Articles & Publications

This 84-page book tells the story of the re-opening of Pierce’s Store in Shrewsbury Vermont.

Detailed here are specific reasons why locally owned businesses matter and practical ways to plan for a homegrown economy, foster revitalization and unite independent businesses.

As you start down the path of saving and using your historic building, here are a few tips to help you along the way.

Historic windows are an important, character-defining feature that contribute to an historic building’s significance. Detailed here are the material and economic advantages to retaining and repairing your building’s old windows.

One of the challenges facing Vermont’s communities is the struggle to keep the post office in the town and village centers and to ensure that the design solution fits respectfully in the community. Factors such as cost and efficiency drive United States Postal Service decisions to relocate local post office, sometimes to sites outside of the town center.

This book provides basic information on the law, the issues, and the process of Agency of Transportation projects for citizens and public officials in Vermont towns. 1995, 1998.

The U.S. National Fire Protection Association reported one structure fire every minute in 2015, with over 19,000 deaths and injuries and $14.3B in property loss. In Vermont, fire has damaged and destroyed numerous landmark buildings over the past several years. How can stewards of historic commercial and public buildings avoid having their properties become part of these sobering statistics?

We have reprinted selections from John Leeke’s Historic HomeWorks™ Question and Answer column on the maintenance and preservation of historic (and just plain old) buildings. A wide variety of topics are covered.

The first step to developing a successful fundraising campaign for your historic preservation project is to have a clear idea of what needs to be done. Here are some tried-and-true tips to achieve your fundraising goals.

Whether you are new to preservation or a seasoned veteran, the following questions and resources will help you better understand your project and work effectively to restore it for years of future use.

Preservationists understand that plastic siding disfigures historic structures, builders know it can trap moisture and cover over problems needing maintenance and repairs, and real estate professionals advise clients to be wary of possible defects that may be concealed under the plastic and how that can affect property values.

Local fundraising events and projects are an important part of community preservation. While not usually the biggest part of a plan to raise funds, they frequently provide an opportunity for concerned citizens to participate and show their support for a particular effort.

Preservation, Construction and Energy colleagues across Vermont have been working to better understand energy efficiency in relation to historic buildings. We’re in full agreement on where to start to realize energy savings and improved building performance. Read more here.

Here’s help for organizations and communities who want to save treasured old buildings for community use. This practical handbook by Judi Bell and Steve Harris tells you how to carry out a successful preservation project using a volunteer workforce and limited funds.

The NPS’s Preservation Briefs provide guidance on preserving, rehabilitating, and restoring historic buildings and cover nearly every topic imaginable.

If you are using federal or state funds for your historic preservation project, there are most likely specific conditions for purchasing supplies and hiring contractors. The term for this process is “procurement.” Here are seasoned tips for a smooth procurement process.

Post offices, municipal halls, libraries, courthouses, and other public buildings can play a critical role in keeping downtowns and town centers strong. Conversely, the loss of key public buildings can seriously damage the fabric of downtown. A report on successes in Saratoga Springs New York from planning journalist Philip Langdon.

Here is a basic guide to taking care of historic barns and farm buildings. It includes some general guidelines, a short history of barns, ten tips for barn maintenance and repair, ways to adapt barns to other uses, sources of advice and funding for barn preservation, and a list of organizations that offer assistance to those working on their barns.

What you can do prior to a flood event, how to properly clean your building after a flood, and general information for homeowners and municipalities.

Is it possible to mix ingredients such as entrepreneurship, investors with charitable spirit, customer and community participation, and new systems of distribution to start and support a thriving locally-owned, small-scale, downtown department store?

We are fortunate here in Vermont to have many people who are passionate about their communities and are willing to spend their time volunteering. Here are a few tips to help you recruit and retain volunteers.

What makes a great village? That was the question we posed to the participants in the first annual Village Center Retreat at the Grand Isle Lake House in the summer of 2007.

For over thirty years, the Preservation Trust of Vermont has been helping communities save and reuse their historic places. Every now and then, though, it is helpful to take a step back and look at why we are so passionate about our work.