Clementwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Clementwood
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Clement Rd., Rutland, Vermont |
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| Area | 21 acres (8.5 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| Architect | J. J. R. Randall |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000338 |
| Added to NRHP | September 27, 1980 |
Clementwood is a historic estate located in Rutland, Vermont. It's a very old and important property. Today, it is part of the campus for the College of St. Joseph. You can find it on the west side of the city.
A wealthy businessman named Charles Clement built this estate in the 1850s. His family made a lot of money from the marble industry in the area. The main house at Clementwood is a beautiful example of Italianate style architecture. This means it looks like old Italian villas. Currently, the college uses the house for its main offices. Clementwood was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list recognizes important historical places in the United States.
Contents
Exploring Clementwood: A Historic Estate
Clementwood is located just outside Rutland city. It sits on the south side of Otter Creek. This historic property now makes up the western part of the College of St. Joseph's campus. The estate covers about 21 acres of land. This land includes beautiful gardens and wooded areas.
What Does Clementwood Look Like?
The estate has several buildings. These include the main house, a carriage barn, and two houses that used to be for caretakers. The main house is a fancy example of Italianate architecture. It has two stories and a hip roof. A hip roof slopes down on all four sides. On top of the roof, there's a small tower called a belvedere. This tower offers great views. The house also sits on a strong marble foundation.
The front of the house has three sections, called bays. The middle section sticks out a bit and has a shallow gable roof on top. Over the years, the building has been changed and added to. This shows its long history as an important place.
The Clement Family and Their Legacy
Charles Clement developed the Clementwood estate. His family owned businesses that worked with marble in Rutland. These businesses grew much larger in the 1850s. This happened because the railroad came to the city, making it easier to move marble. The main house was probably built around 1856 or 1857. A well-known local architect named J. J. R. Randall might have designed it.
The estate was named "Clementwood" by combining two names. It used Charles Clement's last name and his wife Elizabeth Wood's maiden name. The Clement family also became involved in banking and railroads. Charles's son, Percival Clement, became very active in politics. He even served as the Governor of Vermont from 1919 to 1921.
Clementwood's Journey to a College Campus
After Percival Clement passed away in 1927, the estate was divided. This part of the property was bought in 1948. It became part of the campus for the short-lived Rutland Junior College. Later, in 1964, it became the campus for the College of St. Joseph.
For many years, the estate house was used as a library. It also provided housing for faculty members. Many of these faculty members were nuns from the Sisters of St. Joseph. In the 2000s, the main house became even more important to the college. It now holds the administrative offices. It is also used as a place for special events and gatherings.
