STATE OF VERMONT Division for Historic Preservation Montpelier, VT 05602

HISTORIC SITES & STRUCTURES SURVEY District n Complex • Survey Form

SURVEY NUMBER: 0306-2

STATE OF VERMONT Division for Historic Preservation Montpelier, VT 05602

HISTORIC SITES & STRUCTURES SURVEY District n Complex • Survey Form

NEGATIVE FILE NUMBER(S): 81-A-220, 81-A-241, 81-A-285

STATE OF VERMONT Division for Historic Preservation Montpelier, VT 05602

HISTORIC SITES & STRUCTURES SURVEY District n Complex • Survey Form

UTM REFERENCES: Zone/Easting/Northing

A 19 / 267300 / 4925850 B 19 / 267220 / 4925730 C 19 / 267150 / 4925770 D 19 / 267220 / 4925900

STATE OF VERMONT Division for Historic Preservation Montpelier, VT 05602

HISTORIC SITES & STRUCTURES SURVEY District n Complex • Survey Form U.S.G.S. QUAD. MAP:

Concord Quad. 7.5' COMPLEX INFORMATION ONLY

COUNTY: Caledonia COMMON NAME: Grout Farm TOWN: Kirby

COMMON NAME: Grout Farm

LOCATION: Northeast and southwest sides of Route 2, 3/4 miles east of the inter-section with Sf, Johnsburv T.H. 8

PRESENT FORMAL NAME: Poulin Farm

LOCATION: Northeast and southwest sides of Route 2, 3/4 miles east of the inter-section with Sf, Johnsburv T.H. 8 ORIGINAL FORMAL NAME:

Grout Homestead NAME OF DISTRICT: ORIGINAL FORMAL NAME: Grout Homestead NAME OF DISTRICT:

TYPE OF COMPLEX: Farm TYPE OF DISTRICT: TYPES OF STRUCTURES:

House, Carriage House, Barns PHYSICAL CONDITION OF STRUCTURES:

Excellent 80 % Good 20 % Fair % Poor %

PRESENT USE: Residence,Farm,Brick Fac ; PHYSICAL CONDITION OF STRUCTURES: Excellent 80 % Good 20 % Fair % Poor % ORIGINAL USE:Farm

PHYSICAL CONDITION OF STRUCTURES: Excellent 80 % Good 20 % Fair % Poor % ARCHITECT/ENGINEER:

Unknown LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE: Local • State Q National •

ARCHITECT/ENGINEER: Unknown LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE:

Local • State Q National • BUILDER/CONTRACTOR: Unknown THEMES : BUILDER/CONTRACTOR: Unknown THEMES :

ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC: Yes • No E Restricted •

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The Poulin Farm is the most significant farm in Kirby both architecturally and his-torically. Not only is its interpretation of late Victorian architectural styles the most consciously pretentious in the area, it also was the homestead of General William Grout who served in the U.S. Congress for eight sessions. It is the most grandiose and complete interpretation of the Queen Anne style in Kirby and strik-ingly contrasts with the less ostentatious hill frams which only apply small ves-tiges of current architectural styles, such as a Greek Revival entrance or a Queen Anne porch, to basic Cape or Classic Cottage forms. It is set along the fertile lowlands of the Moose River in the southernmost tip of Kirby and presents the image of a very prosperous valley farm. The homestead was settled in 1792 by Theophilus Grout, who along with his neighbor, Peter Page (see 0306-1), were the first settlers of what later became Kirby in 1807, The farm came into the possession of General William Grout, grandson of Theophilus, in 1874, during under whose ownership it was brought to its present appearance. He remodelled and added to a Cape Cod house with Greek Revival/Federal detail built in c.1832. It was the fourth house on the homestead, including the first log home (now gone) built on the hill near the Concord town line. The c.1832 house became the ell and was renovated with dormers and porch in keeping with the style of the large new main house. What is now a separate garage, with the same style dormer, was originally attached as an ell to the c.1832 house. The portion between the two present structures was removed. General Grout also remodelled two original barns and built two new barns which were reputed to be the largest in the vicinity. The large barn of this era and a portion of the older still survived. The basic improvements were in place by 1887 when Child's Gazetteer devoted a few pages to the Grouts and their newly appointed homestead. In an engraving of the house, the notable difference from the present appearance (see Continuation Sheet) THREAT TO STRUCTURES: No Threat • Zoning • Roads Q Development H Deterioration • Alteration E Other:

