From the Archives

The Union Hotel, a.k.a The Brick House, a.k.a. The Tavern

Snapshot of Our History

Now a home, this building on historic Center Street has an ancient history, and ghost stories to go along with it. The late Fran Lampman, former owner of the house and PHS board member, wrote in the PHS newsletter Pownal Gateway that a small two-story brick section in the back of the home may date to the time of the first Dutch settlers, although we are uncertain of documentation. Fran said the Dutch, who settled along the Hoosic River in the early 1700s, made their first homes of bark, then logs, and finally brick if they became prosperous enough. She wrote that ceiling beams in the brick section of the home are chestnut timbers hand-hewn by ax and adz. Fran said in digging around the yard she found pottery shards and arrow heads. Deeds to the old brick section of the house refer to it as “Tavern House.” It was one of the first taverns in town, at least in Pownal Village.

In either 1846 or 1847, the tavern was expanded significantly. It became known as the The Union House. The Union Church was built shortly afterward across the street in 1849. It was built on top of, and incorporates part of the earlier log church first erected in the 18th century. The church is still used, now called The Pownal Center Community Church. The naming of the hotel and church in mid-19th century likely a reflects the town’s strong support of the Union during the Civil War and afterward. Fran said some doors of her home still faintly bore the numbers of the hotel rooms.

The home’s current residents are Courtney Chittenden and her family. Courtney is Fran Lampman’s granddaughter. Courtney says she is the eighth generation of her family to occupy the home. Sometimes, she and her daughters experience presences in the home, she thinks perhaps ghosts of some of the earlier family.