NEW BUILDINGS ECHO THEIR FORERUNNERS

By Stowe Historical Society Board Members: Jim DiClerico & Ruth Hamilton October 2023 enewsletter

Recently a few Board Members with the Stowe Historical Society attended the film, Vanish, and the after film gathering at Robert Paul Gallery. The film, by Vermont photographer Jim Westphalian, documents several historic buildings found in Vermont and many other structures mostly in the Northwest, that are gradually fading from the landscape. We have many of these buildings still standing in Stowe. Some have been rebuilt or historically restored, but many have been torn down and replaced with new structures. Currently there are two buildings under new construction in Stowe that the Stowe Historical Society provided historical references and photographs. Both buildings were designed with consideration paid to the physical design of the original building they would replace, respectively. The developers of these new structures have come up with buildings that fit their former location within the Stowe and Moscow Villages. This  E-News  explores that history through a few photos from our collection, and the ever developing stories from people associated with the buildings.

Buildings hold memories for those who lived, worked, worshipped, shopped or spent time in them for other purposes. So when they vanish, to co-opt the word photographer Jim Westphalian gave to his compelling film on structures gradually fading from the landscape, a sense of loss understandably takes hold. Fortunately for Stowe, two vanished buildings have been reincarnated on their sites by new owners sensitive to people’s desire to honor their histories. 

One stands next to the Stowe Community Church on Main Street where the Spaulding Block held sway for decades. Venturing recently to town with any regularity, one could hardly miss the new arrival going up. Nor could many people resist standing on the sidewalk to watch and wonder, even walking around to the back for another view. The other new addition surely caught the eye of travelers on Moscow Road just west of the River Road intersection. Even not-so-old old timers would recognize the site as that of the former Moscow General Store.

Each of the vanished Buildings has a story to tell

The one adjoining Stowe’s steepled icon stood on property originally called the P.E. Luce Block, which Samuel Spaulding bought in 1897.

Thereafter known as the Spaulding Block, it functioned mainly  as tenement housing. Spaulding himself seems to have moved around quite a bit, starting as a tenant on a farm in Stowe Hollow and eventually building a house which still stands north of town. Samuel Spaulding was the great grandfather of local Stowe resident, Kermit Spaulding.

By contrast, the vanished structure on Moscow Road had gone up in 1886, the work of Lemuel B. Smith and his family, for whom the village originally was named Smith’s Falls. It quickly became the focus of local commerce when a 22-year-old named James B. Hyde became the first keeper of the Moscow General Store the same year. The building also began serving as the village’s post office in 1886, with Hyde as assistant postmaster. Seven years later, the young man was appointed postmaster and in 1895 bought the store and continued in both capacities until 1899. 

Several postmasters succeeded Hyde, as did many storeowners, most notably William W. Adams (15 years), Nelson Warner Church (22 years) and Paul DeCelle (resident, postmaster and storeowner for over 25 years). Subsequently in 1994, Alex and Sarah LeVeille, a local couple, leased the store.

Eventually, then owner Anderson Leveille, made a lease-to-buy deal with Chris and Peigi Guerra (c. 2006), who had been managing the emporium and post office. (Above right, Moscow General Store prior to recent demolition.)

New but similar Architecture

The developers of both replacement buildings worked with the Historic Preservation Commission to produce designs both fitting their locations and as consistent as possible with their ancestor structures. 

Now known as The Mink Block, the replacement for the former Spaulding building has the same flat-roofed profile, though it rises one floor more.  Some longtime residents, gazing at the finished gray-and-white structure have been heard to say, “It fits in really well.”

The street floor has two retail spaces, one to be occupied by a Starbucks outlet, the other still awaiting s tenant. Upstairs is residential space. Those hoping that the former ice cream store would not be lost will be happy to know it remains. Next door is a new games arcade sure to be loved by our younger generations.

In Moscow, the new building resemblances the old and fits well with neighboring structures. On the first level, to the right as seen from the road, is large-windowed retail space. Adjoining is office space. Above is a single three-bedroom apartment. Moscow residents look forward to the possible revival of the store as it was a popular meeting place for many decades.

This early Stowe structure, still standing on the Brownsville Road, certainly fits with the buildings in the film "Vanish", as shared by Jim Westphalian. Longtime Stowe resident, Kermit Spaulding, remembers playing there as a young boy when the area was farmed by his grandparents, c. 1940'a.

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Photos:  C.C.Stafford's Pharmacy & Dry Goods (Lackey's), Spaulding Block and Stowe Community Church, and The Country Store on Main, Mink Block, and Stowe Community Church, Moscow Post Office & General Store, and new Moscow Commercial Property

We want to thank all ours Members and Volunteers. Together we share the importance of preserving the history and the people who created and developed Stowe. If you would like to become a Member or Volunteer, please contact the Stowe Historical Society, info@stowehistoricalsociety.org