Round Schoolhouse

Last updated
Round Schoolhouse
BrooklineVT RoundSchoolhouse.jpg
USA Vermont location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationGrassy Brook Rd., Brookline, Vermont
Coordinates 43°1′17″N72°36′17″W / 43.02139°N 72.60472°W / 43.02139; -72.60472
Area0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built1822 (1822)
Built byWilson, John "Thunderbolt"
NRHP reference No. 77000104 [1]
Added to NRHPNovember 23, 1977

The Round Schoolhouse is a historic school building on Grassy Brook Road in Brookline, Vermont. Built in 1822, it is the oldest brick schoolhouse in Windham County, and further distinctive for its round shape. From 1929 to 1989 it served as Brookline's town hall. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. [1]

Contents

Description and history

The Round School House is located on the west side of Grassy Brook Road, south of the center of Brookline, and just south of the road's crossing of Grassy Brook. It is a single story circular brick structure, with a shallow-pitch conical roof. A gabled vestibule projects to the south, providing the only entrance to the building, and there are five windows in its walls. The roof is held together by an iron hoop, with rafters leading from the wall to a king post at the center. The post rises through the center of the roof, providing a finial on the exterior. The interior of the school is a single chamber, which originally had benches arranged to face the teacher's desk, which was located near the door. The interior dates to 1910, with tongue-and-groove flooring and wainscoting. [2]

The schoolhouse was built in 1822, replacing an earlier wood frame structure that stood nearby. The school was built by John "Thunderbolt" Wilson, a Scottish immigrant who is said to have been a highwayman in his native country, but established a practice as a doctor and teacher, serving Brookline and Newfane. The building was used as a schoolhouse until 1929, when a new school was built that conformed to state standards. The building was then used as Brookline's town hall until 1989. [2]

A plaque on the exterior of the schoolhouse, as of August 17, 2020, reads as follows: "Designed -1821- By Dr. John “Thunderbolt” Wilson. Built in 1822 on this site deeded to the Town of Brookline by Peter Benson, for the sum of $5.00. Dr. Wilson, a former Scottish highwayman, taught the first term of 60 pupils who sat on benches. The interior was completely renovated in 1910 and on March 5, 1929 the building was turned over to the Town of Brookline for use as the town hall. This building is thought to be the only round school-house ever constructed in this country." [3]

See also

Photo of Plaque on exterior of building Photo of Plaque on exterior of building..jpg
Photo of Plaque on exterior of building

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dutch House (Brookline, Massachusetts)</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Dutch House is a historic multi-unit residential building at 20 Netherlands Road in Brookline, Massachusetts. This four-story brick building was originally built as an exhibition hall at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, where it served as the Dutch Cocoa House. It is a close copy of the Franeker City Hall in Franeker, Netherlands. The door frame, embellished with stone animals, is a replica of the Enkhuizen Orphanage. The building's interior is highly ornate, with massive ceiling beams and Flemish wooden panels. The original dining room included classic blue and white Delftware tiles, some more than 300 years old. The exterior has a high mansard roof that extends over two floors, and has stepped gables. The windows include more than 12,000 individual lights of leaded green glass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Brick Church (Athens, Vermont)</span> Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Old Brick Church is a historic church building off Vermont Route 35 in Athens, Vermont. Built in 1817, it is a modest Federal style brick structure that served as a church and civic center into the 20th century. Architecturally it represents a transitional period, built with the furnishings of a typical 18th-century New England colonial meeting house, arranged on the long axis as was typical of 19th-century churches. It is now owned by the town, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Christ Church (Bethel, Vermont)</span> Historic church in Vermont, United States

Old Christ Church is a historic Episcopal church at the junction of Vermont Route 12 and Gilead Brook Road in Bethel, Vermont. Built in 1823, it is a well-preserved Federal period church, lacking modern amenities such as electricity and plumbing. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. It is used for services only during the summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roswell Butler House</span> Historic house in Vermont, United States

The Roswell Butler House is a historic house on Upper Main Street in Essex, Vermont. Built about 1822 with later alterations, it is a good local example of Federal period architecture. It was built for Roswell Butler, a prominent local businessman from whom the surrounding Butler's Corner neighborhood takes its name. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. It is also known as the 1820 Coffee House and the Kilmoyer House on the Essex Vermont town list of historic sites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brick Schoolhouse (Sharon, New Hampshire)</span> United States historic place

