Local Buildings of Grand Isle, VT

Nicholas Shepard

History

Grand Isle County is comprised of four towns: Alburgh, Grand Isle, Isle La Motte, North Hero and South Hero.

Grand Isle was almost never a part of Vermont. Through the 1700s Grand Isle County was strongly contested by New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Netherlands.

It wasn’t until the late 1700s after the Revolutionary War that Grand Isle Became an official County of Vermont. Grand Isle’s population has grown quickly since 1970 when it was 3,574, it is now 6,970.

Hyde Log Cabin

Location: Grand Isle, VTDate Built: 1738Architect: Jedediah Hyde Jr.

Renovations: Restored in 1956 by Grand Isle Historical SocietyUses: Home stayed in the Hyde family for over 150 years

The Hyde Log Cabin is located just outside of the Grand Isle Elementary School playground.

It has been beautifully restored and is open to the public during the summer months.

Location: Grand Isle, VTDate Built: 1814Architect: UnknownRenovations: Alterations were made in the 1930s to meet new window regulations with the introduction of electricity.

Grand Isle School House #4

Uses: Has always been used as a one room block school house. It’s now used for town meetings and preserved by the Grand Isle Historical Society.

The school house was abandoned for years as a storage unit when it was owned by Grand Isle Elementary School.

It was restored and donated to The Grand Isle Historical Society in 2003.

Location: Grand Isle, VTDate Built: 1916Renovations: New roof in 2010. New deck and ramps in 2008.Uses: Has always been used as a Roman Catholic Church.

St. Joseph Catholic Church

St. Joseph’s has hosted Catechism classes for children in the Champlain Islands for over 20 years.

Location: South Hero, VTDate Built: 1896Renovations: Wooden steeple and bell tower were installed and blessed in 1912. Electricity replaced all gas lighting in 1942. The Stain glass windows were restored in 2009.Uses: St. Rose of Lima has always been used as a Catholic Church.

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church

The Church grounds are a work of art themselves.

As you can see much of the surrounding lawn has been built up to support different parts of the building.

Here is a view of the south entrance ramp.

Close up of the wooden steeple and bell tower that were blessed and installed in 1912.

Location: Grand Isle, VTDate Built: 1925Architect: Hollister, Aschel, ChamberlainRenovations: Ramps added in 2000. New windows 2001.Uses: Most believe it has always been a Methodist Church because nothing specifies otherwise.

Grand Isle United Methodist Church

View of new stain glass windows and Cellar entrance.

Citation

All of my information was obtained by historical Signs posted on the buildings or from the knowledgeable staff at each location.