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This is the Cooley House in Central Vermont
My name is Sylvia Shepard Cooley.
I am the self-assigned project coordinator... an old family house
that has to come down but will be rebuilt
as closely as possible to the original.
Check out the blog posts to see the process.
Add your ideas. Please comment!
For more information: "About"
Blog Categories:
The Herald, Randolph, VT newspaper reports on fire training, March 14, 2024
https://www.ourherald.com/articles/historic-homes-demolition-helps-local-fire-depts/ Firefighters from Randolph Center, East Randolph,...
Mar 20, 20241 min read
Front Porch Forum brings neighbors together
I got the idea to share this site on Front Porch Forum from my writers’ group with Sara Tucker. https://www.korongobooks.com/ Great...
Mar 16, 20242 min read
An Empty Building Comes to Life
I wrote this as an assignment from a prompt for a writers group run by Sara Tucker https://www.korongobooks.com/ An Empty Building Comes...
Mar 15, 20244 min read
It's a Wonderful Life
I am lucky to be a Cooley. When I got married to Daniel R. Cooley back in 1974 I was (already) a feminist but I also thought it would be...
Mar 13, 20242 min read
Who are the best builders?
Tim Cooley, a cousin, made a good case for using a builder (vs. a prefabricated house, even if it is a high-quality prefabrication...
Mar 5, 20244 min read
Ridge Road House maps
So if you come up from the village of Randolph, driving up the hill on Rt 66 until you get to Randolph Center, take a left at the main...
Mar 1, 20241 min read
Final clean up
A small business in Vermont: Henderson Excavation & Engineering P.O. Box 695 Williamstown, VT 05679 Eric and his father Lev make a great...
Feb 29, 20241 min read
Fire Training videos
Fire training, fire starts to flare up Firefighters training, view across the road. Siren sounds Full on fire This was so surreal, it...
Feb 26, 20241 min read
Fire training photos February 25, 2024
Note: I updated these photos today (2/28/24) to include six of Peter Cooley's photos. He captured the north side and the back side. ...
Feb 26, 20241 min read
Fire day
This biggest impression I was left with from this day is how a small community can come together. Fifty firefighters were willing to...
Feb 25, 20242 min read
Randolph Center Fire Department
I have been fortunate to work with the Randolph Center, Vermont firefighters. They have been appreciative of the (rare they say)...
Feb 24, 20243 min read
February 20, 2023 the roof is coming off
Henderson Excavation & Hauling is taking the metal roof off. Before: During: Done with the back side: I am fascinated with the work that...
Feb 21, 20241 min read
Demolition Day...I say this with reverence
Our son is a firefighter so we know how important training and experience is for firefighters to stay safe, for firefighters to save...
Feb 16, 20244 min read
Thinking of you
Thank you Charles for everything <3 Here is Charles H. Cooley in his 60s at the Ridge Road house.
Feb 16, 20241 min read
Saving stuff
Thank you to Jim, my niece Myra's husband for working hard and saving items. It's cool because he remembers coming to the barn there...
Feb 16, 20241 min read
A Handy Man, I am not
Mostly I went up to the house today to rescue all of Charles’s horse tack. I am hoping it will see more use. I will offer it to anyone...
Feb 11, 20241 min read
Reading about sugaring season
I have been reading about Maple sugaring on the Cooley Farm back in the 30s. Harry says this, "I have had to empty my filters several...
Feb 6, 20241 min read
Work today
Thank you to Eric Henderson for his work. Didn't it rain today?! Before photos: After photos (thank you Peter Cooley):
Jan 26, 20241 min read
The heavy equipment is moving in
Tomorrow the 'garage tree' will come down along with a rotting Maple near the north west side of the house and an Ash tree behind the...
Jan 25, 20241 min read
That view
Randolph Center Ridge Road in 1992, taken by Charles H. Cooley The view in the background...did those horses know how lucky they were? ...
Jan 20, 20241 min read
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