The Isle La Motte Historical Society is sponsoring “The Stone Houses and Buildings Tour”.

The tour is designed to complement the Society’s “Hidden Treasures VI: Isle La Motte’s Stone Houses—James Ritchie’s Legacy” exhibit in our Slab-Log Cabin.. This exhibit features the houses and public buildings built by James Ritchie, a Scottish born stonemason who constructed buildings throughout the Champlain Islands, New York and Quebec.
Ritchie built seven stone buildings on Isle La Motte between 1820 and 1844, using the fossil-rich Isle La Motte limestone sourced from the quarries on the island.

Isle La Motte is 7 miles long and 2 miles wide, so you can easily drive and view all of the houses and buildings included in the tour:
1. The Stone School House (on the Society’s campus, at the corner of Main Road and Quarry Road) was built in 1843Thisis where tour begins: participants will register, receive their tour buttons and maps.
2. The Ira Hill House Although now a private home, this house still has many of the characteristics of the Inn that operated here for close to 100 years.
3. The Library This building was originally built by Ira Hill for one of his farm foreman.
4. The Methodist Church Designed and built in 1843 by James Ritchie in the Greek Revival architectural style, the church building reflects the classicism of a simple, ordered architectural plan. It is considered the finest example of Ritchie’s workmanship. .
5. The Dyer Hill House This is the first building constructed by Ritchie on the Island. Unfortunately access is limited to the exterior only because the interior is being renovated.
6. The Ezra Pike Jr. House was built in 1829 for a successful farmer and an active Isle La Motte citizen who held various Town offices (12 terms as Selectman, 7 terms as Lister) and one term as Rep. from Isle La Motte to the Vermont Legislature.. The current owners will guide tour participants through the main floor and the basement, showing original features of the house that were preserved during recent renovations.
7. The Elihu Hall House The Halls are long time residents of Isle La Motte and have occupied this house since it was built in the mid-1800s. The Halls now operate, out of the building, the South End Café and the Hall’s Home Place cider tasting room and store.

Tour participants must register and pay the $25 fee per person at the Stone School House in order to receive a map of the house locations, and an admission button.

Jan 13, 2025, 10 AM to 11 PM

Jan 18, 2025, 10 AM

Jan 18, 2025, 1 to 3 PM