Regarding Mark Bushnell’s “Then Again” column Nov. 29:
I arrived in Lyndonville in the summer of 1972 to be librarian in the award-winning college library.
Much of Vail Mansion had already been torn down, but the imposing towers and entry side of the mansion remained. I was surprised to hear plans were underway to tear down all that remained of the mansion, but I heard there were some people on campus who were trying to stop any further demolition.
The person in charge of library building maintenance and I walked through the remaining structure the weekend before demolition was supposed to begin. We were very impressed with what remained of the mansion. There was a circular staircase winding up through one of the towers, and beautifully made drawers contoured to fit the tower’s rounded interior.
Sadly, I was not equipped with my cellphone, and consequently took no pictures of the interior.
Demolition took place as originally scheduled, but explosives had to be used to destroy the building that had been described as treacherously infirm.
Dick Walton
Montpelier
