Greenwood House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Greenwood House
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 Location in Vermont
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| Location | VT 103, Chester, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1850 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003442 |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1985 |
The Greenwood House, now called the Gingerbread Apartments, is a historic building in Chester, Vermont. You can find it on Vermont Route 103. This house was first built around 1850. Then, about 1900, it got a big makeover. It's special because it blends two different styles: Greek Revival and Late Victorian. Because of its cool design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Discovering the Gingerbread House
The Greenwood House is a two-and-a-half story building. It is made of wood and has a roof that slopes down in the front. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. Its strong base is made of granite.
What Makes Its Look So Special?
The front of the house is truly eye-catching. It features fancy Victorian decorations called "gingerbread styling." This detailed trim can be seen on the gable, which is the triangular part of the roof. It also decorates the porch that wraps around the house. This porch even has a rounded part on one corner that goes up two stories!
You can still see hints of the house's older Greek Revival style. Look for the flat columns, called pilasters, at the corners. These go up to a decorative band, or entablature, just below the roof's triangular section. Even though the inside has been changed, it still has parts from both its original Greek Revival look and its later Queen Anne style.
A Look Back in Time
People believe the Greenwood House was built around 1850. We don't know who built it. Back then, it was at the very edge of Chester's village. It stood across from the local school, which was also a Greek Revival building.
After 1870, the Haselton family bought the house. Their daughter, Hattie, later married John Greenwood. Around 1900, the Greenwoods decided to give the house a major update. This is when they added the fancy front porch and other cool features.
The house and its carriage barn were turned into apartments in the late 1960s. The carriage barn also has some Greek Revival features. Today, the Greenwood House is often shown in articles that promote tourism in Chester. It's a real landmark!
