09/07/2026
The Historic Elm House Hotel, Danville, Vermont
This black and white photograph captures the Elm House hotel in Danville, Vermont, a significant local landmark that played a central role in the town's transportation and social history. The stately structure with its distinctive cupola stands surrounded by mature trees along an unpaved road. According to historical records, the Elm House was initially operated by Charles W. Thurber beginning in 1879, when he rented it from Dr. Calvin Woodard. The hotel was known for its competition with the nearby Thurber Hotel, with both establishments racing their horse-drawn carriages to meet the four daily trains at the Danville depot.
The Elm House became popular for hosting "summer boarders" from distant cities, a new concept Thurber introduced that proved so successful that additions were required to accommodate the demand. This photograph preserves a glimpse of rural Vermont hospitality before automobiles transformed travel patterns and ultimately led to the decline of such establishments in the early 20th century.
