Fort
Ethan Allen Museum
Riding Hall
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The Riding or Drill Hall was built in 1895 to provide indoor space to practice and exercise the cavalry. This was necessary especially with Vermont’s harsh winters, although there were still outdoor maneuvers even in the winter. The original cost of this massive structure- 32,100 square feet, was only $20,187. It was heated by stoves and originally had no bathrooms. It was not lighted until 10 years later when electricity came to the Post. |
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Later the
Riding Hall was converted to a gymnasium, where the soldiers played
basketball,
bowled and exercised. The soldiers also watched movies in the
hall before
the Herrouet Theater was added to the Post’s roster of
buildings in 1933. |
The Riding
Hall was one of the buildings given to St. Michaels College when the
General
Services Administration decommissioned the post in the
1960’s. Today it serves
as the home of the Vermont Youth Orchestra and as space for St.
Michael’s music
department. It has been renamed the Elley Long Music Center. |
