Adamant near Calais in Washington County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
Historic Kent Tavern
Photographed By Steve Bergeron, November 12, 2012
1. Historic Kent Tavern Marker
Ira Kent home seen in background.
Inscription.
Historic Kent Tavern. . This brick tavern was built by Abdiel Kent between 1833 and 1837. It served as his home, and from 1837 to 1846 was a stagecoach stop on the road from Montpelier to Canada. The Kent family settled in Calais in 1798 and this section of town is known as Kents Corners. One of Abdiel's six brothers, Ira Kent, lived in the white clapboard house across the street. Together from 1837 until 1860 they operated I&A Kent Store in the two story wooden addition on the tavern. The Kent family owned the property until 1916 and at various times and places in town made and sold shoes and boots, ran a brickyard and sawmill, and farmed. The barn is the only survivor of several outbuildings that stood on this property. Louise Andrews Kent, the best selling author of the "Mrs. Appleyard" series of books, convinced her cousin, A. Atwater Kent, the radio inventor and magnate, to purchase his great uncle's home and restore it as a museum in 1930.
This brick tavern was built by Abdiel Kent between 1833 and 1837. It served as his home, and from 1837 to 1846 was a stagecoach stop on the road from Montpelier to Canada. The Kent family settled in Calais in 1798 and this section of town is known as Kents Corners. One of Abdiel's six brothers, Ira Kent, lived in the white clapboard house across the street. Together from 1837 until 1860 they operated I&A Kent Store in the two story wooden addition on the tavern. The Kent family owned the property until 1916 and at various times and places in town made and sold shoes and boots, ran a brickyard and sawmill, and farmed. The barn is the only survivor of several outbuildings that stood on this property. Louise Andrews Kent, the best selling author of the "Mrs. Appleyard" series of books, convinced her cousin, A. Atwater Kent, the radio inventor and magnate, to purchase his great uncle's home and restore it as a museum in 1930.
Erected 1997 by Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1833.
Location. 44° 22.122′ N, 72° 29.123′ W. Marker is near Calais, Vermont, in Washington County. It is in Adamant. Marker is at the intersection of
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Kent Hill Road and Old West Church Road, on the right when traveling east on Kent Hill Road. This location is on dirt and gravel back roads which may be in poor condition in winter/spring. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Calais VT 05648, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2012, by Steve Bergeron of Milton, Vermont. This page has been viewed 662 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on March 7, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 19, 2012, by Steve Bergeron of Milton, Vermont. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.