Starksboro Village Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Starksboro Village Meeting House
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Starksboro Village Meeting House, February 2011
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | VT 116, Starksboro, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1838 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002768 |
| Added to NRHP | November 07, 1985 |
The Starksboro Village Meeting House is a special old building in Starksboro, Vermont. It sits right in the middle of the village on Vermont Route 116. This building has been both a church and a place for town meetings.
It was built a long time ago, in 1838. Three different church groups worked together with the town to build it. It's a great example of a building style called Gothic Revival. Because of its history and unique look, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
What Does It Look Like?
The Starksboro Village Meeting House is in the center of Starksboro Village. It is on the west side of Vermont 116. The building is made of wood and has one story. It has a pointed roof and a strong stone base.
A tall bell tower stands above the roof. It has pointed decorations at the top. The front of the building looks balanced and even. There are tall, arched windows on both sides of the main door. The door itself has a pointed window above it.
Inside, you first enter a small hallway. This leads into the main room, called the sanctuary. The walls are smooth, with simple wood panels at the bottom. A special light fixture, once powered by kerosene, hangs in the middle of the room.
The basement of the building was once one big room. It was used for town meetings. Now, it is divided into two parts. Many of its original features are still there.
A Place for Everyone: Its History
Before this building was constructed, town meetings in Starksboro happened in the village schoolhouse. Three church groups also met in people's homes. These were the Methodist, Free Will Baptist, and Christian congregations.
In 1838, these groups decided to work together. They agreed to build this new meeting house. The building was finished in 1840. It became a shared space for both religious services and town gatherings.
Over time, things changed. In 1868, the Free Will Baptists built their own church. The Christian group became smaller and eventually stopped meeting. This left the Methodists as the only church using the building.
The town also moved its offices in 1910. They built a new town hall, which is still used today. The Methodists then joined with the Free Will Baptists. They started using the larger Free Will Baptist church.
After that, the Starksboro Village Meeting House was not used much. It was sometimes used for community events. Since 1957, a group called the Starksboro Village Meeting House Society has taken care of it. They help keep this important piece of history safe.
See also
