About Us
Built in 1866, The East Fairfield Union Meeting House has been the architectural, social and spiritual anchor of our rural community for 150 years. Folks were married here, baptized their babies here, and attended candlelit Christmas Eve services here. For generations, the weather, milk prices, and road conditions were seriously discussed within these four walls.
Ten years ago, an enthusiastic group of local residents acquired the building. We firmly believe that one way to preserve the character and integrity of a community is through the preservation of its old buildings. Further, we're convinced that music has the power to bind us all together, especially during difficult times. Thus, we find ourselves with The Meeting House on the Green, and the exciting challenge of preserving it for future generations, as well as re-purposing it with what is considered by many to be one of Vermont's premier music venues.
To learn more about the history of East Fairfield and to follow the progress of our Preservation Project, CLICK HERE.
2022 Music Series
a HUGE Success!
Thanks to our sponsors, we were able to bring eight high-caliber groups to the Meeting House this past summer. Shows included the bluegrass of Beg, Steal or Borrow, tango with the Atlas Tango Project, New Orleans piano virtuoso Galen Cassidy Peria, a trio of Young Traditions Vermont fiddlers, the WDEV Radio Rangers, Celtic ballads, reels & jigs with Atlantic Crossing, the irrepressibly exuberant Annie & the Hedonists, and the impeccably crafted songs of American folk icon David Mallett. All but one of the concerts were held outside on the terrace with appreciative audiences enjoying lite dinner fare and scrumptious desserts on the village green.
Without our sponsors, this would be impossible. We'd like to send out a huge thank you to our 2022 music series sponsors:
Dr. Ed Haak
Dana & Judith Kittell
Garry & Eileen Trudell
Newton’s Decorating – John & Karla Newton
The Enosburg Lions Club
Stephanie Kossmann & Roger Lindala
Scoop Foley
Bridget Rivet
Craig & Joan Lumbra
Drs. Stephen Payne & Marietta Scholten
Deb Lynch
Ralph & Kathryn Rosenberg
Ferdinand & Lyn Lauffer
Marvin Hale
Michele Bessett & Bob Iwaskiewicz
Jan Appel
Jim & Margi Cameron
Jesse Bessett & Lindsay Silvia
Mike Kelley and Dave Kelley
Sarah Flack
Northeast Federal Credit Union
Martha & Jay Sheperd
We're already thinking about next summer's shows, and invite you to become a sponsor of the 2023 Meeting House Music Series. A $250 donation allows us to secure high quality artists from around the northeast and beyond, and gives YOU free admission to all the shows, and the satisfaction of bringing magical evenings to this little corner of the world! It's well worth it!
Donate online or mail your sponsorship to MHG, MUSIC SERIES, Box 16, East Fairfield, VT 05448. Thank you!
Subscribe to our mailing list to receive occasional emails and newsletters.
(We promise not to overdo it!)
SAVE THE PIPES!
Help preserve a unique and beautiful
piece of Fairfield's (and Vermont's) history.
The old tracker organ at the Meeting House on the Green was built in 1887 by organ builder E. H. Smith of Montgomery, VT (formerly of St. Armand, Quebec). Smith was the only significant nineteenth-century organ builder in northern Vermont, and while his work was confined to a limited period between 1883 and 1889, he supplied at least seven instruments to local congregations. We believe ours is one of just three Smith organs left in Vermont – the other two being located in Hardwick and Bristol. Initially, it was built for the Congregational church in Swanton, VT but was moved to East Fairfield in 1913. It was listed in the national Historic Organ Society's biennial report “Pipe Organs in Vermont (1814-2014)” as being "extant but severely damaged." We wondered just how damaged.
Ten years ago, when we began the journey of preserving The Meeting House on the Green, we dreamed of restoring the organ, but important structural projects have taken precedence. Through persistent fundraising efforts, grants from the Vermont Arts Council and the Preservation Trust of Vermont, and generous donations from individuals and businesses, we've replaced the aging heating system, repaired the bell tower, restored the windows, built an outdoor stage and wheelchair ramp, and painted the exterior of the building. We're excited to have reached a point where we can now think about our little gem of an organ. Fortuitously, our paths crossed those of Stephan Conrady of Alburgh, VT, a trained and certified technician and organ builder originally from Bonn, Germany, currently the organist at the First Congregational Church in St. Albans, VT. Before Covid struck, Stephan assessed our organ and determined it was not only salvageable, but also a project he'd be willing to tackle.
"It's a beautiful instrument, I feel sorry for it..." mused Stephan as he pointed out the myriad connections between the foot pedals and the base pipes, "soon this will all be just like new - it's all here."
Stephan will work throughout the winter for an expected completion date of late April, 2023. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for news and photos as we track the progress of this exciting project! And any donation to the SAVE THE PIPES! fundraising campaign will be greatly appreciated.
or with this link: www.gofund.me/d7e24692
OUR COMMUNITY
Fairfield Community Center -The Fairfield Community Center Association, located in E. Fairfield, VT, has been meeting the changing needs of Franklin county and beyond since 1992, with a the Fairfield Food Shelf, Tuesday Take-out Lunches and numerous kids' programs throughout the year.
Bent Northrop Memorial Library - In addition to great books, the library offers WiFi, on-line databases, word processing, magazine subscriptions (both in print and electronically), and downloadable audio books and ebooks.
Town of Fairfield - The Town of Fairfield is located in Northwestern Vermont, in Franklin County. Fairfield is a beautiful rural New England town with rolling hills, family farms, and the essence of small town life. Browse our web site for more information about the Town of Fairfield.
The Fairfield Historical Society - Preserving history and sharing stories as a community.
The MEETING HOUSE
ON THE GREEN ~ E. Fairfield, Vermont
Strengthening community through historic preservation & the arts.
