The longest-running general store in Vermont, dating to the mid-1790s, was lost to arson on November 1. Now, with grants from Chittenden Bank and the Harris and Frances Block Foundation as well as strong community donation and sustained support from the Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Windham Foundation, the Putney Historical Society is firming up plans to rebuild on the foundation in the center of town, and plans a community meeting to update the community on its progress.
Chittenden’s most recent contribution is $2K. Rick Chapin and Arne Hammerlund of Chittenden met with General Store project manager Lyssa Papazian and president Stuart Strothman at the site of the former General Store to give the check.
In addition, the Harris and Frances Block Foundation recently granted $8K for the project, and grantors such as the Preservation Trust and Windham Foundation have stayed with the Historical Society through their loss. The Village Revitalization Initiative, a $100,000 federal grant arranged collaboratively through Sen. Patrick Leahy and the Preservation Trust of VT, has also ‘stayed the course.’ PHS remains very hopeful that significant state support from the Vermont Community Development Program and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board will be sustained.
Community support in the wake of the horrible event has been tremendous; since the fire, $40K has come from community donations. Recently the Preservation Trust of Vermont added $10K to a $20K anonymous challenge grant, which the Putney Historical Society is hoping to match with further community efforts. Donations can be sent to Box 233 in Putney, Vermont 05346, or made online at putneygeneralstore.org
Middle school students are selling tickets for the raffle initiated by the Putney Craft Tour, which is actively selling tickets at community supper and other events, and at their studios. Prizes are on display at the Putney Inn, and tickets can be purchased there, the Putney Bookstore, Putney and Brattleboro Co-ops, Dragonfly Dry Goods, and Vermont Artisan Design, or online at colorquilts.com . That drawing will be held February 11 at the community supper.
Store design is still in the planning phase. An amazing network of local people have offered timber, milling, and construction of the store frame, showing their heart in the face of the town’s tragedy. With all these reassurances. the Putney Historical Society is sure the project can move ahead.
The historical society is planning a community meeting to discuss the status of the general store project on February 1 at 7pm at the central school. We will have people available, including chief Tom Goddard and Tracy Schreiver, Windham County’s state’s attorney general, to answer questions on all aspects of the project.