LOCAL ATTITUDES: Positive H Negative • Mixed • Other :

r MAP: CH Indicate NORTH in circle. Y. Represent each structure

BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION: The boundar/ begins at Point A, a point located at the intersection of the eastern bank of the stream and the eastern extension of a line 50' north of and parallel to the north wall of building #1. Thence is pro-ceeds in a southerly direction along the east bank of the stream, the east bank of the pond and continuing along the east bank of the stream, crossing Route 2 to Point B, located at the intersection of an easterly extension of a line which runs parallel to and 100' south of the south wall of the barn (#3). Thence the boundary proceeds in a westerly direction along said extension, said line and a westerly extension thereof to Point C, at the intersection of said extension and a southerly extension of a line which runs parallel to and 50' west of the north-west wall of building #3. The boundary thence proceeds in a northerly direction along said extension, said line and a northerly extension of said line crossing Route 2 to Point D. Point D is the intersection of said extension and the wes-tern extension of a line 50' north and parallel to the (see Continuation Sheet) REFERENCES: 1, 2, 5, 6 RECORDED BY: I ORGANIZATION': 1 "ATE RECORDED: Deborah Noble Preservation Trust of Vermont _ September 2, 1981

CONTINUATION SHEET

SURVEY NUMBER: 0306-2

Statement of Significance:

is a plain hip roofed entrance porch rather than the Queen Anne veranda and porte-cochere. Also, dormers and a polygonal engaged tower are present rather than the square one. The engraving of the barns show the large one now present with the two older barns. They are attached by additions to each other and to the rear of the large barn on the east side where there presently is a newer barn. Another large barn of c.1880 stood attached to the entrance ramp of the existing barn where there is now a sand shed. An 1899 photograph in the 1904 edition of Jef-frey's Successful Vermonters shows "the residence of the Late General William W. Grout" with the Queen Anne porch, dormers and square engaged tower. The ele-ments of the later photo, especially the square tower replacing the polygonal one, would indicate that further changes were made during the 1890's. It does not seem likely that the engaged tower would have been changed so soon after it was built, thus leading to the conjecture that the 1887 engraving may not be entirely accurate, or a fire might have occurred. General Grout became one of the most prominent men in Vermont history due to his important public service positions. He also was responsible for taking the farm in a rundown condition and greatly imrpvoed it. He began both practical and sci-entific farming. The drained lowlands are some of the most fertile in the area and his reclaimed farm demonstred "the fact that intelligent farming can be suc-cessful and profitable in Vermont."

Boundary Description:

north wall of building #1. Thence the boundary proceeds in an easterly direction along said extension, said line and an easterly extension of said line to Point A, the point of origin.

OUTSTANDING COMPONENTS OF DISTRICT • COMPLEX B Include individual survey number ONLY if surveyed individually.)

MAP NUMBER ; 1 [DATE BUILT; 1880 FUNCTIONAL TYPE : Residence

SURVEY NUMBER: 0306-2 NEGATIVE FILE NUMBER : 8 1 _A_220

COMMON NAME: The Grout Farm OWNER: Marc and Marietta Poulin DESCRIPTION: The 2% story main block of 5 x 2 bays and approximately 50' x 22' is set on a coursed rubble and brick foundation. Basically of rectangular plan with a asphalt shingle gable roof, various appendages contribute irregularity to the plan and massing to suggest the Queen Anne influence. On the northwest facade is a two-story bay window with tripled, 1/1 sash and panelled corner pilasters support a dipped pent eave with Stick Style brackets. A one-story hip-roofed veranda with chamfered columns, turned valance and scroll-sawn balustrade wraps around the north west, southwest and southeast facades. A gable roofed porte cochere on the southwes facade projects from the veranda in front of the right front entrance which has a door with round-headed lights and frosted glass etched with a "G". The original decorative sawn porch foundation cover and porte cochere supports were removed c.1976. The porte cochere was rebuilt with brick supports. A 2h story, square, MAP NUMBER: |DATE BUILT: SURVEY NUMBER: FUNCTIONAL TYPE: NEGATIVE FILE NUMBER: COMMON NAME: OWNER: DESCRIPTION: engaged tower above the entrance echoses the articulation on the bay window with it: triple 1/1 sash and panelled corner pilasters. Its pyramidal roof with final is oierced by three gable dormers with segmental window heads. These dormers were idei tical to a dormer on the left front slope of the main roof. A shallow 2h story gabled wing houses the stairway on the southeast facade and further contributes to the irregular plan and sihouette. Throughout clapboarded wall surface is articulatec with a band of hexagonal shingles below the window sills and in the dormers and a board and batten band with decorative sawn panels just below the roof of the tour-elle. The 2/2 windows are set in plain surrounds with cornice trim and the whole mass is articulated with plain cornerboards and simple entablature at the eaves. The somewhat reduced chimney stack is set in the center rear slope of the gable. MAP NUMBER: pATE BUILT: SURVEY NUMBER: FUNCTIONAL TYPE: NEGATIVE FILE NUMBER: COMMON NAME : OWNER: DESCRIPTION: The 1% story ell is attached to the northeast rear facade of the main block and was originally a c.1832 Cape with Greek Revival and Federal Transitional details. The 30' x 20' structure has a granite block foundation and a post and beam structural system. The asphalt shingled gable roof has two gable dormers on the front southeast slope and rear northwest slope, articulated in the same manner as those of the main Dlock. Recently constructed exterior chimneys are centered on the northeast facade and offset on the northwest facade. The central entry on the southeast facade (flanked by picture windows added c.1976) is the ell's only remaining original ele-ment; it has heavy flanking pilasters and a squared oval transom. The door has six square boldly molded panels, each with four cornerblocks. A one-story shed-roofed Dorch on this facade has four turned columns with scroll-sawn brackets, tying it

