Village Parking
Welcome to Grafton, one of the prettiest small towns in America! Visitors to Grafton always enjoy free parking in our Village Parking Lot, which is conveniently located on Grafton/Townshend Road (Rt. 35) with easy access to everything the village offers. Let's walk together as we explore our beautiful town.
The Nature Museum
Starting your tour in the Village Parking lot will lead you to the Nature Museum at Grafton, directly across the street. The Museum is a regional resource for nature, science, and environmental education in Vermont and New Hampshire communities of the Connecticut River Valley. Looking up, you'll note that the building was originally the Grange. In 1940, the building was moved from its original location on Main Street to its present home on Townshend Road by Cushman and Sons. It was quite the feat at the time.The Museum is surrounded by beautiful gardens filled with native plants, ponds, and picnic tables. Behind the Museum are playscape and the trails of the Village Park, a wooded trail system where visitors can amble through the forest. Trail maps are available at the Museum.Do you know where fairies live in Grafton? Check out our video and learn more about this special fall event.www.nature-museum.org
The Daniels House
Our next stop is the Daniels House, built circa 1820 and home to MERCANTILE & Dover House Antiques. It features a carefully curated selection of gifts, accessories, and home goods. Many made locally, and others produced from some of the most sought after artists and manufacturers from the US and beyond. DOVER HOUSE ANTIQUES offers a lovely selection of period American Antiques and appropriate accessories.In the rear of the building is the Grafton Cheese Shop, home to Grafton's award-winning cheeses. Stop in to sample and leave with all your favorites!
Roger Wilson Memorial Ball Field
In back of the Daniels House, is the Roger Wilson Memorial Ball Field. Sit on the bleachers and enjoy the fresh air. You might even catch one of many pick-up family ball games. Bring along your glove and have a catch! The ball field is named after Roger Wilson, who retired to Grafton with his wife in 1987, moving to Roger's childhood summer home where they became active members of that community. Roger was a quintessential mountain man. He loved to ski, especially on Mt. Washington, and to hunt and fish, hike, camp, scythe, and chop wood. While in college, he helped construct the Harvard Cabin in Pinkham Notch, N.H., owned by the Harvard Outing Club and now operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club. In 1946, he and his college ski-team buddies founded The Drifters, a ski club which still thrives today in Jackson, N.H. He continued to ski race most of his long life. He and his wife Rosie traveled widely, including several cross-country camping trips and many skiing expeditions. He was inducted into the Vermont Ski Hall of Fame in 2003. The ball field is maintained by the Grafton Improvement Association, a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to provide and maintain suitable and fitting memorials in honor of the men and women of Grafton who have served their country in its armed forces; and to provide and maintain, or help provide and maintain, such improvements and activities as will benefit the town and its people. Learn more about the association here: https://sites.google.com/view/grafton-improvment-association/home
The Turner Interpretive Center
Walking acrross the street is The Turner Interpretive Center, located across from the Grafton Inn. There you will read the story of escaped slave Alec Turner and his family as told by his daughter, renowned Vermont storyteller Daisy Turner. This tiny building was once the office of Charles Barrett, who served as the town clerk in 1869. He was also a lawyer and saw private clients there.Grafton, Vt. is proudly part of Vermont’s African American Heritage Trail.Should you wish to take a short car trip down the road, you can visit Birch Dale Camp, the summer home of the Turner family. Look for Turner Hill Road and head straight up to the end, taking a left at the interpretive sign. There is a small parking lot next to the camp. In recent years the camp has undergone much restoration.Website: www.turnerhillgrafton.org/
The Grafton Inn and Phelps Barn
