The town of Chester, Vermont may be centrally located, but as you wander around this town of just 3,100 residents you’ll definitely feel like you stepped off the beaten path. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the town is the amazing Chester Stone Village Historic District. This unique Vermont town is truly one of a kind and there are loads of other things to see and do while you visit the beautiful town of Chester. Let’s take a look!

In the 1830s, skilled masons from Scotland arrived in the town of Chester. They came to work on a large factory building which is no longer standing.
Flickr/Don Shall
They were particularly skilled in the distinctive "snecked ashlar" style, and you'll still find some of these beautifully maintained buildings still standing today.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
The stone village in Chester is one of the most unique places in Vermont, and you've got to experience it for yourself to truly see the architecture here.
The technique uses stones from 4 x 6 inches to 3 x 4 feet and could be up to 24 inches thick. They were then reinforced with moss and horsehair.
Flickr/Don Shall
This type of construction is generally rare in the United States, and is only found on about 50 surviving buildings in Vermont.
Flickr/Don Shall
What makes this village so unique are the 10 buildings in the Stone Village. This is the highest concentration of this type of structure you'll find anywhere else.
Wikipedia.org
Spend a day exploring this charming small town in Vermont and see which one is your favorite!
The builders used locally quarried slabs of granite, gneiss, and schist.
Flickr/Don Shall
Schist is loaded with sparkly mica and easily split, which explains its use on the outside surface of the buildings to build the stone houses.

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Although the homes were built in the same manner, you'll notice a variety of styles.
Flickr/Don Shall
Some of the stone houses include secret rooms that were once a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
A unique piece of Vermont's history, for sure.
Several of the homes have extensions on the back which gives more room in the home, but it also allowed the residents to have more room to do chores in the warmth of the home.
Flickr/Don Shall
One of these stone homes was where Olivia Goldsmith wrote First Wives Club in 2001.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
Among the stone buildings you'll see the one room schoolhouse...
Flickr/Don Shall
And the First Universalist Parish of Chester circa 1845.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
Of course, there's plenty of other activities in Chester, including antique shops, artisan galleries as well as dining and lodging.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
Plan a trip to this unique town in Vermont soon. You'll absolutely love it!

Chester, Vermont’s Stone Village is clearly one of the best sites in Vermont.

If you think this tiny village in VT is special, you’ll love this small town in Vermont that is one of the coolest in the U.S.

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unique town in Vermont

Jackie Ann | July 05, 2022

What are the most unique towns in Vermont?

Some of the most unique towns in Vermont are:

  •  Barre: most well-known for its granite quarries, this small Vermont town is home to many delicious restaurants and fascinating sites like the unique headstones at the Hope Cemetery.
  • Stowe: home to the historic Trapp Family Lodge.
  • Brattleboro: former host to various hippie communes in the '60s and '70s, Brattleboro is now host to a thriving arts community and picturesque downtown.

 

What is the best way to explore Vermont?

With Vermont’s stunning landscape and charming small towns, road trips are easily the best way to explore the Vermont.

In the fall, you can’t beat a classic fall foliage road trip in Vermont, and you can pair that with some of Vermont’s waterfalls and scenic hiking trails.

Don’t forget about all of Vermont’s iconic covered bridges. Vermont has more covered bridges per square mile than any other state. You can see 17 covered bridges in just Windsor County alone.

What are the most beautiful small towns in Vermont?

Some of the most beautiful small towns in Vermont are:

  • Woodstock: a popular tourist destination and picturesque town
  • Whitingham: known as one of the most beautiful lake towns in Vermont, with stunning scenery
  • Quechee: home to one of the most beautiful covered bridges in Vermont
  • Charlotte: home to Vermont's most frequently visited state park

We love our big cities, but the real heartbeat of the state are all of the small towns in Vermont.

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