The Mystery of This Old House

The mystery of this old house

MIKE GLEASON, Staff Writer

Article Launched:12/02/2006 03:06:57 AM EST

Saturday, December 2

POWNAL — It is believed to be the oldest house in Pownal, and may in fact be the oldest standing house in the state.

According to estimates, the Mooar-Wright House predates the American Revolutionary War.

However, there is a reason for the qualifer "believed to be" — no one is entirely sure when the house was built, or even who built it.

"No one has come out with an exact date for the house's construction, but they say around 1750," said Margaret Lillie, who owns the house.

Numerous surveys have attempted to uncover the house's true age, though none have succeeded. Joseph Parks, an area historian, wrote a history of the house, claiming the house could have been built by the earliest colonial inhabitants of the area — Dutch settlers.

According to Parks, the Dutch arrived in Pownal, believing the town to be part of New York (then a Dutch colony). The Mooar house could have been built at that time, and it may in fact correspond to a house on an old New York survey map, wrote Parks.

"The house might go back to the days of the Dutch," Parks said. "If it was built way back then, it could be the oldest."

Tyler Resch,

a fellow area historian, said the possibility exists that the house is indeed the oldest still-surviving home.

"It could be — there were Dutch settlers in Pownal before the rest of us got there," Resch said. "I don't have any evidence to disprove it."

The Dutch were later forced out of the area by English colonists, who claimed the area was part of New Hampshire.

According to Lillie, the house has been lived in continuously (or close to it) since it was built, and much of the material in the house is original (bricks, windows, doors, etc.). The house, located on Main Street, has a frame of hand-hewn timbers and has been added on to numerous times since it was originally built. There are multiple fireplaces in the house, in what Lillie refers to as a "beehive" chimney.

The State Department of Historic Preservation said the property was not on the state's historical registry, though a representative from the department admitted its records on Pownal were a little thin. The library of the Vermont Historical Society also did not have information regarding the house.

Lillie said her sister had desired to see a historical society established in Pownal, but passed away before it could occur.

"Years later, I saw the house was available, and I thought, 'Wouldn't this be the perfect place to house a historical society?'" said Lillie.

A historical society eventually was established, and efforts began to raise money to purchase the house from Lillie. However, after several fundraising attempts, it became clear the society would not be able to raise enough money to do so.

The building currently serves as Lillie's office, though she may be looking to sell the property after she retires.

"I'm hoping to find someone that loves the place," Lillie said.

Terry Dafoe of Alberta, Canada, claimed in a 1997 letter that his sixth great-grandfather, John Defoe, may be the house's original owner.

John Defoe lived among the Dutch settlers, and Lillie said his claim was "pretty well-substantiated."

The matter is still not settled, though.

Though the house is in need of restoration, Lillie attests to the house's character.

"The place grows on you," Lillie said. "That may be hard to believe, but it grows on you.”