Restoring Middlebury's Village Green

Restoring Middlebury's Village Green. . , The Middlebury Village Green was established around 1790 on land donated by village co-founder, Gamaliel Painter. In 1849, the construction of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad through Middlebury resulted in the truncation of the Village Green, leaving a triangular piece of land at its western point wherein the Allen Block stood., After the fire of 1891, this land stood vacant until 1908, when Joseph Battell and the Century Club formally established Triangle Park., The Middlebury Bridge and Rail Project, constructed from 2018 to 2021, replaced two 1920s-era bridges crossing the rail line on Main Street and Merchants Row with a tunnel, thus reconnecting Triangle Park with the Village Green., The Allen Block , Constructed around 1821 by Samuel Sargent, the Allen Block was a two-story, gable-roofed brick commercial building that faced west down Main Street. Throughout its life, the Allen Block housed myriad businesses, including grocers, confectionaries, restaurants, a bookstore, tailors, hairdressers, a photographer, a dentist, a tinsmith, coffin and casket sellers, and a meat market. The post office, insurance agents, and tax collectors were likewise located in this block throughout its history. On this lot stood a public well operated with an iron pump., The Fountain and the Park , The original three-tiered cast iron fountain, installed in 1908 and topped with figures of cranes, was unpopular to some because wind-driven spray from the fountain dampened the interiors of open cars parked around it; in 1938 it was removed. By the 1960s, Triangle Park was a neglected green space. Inspired by the upcoming 1976 United States Bicentennial, Doris Bowker and the Middlebury Garden Club revitalized Triangle Park. The current fountain urn, remarkably cast in the same foundry and with the same patterns as the 1908 original, was discovered in the gardens of Middlebury philanthropist Jessica Swift. It was purchased and donated to the Town by Middlebury business owners Tony Neri, Tom Langevin, and Neil Kvasnak. This fountain was temporarily removed during tunnel construction and restored before reinstallation. The new Triangle Park was designed and constructed as part of the 2018-2021 Bridge and Rail Project. The stone seats in Triangle Park are historic ashlar blocks installed in the 19th century as abutments for the railroad trench., 1790s Land for Village Green donated by Gamaliel Painter , around 1821 Allen Block constructed , 1826-1827 St. Stephen's Episcopal Church constructed , 1849 Rutland and Burlington Railroad constructed, requiring bridges at Main St. and Merchants Row 1891 Allen Block burned in fire that consumed much of Merchants Row , 1892-1898 Battel Block constructed , 1908 Triangle Park established , 1920-1921 New bridges built on Main Street and Merchants Row , 1938 Fountain removed , 1960s Triangle Park falls into disrepair , 1976 Triangle Park revitalized by the Middlebury Garden Club for the United States bicentennial; fountain reinstalled , 2018-2021 Construction of Middlebury Bridge and Rail Project, ( photo captions ) , , View of Main Street and Merchants Row following the fire of 1891. The Allen Block has been reduced to ruins. The railroad trench is visible between the ruins and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. This area later became known as Triangle Park. Collection of the Henry Sheldon Museum, Middlebury, Vermont , , View of Triangle Park, around 1915. Behind Triangle Park and the hedges is the Rutland Railroad trench with St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on the other side of the trench. Collection of the Henry Sheldon Museum, Middlebury, Vermont , , The original fountain, installed in 1908, removed in 1938. Collection of the Henry Sheldon Museum, Middlebury, Vermont, This project was made possible by: , Federal Highway Administration , State of Vermont , Town of Middlebury , VHB (engineering/design firm) , Kubricky Construction (prime/lead contractor) , Engineers Construction, Inc. (support contractor)