ROCKINGHAM — On Nov. 13, the Rockingham Historical Commission honored the seven winners in its 13th Old House Award contest at an awards ceremony at Vermont Academy's Leavitt House.
The contest is open to property owners in Rockingham and Bellows Falls. The commission said it was difficult to select winners out of a pool of 23 nominations, but that all the nominees have done well to maintain and improve the curb appeal of their historic houses and commercial buildings.
Leavitt House was awarded the 2010 Special Stewardship Award in recognition of VA's stewardship of the many historic buildings on the Long Walk on Vermont Academy campus. It is so named for Headmaster Laurence G. Leavitt, recommended by Dartmouth College President Ernest Martin Hopkins when Vermont Academy was in financial straits and required someone who could turn the school around.
Leavitt took over as headmaster in 1934, and his friend, architect Howard Clinch designed their house with the intent that it be a gathering place for the school as well as the home for the headmaster and his family. The Leavitt House was completed for the Leavitt's to move in the day before Christmas of 1936 and became known as “The House with No Key,” as hundreds of gatherings were held at the house – music evenings, alumni re-unions, trustee meetings, dinner parties, students' birthday parties, faculty coffee hours and so on.
Current Headmaster Sean Brennan appreciates that heritage of the Leavitt House, and is re-initiating that symbol of hospitality. Immediately upon hearing of the awards ceremony, Sean offered the Leavitt House as a venue for the event.
The Best Large Commercial Property Award went to Tony Elliott, Erik Leo and Jay Eshelman for the classic revival (circa 1890) Brown Block off The Square, currently housing Sovernet and Village Printers.
The Best Small Commercial Property Award went to Wayne Ryan for his circa 1920 building at 65 Rockingham St., in Bellows Falls, currently Nick's.
The Long Term Maintenance Award went to the Linda McIntosh Family Trust and their circa 1865 Classic Revival at 2 Pleasant St., in Saxtons River.
The Best Large Residence Award went to Jonathan Potter for the circa 1853 Classic Revival home at 7 School St., in Bellows Falls, whose current first floor was added years later underneath the now second and third floors.
The Best Small Residence Award went to Campbell and Hillary Peters for their circa 1900 Queen Anne Victorian at 12 Cherry St., in Bellows Falls.
The Best Apartment House Award went to Sigmond and Antoinette Ponek for their circa 1890 three-unit apartment house at 80 Atkinson St., in Bellows Falls.
The Rockingham Historical Commission also recognized the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust with a certificate for their thoughtful and energy saving restoration of 5 buildings on Pine St and Williams Street Extension, which were added to the Historic Neighborhood District and entered on the National Register of Historic Places in July of this year.