A Historic Journey

A curated tour of Manchester’s prestigious historical sites, all of which have deep ties to the Lincoln family

STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER 
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIMMY IENNER, JR. & COURTESY MANCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Old Mill Road Media is celebrating the centennial of the Lincoln Memorial with “The Lincoln Trail”, a multi-organizational collaboration of 19 different cultural organizations in Southern Vermont and the Berkshires. In honor of this celebration, we at Manchester Life have worked closely with the Manchester Historical Society to provide our readers with a guided tour. These cherished landmarks have played an important role in shaping Manchester’s history, and all of them have longstanding ties to the Lincoln family. Lace up your shoes and get ready to embark on a truly timeless expedition. It’s time to enjoy a historic journey through Manchester! 

Depot Station 

570 Depot Street 

Our trek begins in the parking lot of r.k. Miles on Depot Street. As you stand in the lot and look toward the long green building to the right, you will see the former site of the Manchester Depot train station. Although the track was walled off after passenger services ceased in the 1950s, the Manchester Depot train station once served as a bustling commerce and transit hub. 

The opening of the railroad station in 1852 signaled the dawn of a new era of commercial prosperity for Manchester. At the time, the banks of the western branch of the Battenkill River (which runs through the center of Manchester) were lined with factories and lumber mills. Nearby iron mines and marble quarries, such as the Danby Quarry, produced large quantities of materials that were in incredibly high demand. In the advent of the construction of the rail line, a vast amount of marble was shipped down to New York City from the Southern Vermont quarries. The marble was used in the construction of many buildings, including the New York Public Library. 

In the years that followed, the “Manchester and the Mountains” summer colony was born in the latter half of the 19th century. Well-heeled vacationers began to take full advantage of the rail service that transported passengers from New York City to Southern Vermont, including Robert Todd Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, the son and wife of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Travelers would arrive in lavishly-outfitted train cars with bags full of trendy and posh summer clothes and would flock to local inns and hotels, such as the Equinox House. Today, the station is still mostly intact, although its structure has been changed. Next to the walled-off track, the ticket window remains, as well as the “Manchester” sign that hangs above the track. 

Directly to the right of the station, you will see the building that currently houses r.k. Miles’ corporate offices. This structure once served as the site of the marble and granite works of William H. Fullerton, which was constructed in 1867. It was here that Fullerton loaded thousands of marble memorials onto transport trains, which were shipped to cemeteries all around the country in the years immediately following the Civil War. Fullerton’s exquisite craftsmanship can also be seen at the Soldiers Memorial, which stands in front of the Congregational Church in Manchester.

Factory Point National Bank Building 

4928 Main Street 

After visiting the historic Depot Station, proceed westward on Depot Street, then turn right onto Center Hill Road. If travelling on foot, continue on Center Hill Road until it turns into Main Street. If travelling by car, turn right onto Park Place off of Center Hill Road, then make a left onto Main Street. After continuing for several blocks, you will come across the Factory Point National Bank Building on your left. The Factory Point National Bank Building recently underwent an extensive renovation. It has been rebuilt as a multi-purpose structure that wonderfully combines historic architecture with modern aesthetics. Reborn as “Factory Point Place,” the building now features blue clapboard walls, dentil molding, and a prominent cornice. It houses Spring & Harbor Boutique and Union Underground, and is also home to several gorgeous private residences. 

The first structure that stood in the same place as the Factory Point Bank Building was constructed in 1815. In the late 19th century, Emerson Estabrook converted the third floor into an opera house. He then opened Estabrook’s Opera House in 1884. After a tragic fire burnt the entire structure down to the ground in 1893, it was rebuilt and reopened to the public in 1896. The Union Opera House then opened on the second floor of the building, which was used by the local community as a public performance space and gathering hall for nearly half a century. The Union Opera House hosted both local musical productions and high-profile artistic events, and also served as a meeting place for esteemed social clubs, such as the Ondawa Club (whose members included Orvis Fly Fishing & Tackle Company founder Charles Orvis and acclaimed Vermont poet and author Walter R. Hard), the Masonic Hall for Adoniram Lodge #42, and the Order of Eastern Star. 

In 1896, the Factory Point Bank opened in the basement and first floor of the same building as the Union Opera House. Robert Todd Lincoln was one of the bank’s longstanding customers, and their clientele list also included many successful local business owners and industrial magnates. In 1972, the bank purchased the entire building in order to expand its operations. The Main Street branch in downtown Manchester served as Factory Point Bank’s main corporate headquarters until 2007, when the company was acquired by Berkshire Bank. In 2012, Berkshire Bank vacated the building and moved down to a new location on Main Street. After remaining unoccupied for two years, the Factory Point Bank Building was purchased by Stephen and Bill Drunsic in 2014, who envisioned a flourishing future for downtown Manchester’s historic Factory Point district. “The Drunsics’ efforts to repurpose the building with a nod towards its history are a testament to their commitment to Manchester and its Main Street historic district,” says Manchester Historical Society’s Curator Shawn Harrington. “It’s a beautiful building with a compelling story behind it.”

