The City's First Buildings - 99 State Street

From this spot at 99 State Street, we have a view of some of the oldest buildings that formed the core of early Montpelier. This is where things began taking shape in the 1780s, when town founder Jacob Davis got busy with the lumberjacking. The brick building in front of you was built in 1816, and the wooden clapboard one to your right was built in 1810. To the left, set back from the street, you'll see another structure from the same era. It was built in 1825/6 by Silas French, a boot and shoe merchant. Old-timers sometimes still refer to this building as “The Thrush”, because it operated for many years as the Thrush Tavern, named after the Vermont State Bird. It was a place of low-lit nooks and crannies and another popular spot where many a legislative logjam was eased with the help of a few stiff drinks. In Tour #1 we talked a lot about buildings moving around and this is another one. It originally sat close to the street, in line with those next to it. It got moved back in the 1950s to make way for a Gulf gas station, which was torn down in 2019.