Progress

 

It takes a village, and then some…

  • Welcome to the historic Craftsbury Inn, where history whispers through the walls and every corner tells a story of resilience and renewal.
    Nestled in the heart of Craftsbury, Vermont, the Craftsbury Inn was once labeled functionally obsolete, its charm overshadowed by years of neglect.  But for Sung-Hee, an advocate for historic preservation, the Inn was a hidden gem waiting to be revived, and so a transformative journey to restore the property to its former glory began in 2013.

  • The barn condition assessments, made possible by a Robert Sincerbeaux Fund Grant and a Barn Assessment Grant, through the Preservation Trust of Vermont

  • Building additions that were beyond repair were deconstructed; asbestos removed; foundation restored; sill and roofing replaced, all by Craftsbury Outdoor Center and with financial assistance from a partnership between the Freeman Foundation and Preservation Trust of Vermont

  • Land surveyed and a topographical map was made of the property

  • Started on ADA-compliant river path

  • Began riverbank restoration. Craftsbury Conservation Commission identified CPH as one of three test sites for Japanese Knotweed eradication

  • Wildlife and plants inventoried in collaboration with Sterling College

  • Began tree inventory with Orleans County Forester, Jared Nunery

  • With the support of BERC , SSREIP, and Northern Forest Center, oil burning furnace was replaced with wood pellet boilers

  • Awarded Vermont Downtown and Village Center Tax Credits toward code and technology improvements

  • Awarded Economic & Infrastructure Development Grant from federal Northern Borders Regional Commission for modern addition on the former barn ell footprint to house restaurant & office space. Phase 1 of the project shifted from restoring the historic building to restoring its economic infrastructure.

  • Recipient of USDA RBDG that funded energy-efficient commercial kitchen equipment

  • Three destination chargers for electric vehicles

  • Ward Clapboard Mills generously donated historically correct clapboard to side the restored wall.

  • Amid the pandemic, the rise in crime against Asians, and when George Floyd and Christian Cooper raised awareness of violence and oppression of people of colour and other marginalized individuals and groups, Craftsbury Public House achieved a Certificate of Occupancy.

  • The recreation trail was updated thanks to the assistance by Foundation Cycling NYC.  The trail, named Freedom and Unity (Strava Segment: https://strava.app.link/HIJlEv8QW8), will reconnect to the Craftsbury Outdoor Center trails and is ready to be unified into the broader town initiative to provide all season recreational trail access to Craftsbury Village.