Charles Orvis Inn

4928 Main Street 

Following your visit to the Factory Point National Bank building, head west on Main Street, then continue south at the roundabout. After passing the Northshire Bookstore and the Orvis Fly Fishing School, you will come across the Charles Orvis Inn on your left. 

The Charles Orvis Inn was named after the founder of the legendary Orvis fly fishing and outdoor apparel company, Charles Orvis, who purchased the inn in 1883. Charles Orvis opened his tackle shop in Manchester in 1856. Over the following century-and-a-half, Southern Vermont became a renowned destination for fly fishing enthusiasts, and Orvis grew into one of the most beloved and well-known outdoor lifestyle brands in the world. Orvis’ initial success was catalyzed by the creation of the world-famous original Orvis fly reel in 1874. It was the first vertically-mounted reel with a ventilated spool, which set the stage for the development of modern reels that have come to dominate the modern market, such as disc brake reels. Today, anglers of all skill levels come from far and wide to attend classes at the Orvis Fly Fishing School, which are taught by skilled fly fishers who are passionate about the sport and Southern Vermont’s fly fishing culture. The legacy of the Orvis family also lives on through the nearby Equinox Resort, which was brought into existence through the efforts of Charles Orvis’ brother, Franklin Orvis. 

Equinox Resort

3567 Main Street 

Located just south of the Charles Orvis Inn, the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa’s main building is comprised of two separate structures, which are joined together by a small connecting section in the middle. One of the structures served as the site of the Equinox House, which has longstanding ties to both the Orvis Family and the Lincoln Family. The other building, which once housed the Marsh Tavern and the original Taconic Hotel, served as a welcoming haven for revolutionary fighters at a critical point in American history. 

The Marsh tavern was built in 1769 by its proprietor, William Marsh, and hosted numerous meetings of the Council of Safety during the onset of the American Revolution. Following the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, Marsh decided to change his allegiance and align himself with the Tories. Soon after, he fled from Vermont and headed to Canada. Several of his properties were ultimately confiscated, and the Marsh Tavern was bought and sold by multiple owners over the course of the next half-century. In 1839, The Marsh Tavern was purchased by Martin Vanderlip, who transformed the property with a comprehensive reconstruction project. The renovated structure became the original Taconic Hotel, which featured the same fluted columns that are visible outside of the Equinox Resort’s main building today. 

Martin Vanderlip’s neighbor, Levi Orvis, operated a store and boarding house that stood next door to the Taconic Hotel. When Levi Orvis passed away, his son, Franklin, expanded his operation and opened the Equinox House in 1853. This fortunately coincided with the construction of the rail line that led to Manchester, which paved the path for the tourism boom that was soon to come. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, came to visit the Equinox House twice during her tenure as First Lady. She initially came to Manchester with her sons, Tad Lincoln and Robert Todd Lincoln, in 1863, with General Abner Doubleday serving as her military escort. She then returned in 1864 to plan a vacation in Manchester with her husband, President Abraham Lincoln. Sadly, their plans to visit Manchester were never realized due to President Lincoln’s tragic assassination at Ford’s Theatre in 1865. 

In 1880, Franklin Orvis bought the Taconic Hotel. Soon after, he connected the Equinox House to the Taconic Hotel with a second-story walkway. Both hotel buildings underwent a series of significant expansion and beautification projects, which took place during the apex of Manchester’s summer colony at the end of the 19th Century and the beginning of the 20th Century. When the property was purchased by new owners in the 1980s (after a long period of inactivity), the two separate structures were joined at the ground level. In 1985, the southern section of the hotel caught fire. The building was fortunately saved by a team of valiant local firefighters, and the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa stands today as a celebrated hotel that provides its visitors with sumptuous lodging accommodations and exceptional service. 

Across the street from the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa, you will find the 1811 House on the eastern side of Main Street. The 1811 House was originally built by Manchester’s first Town Clerk, Jeremiah French, in the 1770s. After Jeremiah French fled to Canada to join the Tories, the property was confiscated by the Council of Safety. Years later, the home was purchased by the Munson Family in 1811. After acquiring the home in 1811, the Munsons expanded the structure by adding a second story. The property was later converted into a boarding house, which was known as The Munson House. In 1905, the building was purchased by Robert Todd Lincoln’s daughter, Mary Todd “Mamie” Lincoln, and her husband, Charles. The building was owned by the Lincoln family until 1938, when Mary Todd “Mamie” Lincoln passed away. After the Lincoln family sold the property, it was acquired by Henry Robinson, who renamed it the “1811 House” and opened it up to the public as an inn. Although he made tasteful renovations, he managed to keep the timeless colonial feel of the building. The building was ultimately purchased by the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in 2007, and its beautiful and comfortable rooms are available for booking. 

