The Castleton Medical College Building, now known as the Old Chapel, is a historic building of the Castleton Medical College on Seminary Street in

Castleton, Vermont Castleton is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. Castleton is about to the west of Rutland, the county's seat and most populous city, and about east of the New York/Vermont state border. The town had a population of 4,458 at the ...

, United States. Founded in 1818, it was the first medical college in Vermont, and the first private degree-granting medical school in the United States. The college closed in 1862. The chapel-like building was built in 1821, and is now the oldest building on the campus of

Castleton University Castleton University was a public university in Castleton, Vermont. In July 2023, Castleton University merged with Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College to form Vermont State University, of which it now serves as a branc ...

. Its current use is for special meetings and performances for

. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 1971.

Description and history

The former Castleton Medical College Building stands on the Castleton University campus, between Seminary and Elm Streets. It is a two-story wooden structure, with timber framing enclosed by wooden clapboards, and a gabled roof. A projecting vestibule has a lower roof line than the main block, with a fully pedimented gable end, and the main entrance in a recess flanked by pilasters and topped by an entablature. At the front of the main roof a two-stage tower rises, square in the first stage, and with an open octagonal cupola above. Castleton Medical College was founded in 1818, and this building was constructed in 1821. It is believed to be the oldest surviving medical school building in the United States. It was moved a short distance () in the 20th century to make way for new construction on the Castleton University campus. It now houses classroom facilities for the university's art department.

Notable alumni of Castleton Medical College

* Smith A. Boughton, leader of the

Anti-Rent War The Anti-Rent War (also known as the Helderberg War) was a tenants' revolt in upstate New York between 1839 and 1845. The Anti-Renters declared their independence from the manor system run by patroons, resisting tax collectors and successfully d ...

* Charles M. Crandall, physician and member of the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Ass ...

* Samuel Denton, physician and politician in Michigan * Isaiah H. Hedge, physician, Baptist philanthropist at

Bates College Bates College () is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine. Anchored by the Historic Quad, the campus of Bates totals with a small urban campus which includes 33 Victorian ...

* Robert M. Hunt, California physician * John Gould Stephenson, physician and soldier, Librarian of Congress * Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon Sr., pioneer physician, philanthropist

References

{{NRHP in Rutland County, Vermont Buildings and structures in Castleton, Vermont Castleton University School buildings completed in 1821 University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Vermont National Register of Historic Places in Rutland County, Vermont Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in Vermont 1821 establishments in Vermont Defunct private universities and colleges in Vermont

Description and history

Notable alumni of Castleton Medical College

See also

References