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 chapel-like building was built in 1821, and is now the oldest building on the campus of Castleton University. Its current use is for special meetings and performances for Castleton University. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artist ...

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 CU campus. It now houses classroom facilities for the university's art department.

Notable alumni of Castleton Medical College

Smith A. Boughton Smith A. Boughton (September 1, 1810 – November 14, 1888) was an American physician and political activist. Nicknamed "Big Thunder", he was best known as one of the leaders of upstate New York's Anti-Rent War in the 1830s and 1840s. Early lif ...

, leader of the

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, physician and member of the

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* Samuel Denton, physician and politician in Michigan *

Isaiah H. Hedge Isaiah H. Hedge (1812-1888) was a physician, businessman, abolitionist and philanthropist, who is the namesake and donor of Hedge Hall at Bates College in Maine. Isaiah Hallett Hedge was born in Woolwich, Maine in 1812 to Edward Hedge and Martha F ...

, physician, Baptist philanthropist at

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, 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 Historic district contributing properties in Vermont 1821 establishments in Vermont

Description and history

Notable alumni of Castleton Medical College

See also

References