Glimmerstone reopens to new life
Mary Jane and John Abbate are the new
owners of the Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion
and have made major renovations to the
historic restaurant and inn in Cavendish.
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By Christian Avard
December 31, 2011
CAVENDISH — A historic structure in Cavendish has been brought back to life.
On Wednesday, Mary Jane and John Abbate reopened the historic Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion on Main Street.
They are excited about their new business venture and seek to restore the inn to its original prominence.
“This is something I’ve been wanting to do for years,” Mary Jane Abbate said.
The Abbates moved to Cavendish from Glastonbury, Conn. They sold their successful construction company in
2007 so that Mary Jane could pursue her dream of owning a bed and breakfast.
“My husband said to me, ‘You’ve done everything to help me get my business going. Now it’s my turn to help
you,’” Abbate said.
The Abbates looked everywhere for a bed and breakfast and fell in love with the Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion.
The inn was built in 1845 and is known for its Gothic Revival architectural style and sparkling mica stone. The inn
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a recognized landmark in southern Vermont.
Over the years, the inn fell into disrepair. Ownership switched hands several times and eventually wound up in
the town’s hands.
According to Abbate, the Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion was sold at a public auction to an individual who wanted
to turn it into a private residence. The deal fell through and the inn fell back to the town.
When they heard the news, the Abbates stepped up with the necessary funding. They bought the property for
$455,000 in October 2010 and got right to work.
The Abbates invested $1.5 million in renovations and put in a new kitchen; floors; a heating system; telephone
services; plumbing; a fire and sprinkler system; propane tanks and all-new landscaping.
Mary Jane Abbate also restored the Glimmerstone’s interior to its original splendor. The bathrooms were re-tiled
in early 20th-century style, the 165-year old Gothic-style windows were restored, and bedrooms were painted in
their original colors. The Abbates also named their guest rooms after the inn’s prior owners, Henry Fullerton;
Una Hadley; and the Gay, Bainton, Casey, Mills, and Jenkins families.
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“The town wanted this to be a community property. The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association
was trying to find the funds to buy it and force residential buyers out. When they heard about what we wanted to
do, they were on board,” Abbate said.
The Abbates are currently renovating the barn and dining room at the Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion. The barn will
host weddings and special events and the dining room will offer fine dining made with local foods. The dining
room is scheduled to open in March and the barn in April.
The Abbates are also building a new pub in the basement of the inn. It will offer drinks and light fare and also
open in March, according to Abbate.
The Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion is now booking reservations.
“We love this place,” Abbate said. “One of the best things we hear about the inn are all of the memories people
shared here. I’d say the house is happy.”
For more information, call 554-0045 or visit www.glimmerstonemansion.com.
@Tagline:christian.avard @rutlandherald.com
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http://www.glimmerstonemansion.com/
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Luxury Accommodations
Full Service Dining
Pub
Historic Barn for Events
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Memorable Moments Await you...
Previously known as the Cavendish Inn, the property will go back to its original name and will continue as an Bed and
Breakfast offering 10 luxury rooms with working fireplaces. A full service restaurant offering a romantic fireside cocktail bar
along with a stunning fireplaced dining area will be open to the public for breakfast and dinner along with outside dining in
the warmer months. The large barn on the property previously used for many community events is also planned for extensive
restoration so it may continue to be a gathering place for years to come. {more}
Authorized to Operate - Dec 16, 2011
Health Inspector came by for the final inspections and we passed with flying colors! 99%. Missed it by one pt as the
dishwasher we aquired with the place didn’t have a visible pressure gauge… darn! We are accepting reservations as of
December 28th and have applied for our beer/wine and liquor licenses so we can ... {more}
December 1st ALREADY! - Dec 01, 2011
Today we had the glass shower doors put on, a bathroom vanity is being made to specially fit one of our unique rooms, the
plumbers setup all the toilets, sinks and ice machines, our bar had wiring for lighting hung, a closet made to house the
electrical boxes etc. Spoke to the health inspector who ... {more}
Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion • 1589 Main Street • Cavendish, VT 05142 • 802.554.0045 •
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The Inn - History
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
"Glimmerstone," is recognized for its Gothic Revival
architectural style and significance. Glimmerstone with
its fourteen gables is one of the finest Gothic Revival
cottages in the State of Vermont. The unique
architectural quality of the house indicates that its
architect, Lucius Page undoubtedly based his design on
the published patterns of Andrew Jackson Downings,
"Cottage Residences" (1842). The house has many
architectural qualities which are characterized by its
picturesque nature of the Gothic Revival period. The
building is faced with snecked ashlar of gneiss and
mica shist giving the property its name
"Glimmerstone" due to the sparkling mica stone.
