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Federal-Style “Thomas Dorwin House” (c. 1812) Offered in its Bicentennial Year (Hinesburg, VT)

Thursday, August 16, 2012 2:36:05 PM

The owner of this house told me that this house was “a preservationist’s dream,” and it’s easy to see why. Located in a quaint town nestled between the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain, and just a half hour from the super-hip city of Burlington, this Federal style colonial includes some truly impressive original features. Touted as “one of the best preserved examples of high-style Federal architecture in Vermont,” the house seems to fit that bill. Considering the number of original features that survive, it is all the more remarkable that this year is the house’s 200th birthday.

I usually describe the outside first, but the interior of this house has some impressive early features. The house retains many original details that are rarely found so intact — including elements such as the plaster walls, cast-in-place heavy plaster moldings, a fantastic decorative ellipse on the entire ceiling of the main entrance, and more. The house’s windows, many of which are also original (with hand-blown glass), represent many eras of changing technology — including 12/12, 6/6, and some 2/2. All of the doors are also apparently original, most being a shallow 6-panel design with beautiful wood-graining.

The house is very spacious at 3,048 square feet — including 5 bedrooms — yet the owner points out that it’s “also comfortable and intimate.” There are 9-foot ceilings throughout, and the Georgian floor plan allows for a flowing and dynamic circular movement through the first floor. The kitchen has a large pantry with double doors and deep shelving. There are also several built-in bookcases and shelves around the fireplaces on the first floor, and several closets (always nice in a historic house) on the second floor. Of the 5 Rumford fireplaces, two of the surrounds are polished gray stone, three are carved wood, with hearths of brick, polished stones, or marble. (See the detail of one of the carved wood surrounds at left.)

Outside, the house consists of a stately brick, 5-bay facade, with a typically grand Federal main entryway — including marble steps that lead to a remarkable 4’ wide wood-grained door capped with a leaded fanlight window. The property’s 4.28 acres also include a chicken coop, a historic post and beam horse barn, and a dairy barn dating to 1946 that is in need of extensive renovation or demolition. The land around the house has been farmed for over 200 years, and is gently rolling. There is lovely fertile soil in the western barnyard that would be excellent for gardening or grazing, and it slopes down to a small section of the Lewis Creek watershed. Most of this can be seen in the aerial image of the property below:

The History: (photo below circa 1840)

The history of the house is well-documented, with many ties to regional history. All seven owners of the now 200-year old Thomas Dorwin house (currently known as the “Pearce house”) have demonstrated “a deep love and respect for the artistry and spirit of [the] place.” The house was built by the Thomas Dorwin family who came to Hinesburg from Lanesboro, MA in 1785. Thomas had three sons: Thomas Milton, Canfield and Lyman. Captain Thomas M. Dorwin led his company in the war of 1812 at Oswego, New York. His two brothers were esteemed residents of Hinesburg, and Lyman twice represented the town in the legislature. (You can find his initials carved into the plaster of an unfinished room upstairs — see pic at right). Canfield’s daughter Caroline married Charles Weed, and lived in the house and ran the farm until her death in 1920. The Estey family, who had been caring for both the farm and Caroline in her later years, then bought the house and farm, furniture, cows and all, and farmed there until 1948. Since then there have been four other owners, the last of which was Gwendolen E. Pearce, who moved there in 1969, ran a small farm, raised three daughters, and lived there until her death in September 2008. Below is a picture of the house from the Estey era, circa 1930.

As for the “neighborhood,” there are farm fields, residences and an equestrian center to the south, and to the west is conserved land that extends into woods, a gorgeous Adirondack view, and magical sunsets (below, see a picture of the Adirodacks from an upstairs window of the Thomas Dorwin House). Lewis Creek Road is a stone’s throw to the south, a rare tree-canopied dirt road that connects to many others. Here you will find conserved land and endless trails in the woods that are fantastic for hiking in summer, and skiing in the winter. Within a 2- mile radius are two organic vegetable, meat and berry farms, one with a year-round CSA, and both are a lovely bike ride or walk on a summer day.

The Town of Hinesburg is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year (the Dorwin house has obviously seen much of that history!), and the town center is only minutes away, with many dining options and amenities. Both the elementary and high schools are reportedly excellent. Burlington, a gem on sparkling Lake Champlain, is just 30 minutes away, I-89 is 20 minutes, Montreal is 2 hours. Lake Champlain beaches, boat access, and ferry to New York are only 20 minutes away, and also within a short distance are Camel’s Hump hiking trails, Bed and Breakfasts, several ski areas, the Shelburne Museum and Shelburne Farms.

Below: a picture of the stairway from the upper landing.

As far as I’m concerned, I think this is a rare find in an incredible location, but it will require an extensive and patient restoration. According to the owner, it is possible to move in, but some structural work is required on the back wall and foundation, and obviously considerable cosmetic work is needed, as well as replacement and/or repair of mechanical systems. But as the current owner says, “Such richness, skill, fine craftsmanship, good energy and hard labor are embodied in this building, that becoming its new steward will be hugely rewarding and well worth the effort.”

Pic below: The “double parlor”:

There are several more cool pictures below.

If you wish to do more research on this property, the address is 2678 Silver Street, Hinesburg, Vermont. The asking price is $279,000. Inquiries should be directed to Michele Lewis of Lang McLaughry Spera Real Estate in South Burlington. She can be contacted at michele.lewis@lmsre.com or through her website at www.Vermont-YourHome.com.

Below: An imprint of a small child’s hand left years ago after the kid got into some paint! . . .