'A lot of history under its roof': Vermont's Old Constitution House to get facelift
Vermont's Old Constitution House lives on.
The Old Constitution House has been plagued with damage from mildew and moisture since being closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now the National Park Service has awarded nearly $410,000 to Vermont to rehabilitate the historic building, according to a news release.
Located in Windsor, the Constitution House − as its name indicates − is where Vermont's first constitution was adopted on July 8, 1777.
Even better, the tap room at the former tavern saw more political debate than occurred at town meetings, according to legend, as people gathered to drink, socialize and discuss the events of the day. The Constitution House was first opened to the public in 1961, after being saved from demolition around 1870.
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The Vermont Constitution was the first in America to prohibit adult slavery and the first to establish universal suffrage for men without requiring them to own property or have a certain level of income to be able to vote. It was also the first to establish a system of public schools.
"The Old Constitution House has a lot of history under its roof that will continue to be enjoyed for years to come by Vermonters and visitors to the state alike," Gov. Phil Scott said in a statement. "We are grateful to the NPS as well as former Senator Patrick Leahy for the advocacy in securing these funds."
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The grant came from the Semiquincentennial Grant Program, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The National Park Service awarded a total of $10 million to 20 preservation projects across 14 states in a second round of funding.
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When will Vermont's Old Constitution House reopen
The money from the grant will be used to deal with the damage caused by mildew and moisture in the Old Constitution House.
The historic windows will be restored and a new mechanical system will be installed to improve the air quality in the building. The plan is to reopen the Old Constitution House in 2026, in time for Vermont's 250th anniversary.
Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosi@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Old Constitution House in Windsor VT to be repaired for reopening