Directly across the street from the Turner Interpretive Center is the magnificent Grafton Inn and Phelps Barn . The Inn is the cornerstone of our quintessential village in rural Vermont. In 1801, Mr. Enos Lovell, convinced that people were looking for a place with good food and lodging, converted his two-story private home to a Vermont inn. The building still stands as part of The Grafton Inn. As the village of Grafton prospered, so did the Inn, and by the time it was taken over by Hyman Burgess in 1823, it had doubled in size.By 1841, the Inn had become the center of activity for the town, so much so that even court was held there. In the year 1861 with Abraham Lincoln as president, the Inn fell on unstable times. Ownership changed eight times. During the Civil War, William and Sophia Stratton operated The Grafton Inn, but not much is known about what transpired in the Inn during this critical period in American history. Most of the records were lost when the schoolhouse in which they were stored burned down in 1936.The most colorful period in the Inn’s history is the 35-year era of the Phelps brothers, Francis and Harlan. In 1865, Francis bought the Inn for $1,700 and sold a half interest to his brother Harlan. Harlan caught California gold-rush fever and returned to Grafton with $4,500 – a modest fortune in those days. Investing every penny in the inn, he likely became the inn’s first true benefactor. Harlan added a third floor and the porches, making the building look much the same as it does today. While Harlan successfully managed the inn, brother Francis and his wife, Achsa, handled the rest of the Inn’s operations.Popular among the literary set (Kipling was a visitor in 1892) and the “in” place for local social events, The Grafton Inn was still patronized mostly by commercial travelers who knew it as a “good place to stop.” There were notable exceptions. Ulysses S. Grant came to the Inn on December 19, 1867, while campaigning for his first term as President. The Inn has played host to other famous guests: Daniel Webster, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Ralph Waldo Emerson.By 1903 the Phelps brothers had died and their widows sold the Inn to Norman Blodgett who ran it for 27 years. Not much is known of the Inn’s history during these years, but we know they were not good years for Grafton. By 1920 the population had shrunk to 476, 1,000 fewer people than had been living in the town a hundred years before. Come 1929 and the crash that ushered in the Great Depression, Innkeeper Blodgett (probably anticipating what lay ahead) sold out. Harry and Cecelia Dutton, who took over, were able to keep the Inn open through the worst of the thirties – no mean feat. Not much happened at the Inn during these bad times – as not much happened anywhere else. People “hung in there” and waited for prosperity that was “just around the corner.”By 1937 the Duttons didn’t feel like hanging in there any longer. Neither did a lot of innkeepers who followed them. Ownership passed to the Perrys, the Dettmers, the Wristons, and the Walkers. The Dettmers acquired the Homestead property and added it to the Inn’s facilities, and the Wristons built the pool area. But they were all fighting a losing battle. The slick new motels and the chains were taking over. The small old-fashioned independent hotel just couldn’t compete. Times were changing and the Inn – along with hundreds of other small inns – had had their day. Another era was coming to an end.In “the good old days” people put up with the most primitive facilities, as there was no other choice. Suddenly they demanded and received modern plumbing, private bathrooms, hot and cold running water and central heating. The Inn, sadly lacking in most of these amenities, went into decline. It could stay open only during the summer months. Revenues dried up. The cost of “modernizing” was prohibitive.By 1964 the Inn was in a sad state of repair and in dire financial straits. The end was in sight. Then the Windham Foundation came along and a new age for the Inn – and Grafton – began.As the creator of the Windham Foundation, Dean Mathey has influenced life in Grafton more than any other individual throughout the town’s history. A man of many talents – financier, philanthropist and super-star athlete, he gave of himself generously in expressing his love for this tiny community.Dean’s involvement with the town began just like that of many present day visitors: he came to savor the peace, quiet and rural beauty. But having had a longstanding appreciation of historic architecture, he was distressed to see that several fine buildings (the Inn included) were falling into disrepair. Never slow to develop a good idea, in 1963 the Windham Foundation came to be. And what good fortune for The Grafton Inn! About a year after it had been purchased by the Foundation in 1965, a major renovation was completed, and no expense was spared in giving it the finest modern conveniences while meticulously preserving its country-inn character. Elizabeth and Mathew Hall, 1st cousin to Dean and the Windham Foundation’s first president, were largely responsible for purchasing everything from the antiques to the linens, and their tasteful choices still dominate the décor of the inn today.
The Brick Meeting House
As you walk up Main Street, you will pass the Chapel and Brick Meeting House. The church was built in 1839 by the Congregationalists at a cost of $4,000. In 1972 the Congregational and Baptist churches united and formed the Federated Church of Grafton. The Brick Meeting House was used for summer services as it was still heated by wood. It underwent extensive renovation under the ownership of the Grafton Historical Society. In 2023, it became its own non-profit organization and is open to weddings, concerts and other celebrations.
