everyone who lives, works or uses the city's downtown - and that includes people from across Vermont's North Country. The meeting will be catered and child care will be provided.

The city went on the National Register in October.

The downtown district encompasses the commercial core and immediately adjacent residential neighborhoods, including 121 contributing buildings.

According to a description on the Preservation Trust of Vermont Web site, the downtown is mostly commercial with examples of domestic, institutional, fraternal, industrial and ecclesiastical structures.

Most buildings were built between the 1840s and 1955. The styles range from Greek Revival to Colonial Revival and the American International style.

The buildings show most of their original distinctive materials and features. They "reflect the growth and evolution of Newport as an important economic and social center in northern Vermont with a thriving economy based on the lumber industry, maritime activity, the railroad and tourism," the Preservation Trust notes in its newsletter.

Newport City is the last city in Vermont to go after the Downtown Designation through the Vermont Downtown Program, Sears said.

Sears has a contract with the city to create a nonprofit organization that will see the city through the changes that the downtown community pursues.

Sears came on board last fall, and has been busy connecting with the divergent groups who have an interest, sometimes competing, in the city's downtown.

The constituents of downtown are many: residents, landlords and tenants; business owners, the Chamber of Commerce and their customers; pedestrians and motorists; the city's active recreation department and the children and families who benefit; state government, the court system and all their clients; tourists and the locals who fish off the bridges; and everyone who works in the city from across the region.

Her "big picture" approach is to build on downtown's assets, not just list the city's problems.

"We need to understand that Main Street is our gateway. It's not only economic but it's community development," Sears said.

She wants to know how those that are required to live or walk in downtown to be near government services and those who serve them can find common ground with the retail community. It shouldn't be local businesses pitted against local residents, she said.

"How can we partner in taking part in the pride of our Main Street?" she said.

Her job is to open communication and connections among all the groups that use Main Street.

"I want us to be planning into the 21st century," she said.

Her inspiration is Magog, Quebec, on the north end of international Lake Memphremagog. Thirty or 40 years ago, Magog was an industrial town that hadn't tapped into the waterfront resource it now uses to attract thousands from the Montreal area. Its waterfront is accessible, with tour boats and festivals. Its downtown is alive in the summer with activity.

Goal: A Busy Downtown

"My goal is to have downtown Newport as busy as Magog on weekends," Sears said.

As a historic place recognized by the National Register of the National Park Service, downtown building owners can qualify for more assistance to maintain their distinct history.

Sears also will connect with experts who have "found" Newport City to tap their knowledge of how other communities have blossomed. She also wants to talk to those who worked in the Newport of yesteryear, on the railroad, for example.

She would also like to help promote the proposed tour boat by a local couple, which could be up and operating this summer.

Developers can make money here, and those wanting to leave a legacy behind will find ways to invest here, Sears said. She is meeting with as many people who have something to give to the city as she can, bringing them together for the city.

The meeting on Jan. 24 is the first chance for Sears, assisted by Joss Besse of the Vermont Downtown Program, to unveil what it takes to become a designated downtown.