The Brick Schoolhouse is a historic one-room schoolhouse at 432 New Hampshire Route 123 in Sharon, New Hampshire. Built in 1832, it is the only of the town's three such buildings to survive, and was the only one made of brick. It is also the only school building now standing in the town, since its students have been schooled in neighboring Peterborough since 1920. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, and the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brookline-Newfane Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Brookline-Newfane Bridge is a historic bridge spanning the West River between Brookline and Newfane, Vermont on Grassy Brook Road. It is a camelback through truss bridge, built in 1928 by the Berlin Construction Company in the wake of Vermont's devastating 1927 floods. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 as Bridge 19, at which time it was one of seven surviving camelback bridges in the state. It last underwent a major rehabilitation in 2003-4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">District No. 1 Schoolhouse (Somerset, Vermont)</span> United States historic place

The District No. 1 Schoolhouse is a historic one-room schoolhouse on Somerset Road in Somerset, Vermont, United States. Built about 1850, it is the only known entirely unaltered district schoolhouse in the state, and is probably the only surviving municipal building from the tiny community, which was disincorporated in 1937. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grafton District Schoolhouse No. 2</span> United States historic place

The Grafton District Schoolhouse No. 2, also known locally as the Old Fire Station, is a historic civic building at 217 Main Street in Grafton, Vermont. Built about 1835, it has served as a school, fire station, Masonic hall, tin shop, undertaker's shop, and as the clubhouse of a local brass band. Despite some alteration, it is a well-preserved example of a mid-19th century Greek Revival schoolhouse. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Windham Village Historic District</span> Historic district in Vermont, United States

The South Windham Village Historic District encompasses a small rural village in southern Windham, Vermont. Located at the junction of Windham Hill and Chase Roads, it has been little altered since the late 19th century. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernon District Schoolhouse No. 4</span> United States historic place

The Vernon District Schoolhouse No. 4 is a historic school building at 4201 Fort Bridgman Road in Vernon, Vermont. Built 1848, it is a well-preserved mid-19th century brick district school, which now serves as a local historical museum. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitingham Village Historic District</span> Historic district in Vermont, United States

The Whitingham Village Historic District encompasses much of the current village center of Whitingham, Vermont. It was developed mainly in the second half of the 19th century around industries powered by local water sources, and includes well-preserved architecture from that period. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braintree School</span> United States historic place

The Braintree School, also known as the District 8 School, is a historic school building at 9 Warren Switch Road in Pawlet, Vermont, United States. It is a single-room district schoolhouse built in 1852, and used as a school until 1934. It is now a museum property owned by the Pawlet Historical Society, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poultney Central School</span> United States historic place

The Poultney Central School is a historic former school building on Main Street in the village center of Poultney, Vermont. Built in 1885, it is a high quality example of Late Victorian Italianate architecture executed in brick. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and has been converted into residential use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">School House and Town Hall</span> United States historic place

The School House and Town Hall is a historic municipal building on Schoolhouse Road, just west of United States Route 7 in the center of Leicester, Vermont. Built about 1858, it is a fine example of late Greek Revival architecture, and is the town's best-preserved district schoolhouse. Its upper floor has served as the town hall since its construction. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spencer Hollow School</span> United States historic place

The Spencer Hollow School is a historic school building at 50 Spencer Hollow Road in Springfield, Vermont. Built about 1810, it is a fine local example of a district schoolhouse. It was used as a school until 1926, and as a clubhouse for a time thereafter. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonesville Academy</span> United States historic place

The Jonesville Academy is a historic school building at Cochran and Duxbury Roads in Richmond, Vermont. Built about 1868, it is a prominent local example of Italianate school architecture, and was used as a school until 1955. It is now in private ownership as a residence. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Berkshire School</span> United States historic place

The West Berkshire School is a historic school building at Berkshire Center and Mineral Brook Roads in Berkshire, Vermont. Built about 1820, it is one of the state's oldest surviving two-room two-story schoolhouses. It was used as a school until 1970. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">District 6 School House</span> United States historic place

The District 6 School House is a historic school building at 73 Cemetery Circle in Lyndon, Vermont. Built in 1857, it served as a school until 1900, and saw use in the 20th century as a garage, storage facility, and museum. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">District No. 5 Schoolhouse</span> United States historic place

The District No. 5 Schoolhouse is a historic district school building at 32 Pleasant Valley Road in Underhill, Vermont. Built in 1861, it served the town as a school until it was damaged by fire in 1951, but remains a community landmark. It is now owned by the local historical society. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brookline Baptist Church</span> Historic church in Vermont, United States

Brookline Baptist Church is a historic former church building at 632 Grassy brook Road in Brookline, Vermont. It was built in 1836 for a congregation established in 1785, and served the congregation regularly until 1945. It is now used as a community function space. It is a locally distinctive example of vernacular Gothic Revival architecture, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "NRHP nomination for Round Schoolhouse". National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  3. http://brattleborowords.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/50740049741_cbc6dfc7fe_o-scaled.jpg [ bare URL image file ]