🏡 The Storied History of the Inn at Ormsby Hill, Manchester VT
## A Historic Vermont Inn With Presidential Connections, Revolutionary Roots & Cereal Box Fame
Welcome to **The Inn at Ormsby Hill**, one of the most historically significant and beautifully preserved bed and breakfasts in **Manchester, Vermont**. Long before this luxury inn welcomed modern travelers, it was home to Revolutionary War heroes, Gilded Age elites, and even appeared on a **Kellogg’s cereal box**. Here’s a look at the extraordinary timeline that shaped this iconic estate.
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## 🗺️ 1764: Founding of Manchester and the Birth of Ormsby Hill
In **1764**, settlers from Amenia, New York established the town of **Manchester VT**. Among the pioneers were **Gideon Ormsby** and **Benjamin Purdy**, who became foundational figures in the town’s early days. Ormsby, a Revolutionary War officer, left such a mark on the community that the hill bearing his name would one day house the estate that became our beloved inn.
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## 🏡 1820s–1880s: The Purdy Farm Legacy
In the **1820s**, Thompson Purdy constructed a large home on the east side of Route 7A. This home, later known as the **Thompson Purdy Farm**, set the stage for what would become the **Inn at Ormsby Hill**. The land passed through several hands before being purchased by one of the most influential figures in Vermont history: **Edward Swift Isham**.
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## 👔 1885–1902: Edward Isham, Robert Todd Lincoln & the Gilded Age
When **Edward Swift Isham**, a successful Chicago attorney and law partner of **Robert Todd Lincoln**, acquired the estate in **1885**, he transformed it into a **grand summer retreat**. Isham:
– Constructed the estate’s iconic “Office” with help from architect F.W. Stickney
– Built elaborate greenhouses and a sugarhouse for maple syrup production
– Hosted distinguished guests including **President William Howard Taft** and **Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant**
This era cemented Ormsby Hill’s reputation as one of **Vermont’s most elegant summer estates**.
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## 🏰 1905: Robert Todd Lincoln Builds Hildene Next Door
Following Edward Isham’s death in 1902, his son sold land behind Ormsby Hill to **Robert Todd Lincoln**, who built **Hildene**, now one of Vermont’s most visited historical attractions. The proximity of Hildene and Ormsby Hill links the two estates forever in Manchester’s cultural fabric.
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## 🎓 1944–1980s: Ormsby Hill Becomes a Boys’ Summer Camp and School
In a touching transformation, the estate became home to **underprivileged boys from New York City** in 1944, thanks to the Hardyman family. Later, it evolved into a **residential group home** where students attended **Burr & Burton Seminary**. This era exemplified the enduring mission of the Isham family: using Ormsby Hill to inspire and support the next generation.
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## 🛏️ 1987–Present: A Bed and Breakfast Inn is Born
After a long chapter of charitable use, the estate was lovingly restored and reopened as a **luxury Manchester VT bed and breakfast** in **1987**. Since then, it has seen a series of passionate innkeepers expand and preserve the property, turning it into a beloved escape for travelers.
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## 🥣 1999: The Inn at Ormsby Hill Featured on a Kellogg’s Cereal Box
In one of the Inn’s most unexpected honors, **Kellogg’s** selected it to represent their “Country Inn Specialties” line of premium cereal. Alongside **The Greyfield Inn** in Georgia and **Green Gables Inn** in California, Ormsby Hill appeared on cereal boxes across the country, becoming an ambassador for **Vermont hospitality** at breakfast tables nationwide.
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## 👨👩👧 2016–Today: A New Chapter with the Orlando Family
In **2016**, current owners **Jack and MaryAnn Orlando** took over stewardship of the Inn. Under their care, the Inn continues its long tradition of warm, gracious hospitality while celebrating the rich legacy of the Isham, Purdy, and Ormsby families.
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## ✨ Plan Your Stay at a Historic Manchester VT Inn
Whether you’re here to explore the **Green Mountains**, tour **Hildene**, play golf at **Ekwanok Country Club**, or simply relax in a beautifully restored estate, **The Inn at Ormsby Hill** offers a one-of-a-kind experience.
📍 Book directly to enjoy the best rates:
👉 [https://www.ormsbyhill.com](https://www.ormsbyhill.com)
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