Town of Shelburne
Seven miles south of Burlington along Route 7, the town of Shelburne displays its affluence in the manner of a Grande Dame; the quality of its homes and businesses is apparent, but not ostentatious. Chartered by Benning Wentworth in 1763, the town honors the Earl of Shelburne, a prominent nobleman in Parliament who upheld New Hampshire's claims.
Hamilton Child wrote in his 1882 publication, Gazetteer of Chittenden County, Vermont, "In surface, Shelburne presents a scene of quiet rural beauty, picturesque in the extreme at some points, though it possesses no rugged mountains to lend their grandeur to its loveliness. The land, generally level, is, however, gently rolling, enough to pleasantly break the surface into long, sweeping curves." He further describes Shelburne as "a post village and station on the Vermont Central Railroad, is very pleasantly located near the center of town, and contains one church, several shops of various kinds, one store, and about twenty-five or thirty dwellings."
Child's description of the Shelburne landscape still applies, as modern-day travelers down Route 7 can attest. Although the land is level, views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks are definite perks for the Shelburne resident. Several of the homes Child mentions are still occupied; the Harrington, Stoddard, and Tracy houses on Route 7, And the Kinney House on Falls Road. The Shelburne Inn was built in 1796 by the Harringtons, and was continually operated as an inn for over 200 years.
The longevity of these buildings is analogous to the stability of the town. A variety of homes and lifestyles is present in Shelburne. Retirement communities offer senior citizens comfortable homes to age in place. Neighborhoods range from Victorians and Queen Anne's; ranch houses built for veterans during the post World War boom; to upscale contemporaries on 10 acre lots.
Many inhabitants commute to jobs outside of Shelburne. Route 7 is the main north/south highway on the eastern edge of Vermont. Shelburne is also a stop on the commuter rail line between Charlotte and Burlington. An extension of the service into Essex Junction is under consideration. Activities for children abound. Shelburne Community School, with students from Kindergarten through Eighth grade, encourages family participation. Ninth through Twelfth grades attend Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg. Volunteers coach soccer and baseball leagues. Community groups participate in Fourth of July celebrations, book sales, auctions, and school musicals. Hitorically, school and town activities are well-attended.
Several farms and orchards are still in operation. In 1887, Dr. W. Seward Webb and his wife, Lila Osgood Vanderbilt, purchased 1800 acres of land to be used for horticultural research and animal husbandry. The public can now follow in the footsteps of Theodore Roosevelt, Admiral Dewey, and other prominent visitors to the property, now known as Shelburne Farms.
Founded by Electra Webb, the acclaimed Shelburne Museum is located on a portion of the Webb Estate, giving visitors a glimpse into life during earlier times. Often referred to as the "Smithsonian of New England," the Shelburne Museum also provides research facilities for historians and conservators of antiques.
At the tip of Shelburne Point, Shelburne Shipyard docks boats of all sizes. Established in 1820 specifically for the purpose of boat construction, the Shipyard launched its first steamboat, the "General Green" in 1825. The Ticonderoga, now on exhibit at Shelburne Museum, was built there, and Lake Champlain Transportation Company wintered and repaired ferries at the shipyard for several generations.
A more modern attraction, but one that is quite popular, is the Vermont Teddy Bear factory on Route 7. Daily tours delight children and grownups. Shelburne takes pride in its people and its history. Maps for walking tours of the Village and Shelburne Falls are available at the Village Clerk's office. The maps not only show the location of historic homes, businesses, and points of interest, a brief history of each site is also given.
Embraced by the Green Mountains, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondacks, Shelburne rewards residents and visitors with postcard-perfect landscapes, well-kept homes, and small-town ambience. These benefits, added to educational and recreational opportunities make Shelburne an appealing place to live for those of all ages.