Pond Road Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pond Road Chapel
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pond Rd., Town Hwy. #2, Vernon, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Vernacular Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000959 |
| Added to NRHP | May 09, 1985 |
Pond Road Chapel is an old and special building located on Pond Road in Vernon, Vermont. It was built way back in 1860. This chapel is a great example of a country building made in the Greek Revival style. What makes it even more amazing is that its inside looks almost exactly like it did in the 1800s! Because of its history and how well it's kept, the chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
What the Chapel Looks Like
The Pond Road Chapel is a simple, one-story building made of wood. It measures about 34 feet long and 24 feet wide. The roof is shaped like a triangle, called a gable roof. The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboards. These clapboards are the original ones and were put on with nails made by hand! The building sits on a strong brick foundation.
The front of the chapel has three sections. The main door is in the middle, with windows on each side. Above the door and windows, there are simple decorative edges called cornices. The very top part of the front, under the roof, is flat and smooth.
Inside the Chapel
Stepping inside the Pond Road Chapel is like taking a trip back in time! Almost everything inside is original. The walls still have their old plaster and wallpaper. You can also see the original chair rails, which are wooden strips along the walls. The floor is made of wide wooden boards. Even the carpets in the walking areas between the seats are from that time.
Look up, and you'll see original oil lamps on the walls. These lamps used to light up the chapel before electricity was common. The area where the services were held also has its original items. This includes an old pump organ made by a company called Estey.
A Brief History of the Chapel
The Pond Road Chapel was built in 1860 for a group of people called Advent Christians. They had just formed their church group. This chapel was their main place for regular church services for many years.
However, in 1909, the congregation grew bigger. They needed more space, so they moved to a larger building in South Vernon. The Pond Road Chapel was then used less often.
In 1984, the building was given to the local historical society. This group now takes care of the chapel, making sure it stays in good condition for everyone to see. Even though the historical society owns it, the original church group still holds special services there sometimes. It's a wonderful way to keep the chapel's history alive!
See Also
