The History of the Craftsbury Farmhouse

 
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A history of hospitality

As early as the 1930s our great-grandparents, Earl and Mary Wilson, opened their home to those looking for a temporary escape from the hustle of life in the city. In exchange for free room and board, these folks would come help out around what was then a working farm. 

Our grandfather, Bryce, grew up in the Farmhouse and attended Craftsbury Academy. After graduating from college, he moved to New Jersey with our grandmother, Audrey, and began his career as a guidance counselor. Each summer, they would pack up the car with their four children, including our mother Lisa, and return to the familiar warmth of the Craftsbury Farmhouse. Long summers were spent exploring the wonders of Vermont’s Green Mountains and fishing in the Whetstone Brook.

 

turning over a new leaf

Shortly after our parents married and began a family of their own in New Jersey, they decided to make the move to Vermont, taking up residence right here at the Craftsbury Farmhouse. They renovated the old barn into the home where we would grow up.   

When our grandfather retired, our grandparents moved back to Craftsbury and turned the white section of the farmhouse into Whetstone Brook Bed & Breakfast, which operated for 17 years. When the holidays came, they would hang the “No Vacancy” sign and welcome our aunts, uncles, and cousins for big, festive gatherings.

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Not letting go

As our grandparents’ health declined and our own parents looked forward to retirement, we started to brainstorm what we could possibly do to hang onto the property. Having grown up here wandering the same land as four generations before us, we didn’t want to let go of a piece of history so central to our family. We started to discuss the idea of turning our childhood home into a local hub of self-care.

With an incredible team of practitioners and a whole lot of community support, Whetstone Wellness opened in May of 2018.

 

the final touches

At the end of 2018, our good friend Lee Kinsey approached us with the idea of turning the downstairs of the farmhouse into a cocktail bar and restaurant. This idea took our goal of creating “a community gathering place” to a whole new level!

In May 2019, we officially bought the property from our parents, making us the 5th generation in our family to own this incredible piece of land. There have been changes since then and will continue to be changes as we - and the world - evolve. But to us these hills and gardens, the sound of the nearby brook, and the expanse of the view all around us will always feel like home. We’re so happy to continue the tradition of hospitality that began nearly 100 years ago. 

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Welcome to our home - we think you’ll like it here.