Granville, Vermont - July 6, 2011
With a snip of the scissors, a ribbon-cutting opened the new town clerk's office in Granville. And it's located in a familiar space-- the old one-room schoolhouse.
"I like the idea of traditional buildings evolving with the times," said Brook Werner, a former Granville student.
In 2009 voters decided to close the one-room schoolhouse. But the community wanted to make sure the building was saved.
"It was the perfect place to think about putting the town clerk's office in," said Vivian Branschofsky of the Granville Select Board.
Residents decided to close the old town clerk's office a few miles up the street. After four decades it was just too small.
"It's like night and day. It was very small; no running water, no bathroom," Granville Town Clerk Kathy Werner said.
The old schoolhouse was the perfect size and it's rich in history. Before becoming a school it was a church and the town hall is attached. The school has hosted politicians and some memorable moments, like when Sen. Patrick Leahy and Fred Tuttle made a campaign stop here in the late 1990s.
"It was during a regular school day. They were talking about why they were both running for the Senate and then they opened it up to questions and answers. It was really charming," said Marcelle Leahy, the senator's wife.
Former Miss Vermont USA Brooke Werner attended school there.
"I would not want to see the buildings go to waste, to know that all the great memories that I had here, and hundreds of children before me, would kind of fade away," Werner said.
The restoration project cost $320,000 and was paid for by federal funding and a low-interest loan. The town hall was also repaired. The tilting steeple was secured and a new floor was put down to accommodate larger crowds.
"The architect did a good job of keeping the historic fabric intact," contractor Jeremiah Parker said. "Most things were cosmetic, plaster, repair, electrical work, new vault was installed."
"It's a much nicer town clerk's office for the people that need to come here and do research, that sort of thing. Much more accessible and we have more room so people can come to meetings," Branschofsky said.
Saving a piece of history without destroying its legacy.
"All over this state you can drive around every day and see old buildings that are beginning to deteriorate and there is a lot of history with these buildings," said Steve Mishkit of the Granville School class of 1969.
Matt Henson - WCAX News