Village Park
One can walk into the Village Park at an entrance just above the Brick Church on Fire Pond Road or from a Chapman Meadow trail at the Nature Museum. Parking, a kiosk with walking sticks to borrow, and a seasonal Porto-Potty are located several hundred feet further up Fire Pond Road from the walk-in entrance. There are 4 color-coded woodland trails with a Universally Accessible trail to be established in 2024. The 55+ acre Village Park was donated to the Town of Grafton in 1923 by Gertrude and Charles Daniels. The original intent was to develop the hillside into a town water supply by taking advantage of the seeps and springs. Remains of several water collecting systems are still present on the property. Other features of interest include a picnic area, several trailside benches, a stone fort showcasing nice stonework and a large stone “roof” left from the glacier, an old gazebo and a newer one, and of course, stone walls from the 1800’s. In addition to hiking, the park can be used for snowshoeing in winter; a snowmobile trail also runs through it. The Park is owned by the Town of Grafton, which together with a strong volunteer committee, maintains it.
Village Cemetery
Take a right after the Brick Meeting House and look left on Middletown Road to find the Village Cemetery, Grafton's first cemetery. One of six cemeteries in town, it has many Civil War graves located there. Sixteen year old Asa Fisher Jr. was the first burial in 1780. Many prominent family plots are located here. Past the turnstile entrance, you can make the short climb to the top of the hill where the cemetery looks over the village.
Lucy Daniels House
As you continue down the street, you'll find The Little Brick house, home to Lucy (Lou) Daniels, whose contributions to the suffrage movement included her refusal to pay taxes in 1911 without a vote in Grafton’s governance. As a member of the “Silent Sentinel” pickets at the White House in Washington, she was arrested in 1917, 1918 and 1919, protesting for a woman’s right to vote. She endured jail each time, including the “Night of Terror” at the Occoquan Workhouse on November 14, 1917. She was also arrested and jailed for protesting at Boston in 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson returned from Europe through that city.Lou Daniels is also noted for pressing the National American Woman Suffrage Association and its leader Alice Paul to include more black women in suffrage events, especially the 1913 parade in Washington in which she also participated. She offered to contribute money if the participation of black women was increased. The request was turned down, but at least fifty African American women did march, overcoming attempts by some to bar black women from the events entirely.The marker honoring Lou Daniels is one of four sites in Vermont on the National Votes for Women Trail. There are more than 2,350 sites nationwide.
Grafton Community Church
Turning back down Main Street and located on the corner of Rt. 121 (Houghtonville Rd) is the Grafton Community Church. Noted for its exceptional acoustics, the church is often used for concerts and wedding ceremonies and many community events. The church also is home to a Nutting organ. It is known to be the only Nutting organ still in continual use and has attracted a good deal of attention throughout New England.Some history . . . The Baptist Church in Grafton was an offshoot or "daughter church" of the larger Baptist Church in Chester, VT. Originally, there was no meetinghouse for the Baptists here in Grafton, so they met in the schoolhouses, private homes, even in barns. In 1830, however, official papers were drawn up and the Grafton Baptist Church became an entity. The Baptist Church would become the second church in the history of the town, with the Congregational Society, founded in 1785, the oldest.In 1812, the first Baptist meetinghouse was built on its present site, though it was not as grand as the building you see today. Old records tell us that, at first, the parishioners had to sit on rough boards. However, by 1818 pews - or "slips" as they were called in those days - were built. As you may know, many early church buildings were financed through the sale of pews. Deeds were issued for the pews and were held in the town offices, attesting to the seriousness of the transaction. At the Baptist Church, the most desirable pews sold for $100 and it might surprise us today to learn that the most sought after pews were in the front! Pews further back commanded less money.The building was changed and improved as the church became more prosperous. In 1832 the building was turned halfway around on its foundation; at that time, a belfry was erected and a bell purchased. In 1850 a completely new building was erected probably because, at that time, the church boasted 300 members and needed more space. A few years after the building was erected, an organ was purchased. After a good deal of detective work, this organ was authenticated as a Nutting organ, probably crafted in Bellows Falls. It is said to be the only Nutting organ still in continual use and has attracted a good deal of attention throughout New England.Another important feature of the White Church is its marvelous acoustics. Numerous concerts have been held in the church over decades as its brilliant acoustics are known to singers and musicians throughout the region.The White Church was the site of major renovations in 1969, when an addition was added to the rear of the church, creating space for two bathrooms, storage space, and a pastor's study. At that time the sanctuary was also refurbished and attention paid to restoring the stenciling, the chandeliers, and the sidelights. A few years after this project, the Congregational and Baptist churches officially became one body - the culmination of a process that had taken 50 years of careful consideration. Today the federated church - now simply known as The Grafton Church - holds services in the White Church. In 2005 the White Church was updated to include a handicapped accessible lift, lavatory and office, as well as redecoration of the Fellowship Hall.The Grafton Church is affiliated with the United Church of Christ (Congregational) and the American Baptist Churches.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Historical information written by Rev. Lynda Hadley for Grafton's 250th celebration, May 2004.
