In a previous article—Folklore and Memories: This Old Farm—we learned of some interesting local folklore about the property which included: Two houses were put together to make the present house. Every house in Patton was burned except one. Many believe this was the Spaulding house that was spared. After the engagement at Arnold’s Bay (Panton and the Battle of Valcour – October 11, 1776), the Spaldings returned to their farm to find a dead British soldier in their house. Mr. Spaulding was scalped while at the well early one morning when Indians crept up from the shore over the hill…

Our 18th-century barn holds 250 years of Vermont history. Join us for a 3-part series exploring its past, present, and preservation.

When we first stepped into the barn at Wiggly Goat Farm, we weren’t just facing a renovation — we were uncovering history. Hidden beneath layers of dust and time, we found evidence of Addison County’s farming past: hand-forged nails, ox yokes, hay forks, and even a clay pipe and coins buried in the dirt. Built using a gunstock-post frame, the barn is a rare example of early Vermont craftsmanship. Restoring it meant saving more than a building; it meant honoring generations of farmers who once called this land home. With the help of a skilled local craftsman, we stabilized the…