Tontine Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tontine Building
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 500 Coolidge Hwy. (US 5), Guilford, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1819 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000158 |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 2008 |
The Tontine Building is a historic and unique building in Guilford, Vermont. It stands at 500 Coolidge Highway, which is also known as United States Route 5. This building was constructed way back in 1819.
It is a rare example of a commercial building from the Federal period in southeastern Vermont. What makes it even more special is how it was paid for. It's one of only three buildings in Vermont known to have been funded by a "tontine." This was a special way of investing money. The Tontine Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Today, it has been updated and turned completely into homes.
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What Does the Tontine Building Look Like?
The Tontine Building is in a very noticeable spot in the center of Guilford village. It's at the corner of Guilford Center Road and US 5. US 5 is a big road that goes north and south through the region.
The building sits on a lot that is shaped a bit like a triangle. This gives it a unique design. The main part of the building faces US 5. It looks like a typical building from the Federal period.
Building Shape and Materials
A long section, called an "ell," stretches out at an angle along Guilford Center Road. This section has a "flatiron" corner, which means it's angled like the front of an old iron. The building has two floors and a sloped roof.
Its outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. The foundation is made from different materials, including stone, brick, and concrete. The front of the building has five sections with windows and a main door in the middle. The door has decorative pillars and a fancy top.
Inside the Building
The angled corner section has two windows. The long ell section has ten window openings. Six of these are from the original building. The other four were added in the mid-1800s when a barn was connected to the building.
Inside, some original parts of the building still exist. This includes the first staircase. However, most of the inside has been changed. It now has seven modern homes for people to live in.
History of the Tontine Building
The Tontine Building was built in 1819. A group of local investors worked together to fund it. They used a special investment plan called a tontine.
What is a Tontine?
A tontine was a popular way to invest money in the 1700s. People would all put money into a fund. The money would then be given out to the investors who lived the longest. It was a bit like a group savings plan where the last survivors got the biggest reward.
Past Uses of the Building
The tontine group owned this building until 1869. For many years, the building mostly had a drugstore on the ground floor. There were also apartments, called tenement units, in the back.
The group that owned the building helped develop the village of East Guilford in the mid-1800s. Over the years, the Tontine Building was used for many different businesses and homes. Then, between 2008 and 2010, it was completely changed. It became a building used only for homes.
