since 1790

 692-694 Church Hill Road and the Charlotte Historic District

The property at 692 & 694 Church Hill Road, which consists of 2 Greek Style houses and a 2 story Post & Beam barn, are considered the “Charlotte Historic District”. All 3 buildings are on the National Historic Register. 

Hezekiah Barnes (1760-1813) was a Captain in George Washington's Colonial Army, a General in Vermont's Militia, a County Court Judge, a Postmaster, a Land Surveyor, and one of the first Vermont State Legislators.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezekiah_Barnes

 
Having just completed his service in the American Revolutionary War, Barnes relocated to Charlotte in 1783. He and his wife Anna, traveled on horseback from Connecticut with each carrying one young child on their horse. As compensation for his service, which was typical for officers serving in the American Revolutionary War, Barnes was land granted 588 acres. This land would ultimately become the Town of Charlotte, Vermont. The 3.7 acres of land on the property of 692-694 Church Hill Road sits at the foot of Pease Mountain, which is named for Barnes' wife Anna Pease Barnes.
 
Barnes constructed several buildings between 1783 and 1810 on Church Hill Road. Among these buildings was his personal home, which was a stone framed, single family home, which contained 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. It sits across the road from 692-694.

In 1783, Barnes built a structure next to his home which became the “Stagecoach Tavern & Inn”. The tavern featured 10 fireplaces and a full ballroom, as well as several guest rooms. This tavern and inn was located across the road from 692 & 694 Church Hill Road.

   
In 1810, another man built a tavern 2 miles east of Barnes' tavern at the intersection of what is now Spear Street and Hinesburg Road. At that time, when the stagecoach route was planned from Montreal to New York, it would have traveled by the tavern owned by Martin at Spear and Hinesburg Road. Hezekiah Barnes, using his influence as a State Legislator, had the stagecoach re-routed so that it would pass by his tavern, and not the new tavern. In 1947, Elektra Webb purchased the Stagecoach Tavern and relocated it to the Shelburne Museum, where it was completely refurbished, and is a popular attraction. 

In 1790, Barnes built what is now 694 Church Hill Road to be his Trading Post. This would have Barnes owning a tavern, inn and trading post on a direct route of the stagecoach. 

  
In 1800, Barnes built a large post & beam 2 story barn, which would serve as a livery stable and blacksmith shop, as well as to house farm animals and horses and stagecoaches. Much of the original stanchions used for cows and oxen are still present today in the lower barn. 

In 1810, Barnes built what is now 692 Church Hill Road which served as a Post Office and Barnes' office, as well as store rooms for the trading post.

   
The building at 694 Church Hill Road served for many years as Harte's General Store from the early 1940's until the mid 1980's.

Both 692 and 694 Church Hill Road were used in a scene from the 2000 Harrison Ford/Michele Pfeiffer film “What Lies Beneath”. 692 was filmed as “The Adamant Cafe”, while 694 was filmed as “The Sleeping Dog”. The scene is a pivotal scene within the movie.