[DATE BUILT: MAP NUMBER: SURVEY NUMBER: FUNCTIONAL TYPE: NEGATIVE FILE NUMBER: COMMON NAME : OWNER: DESCRIPTION: stylistically with the main block. The entire ell has plain cornerboards and water table with a molded cornice.

OUTSTANDING COMPONENTS OF DISTRICT • COMPLEX • (Include individual survey number ONLY if surveyed individually.) MAP NUMBER: 2 |DATE BUILT: c .1832 SURVEY NUMBER: 0306-2 FUNCTIONAL TYPE : Garage NEGATIVE FILE NUMBER: 81-A-220 COMMON NAME : OWNER: Marc and^Marietta Ppulin,. a J w DESCRIPTION: This post and beam structure of 20' x 15 '/has a gable roof with a central gable dormer in the same style as the house and ell, indicating that it was altered C.I088O. Two carriage bays on the eaves side now used as a garage. This was originally an ell off the c.1832 Cape Cod house. It extended across the northeast facade of the house and is visible in the engraving in Child's Gazetteer of 1887.

tion

MAP NUMBER: 3 [DATE BUILT: c.1880 SURVEY NUMBER: 0306-2 FUNCTIONAL TYPE : Barn/Brick Factory NEGATIVE FILE NUMBER: 81-A-220 COMMON NAME: OWNER: Marc and Marietta Poulin DESCRIPTION: This three-level post and beam barn with vertical siding and metal gable roof has a covered entrance ramp on the northeast gable end and a 15-paned transom light over the double door opening. Measuring three by seven bays, the 45' x 85' barn has stanchions on the lower level. A square cupola in the center has a roof of two cross gables with round-headed louvered openings on each face. A two-level shed-roofed milkroom is attached to the southeast side of the entrance ramp. At the rear southeast is a two-level metal shed-roofed garage of structural brick and vertical board siding, c.1974. On the rear of the northeast facade of the main barn is an attached, 20th century, two-level gambrel-roofed barn with a metal roof and balloon frame which contains brick making machinery. It has asphalt imitation brick siding. Attached to the southeast side of this barn is a metal cement hopper and a 35' x 35' flat-roofed masonry structure c.1970 used to store bricks. This MAP NUMBER: pATE BUILT: SURVEY NUMBER: FUNCTIONAL TYPE: NEGATIVE FILE NUMBER: COMMON NAME: OWNER: DESCRIPTION: rear ell barn is on the site of the earliest barns on the homestead, seen as sev-eral small gable-roofed structures in Child's Gazetteer of 1887.

MAP NUMBER: 4 DATE BUILT: c iggO SURVEY NUMBER: 0306-2 FUNCTIONAL TYPE: Sand Shed NEGATIVE FILE NUMBER: 81-A-220 COMMON NAME: OWNER: Marc and Marietta Poulin DESCRIPTION: 0n the site of a barn built c.1880, this 3 x 2 bay shed-roofed structure is constructed with a post and beam frame of salvaged materials. It may incorporate part of the remains of the original gable-roofed, three-level barn with a square cupola seen in the engraving in Child's Gazetteer. %

0306-2 #1, 3

Vt. Div. for Historic Preservation Caledonia County, Kirby E Grout-Poulin farm (#1&3) complex 0306-2 81-A-220 Deborah Noble

0306-2 #1, 2

Vt. Div. for Historic Preservation Caledonia County, Kirby N Grout-Poulin house & garage (#1,2) 0306-2 81-A-285 Deborah Noble

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Vt. Div. for Historic Preservation Caledonia County, Kirby NE Grout-Poulin farm complex - front entrance, #1, 0306-2 81-A-241 Deborah Noble

vt. Div. for Historic Preservation Caledonia County, Kirby NW Grout-Poulin farm complex - rear ell entrance, #1, 0306-2 81-A-241 Deborah Noble

0306-2 #3, 4

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Vt. Div. for Historic Preservation Caledonia County, Kirby NW Grout-Poulin farm complex - barns, #3,4, 0306-2 81-A-241 Deborah Noble

vt. Div. for Historic Preservation Caledonia County, Kirby NE Grout-Poulin farm complex - garage, #4, 0306-2 81-A-241 Deborah Noble

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