BROWNINGTON — The Old Stone House Museum has received a $75,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grant from the Preservation Trust of Vermont to support restoration of its historic wood windows.
Built in the 1830s by Alexander Twilight, the first African American college graduate and state legislator in the United States, the Old Stone House serves as the centerpiece of the Orleans County Historical Society’s educational and cultural programming.
“Investing in Vermont’s historic buildings is just as much about investing in people—the volunteers from places like West Fairlee or Sudbury who understand that preserving a historic library or meeting house also means preserving a community’s future,” said Ben Doyle, PTV president.
The grant is supported by the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The program supports preservation and restoration of buildings and community gathering spaces of economic and social significance in rural communities with fewer than 7,500 residents.
Other recipients of Bruhn Historic Revitalization subgrants include the Granger House in Castleton, Brown Public Library in Northfield, Highgate Manor, 24 Main in Saxtons River, Stannard Church, the U.S. Customs House in St. Albans, the Sudbury Meetinghouse, and Bean Hall in West Fairlee.
The grants range from $50,000 to $100,000 and will fund structural repairs, roof replacement, window restoration, masonry repairs, exterior work, restoration of interior finishes, and code and energy efficiency improvements.
“We are pleased to see NPS funding supporting rural preservation and community revitalization projects across Vermont,” said Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint. “Each project preserves our state’s history and addresses the challenges facing our smallest communities. PTV Bruhn recipients are adding housing units in downtowns, revitalizing community gathering spaces, and investing in beloved cultural institutions.”
