All photos
taken by “Molly” unless otherwise stated
Montpelier, VT Number 27 (State
House)
Address/Phone/Email/website:
115
State St,
802-828-2228
Name: French—Green
Mountain
Hours: Monday—Friday
8:00 am to 4:00pm, closed state holidays
Senate: 30
House/General Assembly:
General Assembly--150
Architect, Style and Year Built, Cost: Part Greek
Revival/Part Renaissance Revival. This
is the third Capitol Building—the first was torn down as it had become too
small and obsolete. The second—designed by
architect Ammi Young and built in 1836 at a cost of $132,000--mostly
burned. The front portico and partial
walls, however, were saved and is the entrance to the current building (1859)
($150,000).
Additions in 1888, 1900, 1987
Supreme Court and Library were moved to separate
buildings in 1919.
Building features:
Exterior: Barre
(Vermont) Granite. The quarry was ten
miles away. It took a team of four
horses and yoke of oxen (two) eighteen hours to deliver a load of granite and
return. The number of trips was not
disclosed
Interior: Thirty
black walnut desks and chairs used by Senate.
Senate is green; House, red.
Elaborate chandeliers/gasoliers were designed for
the Chambers (some replacement has taken place, but mostly original in design)
Special: During the American Civil War, Vermont sent more than 34,000 men into
United States service. Almost 5,200 Vermonters, 15 percent, were killed or
mortally wounded in action or died of disease, a higher percentage than any
other state.
A
reception room is dedicated to the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near
Middletown/Winchester, Virginia, October 19, 1864. A decisive victory for the Union. Sheridan v. Early. (I am a Cedar Creek
decedent. My Great Grandfather fought at
this battle (Samuel S. Pyatt) with the 13th Connecticut Volunteer
Infantry in the XIX Corps).
No Northern state, however, was more energetic in support of the Union cause in
the Civil War, and Vermonters strongly favored Lincoln over Vermont-born
Stephen Douglas. One of the most bizarre incidents of the war was the
Confederate raid on Saint Albans the same day the battle of Cedar Creek was
being fought. “The nucleus of Sheridan's army
was General Wright's three-division VI Corps, up from the Army of the Potomac.
By now it was worn and tired and badly in need of a rest. In the Vermont
brigade, where "the regiments were organized somewhat on the town meeting
plan, and the men were rather deferred to on occasion by the officers,"
discipline was relaxed, "and camp life on the whole," wrote the
brigade historian, "was of the easiest possible description." A battle fought September 19 put the
Vermonters in an heroic view as they retook ground lost. They were under the command of Colonel
Stephen Thomas. Then came Early’s lose
at Fisher’s Hill also in September.
October 19 caught the Union army off guard. The VI went at it
again. The Eight Vermont lost three
color bearers who were wounded during the battle; but each time one of his
fellows dashed forward to take his place, and the flags were saved. Out of 164
men of the regiment engaged that day, 110 were killed or wounded. In addition to the Eighth were the men of the
Vermont Brigade, composed entirely of Vermont men and including in its number
many men of future prominence in the State: governors, judges, congressmen, and
state senators. The only brigade in the Army of the Potomac distinctively and
permanently known by the name of its state--the Vermont Brigade. It
consisted of the
Second Vermont, the Third, the understrength Fourth, attached to the Third; the
Fifth, the Sixth, and the Eleventh. The
Tenth was also present with its Colonel earning the Medal of Honor. And, we must not forget the 1st
Vermont Cavalry.
Time and again the
Brigade had provided the base around which the division had stiffened and
emerged victorious. “Don’t run, men, until the Vermonters do.” For further details, check the web-sites.
There are some wonderful stories
regarding the Vermont men.
Standing in that room brought
about an eerie feeling. Really made the
hair stand up on the back of my neck. It
felt as though G-Granddad, Sam, was standing next to me. Standing in that room brought me close to
tears.
http://vermonthistory.org/journal/cw/Vermonters_at_Cedar_Creek_vol33.pdf
Getting there: I-91 to I-89. Easy to get there. Not a lot of traffic in the Capitol area (but
downtown proper is a mess)
Parking: When not
in session, parking is generally easily available and often free. Most of the Capitols I/we have visited have
not been in session (summer is a good time).
Meters and/or parking garages are available, but are usually
expensive. ($9.00 for 2 hours in
Providence)
Parking by meter. Two hour maximum.
Entered Union (Number and date): Vermont, like Texas, was a "Republic" before achieving statehood. Vermont's star (and stripe) were added with Kentucky’s, May
1st, 1795. Two stars and stripes were added for the admission of Vermont (the
14th State on March 4th, 1791) and Kentucky (the 15th State on June 1st,
1792). This was the official US flag for
the next for 23 years--the only official flag in our history that carried more
than thirteen stripes (for the original colonies/states). It would come to be the flag that Francis Scott Key
saw at Fort McHenry when he penned his poem that would become our National
Anthem…the Original “Star Spangled Banner.”
