The Oldest House in Vermont Still Stands Strong After 259 Years

Vermont is rich in history with some of New England’s oldest homes and structures. Since 1986, state-funded grants totaling $6 million have helped homeowners and non-profit organizations revitalize historic homes and barns. Preserving history ensures that homes from the earliest settlers still stand today. Which is the oldest standing house in Vermont? It’s not quite as simple as you’d think.

The first permanent settlement, known as Fort Dummer, was formed by European colonists in 1724, which is known now as Brattleboro. This area of Southern Vermont housed the first permanent settlement, but not the first settlement. That’s partially why there’s debate on which house is the actual oldest.

For years, the DeVoet-Mooar-Wright House claimed the honor of being the oldest home, but questions arise due to recent findings. Dendrochronology proves some homes are much older than initially thought. That’s important as the Governor Hunt House dates back to 1764 using dendrochronology, a full 15 years older than original claims, making it the scientifically-backed oldest home in Vermont.

What Is Dendrochronology?

Dendrochronology is a scientific method that uses a tree’s ring pattern to age the timber. Scientists remove a core from the home’s timber and study the pattern of the rings. They’re compared to similar trees in that region to find where the rings match. The ring’s pattern helps determine the age of the tree compared to the home’s timber.

Radiocarbon dating pairs with dendrochronology as a way to double-check. Carbon dating studies the decay of radiocarbon isotopes to determine the timber’s age.

When Was Vermont Admitted to the United States?

In 1609, Samuel de Champlain was the first European to land in the area, which was home to Native American tribes, particularly the Abenaki. French military forts popped up from the northern part of the state to the southern, and the first, Fort St. Anne (1666), sat on the island known as Isle La Motte on the northern end of Lake Champlain. Fort St. Anne was the first settlement in Vermont, but it wasn’t a permanent settlement. As a result, all of the original structures fell to ruin.

The aptly named Green Mountain State was part of New France for 150 years until Britain defeated France in the French and Indian War. At that point, British settlers moved north from Massachusetts to Fort Dummer/Brattleboro, which became Vermont’s first official settlement in 1724. However, it would be several decades before Vermont became the official 14th state in 1791.

What Is the Oldest House in Vermont?

For years, historians believed the DeVoet-Mooar-Wright House on Main Street in Pownal was the oldest standing house in Vermont. Estimates put the home’s construction in the range of 1750 to 1765.

Some believe that Charles Wright, one of Pownal’s original settlers, built his tavern around 1765, but others believe that Jan Ernst DeVoet, a Dutch settler, built the home in the 1750s or earlier. As that date hasn’t been scientifically verified yet, experts cannot certify the DeVoet-Mooar-Wright House as Vermont’s oldest standing home.

Experts dated the Governor Hunt House in Vernon through dendrochronology. For years, historians dated the home’s construction to 1779, but the inclusion of recessed bread ovens in the kitchen and keeping room, which were uncommon in that decade, raised doubt. Dendrochronological studies proved the house was actually built in 1764.

Construction of the Oldest House in Vermont

Jonathan Hunt, his father Samuel, and his brother Arad used colonial land grants from New Hampshire’s governor and built a post-and-beam colonial home on a large piece of farmland. Samuel milled pitch pine and oak trees into the timber framing for their house, which he could do after his work at a local mill. Those timers framed and supported their multi-story farmhouse. Mechanical heating systems didn’t exist at that time, but every room was heated solely by fireplaces vented to a central chimney.

The Governor Hunt House Today

After the Hunts passed away, the home changed hands several times. Florence (Louchheim) Stol purchased it in 1947 for summer use and maintained ownership until she died in 1967.

The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation purchased it to house the nuclear power plant’s administrative offices, which proved difficult as fireplaces remained the only heat source.

After Vermont Yankee’s decommissioning, the home was donated to the Friends of Vernon Center for restoration with future plans that use the building and its additions as a community center and venue for weddings, corporate events, art shows, and private parties.

Where Is the Governor Hunt House Located on a Map?

The Governor Hunt House sits in the small town of Vernon, an area in southeastern Vermont. It’s tucked south of Brattleboro, west of the Connecticut River, and abuts the Massachusetts border. Vernon’s population is 2,192 per the 2020 U.S. Census.

Things to Do in Vernon

Vernon is a small village covering 20 square miles with a large nature park as the main attraction. Outdoor enthusiasts don’t want to overlook the J. Maynard Miller Municipal Forest’s 3.25-mile natural trail system.

The town forest is known for its swamps housing 400-year-old black gum trees. In addition to the black gum trees, you might spot a variety of birds and animals, which include black bears and wood ducks.

Head north on Route 142 for 6.9 miles to visit Brattleboro and the area that was Fort Dummer. In addition to several historic sites, including the dog-friendly Fort Dummer State Park, Brattleboro is home to the Grafton Village Cheese Company and T.J. Buckley’s, a Vermont farm-to-table restaurant housed in a restored 1925 Worcester dining car. Reservations are highly recommended because the dining car offers limited seating.

Boston, MA, is two hours south and home to many more historic homes and sites, including The Freedom Trail. This 2.5-mile trail passes 17 historic sites, one of which is Boston Commons, the oldest public park in the United States.

Explore Vermont’s Historic Houses at the Shelburne Museum

Vermont has dozens of historic homes, but many are privately owned and unavailable to the public. The best way to explore some of Vermont’s oldest structures is by visiting the Shelburne Museum, founded by Electra Havemeyer Webb of the Shelburne Farms’ Webb family.

The museum houses several relocated historic structures that workers carefully restored on the museum grounds. Highlights of the museum include the 1782 Dutton House, which was a boarding house and general store; the Ticonderoga, a 1906 steamboat that brought travelers to destinations along Lake Champlain; and the Settler’s House, a dovetailed beech and pine log cabin that depicts life in the 1700s.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Bob Pool/Shutterstock.com