ABOUT THE RIDGE ROAD HOUSE BLOG

This is the story of a family home in Vermont, originally built in 1830 (or so the town records indicate) at 462 Ridge Road, Randolph Center, Vermont. 

A student at VTC, Morlene Wong in 1978 drew an architectural plan of the house along with a statement saying, "THE ORIGINAL HOUSE WAS BUILT AROUND 1790. 

LATER, THE FRONT GABEL [sic] WAS BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE AN EXTRA BEDROOM. 

ABOUT 1900 THE '2ND HOUSE' WAS BUILT..."

(I have a memory of someone telling me the '2nd house' was brought to the site.  She states that the 2nd house was to accommodate a family room, extra bedroom, and a garage- which my husband doesn't feel is true of 1900...but it does, in fact, contain a garage now.  We don't know if she researched the dates herself or was provided with dates by Charles H. Cooley who had her do the drawings while he was teaching at VTC.)

Being at least 193 years old, and more likely over 200 years old, the house has seen better days.  Unfortunately with rotting beams, disintegrating sills, and crumbling stone foundation, the house is now unsafe and has to come down. 

I am the privileged relative who is getting to try and recreate this house.  There may well be others more capable, more emotionally involved, or more exacting than I am, but the fact is- I am the lucky one.  I am not a direct descendant, but I married a Cooley boy back in 1974 and have known the family even before that-  for over 50 years. 

I love projects and managing timelines, researching history, researching houses, and in general, researching just how to get things done. Sort of like a site manager.  

I love documenting things.  I'm learning how to write by joining a writers workshop with Sara Tucker (also a family member whose grandfather lived in this house).  She cares about the house and will help me with writing and editing.  I am lucky to know her.  She will help me to document this project. 

I love photography.  My father was a photographer.  I want to document with words and pictures.  

My goal is to recreate the original house as closely as reasonably possible over a three-five year period. 

Follow the blog to learn about the history of the house and the families who have lived and visited there. Learn about the process of recreating this house.  

I want this to be a place where family memories can be shared and saved.