MIDDLEBURY COMMUNITY HOUSE NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Glenn Andres, Professor at Middlebury College and local historian calls the Middlebury Community House, the most complete Federal Style building still intact in Middlebury. In A Walking History of Middlebury, Mr. Andres points out the following details about the Community House. Built in 1816 - 1817, the house has four high rising chimneys and is crowned by a white wooden balustrade over the eaves.

The white wooden fence along a stone wall terrace, has alternating long and short pickets that emphasize the height of the house outline and broaden the base line. The graceful curved door hood, called a Belcast, shelters the doorway. It is the only one left in Middlebury. The builder of the house, the Honorable Horatio Seymour, was a native of Litchfield, Connecticut and was born May 31, 1778, son of Major Moses Seymour and Mary Marsh Seymour. Horatio’s father served in the Revolutionary War, represented his town in the state legislature and was the town clerk for almost 40 years, instilling strong community values within his children. Horatio graduated from Yale University in 1797. He spent his first year out of school as an assistant teacher at the Academy in Cheshire, Connecticut. The following year he decided to study Law in Litchfield. Horatio arrived in Middlebury in 1799 to continue his law studies
with Honorable Daniel Chipman.

In 1800 Horatio married Lucy Case, daughter of John Case of Addison and sister of Loyal Case, Esq. a friend and attorney with whom Horatio worked. Mr. Seymour became licensed to practice law and entered immediately into an extensive practice. He quickly became an esteemed lawyer in Middlebury and Addison County. He was appointed postmaster when he arrived in Middlebury, was one of the first directors of the Vermont State Bank when it was established in 1806 and was elected to the U.S. Senate where he served from 1821 - 1833. He supported the incorporation of Middlebury College, Addison County Grammar School and the Female Seminary founded by Emma Willard. Horatio was certainly one of the leading citizens of Middlebury; in 1847 he was honored by Yale University when he received an Honorary Doctors of Law Degree.

Horatio and his wife, Lucy had four children. Three sons: Ozias, Moses and Horatio, all became lawyers. Only Ozias stayed in Middlebury where he practiced law with his father for a time. The Seymour’s daughter Emma married Phillip Battell, another well known Middlebury name.

The fence after

The fence before

Fence repair went off without a hitch this summer. The Partners for the Middlebury Community House raised $1910 as of September 1st. We sincerely thank all the interested people who joined the Partners to support this important improvement project for the Community House.

We know however that there is much more fund raising to be done. Please encourage your family and friends to join our efforts. The fence repair costs were $16,500, besides the support of the Partners organization we also received a $3000. grant from the Vermont Community Foundation, as reported in the last newsletter.

Other summer exterior work completed is as follows, the front and back baluster were repaired and painted using special European paint that the preservation specialists suggested, costing $100 a gallon. Our crew was very careful not to spill any of this "liquid gold".

Since we had a crew on the roof, the gutters, downspouts and pipes were power washed and cleared out. The front of the building where the bricks are spalling, was power washed and primed. Woodwork and new railings were painted on the Main Street side of the building. We hope you notice the improvements to this wonderful house. Please visit us sometime soon when you are in town.

The report was funded in part through the Robert Sincerbeaux Fund of the Preservation Trust of Vermont.

The completed report, done by Thomas F. Keefe, architect from Keefe and Wesher Architects, PC, has given the Trustees a method of prioritizing repairs.

The first item on our repair schedule is the wooden fence that surrounds the house. The cost estimate is $16,500 and work will begin this summer.

It is our hope that interested members of the community will join the Partners for the Community House in supporting this worthy project.

The Trustees of the Community House are grateful to organizations who are giving back to Middlebury by supporting this historic house.

A new garden, a gift from Middlelbury Garden Club, with additional support from the Woman's Club and the Community House was added last summer. Not only is the garden a wonderful addition to the house, it is eye candy to the town.

The Daughters of the American Revolution presented the Community House with a check for $5000 for use as the trustees see needed. The gift from the DAR was the first gift received since achieving the status of a 501-c 3 tax exempt organization.