As seen in The Chronicle newspaper, March 25, 2026 —
Dear Editor,
On March 11, 2026 The Chronicle reported on the Irasburg Town meeting, noting that voters rejected the Old Stone House Museum’s appropriation request in part because “several claimed that the organization had recently earned a $3 million grant.” To clarify: the three largest grants awarded to the museum this year total $177,000—not $3 million.
Grants, especially capital project grants like these, require a detailed and extensive application and reporting process, and only cover a portion of a designated project. They pay to fix, restore, or create something new, one time. The grants we have received for assistance this year are restricted to helping us restore and protect over 1,000 panes of glass in the 190-year old windows of the Old Stone House—as well as protect all of the objects inside the museum from destructive light damage with UV-filtering storm windows—and to restore the Cyrus Eaton House, one of the oldest buildings in our county.
The Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant through the Preservation Trust of Vermont (PTV) is providing $75,000 towards the restoration of all 60 windows of the Old Stone House, alongside a $15,000 grant from the VT Division of Historic Preservation (VDHP). The project is estimated to cost over $102,000. The museum is also working with the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) to rehabilitate the Cyrus Eaton House. The house has been closed for over two years while staff and volunteers secured funding for critical repairs and accessibility improvements. The $87,000 award will help restore public access, though total project costs are expected to exceed $111,000.
As a 501(c)3 non-profit, the museum re-invests grant money and other funding directly into materials and labor for work by skilled professionals—and local is always first choice. We steward every dollar through our budget with great care; we reduce, re-use, recycle and barter—as our ancestors did. We operate with a skeleton crew of staff and are grateful for the labor and effort of thousands of volunteer hours from residents of almost every town in the county and beyond.
At the same town meeting, The Chronicle reported, “Others argued the museum doesn’t directly benefit Irasburg. Resident Larry Dwyer disagreed, describing an entire room in the building dedicated to Irasburg, though not convincingly enough to sway other voters.” In addition to our “Town Rooms,” we care for 75,000+ artifacts and archival materials from all over the county (including town records and personal artifacts connected to Irasburg families such as Ira Allen and Jerusha Enos). Each year our exhibits are visited by over 6,000 people from all over the world, including 600 local children on school field trips, attending summer camps, and educational programs.
We recognize that rising costs are affecting households and communities alike. At the museum, we are making difficult decisions as well—working to sustain our staff, programs, and public services while navigating these challenges. Approximately 40% of the museum’s annual budget comes from donations. Even with careful budgeting, the 2026 fiscal year is projected to fall short by $190,000.
The Old Stone House Museum & Historic Village was created—and sustained—by community effort. For over 100 years, people have invested in preserving this place and the stories it holds. Our volunteers give their time, skills, and enthusiasm in ways that are both practical and deeply meaningful. Their contributions shape the daily life of the museum and reflect a shared belief that this history—and this place—is worth caring for, together, so generations of Vermonters to come have a place to learn about our piece of the Kingdom.
Support from our community remains essential. Contributions at every level help ensure that the museum can continue to serve the region as it has for generations. You can learn more about the museum on our website: OldStoneHouseMuseum.org, or by calling 802-754-2022.