The Old Stone House Museum & Historic Village in Brownington has unveiled a new brand, logo, and website, part of what police describe as a renewed mission to serve as a community resource and cultural hub.
Executive Director Molly Veysey said the rebranding effort, developed with Flek Inc. of St. Johnsbury and funded by the Northern Community Investment Corporation, began in fall 2020 and reflects the museum's goal of connecting more deeply with the Northeast Kingdom. "We are excited to emerge in our region as the hub of culture, community, and education we know we can be," Veysey said.
The museum's new direction draws inspiration from Alexander Lucius Twilight, the educator who built the original stone dormitory in the 19th century. Twilight was the first African American graduate of any U.S. college (Middlebury College, 1823) and later the first African American elected to the Vermont House of Representatives (1836). In 2020, the Vermont State House designated September 23 as Alexander Twilight Day; U.S. Rep. Peter Welch also entered a remembrance into the Congressional Record.
Despite the pandemic, the museum completed the Twilight Educational Trail, installed a state roadside marker, added a WiFi hotspot, and delivered produce from its Giving Gardens to local food banks. For 2021, plans include interpreting trails at Willoughby State Forest's CCC Camp S-55, a new Twilight exhibit, expanded gardens, and new programming.
Board President Carmen Jackson said the museum aims "not just to spark our own community but to create new opportunities for people in our local region and beyond." The museum, in the Brownington Historic District off Hinman Settler's Road, is open May 15 to October 15, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
Originally reported by Newport Dispatch.
Photo: Austin via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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