76 Deforest Heights
76 DeForest Heights is a Midcentury Modern structure, built in 1965 on land that was part of LeGrand B. Cannon’s Overlake estate, location of what was once the grandest house in Burlington. A history of the area and Colonel Cannon may be found in the Chittenden County Historical Society’s Historic Guide to Burlington Neighborhoods, Volume II, pp. 154 and 164-169.
In 1855, Cannon, a wealthy industrialist and railroad operator, his brother-in-law George DeForest, and a friend, E. Thompson Gale came to Burlington. Cannon, soon to become a director of the Champlain Transportation Company, was to examine the company’s property. He viewed the panorama of Burlington and the Champlain Valley from the future site of his estate, promptly bought a 20-acre parcel, and initiated plans for creating the property, which became his summer home. His brother-in-law bought and remodeled what is now Ruggles House on South Prospect Street. Mr. Gale bought property which he soon sold.
After Cannon died in 1906 the house stood empty, except for a brief period in the 1920’s when It was used as a women’s dorm by UVM. The heirs were the Clark family. Louis Clark, the family coachman, had married daughter Marion Cannon, and eventually, the marriage was accepted by the family (shades of Downton Abbey!) The house needed repairs, and the family thought it ugly, so in 1925 it was torn down. Julian Clark, Cannon’s grandson, had the estate divided into lots and hired the Olmstead Brothers of Brookline, MA, to landscape it.
At one point, some of the property was occupied by the Overlake Day School. When the school closed, more lots became available for housing. In March of 1965, Cushman F. and Mary B. Rowley bought the lot for 76 DeForest Heights. Mr. Rowley was a World War II veteran who was a secretary and solicitor for Hickok and Boardman and a faculty member at Champlain College. City permit #65-759 was issued May 17, 1965, for a new family house, six rooms, estimated cost $22,500. The Rowleys at #76 DeForest Heights first appeared in the 1966 Burlington City Directory, having moved from their previous home on Proctor Avenue in South Burlington.
In 1970 the Rowleys sold their home to Robert C. and Barbara D. Guiduli and moved to Hinesburg. Robert was a physician, an ophthalmologist, an instructor at the UVM Medical College, and a medical staff member at the local hospitals. Barbara was an instructor at UVM, and later a math teacher at Burlington High School. The Guidulis made #76 De Forest their home for over 40 years. After Robert’s death, Barbara sold the house to Dong Yuan Piao and Zhang Jie.
In 2016 they sold to the present owners, Christian and Susan Skalka, who have done a complete restoration of their home. It continues to provide some of the views that so charmed Colonel Cannon.
Image credit: Google Streetview
REFERENCES
Burlington Land Records
Burlington City Directories, 1964-1990
Burlington City Maps, detail of Beers map, 1869
Lovely Lake Champlain; Views from “Round About Burlington”, 1900
View of Overlake from Burlington VT as a Manufacturing, Business, and Commercial Center, Second edition 1890
State of Vermont Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Section of Burlington Survey of Prospect Park North and Middle Neighborhoods Survey Report
Burlington Free Press:
December 9, 1856: Recent Puchases of Real Estate in Burlington
May 13, 1859: Improvements in Burlington: Residence of L.B. Cannon, Esq.
New York Times: Le Grand B. Cannon Hurt
Historic Guide to Burlington Neighborhoods, Vol. II : David J. Blow, pp.154 and 164-169. Chittenden County Historical Society