YouthBuild installs new bat houses at the Vermont History Center

Visitors to the Vermont History Center in Barre might notice a new addition to the grounds: a trio of boxes set atop cedar poles. The insignia on the front should give you an idea of what they might be for: bats!

The VHC is located in the historic Spaulding School Building in downtown Barre. It was designed by Vermont architect and builder Lambert Packard with construction beginning on August 15th, 1891. When it opened a year later, its nine classrooms served both elementary and high school students from the community, and was later expanded in 1914. It operated as a school until 1995, after which point VHS purchased the building and began converting it into the center as it stands today. 

The building is 134 years old, and like any old building, it requires some upkeep! One persistent issue are bats, who have made their home in the building's attic and who enjoy the occasional swoop to spook VHS staff. We love bats: they're vital to the ecosystem and they eat a ton of bugs. Many of Vermont's nine species are endangered, their populations decimated by White-Nose Syndrome, so we don't want them gone, but we can't have them in the building. 

A solution? Installing bat houses on our grounds! The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife says that bat houses provide an appealing place for bats to roost: these tall, skinny boxes are open at the bottom, and allow the bats to roost inside. A single bat box can house up to 100 bats at a time! 

This summer, we partnered with ReSOURCE YouthBuild to construct and install the three bat boxes in the front of the building. These boxes are set up on tall cedar poles to prevent rotting and to keep the bats safe from predators. Hopefully, the ones in the old school building will realize that these new houses will be easier for them to get into, especially once we begin work to fix any holes that they might have been climbing through.  

The team recently helped us refurbish the History Center's lobby, and is part of a national program that helps provide opportunities for 16-24 year olds to learn construction skills and earn trade certifications. This local chapter works with young adults in Chittenden County and Central Vermont, blending academic achievement and trade skill development with community service through their program.

We're thankful for their hard work and skills, and we're sure that the bats will enjoy their new homes as well!