Old Stone House Museum
Encyclopedia
The Old Stone House Museum, a student dormitory once known as Athenian Hall, is a museum run by the Orleans County Historical Society in Brownington, Vermont
. The building is a part of the Brownington Village Historic District
, a district of ten historic buildings added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973.
, the nation's first African-American college graduate. Twilight was the minister of the Brownington Congregational Church and the principal of the Orleans County Grammar School.
The Orleans County Grammar School was the only high school in the county which required many students to travel long distances for their education. They boarded with families in town, including Twilight's. Athenian Hall was built to accommodate the larger number of students attending the Grammar School.
Twilight pressed his board of trustees for a larger building but failed to receive support from the majority. He alienated many of the trustees by his adamancy, and the building was left completely to Twilight. In 1834, he laid out a foundation plan for land donated by Cyrus Eaton across the road from his house. It called for a four story granite building measuring 26 by. Over the following two years the present stone house was erected following the lines and general appearance of a similar building, quite possibly Painter Hall
at Middlebury College
; however, detailed information is not available on how the granite structure was built.
Twilight began building in 1834 and finished two years later. From 1836 to 1859, the building was used as a dormitory
for school children, boys and girls. Due to diminishing school enrollment Athenian Hall was closed for good in 1859. For a brief time Mercy Ladd Merrill Twilight continued to live there with a few boarders. She then continued alone until she moved to Derby
in 1865. When she died in 1878 she was buried next to her husband in Brownington.
The building stayed vacant until in 1918 when the Stone House was put up for auction
. A representative of the railroad in the state of Vermont bid on the structure with the hopes of using the granite stones for bridge abutment
s. The Orleans County Historical Society bid at the price of $500 (the equivalent of $ today) and won the auction. The building was opened as a museum in 1925. The attached barn was torn down in the 1920s.
The building has four floors with twenty-two rooms of exhibits. It is dedicated to the history of the last two centuries in Orleans County, Vermont
, and to the life of Alexander Twilight, the first African-American college graduate in the U.S. and state legislator.
Brownington, Vermont
Brownington is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 885 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.4 square miles , of which 28.3 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...
. The building is a part of the Brownington Village Historic District
Brownington Village Historic District
The Brownington Village Historic District is a historic site in Brownington, Vermont, United States. It is located near the intersection of Hinman and Brownington Center Roads. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 9, 1973...
, a district of ten historic buildings added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973.
History
The Old Stone House, or Athenian Hall, was built in 1836 by Alexander TwilightAlexander Twilight
Alexander Lucius Twilight , born free in Vermont, was the first black person known to have earned a bachelor's degree from an American college or university upon graduating Middlebury College in 1823. An educator, minister and politician, he was licensed as a Congregational preacher, and worked in...
, the nation's first African-American college graduate. Twilight was the minister of the Brownington Congregational Church and the principal of the Orleans County Grammar School.
The Orleans County Grammar School was the only high school in the county which required many students to travel long distances for their education. They boarded with families in town, including Twilight's. Athenian Hall was built to accommodate the larger number of students attending the Grammar School.
Twilight pressed his board of trustees for a larger building but failed to receive support from the majority. He alienated many of the trustees by his adamancy, and the building was left completely to Twilight. In 1834, he laid out a foundation plan for land donated by Cyrus Eaton across the road from his house. It called for a four story granite building measuring 26 by. Over the following two years the present stone house was erected following the lines and general appearance of a similar building, quite possibly Painter Hall
Painter Hall
Painter Hall is an academic building located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Named after T.S. Painter, the building was constructed in 1933, expanded in 1957 and remodeled in 1974.-See also:...
at Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
; however, detailed information is not available on how the granite structure was built.
Twilight began building in 1834 and finished two years later. From 1836 to 1859, the building was used as a dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
for school children, boys and girls. Due to diminishing school enrollment Athenian Hall was closed for good in 1859. For a brief time Mercy Ladd Merrill Twilight continued to live there with a few boarders. She then continued alone until she moved to Derby
Derby, Vermont
Derby is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,604 at the 2000 census. The town contains four unincorporated villages: Beebe Plain, Clyde Pond, Lake Salem and North Derby; and two incorporated villages: Derby Center and Derby Line...
in 1865. When she died in 1878 she was buried next to her husband in Brownington.
The building stayed vacant until in 1918 when the Stone House was put up for auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
. A representative of the railroad in the state of Vermont bid on the structure with the hopes of using the granite stones for bridge abutment
Abutment
An abutment is, generally, the point where two structures or objects meet. This word comes from the verb abut, which means adjoin or having common boundary. An abutment is an engineering term that describes a structure located at the ends of a bridge, where the bridge slab adjoins the approaching...
s. The Orleans County Historical Society bid at the price of $500 (the equivalent of $ today) and won the auction. The building was opened as a museum in 1925. The attached barn was torn down in the 1920s.
The building has four floors with twenty-two rooms of exhibits. It is dedicated to the history of the last two centuries in Orleans County, Vermont
Orleans County, Vermont
Orleans County is one of the four northernmost counties in the U.S. state of Vermont. It borders Canada. In 2010, the population was 27,231. Its county seat is Newport. As in the rest of New England, few governmental powers have been granted to the county...
, and to the life of Alexander Twilight, the first African-American college graduate in the U.S. and state legislator.