Old Stone House Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Stone House Museum
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Athenian Hall in Brownington, Vermont
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| Location | 109 Old Stone House Rd., Brownington, VT |
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| Nearest city | Newport |
| Website | http://oldstonehousemuseum.org |
| Part of | Brownington Village Historic District (ID73000197) |
| Designated CP | May 9, 1973 |
The Old Stone House Museum & Historic Village is a special place in Brownington, Vermont. It's a museum managed by the Orleans County Historical Society. The main building, called the Old Stone House, is part of the Brownington Village Historic District. This district has ten old buildings that were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It's a great spot to learn about history!
Contents
The Story of the Old Stone House
The Old Stone House is also known as Athenian Hall. It was built in 1836 by Alexander Twilight. He was an amazing person, the first African-American college graduate in the United States. Mr. Twilight was a minister at the Brownington Congregational Church. He was also the principal of the Orleans County Grammar School.
Why the Stone House Was Built
The Orleans County Grammar School was the only high school in the area. Many students had to travel far to attend. They often stayed with families in town, including Mr. Twilight's family. Athenian Hall was built to give more students a place to live. It helped the Grammar School welcome more learners.
Mr. Twilight wanted a bigger building for the school. He asked the school's leaders for support. However, most of them did not agree with him. He was very determined, and this caused some disagreements. So, Mr. Twilight ended up building it mostly on his own.
In 1834, he planned the foundation for the building. The land was given by Cyrus Eaton. It was located across the road from Mr. Twilight's house. The plan was for a four-story granite building. It would be about 26 feet wide and 66 feet long. Over the next two years, the stone house was built. It looked similar to another building, possibly Painter Hall at Middlebury College. We don't have all the details on how the granite structure was built.
From Dormitory to Museum
Mr. Twilight started building in 1834 and finished two years later. From 1836 to 1859, the building was a dormitory. Both boys and girls who attended the school lived there. But over time, fewer students enrolled in the school. Because of this, Athenian Hall closed its doors in 1859.
For a short time, Mercy Ladd Merrill Twilight, Alexander's wife, continued to live there. She had a few boarders with her. Later, she lived there alone until she moved to Derby in 1865. When she passed away in 1878, she was buried next to her husband in Brownington.
The building stayed empty for many years. In 1918, the Stone House was put up for auction. A representative from the railroad wanted to buy it. They hoped to use the granite stones to build bridge supports. But the Orleans County Historical Society also bid on the building. They offered $500, which was a lot of money back then. The Historical Society won the auction!
The building officially opened as a museum in 1925. An old barn that was attached to the building was taken down in the 1920s.
What You Can See Today
Today, the Old Stone House has four floors. There are twenty-two rooms filled with exhibits. The museum shares the history of the last two centuries in Orleans County, Vermont. It also tells the amazing story of Alexander Twilight. He was not only the first African-American college graduate in the U.S. but also a state legislator.
