Dan Foster House 1775
The Dan Foster House has a complex history of construction, ownership, and tenancy. Extensive research indicates that the present house is made up of four separate sections, all built at different times. The rear ell that includes the massive old fireplace is the oldest section of the house - dating to 1775. The next section was added in 1875 to accommodate the Reverend Dan Foster.
Foster was the first seated minister at the First Congregational Church of Weathersfield - directly across the road from the house.
In 1825 ownership passed to Horace Cook who built the front part of the house. Mr. Cook ran an inn here for travelers of the Old Crown Point Road.
In 1833 the property was sold to James W Goldsmith who ran it as a farm for many years. The Weathersfield Center Post Office was housed on this property from 1851 to 1904. At this time the Center was a busy hamlet with a blacksmith shop, store, shoemaker, a hatter, and a doctor all nearby.
In 1947 the Goldsmith farm was purchased by Reverend Mr. Beardslee. The property had been empty for many years and was in poor condition. Mr. Beardslee began renovations but suddenly died in 1950 with restoration still under way. The property transferred to the First Congregational Church of Weathersfield, and was leased to the newly formed Weathersfield Historical Society.
The fledging society continued the renovations and furnished the building with donations by its members. The Society purchased the property from the Church for a nominal sum in 1960.
Since then the property has served as home base for the Weathersfield Historical Society. It houses the Society's collection and serves as a museum to showcase it
The Dan Foster House is open to the public 12:00pm till 4:00pm Saturdays from June through Labor Day Weekend.
2656 Weathersfield Center Road
Perkinsville, VT 05151
