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This is the Cooley House in Central Vermont
My name is Sylvia Shepard Cooley.
I am the self-assigned project coordinator... an old family house
that has to come down but will be rebuilt
as closely as possible to the original.
Check out the blog posts to see the process.
Add your ideas. Please comment!
For more information: "About"
Blog Categories:
Oct 27, 20242 min read
Starting work on the barn
I want to make sure Charles Cooley's barn that he built in the 80s is taken care of. I plan on using it for my equines when I move there...
Apr 30, 20242 min read
Progress report, up next- the barn
Progress in the rebuilding of the Cooley house on Ridge Road- I have started to touch base with some excellent builders (but since they...
Mar 15, 20244 min read
An Empty Building Comes to Life
I wrote this as an assignment from a prompt for a writers group run by Sara Tucker https://www.korongobooks.com/ An Empty Building Comes...
Feb 29, 20241 min read
Final clean up
A small business in Vermont: Henderson Excavation & Engineering P.O. Box 695 Williamstown, VT 05679 Eric and his father Lev make a great...
Feb 26, 20241 min read
Fire Training videos
Fire training, fire starts to flare up Firefighters training, view across the road. Siren sounds Full on fire This was so surreal, it...
Feb 26, 20241 min read
Fire training photos February 25, 2024
Note: I updated these photos today (2/28/24) to include six of Peter Cooley's photos. He captured the north side and the back side. ...
Feb 25, 20242 min read
Fire day
This biggest impression I was left with from this day is how a small community can come together. Fifty firefighters were willing to...
Feb 24, 20243 min read
Randolph Center Fire Department
I have been fortunate to work with the Randolph Center, Vermont firefighters. They have been appreciative of the (rare they say)...
Feb 21, 20241 min read
February 20, 2023 the roof is coming off
Henderson Excavation & Hauling is taking the metal roof off. Before: During: Done with the back side: I am fascinated with the work that...
Feb 16, 20244 min read
Demolition Day...I say this with reverence
Our son is a firefighter so we know how important training and experience is for firefighters to stay safe, for firefighters to save...
Feb 16, 20241 min read
Saving stuff
Thank you to Jim, my niece Myra's husband for working hard and saving items. It's cool because he remembers coming to the barn there...
Feb 11, 20241 min read
A Handy Man, I am not
Mostly I went up to the house today to rescue all of Charles’s horse tack. I am hoping it will see more use. I will offer it to anyone...
Jan 25, 20241 min read
The heavy equipment is moving in
Tomorrow the 'garage tree' will come down along with a rotting Maple near the north west side of the house and an Ash tree behind the...
Jan 16, 20242 min read
The House
I made this little model of The Ridge Road House almost 50 years ago for a Landscape Design class at UVM. It is a bit crude but I love...
Jan 11, 20241 min read
The new driveway today
Eric Henderson was able to work on the driveway today, despite 12" of new snow 3 days ago. You can see Eric working with his equipment...
Jan 4, 20241 min read
Saving doors
Especially important is the SECRET PASSAGEWAY door! It was saved! Part of the metal clasp is still painted onto the door frame (so I...
Jan 3, 20242 min read
Come on in!
Driveway work is our next step. A sound driveway will facilitate the ins and outs of demolition and construction equipment. The driveway...
Nov 21, 20231 min read
Removal of hazardous waste
Any old house has some materials that are considered hazardous waste. Asbestos, once considered a marvel as a fire retardant, is now...
Nov 19, 20231 min read
Debris removed from outside the house
November 7, 2023 Eric Henderson out of Williamstown (Henderson Hauling & Excavation) does excellent work. He is reliable, careful,...
Nov 6, 20231 min read
The real work begins!
November 5, 2023, a date to remember. A contractor, Eric, is helping us with cleanup. He is starting with the outside...tires, an old...
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