The Heights (Middlebury, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Heights
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c. 1900 photograph
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | South St./VT 30, Middlebury, Vermont |
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| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | Clinton Smith |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003082 |
| Added to NRHP | December 29, 1988 |
The Heights, also known as the Thaddeus Chapman House, is a special old country estate. It is located on Vermont Route 30 in Middlebury, Vermont. This property was built in the 1870s and 1880s. It is one of the most beautiful estates from that time in the state. The Heights was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This means it is an important historical site.
Contents
What is The Heights Like?
The Heights estate is found on the edge of Middlebury village. It is southwest of the main campus of Middlebury College. You can find it on the west side of Vermont Route 30.
Who Built The Heights?
The estate was started in 1870 by Thaddeus Chapman. He was a well-known local businessman. He worked in the lumber industry.
Exploring the Estate Grounds
The property covers about 40-acre (16 ha) of land. Along the road, there are many trees and a hedgerow. A long, tree-lined driveway goes west towards the main house. Open fields, called meadows, stretch out on both sides of the drive. The back part of the estate has a forest. The area around the house is designed more formally.
Buildings on the Property
Besides the main house, there are several other old buildings. These include a carriage barn, a children's playhouse, a springhouse, and a gas house. To the northwest of the main house, there is a terraced sunken garden.
The Main House
The main house is a large brick building with 2 and a half stories. It was built in 1870. In 1887, it was updated a lot. A famous local architect named Clinton Smith designed these changes. Both the outside and inside of the house are richly decorated. They show the popular Queen Anne style from that time.
The Playhouse
The playhouse is about 100 feet (30 m) north of the main house. It is a simple, single-story building made of wood. Thaddeus Chapman built it around 1887 for his daughters to play in.
The Carriage Barn
The carriage barn is a building with several sections. The oldest part of it was built in 1870. It was first used to keep horses and carriages. Later, it was made bigger to include a garage and a shed.