The Post Office and Town Hall
Continuing down Main Street is the Town Hall, built in 1816 by John Barrett as a store. Dominating the local trade, the Barrett store boasted 862 customers, most of whom were buying for large families. In 1857 his widow sold the building to the town, where it was shared by town offices, a library, and the post office. Today, the town hall is the home of the post office and town offices. Meetings are held upstairs in the newly remodeled and ADA accessible second floor.
The Barret House
Located just across from the Town Hall is the Barrett House, built nearly 150 years ago by Captain John Barrett, grandfather of John Barrett of today. Stop to read the marker on the front lawn as you admire the window boxes. It looks now almost as it did when erected except the green blinds were put on some seventy years ago. There have been no important structural changes in its lifetime, except changing of closets and small bedrooms into bathrooms and toilets." The Barrett House accommodates guests of the Grafton Inn,
Stowell/Mead House
Just down the street from the Town Hall is the Stowell/Mead House, circa 1840, which now houses the Grafton Historical Society & Museum. The house is an interesting example of "plank" construction. It was made simply by piling two-by-fours horizontally on top of each other, it made a strong and well-insulated house, but used an awful lot of wood, not a problem in 1840. The Historical Society Museum houses an interesting collection of photographs, soapstone articles, household tools, fire equipment, musical instruments, and more. Grafton’s fascinating past is on display in this award winning museum with a gift shop, rich with artifacts representing over 250 years of history. Exhibits changed annually.Website: www.graftonhistoricalsociety.com/
MKT: Grafton
Across the road a few paces down, you will see the Village Store, aka MKT, built in 1841 by George Barrett, nephew of Captain John. In 1882, this store was home to Grafton's first telegraph line. The store was purchased in 1963 by the Windham Foundation, refurbished, and leased to storekeepers. It continues to be a center of town activities.Today MKT Grafton is a contemporary general store, delivering fresh food and sweet experiences. Stop in for breakfast, lunch or a homemade dessert. The store features a large selection of locally made goods and gifts. Each night we offer delicious dinners that you can carry out plus a deli full of ready made options. Enjoy a seat on the deck or spacious patio under the trees where you can enjoy a meal and a drink plus we offer vintage take out picnic baskets to go with you as you explore our little town with its surrounding rivers, ponds and trails. MKT - The Village Store
Alexander/Davis house - Mildean House
Back across the street sits the Alexander/Davis house (1826) and Mildean house (1831), significant for their brick Federal-Greek Revival style. These adjacent two-and-one-half story houses were constructed for Peter Dean and Lucius Alexander, partners in a fulling mill that stood behind the houses. In 1840 the Alexander/Davis house was enlarged by a two-story front porch with pillars and a balcony and opened by Thomas Davis as the Eagle Hotel, a temperance establishment. Today it is known as Eaglebrook.Both beautifully restored homes are privately owned.
Old Post Office
Continuing down the same side of the street you will see Grafton's second post office. The Old Post Office, a small red building, was built in 1855 by Fabius Bancroft as an insurance office and post offfice. It originally sat only a few feet from the Old Fire Station, but was moved after the 1938 hurricane swept it off its foundation. Today, the building is privately owned.
Grafton Public Library
Across the street from the Old Firehouse is the Grafton Public Library. This spacious and attractive house was built by John L. Butterfield, a soapstone magnate, and purchased by the Library Association in 1950. It holds approximately 25,000 well-selected books, magazines, videos/DVDs and offers internet access. It is a very active community space!
