Name/Title
Vail Library Mural with Mezzanine BalustradeEntry/Object ID
2024.780.1Description
Vail Mansion library mural with original mezzanine balustrade, rescued from Vail Mansion during its demolition.Context
All ten sections of this balustrade went missing for nearly half a century. After being rescued from Vail Mansion, someone purchased the ten sections to use in a private home in Lyndonville, VT. Manor Vail Society members appeared on the UVM Extension Service/Channel 3 WCAX-TV public service program Across The Fence to promote activities at Vail Museum. In the course of that broadcast, MVS members made an appeal to viewers who may have had historic items that relate to the history of the college and Vail Mansion to get in touch. Steve Tillotson of East Corinth, VT got in touch. He had recently purchased some architectural salvage in downtown Lyndonville, and thought some of it might be from Vail Mansion. Dick Collins, founding member of Manor Vail Society traveled to East Corinth in his pickup, talked to Steve and confirmed these architectural artifacts were, indeed, from Vail Mansion. Dick negotiated a price and bought all ten of the balustrade pieces on the spot, loaded the pieces into his pickup and brought them to Lyndon. The Vail Museum exhibit features one section of the balustrade. MVS still possesses the other nine sections which are in private storage.
Check the graphic of The Lyndon State College Critic newspaper dated October 17, 1974, for the dramatic story of the balustrade rescue mission.Cataloged By
Michael Thurston & Michael Fournier