Fort Ethan Allen
Fort Ethan Allen Historic District | |
The Parade Ground and historic Officers Row buildings | |
Location | Jct. of VT 15 and Barnes Ave., Colchester and Essex, Vermont |
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Coordinates | 44°30′20″N 73°9′1″W / 44.50556°N 73.15028°W |
Area | 138 acres (56 ha) |
Built | 1894 |
Built by | US Army |
Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Romanesque |
NRHP reference No. | 95001102[1] |
Added to NRHP | September 14, 1995 |
Fort Ethan Allen was a
Description
The former grounds of Fort Ethan Allen stand on the north side of
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Officers_Row%2C_Fort_Ethan_Allen%2C_Burlington%2C_Vt_%28NYPL_b12647398-73950%29.tiff/lossy-page1-220px-Officers_Row%2C_Fort_Ethan_Allen%2C_Burlington%2C_Vt_%28NYPL_b12647398-73950%29.tiff.jpg)
Fort Ethan Allen was authorized by Congress in 1892, which had decided that some measure of permanent defense should be established in the vicinity of the Canada–United States border. It was built on former farmland donated to the federal government, and its buildings were constructed using locally sourced materials.[2]
The fort was home to the 10th Cavalry Regiment (from 1909 to 1913); 1st Battalion 77th Field Artillery Regiment; 1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry (from 1919 to 1941); the 7th Field Artillery, less 2nd Battalion (from 1922 to 1940); the 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry (from 1928 to 1931); the 2nd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery (from 1933 to 1940); as well as elements of 9th Quartermaster Regiment, and the 84th Quartermaster Battalion.
When the 10th Cavalry departed Vermont in 1913, many of its members retired and remained in the area. As a result, many of their descendants still reside in Colchester, Winooski and Burlington.
The post was deactivated by the Army in 1944. Part of it was used to enlarge the campus of Saint Michael's College, parts of the post have been commercially developed, and part comprises Camp Johnson, the headquarters of the Vermont National Guard.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/ROTC_Cavalry_at_Ft._Ethan_Allan%2C_Vermont%2C_July_1931_%282%29_Crop.jpg/400px-ROTC_Cavalry_at_Ft._Ethan_Allan%2C_Vermont%2C_July_1931_%282%29_Crop.jpg)
While there are some newer structures on the original post (notably college housing and Vermont PBS), the original buildings are put to good use. Various businesses occupy what used to be horse barns; barracks have been converted to apartments, and the "Officers Row" houses are
It includes an 80 feet (24 m) tall water tower, built in 1893 and the oldest structure of the fort. A campaign to raise money to renovate the tower so visitors may climb it is underway.[3]
See also
- Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, an active Vermont National Guard installation and location of the Army Mountain Warfare School
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Chittenden County, Vermont
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Meg Green; et al. (1988). "NRHP nomination for Fort Ethan Allen Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-10-16. with photos from 1988
- ^ The 12 coolest water storage tanks in New England
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)