1811 house 

3654 Main Street 

Across the street from the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa, you will find the 1811 House on the eastern side of Main Street. The 1811 House was originally built by Manchester’s first Town Clerk, Jeremiah French, in the 1770s. After Jeremiah French fled to Canada to join the Tories, the property was confiscated by the Council of Safety. Years later, the home was purchased by the Munson Family in 1811. After acquiring the home in 1811, the Munsons expanded the structure by adding a second story. The property was later converted into a boarding house, which was known as The Munson House. In 1905, the building was purchased by Robert Todd Lincoln’s daughter, Mary Todd “Mamie” Lincoln, and her husband, Charles. The building was owned by the Lincoln family until 1938, when Mary Todd “Mamie” Lincoln passed away. After the Lincoln family sold the property, it was acquired by Henry Robinson, who renamed it the “1811 House” and opened it up to the public as an inn. Although he made tasteful renovations, he managed to keep the timeless colonial feel of the building. The building was ultimately purchased by the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in 2007, and its beautiful and comfortable rooms are available for booking. 

Ekwanok Country Club

3262 Main Street 

Founded in 1899, the Ekwanok Golf Club is widely known for its spectacular views and challenging play. Although the club is private and is not open to the public for touring purposes, it nevertheless played a central role in luring one of Manchester’s most famous residents to Southern Vermont. Several years after Robert Todd Lincoln became president of the Pullman Company in 1897, he returned to Manchester to visit his business partner, Edward Isham. Lincoln was an avid golfer, and Isham was the first president of the newly-opened Ekwanok Golf Club. 

After a few spirited rounds of golf, Lincoln became wholeheartedly enamored with Manchester and the Ekwanok Golf Club. He then made an offer to purchase a parcel of land from Isham, who owned a sizable property nearby. Although Isham refused the offer, Lincoln eventually purchased hundreds of acres of Isham’s land after Isham passed away in 1902. In 1903, Lincoln began building up his property, and became President of the Ekwanok Golf Club soon thereafter. He not only remained the Club’s President until he passed away in 1926, but also served as Chair of the Finance Committee for decades. 

During the years that Lincoln spent golfing at the Ekwanok Country Club, he also invited prominent professional golfers and notable diplomats to join him for games at Ekwanok, such as U.S. President William Howard Taft, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, Henry Ford, the iconic 19th Century golfer Charles Blair MacDonald, and Colonel George Harvey, who would later become the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain. 

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home

1005 Hildene Road

For the final stop on your tour, head to Manchester’s most celebrated historic attraction – Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home. This breathtaking 412-acre estate is home to a majestic Georgian Revival-style mansion, a formal garden and observatory, and Hildene Farm, among other attractions. Construction of Hildene began in 1903, and the Lincoln family spent their first summer there in 1905. Robert Todd Lincoln thoroughly enjoyed spending time at Hildene and was known to spend his afternoons in its gardens taking in the panoramic mountain vistas.

While Lincoln was building his estate at Hildene, he was also working as the President of the Pullman Company, which manufactured luxurious railcars in the 19th Century and early 20th Century. In 2011, the painstakingly-restored 1903 Pullman Car, Sunbeam, was brought to Hildene after years of fundraising, tireless searching, and fiercely determined planning on behalf of the Friends of Hildene nonprofit organization. 

According to the Manchester Historical Society’s Curator, Shawn Harrington, Pullman Cars played an integral part in the continued development of Manchester’s tourist economy. “Pullman Cars actually brought tourists into Manchester Depot for decades. That’s why it’s so incredible to have a Pullman Car in Manchester today in its original restored condition. Back in the latter half of the 19th century, Manchester Village’s economy completely revolved around the ‘Summer Colony.’ The expression ‘Manchester and the Mountains’ was actually coined right around 1900, when Robert Todd Lincoln first returned to Manchester to visit Edward Isham. Manchester developed a reputation amongst east-coast elites as an ideal summer destination. Most of the well-to-do tourists that flocked to Manchester for the summer arrived by train, and they all came up in Pullman Cars.”

After Robert Todd Lincoln passed away in 1926, the Lincoln family continued to live at Hildene until Abraham Lincoln’s great-granddaughter, Peggy Beckwith, died in 1975. In line with her grandmother’s wishes, Peggy left Hildene to the Church of Christ, Scientist. After the Church realized that it did not have the necessary funds to properly maintain the grounds, members of the local community intervened to prevent Hildene from being sold to developers. The community members formed a nonprofit organization, Friends of Hildene, which raised enough money to purchase the estate in 1978. In the years that followed, Friends of Hildene began working to restore the home and formal garden and also put a great deal of effort into building up the Hildene Farm. The farm’s facilities now include a solar-powered goat dairy and cheese-making facility, a teaching greenhouse, vegetable gardens, an apple orchard, and a schoolhouse built in 1832 that is still used for education programs. In line with Hildene’s educationally-oriented “Values into Action” mission statement, local high school students from Burr& Burton Academy are able to take agriculture and environmental classes at the Hildene Farm. The BBA-Hildene program flawlessly exemplifies Hildene’s continuing commitment to honoring the site’s cultural heritage through environmental stewardship, community education, and civic engagement. Visitors who come to Hildene are required to purchase admissions passes, which are available at the on-site welcome center.