LOCATION
When the school was founded in 1975, Virginia Stranahan purchased a derelict farm in Marshfield, Vermont and renovated the house and barn to accommodate the needs of student lodging and Norman Kennedy's instruction. This location was home to the school until its closure in 1992 and upon its reopening in 2007. After nearly fifty years housing the Marshfield School of Weaving, the Marshfield property will no longer be available to the school after the summer of 2024. However, thanks to the generosity of the Newbury Woman's Club, the weaving school will make its new home in the historic former Methodist chapel on the common in Newbury, Vermont beginning in the autumn of 2024. ​
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Please note, all programs scheduled through September 15, 2024 will be held at our original location in Marshfield at 589 Eaton Cemetery Road, Marshfield, Vermont. All programs scheduled to occur after September 15, 2024 will be held at our new location in Newbury at 95 Chapel Street, Newbury, Vermont.
HISTORY
"A CHERISHED SHRINE OF METHODISM"​
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The “Old Village Church,” as it’s now known, was built in 1829 and was part of Newbury Seminary, an institution which eventually evolved into the Boston University School of Theology and the Montpelier Seminary, the campus of which now houses the Vermont College of Fine Arts. The building features an early display of gothic detail on a simple vernacular form, and miraculously survived a fire that devastated Newbury village in 1913.
The church's congregation dwindled by the early 20th century and in the 1960s the Newbury Woman’s Club acquired the building to preserve it for the community. When word got around Newbury that the weaving school was in need of a new home the Woman’s Club sprung into action and offered us the use of this beautiful, historic space. We are pleased to be able to welcome you to the heart of this small, vibrant Vermont town.
LOGISTICS
Please note, all programs scheduled through September 15, 2024 will be held at our original location in Marshfield at 589 Eaton Cemetery Road, Marshfield, Vermont. All programs scheduled to occur after September 15, 2024 will be held at our new location in Newbury at 95 Chapel Street, Newbury, Vermont. The following logistics pertain to the upcoming Newbury location.
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Newbury, Vermont is located on the Great Oxbow of the Connecticut River, approximately 100 miles north of the Massachusetts border and opposite of Haverhill, New Hampshire. Within a 40 minute drive on Route 91 are the larger towns of St. Johnsbury, Vermont to the north and the White River Junction, Vermont/Hanover, New Hampshire area to the south. Along the river valley between are small rural towns flanked to the west by Vermont's Green Mountains, and to the east by the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Sometimes referred to as the Northeastern or Yankee Highlands, this region was known for a persistence of traditional folkways well past the middle of the 20th century.
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While visiting us, take a hike up Tucker Mountain or one of the White Mountain's 4,000 footers, rent a kayak and paddle the Connecticut, taste the famous strawberries and produce of 4 Corners Farm, catch a musical performance at Court Street Arts, or an event at the West Newbury Hall. The valley is rural, but it's hardly sleepy.
TRANSPORTATION
Newbury village is served by Tri-Valley Transit's River Route which connects Newbury with the White River Junction/Hanover area. Visitors flying to the school who do not wish to rent a car will find regular bus service between Boston Logan Airport and Hanover/Lebanon, New Hampshire. For those renting a car, the Burlington Airport is a 1.5 hour drive from Newbury. Amtrak's Vermonter runs regular service from Washington, D.C. with a stop in White River Junction.
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PARKING
Parking is available on the southern side of Newbury Common off of Pulaski Street, near the tennis court and baseball diamond opposite the chapel. (Not the softball diamond in front of the chapel.) Limited parallel parking is available on Chapel Street directly adjacent to the chapel, for those with mobility issues who need to access the ramp. Please do not block the entrance to the fire lane that runs in front of the building.
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ACCESSIBILITY
The main floor of the chapel is accessible by ramp, though we regret that the restroom is not ADA compliant and requires climbing two steps to enter.
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HEAT
The chapel is unheated and uncooled, and Vermont weather can be unpredictable. Please consult the weather forecast during your time with us and plan your wardrobe accordingly. Programs scheduled during May and October may occur when nighttime lows dip below freezing and we strongly encourage you to prepare to spend the day in potentially chilly temperatures. Put your woolies to the test! Open windows and fans are the only means available to cool the building in the summer; light, loose clothing is advantageous during those months.
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LOCAL AMENITIES
The chapel's position on the common puts it within a short walk of many village services. Light groceries and a deli are available at the Newbury Village Store which is across Main Street from the Town Clerk's Office, Post Office, and Wells River Savings Bank, and just up the road sits the Tenney Memorial Library. More dining and shopping options may be found in Bradford and Wells River, Vermont, and across the river in Woodsville, New Hampshire.
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CELL PHONES
The river valley that's home to Newbury village has minimal cell coverage. Success may be had with Cellular One, but minimal, if any service might be had with AT&T and Verizon. Take the opportunity to unplug during your time with us and reconnect to a slower way of life.
LODGING
Lodging may be found locally at motels, bed and breakfasts, and through Airbnb to accommodate a range of budgets. Students are responsible for making their own travel and lodging arrangements, but we're happy to answer any questions we can.
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Please note, the following listings encompass Newbury, Vermont, the location of the school after September 15, 2024. If you are attending programs scheduled prior to September 15, 2024, we recommend the Marshfield Inn, or searching Airbnb for lodging near Marshfield, Vermont.
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Newbury
​Wells River
Haverhill
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Woodsville
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Bradford
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