Date of search - xxxx

Common Name: Old Town House/Fairfax Historical Society Owner: Fairfax Historical Society Street Address: 1181 Main Street

Vermont Division for Historic Preservation Ref - 604_044_083

COMMON NAME: Town Hall

ADDITIONAL ARCHITECTURAL OR STRUCTURAL DESCRIPTION:

In 1981 it was being used as a casket storage and display room for the A. W. Rich Funeral Home. This 1/12 story, 2 x 3 bay, frame structure was the original Town Hall. The building is solidly constructed w/heavy hand hewn members. Clapboards, cornerboards, and fascia. The gable end faces Main Street and originally had two front entrances, since replaced w/a center entrance. Windows are 2/2 w/lip moldings. Evidence of the old voting booths remains in the rear storage part of the building. Built in 1807, this early vernacular public building has been changed very little structurally or in exterior appearance and is a valuable reminder of the town's origin. The location, on Main St., 1/3 mile northwest of the business center, indicates an early expansion trend.

<!-- Row 1 Column 1 -->DATE<!-- Row 1 Column 2 -->	GRANTOR TO GRANTEE<!-- Row 1 Column 3 -->	BOOK<!-- Row 1 Column 4 -->	PAGE
03 Jan 1977	Allen & Diane Choiniere to Lucien & Carol Hayes......W.D..........A lot of land approximately one half acre in size, together with all buildings thereon, located on the westerly side of Main Street in the village of Fairfax; and another lot of land situated on the westerly side of Main Street in the village of Fairfax together with all bukldings thereon.......Parcel 2 and Parcel 3...........	45	114
16 Jun 1971<!-- Row 3 Column 1 -->	Albert W. & Harriet Rich to Allen & Diane Choiniere........W.D........Same description as above	41	386

<!-- Row 1 Column 1 -->DATE<!-- Row 1 Column 2 -->	GRANTOR TO GRANTEE<!-- Row 1 Column 3 -->	BOOK<!-- Row 1 Column 4 -->	PAGE
18 Mar 1947<!-- Row 4 Column 1 -->	Hicks Funeral Home, Inc. to Albert & Harriet Rich.....W.D......Parcel 1 being a parcel of land consisting of one half acre, more or less, with house, barn, and garage thereon standing and located on the westerly side of Main Street..........PARCEL TWO being a parcel of land situated on the westerly side of Main Street in Fairfax Village together with the TOWN HOUSE BUILDING thereon standing........	34	160
08 Mar 1938<!-- Row 5 Column 1 -->	Town of Fairfax to Hicks Funeral Home, Inc......W.D......A parcel of land situated on the westerly side of Main Street in Fairfax Village together with the TOWN HOUSE BUILDING thereon standing.......Meaning hereby to convey all and the same parcel of land at the location aforesaid which has been occupied by the Grantor and used for town purposes for ONE HUNDRED YEARS, MORE OR LESS........... This conveyance is made agreeably to the action taken by the voters of the Town of Fairfax under ARTICLE II OF THE WARNING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD March 1, 1938 which article reads as follows: To see if the town will vote to sell and convey its lot of land situated on the westerly side of Main Street together with the town house building thereon to Hicks Funeral Home, Inc. in exchange for the sale and conveyance to the town by said Hicks Funeral Home, Inc. of the parcel of land owned by them on the easterly side of Main Street together with the building thereon standing commonly known as the A-Muse_U Theatre; the town to pay $200 extra for the exchange..........	32	53

(1807)

Mr. & Mrs. Albert Rich (Fairfax)

Route 104 - Fairfax Village top of the hill ----------Town House

Verification of the date made by Gene Cain, member of the Historic Sites Committee. Page 175 of the Vermont Historical Gazetteer Vol. 2 by Abbey Maria Hemenway dated 1871, states as follows:

"The first town-hall was built in 1807, or near that time, and was occupied many years for preaching."

A placque has been installed this 14th of September, 1968 a.d. by members of the Historic Sites Committee of the Fairfax Historical Societyl

Attest: (Signed) Gene Cain, Secretary

Stuart Orton, Chairman

Researched By: ?????
Date: ????