Abandoned Vermont: 1829 Sudbury Schoolhouse

Not necessarily abandoned, but certainly neglected.

Most one-room schoolhouses that you’ll find in Vermont are wood frame construction and wood clapboard. For that reason, this Greek Revival one-room schoolhouse of marble construction at the intersection of Route 73 and Route 30 in Sudbury, VT jumps out at the passersby. Known as the District No. 3 School or the Sudbury Hill School, it dates to 1829 (for alterations) and ca. 1821 (original construction).

Today the school appears secure, dry, and safe, but vacant. Do you know who owns or uses the school? If you’re interested in exploring the school and looking in the windows, look at these photographs and captions.

The little schoolhouse sits on the side of the road with a message board, but no news to report in November 2015.

Sudbury School No. 3. Look at the gable end and you can see that the roof might have been raised (hence the 1821 and 1829 construction dates).

Windows were not needed on the north side. At back of the school are the attached privies.

 

Schoolhouse entrance.

The bank of windows was likely added later when school standards were developed. Look closely and you can see an original window (now filled in) to the right of the window bank and on the front left of the gable end.

The west bank of windows.

Desks, books, miscellaneous items, chalkboard, as see through the window.

The schoolhouse appears to have been used in the last half century, based on the desks and the heating duct. Now it serves as storage.

More of the same.

To the privies.

Marble fieldstone construction.

You can find the National Register Nomination here via www.orc.vermont.gov.

What do you think? Beautiful, yes? Would you rather have a vacant/neglected building like this converted to a private residence, a town office, or a museum that is open sparingly?

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Abandoned Vermont: Sudbury House

Located in Sudbury, Vermont, this house is barely noticeable if you aren’t looking for it. It sits on a hill with a beautiful view.

On the hill.

Located in Sudbury, Vermont.

The paint on the side elevations has weathered much faster than that on the front facade. You can see clearly in this image that the ell had other additions (probably covered bays for equipment or vehicle storage).

That porch is barely hanging on to the house; its posts are scattered elsewhere. You can also see the wood windows and wood storms intact.

Front porch detail. These Italiante porches would have been added later, probably at the same time the windows and doors were replaced.

View to the main block from the ell. Note the different window styes.

Window on the ell with a 12/12 sash, and working shutters. These are seen on the rear elevations – they were replaced by the 2/2 sashes on the more visible sides, which was common practice.

View looking through the sidelights from the porch. From the looks of it, at least some of this house has been modernized and perhaps not abandoned for too long.

Though in need of repair, this one strikes me as an abandoned house (or neglected house) that stands a chance if someone acts soon. What potential! Do you have any information about the status of this house?

Preservation Photos #131

Sudbury, VT Meeting House / Sudbury Congregational Church was constructed in 1807 by Charles G. Stewart.

Read the brief history.