Nicknames: Green
Mountain State
Motto: Freedom and Unity
Cornerstone:
Did not find; possibly hidden by new additions
Dome/Rotunda/Dome topper:
Neo-classical gold-leafed dome topped by Ceres (Agriculture). The dome has “no interior expression.” The
original topper was removed in 1938 as it was rotting. Eighty-seven year old Sergeant-at-Arms Dwight
Dwinell whittled a new head. A crew of
janitors whittled a new body of Ponderosa Pine
Art:
Portrait of Washington saved from fire. Portraits of renown Vermonters: Admiral Dewy, Charles Clark, Presidents
Chester Arthur and Calvin Coolidge.
 |
| Montpelier Born Admiral Dewey |
The “steam radiator” coverings
are cast iron “gilt-bronze.” These were
decorative means of disguising the radiators.
Bronze bust of Lincoln.
Ornamental plasterwork adorns the
ceiling of the Chambers.
The Cedar Creek Room has a
beautiful mural of the Battle of Cedar Creek with the Heater House in the
middle. The Heater House still stands
proudly on the battlefield today. Mrs.
Heater lost two sons in the Confederate army, but she was originally from
Pennsylvania and a strong Union supporter.
The mural is huge and covers the entire South wall. Also, portraits of various Cedar Creek Heroes
line the rest of the room. The room had
originally been the library, but in 1888 became a reception room. The room was restored to a later period than
the rest of the building. Elaborate
stenciling on the walls. Bent brass gasoliers. Oriental inspired carpet.
 |
| The portion of the mural showing the Heater House |
The skylight in this room is a
beautiful stained glass motif. According
to our guide, the story behind it is that apparently in one of the renovations the
skylight had been removed and stored in a burlap sack in the attic. The open
area closed in and made to look like a ceiling.
In the not too distant past, the sack was discovered. An expert in leaded stained glass was hired. The skylight was “rebuilt.” To everyone’s surprise, most of the pieces
were intact. Several, however, had to be
pieced together. If one looks closely,
one can see the cracks. But, more
important, one can view this beautiful artwork and the excellent skill of a
master of restoration.
See Special Section regarding Cedar Creek
Artifacts galore.
Statue of Ethan Allen in the
front portico. The original marble had
been damaged by weather and the elements.
It has been recast.
Tours: Self Guided or Tour Guide on the half
hour 10:00 am – 3:30 pm, Mon-Fri and Sat 11:00 am to 2:30pm--July through
mid-October. Since we stayed with an
Evergreener in Montpelier, they suggested we talk to Francis in the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms. He was the one who stamped our
book. It was before 10:00. For a change, we were going to wait for the
guide. Francis said one was starting at
the moment and that we could join it.
The tour starts on the front steps (portico).
We went out to find a tour guide with one person. It turned out that the person was her sister,
and she was going to give her a “private” tour.
She was, however, very gracious and allowed us to tag along. We eventually had to drop off due to parking
meter restraints.
Quarter:
Maple trees with sap buckets, Camel's Hump Mountain
Caption: "Freedom and Unity"
Caption: "Freedom and Unity"
Liberty Bell: Each state
and most territories have been gifted at least one replica of the liberty
bell. Each bell is numbered. Missouri seems to have two—one of which is
located at the Harry S Truman Library (#54) in Independence, MO, given by the
city of Annecy-le-Vieux to the city of Independence. My guess would be that this choice was made
as Truman was President at the time of the gifting. The second one was given to the State of
Missouri and resides on capitol grounds (#20).
The
fifty five full-sized replicas were cast in 1950 by the Paccard Foundry in
Annecy-le-Vieux, France and shipped as gifts to states and territories to thank
the United States for its part in France’s liberation. They were funded by a savings bond drive.
The
replica bells are often located outside on the grounds of the capitol complex; some
states have placed them inside the capitol building; some states have located
them in other prestigious places such as state historical societies; some
states don’t seem to have a clue where it is.
Each
bell is numbered. There does not seem to
be rhyme or reason as to the numbering system.
Vermont’s bell is located in the
foyer inside the building of the State Library Building (next door to the
Capitol). (#45)
Museum/Historical Society/Heritage:
As Steve was with me, we did not visit the museum
What’s unique/Claims to Fame :
1. State
has second lowest population (after Wyoming).
2. The smallest Capitol City in America in area.
2. The smallest Capitol City in America in area.
3. The
smallest population for any Capital city.
4. Only
New England State without ocean.
5. No
one but a governor (past or present) can sit in the governor’s chair aka “The
Constitution Chair” as it was carved from timbers of the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”).
6. A lamp on the governor’s desk is a “nude.” When Conservatives (Republicans) are in power, it is sometimes removed
to storage.
7. Claims
that the Chambers are the oldest legislative in their original condition in the
US. (See NH’s claim)
8. Vermont’s
own Calvin Coolidge was administered the oath of Presidential office by his
father at his father’s home in Plymouth, Vermont, on the death of President
Warren G. Harding. His father John was a
Notary Public.
9. Verbal
claim is that it is the only Capitol East of the Mississippi without metal
detectors (They need to talk to their neighbor, New Hampshire—one does not have
to pass through metal detectors to enter the building there either.). They actually thought they were the ONLY
capitol without metal detectors, but I enlightened them that there were several
in the Northern Plains States. At this
point the gentlemen to whom I was talking changed it to “East of Mississippi.”
10. The General Assembly is notable for being
the only state legislature in the United States with a significant third party
presence. Six members, or 4%, of the House and 3 Senators, or 10% are members
of parties other than Democrat or Republican
Much
of the Information comes from a pamphlet entitled “A Walk through Vermont’s
Historic State House”
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