Vermont Housing Conservation Board 2005 - Vermont Housing and ...

HISTORIC PRESERVATION
A New Role
for a Local Landmark
RIVER ARTS, MORRISVILLE
The pre-Civil War, Greek Revival structure that will soon become the first
home of River Arts of Morrisville, Inc., has already played a starring role in
community history.
Standing in downtown Morrisville, the two-story building housed the first local
high school, a private school that was called the Poor People’s Academy until
it was transferred to public ownership in 1866 and became People’s Academy. Up
top, the bell tower still houses the school’s original bell, even though the structure
was moved to Pleasant Street in 1874 to make room for the current high school.
The old academy became a store, then served from 1925 until just recently as the
home of Lamoille Grange 233. But as the Grange’s local membership dwindled,
a newer community nonprofit, River Arts, founded six years ago, was growing in
size and yearning for a center of its own.
“And this building really is a treasure. It’s totally open inside, with these lovely
spaces,” says Joanne Harrison, board chair of River Arts.
The organization provided over 5,400 Lamoille County residents last year with
programming that includes visual arts, performing arts, youth and elder arts, and
a wide range of community events — all without a permanent space for offices,
performances, and programming.
A VHCB grant enabled River Arts to purchase the Grange building at a negotiated
low price. The Grange will continue to meet in the building without charge.
River Arts’ fundraising campaign will allow the group to rehabilite the building,
making code, access, and other improvements. River Arts aims to create an accessible
upstairs concert and assembly space, and also to use the building for classes,
offices, and much of its programming. “This building was a center for community
life as a school, then as a Grange,” Harrison notes. “It’s sitting in an important part
of downtown, in great disrepair. It’s going to be great to have it back again.”
“As special as
Vermont is, it is
also fragile. Carefully
done, we can
have growth without
spoiling our nest.
We can make sure
that consumers have
what they need,
and strengthen our
downtowns and
community centers.
We can support our
homegrown, locally
owned businesses.
It’s not easy work,
but with some
hard work and a
collaborative spirit,
I bet we can do it!”
— Paul Bruhn,
Executive Director,
Preservation Trust of
Vermont
A Preservation Grant from the
Freeman Foundation and the
Preservation Trust of Vermont
will be used to construct a new
foundation, and assist with exterior
woodwork repair, painting, and
window conservation. VHCB funds
helped to purchase and stabilize
the building.
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