275 Appletree Point Road
Appletree Point saw the very beginning of colonial settlement in Burlington in 1773, when Felix Powell came from Dorset, cleared a five-acre piece of land on the Point, and built a log cabin. It wasn’t until October of the next year that he actually bought the land from Samuel Averill of Litchfield, CT. The acreage included all of Appletree Point plus an area almost extending to the Winooski River. In 1776 when the war started, the area was no longer safe, so the settlers headed south. Powell sold his land, fought in the Revolution, and never returned to Burlington. He eventually headed west into upstate New York.
The land passed through several owners, it seems, without anyone actually farming it. It was a wood lot for the troops stationed in Burlington during the War of 1812. For the remainder of the 19th century, the land lots in this area were owned by several families, including the Stanifords, who farmed their holdings. For those wishing a more complete history of this period and the area, the Appletree Point Historical Society commissioned Liisa Reiman, who authored A Brief History of Appletree Point Farm (see References).
Moving on to the 20th century, Urban A. Woodbury II, a member of one of Burlington’s most prominent families, having graduated from Cornell in 1916 with a degree in agriculture, was determined to establish a scientifically based farm for breeding Guernsey cattle on 225 acres of land, the entire Point, extending to North Avenue. In this, he had great success, until a disastrous barn fire in 1925 destroyed his herd. He ought more stock, but the farm never recovered. By 1930 Woodbury had a plan for shore lots, planning a summer resort. The plan was registered in 1931, but before then, Woodbury and his wife had started selling lots, and at least one lot had been sold.
Among their first purchasers were Lucius and Florence Bostwick, who bought lot #18 (see map) on 27 August 1930. Lucius was the owner of Bostwick’s Market at 57 North Champlain Street. Both were widowed; he had a 16-year-old daughter, she a 9-year-old son by their first marriages. The family lived at 193 South Union Street, and continued to be listed there in the city directory. ( Appletree Point was not included in the city directory for several years after the start of development, so for that period it cannot be used to crosscheck residency or construction data.) A couple with school-age children would likely have remained in town, at least during school sessions.
On 22 April, 1931 the Bostwicks bought another piece of land, from Appletree Point Beach, Inc.,(the Woodburys’ new corporation) a half lot, as they thought, connected to their property. This deed also gives a right of way and states that the grantee must seek approval from the grantor for any future building plans.
This second deed had the wrong lot numbers on it, so before Florence could sell the house after Lucius’ death in 1947, she had to obtain two quit-claim deeds from her neighbors, the Eastmans and the Bergerons. She then sold to Dr. Thomas B. and Ivis E Tomasi, on 18 August 1947. Dr Tomasi was a physician at DeGoesbriand Hospital; Ivis worked at Mimi, a sportswear shop at 53 South Winooski Avenue. The Tomasis resided in their new home.
In May of 1952, the Tomasis sold the place to another physician, Dr. Donald B. Miller and his wife Emeline. Dr. Miller was a thoracic surgeon, an associate professor at UVM and a physician on the staff of the Mary Fletcher and DeGoesbriand Hospitals. The Millers enjoyed their home on the lake for many years, finally selling in May of 1971 to the Coffrin family, who have occupied 275 Appletree Point Road for the longest time for any of its residents.
This attractive Colonial Revival home in one of the most scenic neighborhoods of the city certainly maintains the spirit of Appletree Point.
REFERENCES
Burlington Land Records
Burlington City Directories, 1930-1990
Findagrave.com
Email to City Assessor’s office, Aug. 13, 2020
Reimann, Liisa. A Brief History of Appletree Point in Burlington, Vermont. New England Preservation Collaborative, Inc. Montpelier, VT, 2008.