Chaffee Art Center

The Chaffee Art Center building is a Queen Anne Victorian Mansion. It was built by George Thrall Chaffee, a prominent businessman. Construction was started in 1892 and completed in 1896. The home was called “Sunny Gables” by the Chaffee Family. It features a variety of European and Middle Eastern architectural styles popular at the time amongst wealthy Americans who were fortunate enough to have traveled extensively. Its distinctive features include the Syrian arch front entrance, a first floor of machine-cut marble blocks, a three-story corner tower with gothic windows and an elegant porte cochere. Sunny Gables’ interior is no less spectacular, boasting elaborate parquet floors, elegant moldings, trim cut from birds’ eye maple and tiger oak, and an asymmetrical floor plan typical of the Queen Anne style. It is interesting to note that the Chaffee’s were one of the first families in Rutland to enjoy central heating, gas lighting and indoor plumbing. The Chaffee family exerted considerable influence in the city of Rutland, and George Thrall was closely identified with almost every phase of its business, financial, political, religious and fraternal life. In particular, George’s business interests included ownership of a lumber company, foundry, machine shop, department store and the Playhouse Theater. Additionally, he held investment in banking and the booming train and transportation industry.