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This story by Matt Hongoltz-Hetling was published in the Valley News on Aug. 8.

QUECHEE — Town records show that Simon Pearce is considering demolishing and replacing three historic properties located across Quechee Main Street from its flagship store and restaurant.

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Simon Pearce opened his first factory in Quechee in 1981. The company has since grown to have several retail outlets as well as selling its glassware at Nieman Marcus, Bloomingdales and other high-end shops and galleries.

The Tinkham Block, at 1761 Quechee Main St., was built to house Tinkham’s General Store in 1875, and has since been occupied by the Quechee Library, a post office (until 1992) and, more recently, Robert James Walsh & Co., an antiques and art store.

Right next door at 1781 Quechee Main St., the “Scott Tinkham House” was built in 1880 as the home of the prominent businessman Scott Tinhkam, who died in 1924.

The Tinkham Block, which is mixed commercial and residential, is joined to the Tinkham house, which is a multi-unit dwelling, by an apartment building at 1769–1781 Quechee Main St. that was built in 1839, but which is not considered to have historic value because of a 1980 renovation. A historic barn that also dates to 1880 stands behind the three structures and could also be razed.

Hartford Zoning Administrator Jo-Ann Ells said she participated in a site walk with Simon Pearce staff in June, and that the company was exploring its options to redevelop the site.

During a June 20 meeting of the Hartford Historic Preservation Commission, members expressed concern about the idea, and said they were “hopeful that demolition can be avoided or limited,” according to meeting minutes.

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Chairman Jonathan Schechtman, who attended the site walk, said the company is “considering possible demolition and reconstruction to meet the needs of the company,” according to the minutes.

The Tinkham buildings are among 75 structures that contribute to the Quechee Historic Mill District, which was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1997. In all, the town has eight recognized historic districts that include 449 contributing buildings.

A spokeswoman for the company, which is owned by Irish glassblower Simon Pearce, declined an interview request on Tuesday, instead issuing a written statement that didn’t clarify its intentions.

“Simon Pearce’s interest is to continue to support the Quechee community in maintaining and improving the village that has been influential in the lives to so many of our employees, their families and our customers,” the statement said. “We will continue to have discussions with the town and QLLA (the Quechee Lakes Landowners Association) as we explore opportunities to further this mission.”

Ells said that Simon Pearce, which itself occupies a historic mill that is also on the National Registry, has not submitted any formal paperwork that would initiate a permitting process.

And Robert Walsh, who owns the antiques and art store in the Tinkham Block, said on Tuesday that he hadn’t heard a whisper of the plan.

“It’s a surprise to me,” he said.

But if the company does seek to move forward with the plan, one baseline question will be whether it is subject to review under Act 250, the state law that regulates large developments.

James Duggan is the senior historic preservation review coordinator for the state’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development.

Duggan said that if the District 3 Environmental Commission views the projects across the street as an expansion of Simon Pearce’s existing business operation, it makes it more likely that the commission would require an Act 250 review.

If that happens, Duggan said, his office would be asked to weigh in with recommendations that would weigh the ability of Simon Pearce to achieve its commercial goals while still preserving the historic buildings.

“Our process seeks to retain historic resources to the extent feasible,” Duggan said. “And sometimes that isn’t. … Sometimes buildings are in such bad condition that in order to retain them, you would have to spend an exorbitant amount of money.”

Simon Pearce did file for, and was granted, an Act 250 permit to expand its dining operations inside its existing building a few years ago.

Ells said that Simon Pearce’s plans do not include the neighboring small brick building that was built to house the Quechee Library in 1909.

“Tinkham was involved in numerous real estate dealings in the village and was married to Nellie Lindsey, daughter of mill owner, William Lindsey,” according to the National Register.

It says that the clapboarded Tinkham Block is “notable for its intact storefronts flanked by pilasters.”

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