Henry N. Fullerton had the property built in 1845. {Get
More Info}
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The Building
The designer Lucius Page, an ingenious local
carpenter/inventor, is said to have patterned it after an
English country house. Through his great-grandson
Clark Wardner, who was one of the masons, the house
bears the influence of Philip Wiedner (or Wardner)
who emigrated in 1750 from Wurtenburg, Germany,
where he learned the stonecutter's trade and was
eventually awarded the certificate of master mason by
the Nuremberg Guild of Masons. Clark Wardner had
worked on King's Chapel in Boston, and the work on
"Glimmerstone" stands too as a memorial to a famous
skill. The mortar was made from a native lime but by a
zealously guarded secret formula, so that the mortar
joint between the stones is as hard as the stone itself,
well-nigh impervious to cracks. The stone, silvery grey
gneiss and mica schist, was taken from a ledge one
quarter mile north from the house. Five pair of oxen
were kept busy all one winter, drawing the stone from
a quarry a quarter of a mile away, the drivers receiving
one dollar a day for their labor. The house takes its
name, Glimmerstone, from the silvery sheen of the
gneiss formation and mica schist; the ledges were
worked by opening a hole in the formation with a
powder charge, so that the slabs could be split out
easily to the necessary thickness.There are many
unusual features about the construction. The floor plan
is in the shape of an L, 58 x 52 x 38, with large rooms
and high ceilings. Although one and a half stories in
height, fourteen gables give ample room in the top
story. The inside woodwork is of Colonial design,
entirely of first growth pine, carefully finished by
carpenters from Perkinsville. Eight fireplaces, two of
which are especially beautiful. With its 14 gables,
small paned windows and ornate exterior wood trim it
quite different in appearance from all but one of the
many fine old stone houses of the vicinity.Inside, the
house has spacious rooms, high ceilings, exceptionally
fine woodwork, eight fireplaces, hardware of excellent
quality and, especially noticeable, arched ceilings in
the hallways. Such innovations as modern heating,
plumbing, kitchen and laundry facilities have been
added from time to time.In addition to the house there
is a large barn, a tiny building originally used as a
children's playhouse, and a tennis court which for
many years has been available for use by the young
people of the neighborhood. Glimmerstone's
beautifully landscaped grounds, set off by handsome
stone walls, form a perfect setting for this gem of a
house.
Previous Owners
1845-1918 - Henry Fullerton (first manager of the local Woolen Mill: Black
River Manufacturing and Canal Company) Civil War Era
1918-1953 - The Leon Gay Family (2nd Manager of the Woolen Mill until its
closure)
1953-1959 - The Casey Family (Mill reopened as "Kenwood" and managed by
Bill Casey until the mill closed for good)
1959-1973 - The Mills Family
1973-1994 - Property had numerous short term owners then the property sat
vacant and went into disrepair
1994-2004 - The Jenkins Family (Completed a 3- Year Restoration Project
completely reviving the property)
2004-2010 - Tim Jefferson
2010 to Present - The Abbate Family
About the Owners
John and Mary Jane Abbate acquired Glimmerstone by Public Auction in
October 2010. A major restoration project has commenced where Historical
furnishings and colors schemes will bring Glimmerstone to mirror its
American Gothic Revival architecture. A state of the art commercial kitchen
will sustain its fine dining restaurant and pub. The secret garden will allow
intimate functions during the warm months and the landscape with original
fountain will be restored and functional offer guests beautiful views when
sitting or enjoying lawn games. A limestone patio with stone balustrade offers
the perfect outdoor dining or event venue for all the enjoy.┬? Historical
artifacts and previous owner photographs will be exhibited throughout the
property with a summary of times gone by when Cavendish was flourishing.
With John's mechanical contracting background both in plumbing and fire
protection the building has been upgraded to function more efficiently.┬?
Mary Jane's recent culinary education and Chef Certification encourages
experienced Chef's and culinary student interns the ability to create savory
meals for the public and overnight guests.┬? Many fun events are planned in
the restored barn which will allow community events to take place regularly
and seasonally with it eventually becoming a year round meeting place.
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