Broad Brook House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Broad Brook House
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(2016)
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 475 Coolidge Hwy., Guilford, Vermont |
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| Built | 1817 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000517 |
| Added to NRHP | August 4, 2011 |
The Broad Brook House in Guilford, Vermont, is a really old building. It was built way back in 1817! Today, it's home to the Guilford Country Store, which has been there since 1936.
This building is special because it's one of the oldest "tavern houses" still standing in Vermont. A tavern house was like a hotel and restaurant for travelers a long time ago. Because it's so old and important, the Broad Brook House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. This list helps protect important historical buildings in the United States.
What Does It Look Like?
The Broad Brook House is located right in the middle of Guilford's main village. It's a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a sloped roof and its outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboard siding. The building sits close to the road, with its main front facing west.
The front of the building is very balanced, with five equal sections. The old main entrance has a simple, classic style from the Federal period. This means it has small windows on the sides of the door and a simple decorative frame above it. There are also parts of the building that stick out, like a section at the back and another on the side where the current main entrance is.
A Building with Many Lives
The Broad Brook House was built in 1817 by a man named Solomon Pratt. He was an important businessman in the area. He built the tavern on what was then the main road for travelers going north and south. This road is now called US Route 5.
Over the years, this building has been used for many different things. It wasn't just a tavern! It served as a place for people to meet, a Masonic lodge (a meeting place for a social group), a post office, and even a barber shop. Imagine all the history inside those walls!
In 1936, a man named George Fisher bought the building. He moved the local general store, which was called Morse general store, from across the street into the Broad Brook House. Since then, it has been the Guilford Country Store, serving the community for many decades.
