Yestermorrow Spring 2026 Speaker Series
Historic Preservation: Meaning, Memory, and Stewardship

Restoring Moses Whitcomb’s “Monitor Barn” and Other Iconic Structures Built by Charles Miller with Eliot Lothrop

The presentation will explore the land accumulation of the Whitcomb family during the second half of the 19th century, culminating in Moses’ ownership- the peak of dairy farming at the farm. In 1901, Moses had the East Monitor Barn built, hiring the 36 year old Charles Miller, from North Ferrisburgh, to frame it. Born into a family of timber framers, Miller had already built several monumental barns around Chittenden and Addison County. We’ll look at several of Miller’s other barns and explore pages of his work journals, which have opened up some fascinating connections.
We’ll explore the restoration work that has happened on the barn since 2023 and spend some time focusing on items like the jacking, timber repairs and slate work that have gone on as part of that work. Come with questions about historic barns or the work that goes into restoring them!

This talk is presented as part of our Spring 2026 Speaker Series. All talks are free and open to the public, and take place Wednesday evenings from 6:30 – 8 pm. No registration required, just drop by. Join us in person or online via livestream on our YouTube channel.