Historic sites need millions in repairs; preservation office seeks larger maintenance bucket

Laura Treishman, Vermont’s state historic preservation officer, told the Senate Committee on Institutions that the division’s recommended major maintenance appropriation would help address accumulated damage at multiple state historic sites and allow more flexible prioritization than piecemeal line items.

Trishman said the capital bill draft recommends $550,000 for fiscal 2026 and the same amount for fiscal 2027 for the state historic sites account; she described that as a basic operations level. “Our future estimate based on current and, expected conditions, assessments, design plans, energy efficiency, material costs, etcetera, inflation … our anticipated need for these two fiscal years is $2,200,000,” she said, and added the program lacks in‑house maintenance staff and must contract out specialized craftsmen.

Trishman described a set of high‑priority sites and specific needs:

- Chester Arthur site (Fairfield): visitation rose to 614 last year from under 100 pre‑COVID; the building has significant moisture problems and needs stabilization, exhibit replacement and security work.

- Kent’s Corner (Calais): a barn built in 1865 needs stabilization and may be adapted for exhibit use; a separate tavern needs plaster repairs.

- Chimney Point (near Lake Champlain Bridge): about 2,000 visitors and roughly $10,000 in revenue were reported; small features such as a three‑hole privy required foundation rebuilding, and painting the complex cost more than $100,000 in a recent project.

- Hubbardton Battlefield (Hubbardton): site visitation is increasing ahead of the semi‑quincentennial; the visitor center and battlefield features suffer water infiltration and need a longer‑term roof and conservation plan, including stone conservation and wrought‑iron fence repair.

- Calvin Coolidge Boyhood Home (Plymouth): structural repairs and foundation stabilization are needed; Trishman estimated about $700,000 in projects this year and said the birthplace foundation stabilization alone was estimated at about $300,000 with full accessibility and structural work near $400,000.

- Justin Morrill Homestead (Strafford): the site has a Save America’s Treasures grant of $226,000 requiring a $279,000 match; Trishman said final structural repairs will be about $300,000 and FEMA funds have been awarded for some repairs.

- Theron Boyd House: repeated flood damage has bowed foundation walls; FEMA funds have been secured to shore up foundations and reconstruct masonry.

- Old Constitution House (location of the 1777 constitution): damage from flooding and mold required mechanical system replacement; Trishman said the site received a semiquincentennial grant of about $460,000 that requires a $53,000 match, and that FEMA public‑assistance funds would help relocate mechanicals (Trishman gave varying FEMA amounts during testimony; see provenance). The office contracted dendrochronology work for $15,000 to better date the building’s fabric and clarify restoration needs.

Trishman emphasized capacity constraints: the division has one preservation director and no permanent maintenance staff, so higher appropriations would require contracting project managers and specialist trades. She added that securing contractors in rural New England is difficult and has driven repeated rebidding of projects.

Why it matters: The sites represent state historic assets and tourism draws; deferred maintenance can generate escalating costs and limit public access. Trishman said a larger, flexible major maintenance appropriation would improve prioritization and reduce administrative friction.

Committee members asked for additional detail on staffing and contracting assumptions and for follow‑up materials on specific projects and funding matches.