The History of the Union Meeting Hall
1837
The Union Society was formed on January 30th, 1837. The Society's purpose was to build a Meeting House to serve as a church for five different denominations, including the Methodists, Congregationalists, Spiritualists, and Baptists. The church was completed in 1840.
2021 Steeple Repairs
Steeple removal
On August 6th, 2021 the steeple of the Union Meeting Hall was removed for repairs. The steeple, rebuilt after being struck by lightning and damaged by fire in 1976, was in need of repairs to replace progressive rot.
Steeple replacement
On September 25th, 2021 the steeple of the Union Meeting Hall was put back on top of the building just in time for Ferrisburgh Day, with festivities set to begin the following morning.
Current Ongoing Projects
New ADA Compliant Second Exit/Entrance
Construction has began to add a permanent ADA compliant second exit/entrance on the north side of the building. Although the Town has installed a temporary ADA ramp, entry through the historic front doors is challenging as they are not wide enough for a wheelchair, which limits our ability to provide inclusive community programming. The addition of the new second entrance/exit will also allow us to increase the capacity of the building while also enabling the FUMH to host larger events, serving even more members of the community. In addition to private philanthropic support this project is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the State of Vermont as well as the Walter Cerf Community Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation. The project is slated to be completed by March 2023.
Restoration of the Historic Windows and Installation of Storm Windows
The original 181-year-old windows have been removed and are currently being restored offsite. In addition, any rot on the exterior trim will be removed and painted and any damaged interior window stops will be repaired. This project was supported in part by the MK Taylor Foundation, The Millstone Foundation and private philanthropic support. This rehabilitation of the windows is slated to be finished by Fall 2023.
Oral History of the Union Meeting Hall
History Talks with Silas Towler
Silas Towler, President of the Ferrisburgh Historical Society, discusses the rich history of the Union Meeting Hall. His research of historical archives highlighted all the different types of events that took place at the property through the years. This presentation was given in the Union Meeting Hall in the summer of 2019.