Wilson Park
Turning right from the library, and located beside the Village Bridge, is Wilson Park, where a large 2-story building, originally built as a tenement for mill workers, and in 1892 becoming the Grafton Cooperative Cheese Factory sat. Upstairs a spring dance floor occasionally doubled as a roller-skating rink. The building was destroyed by fire in 1912 and sold to George Grafton Wilson, who gave the land to the town as a small park.Take a minute to relax on the park bench and enjoy the sound of the Saxtons River. Depending on the season, the water may be rushing past, overflowing the stream bed rocks, rushing on its way to Bellows Falls where it will connect with the Connecticut River. In the summer and fall seasons, the river is much more gentle.Watch the video to learn more about how Grafton survived Hurrican Irene.
Kidder Hill Covered Bridge
Continuing down Kidder Hill Road, past the junction of Pleasant Street is the Kidder Hill Covered Bridge, only one of thirteen covered bridges between here and Bellows Falls to survive from 1869 to the present. A lightweight kingpost truss bridge, it was reconstructed in 1994 by adding laminated beams to the interior to increase its load bearing capacity. The road beyond the bridge which is steep and narrow leads to the trailhead for the Windmill Ridge Reserve trail system. Windmill Hill Pinnacle, one of many trails that bring avid hikers to town every year.
Stone Fence Posts
Turning back, take a left onto Pleasant Street. As you pass near the pickleball and tennis courts, look at the many granite stone fence posts that have stood the test of time. The posts denote age-old property lines where fences separated livestock.
The Community Gardens
Continuing up Pleasant Street you will see the Community Gardens, created in 1991 to showcase different types of New England plantings. The garden is a wonderful spot to picnic, rest, or just enjoy a quiet moment. Throughout the summer and fall the gardens host wedding ceremonies and community gatherings. Duck into the garden and walk the path parallel to School St.
Grafton Forge
After a stroll through the Community Gardens, enter School Street and proceed to the Grafton Forge. The blacksmith's shop was operated by H.A. Farnsworth through the early 1900's. When automobiles outnumbered horses, Hank turned the shop into a garage, complete with gas pumps.The Windham Foundation purchased the building in 1966, and it is now again, a working blacksmith shop. Stop in and meet the blacksmith!
Grafton Elementary School
The Grafton Elementary School was built in 1988 on the same site as an earlier school built in 1867. The school currently educates children in grades K-6."Nine hundred and twenty-nine people lived in Grafton in 1880. Two years later the town had nine school districts with 169 pupils and 13 female teachers whose combined salaries cos the town $8439.85." (Source: Five Dollars and a Jug of Rum, the history of Grafton, VT)
Sheep Barns and Rest Room
Sheep Barns and Rest Room: If you'd like to extend your walk, take the path to the left beyond the school and head up to the Village Parking Lot. At the back left of the parking lot, take the path leading down the short hill. You will see the beautiful fishing pond to your left. (Should you wish to return to the center of the village and the Inn, just continue straight, taking a right at the corner.)At the bottom of the hill on your right is a Public Rest Room located at the end of the facilities building.As you approach the arched tunnel you will see a small barn on the left. Inside is a beautiful exhibit of the History of Sheep Farming in Vermont. (open seasonally)
Grafton Village Cheese Company
Grafton Village Cheese Company: Continuing on, the trail leads across a footbridge that spans the West Saxtons River and on toward the Grafton Village Cheese Company. Step through the covered bridge and you'll come to the cheese company. If you prefer to drive, there is a parking lot in front of the building. The Grafton Cooperative Cheese Company was founded in 1892 by dairy farmers who gathered to make their surplus raw milk into cheese. In 1912, a fire destroyed the original factory at the Wilson Park site (see map). In the mid-1960’s, the Windham Foundation restored the Cheese Company in its current location. Today, the Company continues to make its award-winning cheeses with unpasteurized milk from small, local farms and using the old-style cheddaring process that has long been forgotten by many of today’s larger cheddar companies. You can see cheese being made Mondays through Fridays 8am – 3pm, and purchase cheese at the Grafton Village Cheese Shop and MKT (see map). (https://www.graftonvillagecheese.com/) If you wish to end your walking tour of Grafton, just retrace your steps back to the Village Parking Lot or back to the Inn.
Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center
Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center: Take a left before the covered bridge, you will find a trail that leads up a short hill. At the top of the hill be sure to turn around and look at the view of the town below. Continuing along the trail, you will see Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center on Townshend Road. Both the cheese factory and the outdoor center can also be reached by car if you would rather drive. Breathe deeply and enjoy the peacefulness.
