Architectural History ProjectA look at Burlington in the 19th century

VTC ~ Fall 2007

Jayson Meunier

A look at the Burlington City Evolution

Intention of this project:• Discuss Burlington city history• Explore some of the architectural styles that evolved in the

Burlington area through the 1800’s• Visit four properties with 4 distinctly different architectural

styles.• Explore the Federal, Greek revival, and Baroque Renaissance

styles that came together to help create the architectural history we are fortunate to have access to today.

• Grasse Mount– 411 Main Street– Federal style mansion(1804)

• Store Front– 111-113 St. Paul Street– Federal Style Storefront (1820)

• Follett House– 69 College Street– Greek Revival style (1841)

• St. Joseph Co-Cathedral – 29 Allen Street– Baroque Renaissance style(1887)

Examples of Architecture in Burlington, built in the 19th century:

Architecture “Around Town”

Grasse Mount411 Main Street

• A two-story rectangular Federal Style Mansion built for Thaddeus Tuttle a wealthy businessman of the time. Unfortunately, by 1824, Tuttle, was no longer a wealthy businessman, but instead approaching bankruptcy. Tuttle sold the home to Cornelius Van Ness, the eighth Governor of Vermont. It was his wife who bestowed the name Grasse Mount on her stately mansion, naming it after a French Count.

• In the late 1800's the ell in the back, cupola on the roof, and the conservatory on the west side were added.

• In 1895 the Grasse Mount was sold to UVM and is currently used for the offices of University Development and Alumni Resources.

This is original tapestry uncovered in and left exposed after renovation

Grasse Mount

Grasse MountFederal style mansion

Conservatory

In 1804 Thaddeus Tuttle hired John Johnson and Abram Stevens to design and build his home, a large two-story rectangular federal style mansion

Grasse MountFederal style mansion

Detailed woodwork and fireplace in room on second floor

Carved newel post At stair entrance

Ornate woodwork

In the early 1800’s Burlington was evolving. Ethan Allen's brother Ira helped lay out Burlington simply by providing what people needed. Like others, Ira was capitalizing on the abundant lumber in the region. Merchants were enjoying great financial gains from lumber sales including export to Canada. This area of the country was a resource for building products. Due to the abundance of wood in the region, buildings in the area were largely wood framed structures. Local quarries also offered abundant stone to architects and later bricks became largely used as well.

In the mid 1800’s Burlington was quickly becoming a center of commerce and evolving into a city. The surrounding waterways and established mills of neighboring Winooski put Burlington right in the sweet spot for expansion and establishing it’s commercial prowess. The waterway to the south of Lake Champlain known as the Champlain Canal opened water travel from north into Canada through Vermont into the Hudson and out again into NY Harbor. This key waterway connected NY City to Canada and business boomed all along this waterway, including Burlington’s bustling harbor.

In addition to moving products ~ the mills, the shipping industry, the railroad, and road traffic all had another thing in common ~ people. These industries brought people who settled in Vermont increasing the need for buildings.