Duxbury Historical Society acquires South Duxbury Church and Sunshine Hall
Dec. 2, 2022 | By Erika Nichols-Frazer | The Valley Reporter 
This file aerial photo shows the South Duxbury Church and Sunshine Hall buildings across from Harwood Union Middle/High School on Vermont Route 100 in Duxbury. Photo by Gordon Miller
The Duxbury Historical Society recently acquired the South Duxbury Church and Sunshine Hall across the street from Harwood Union Middle/High School on Vermont Route 100.
According to historical society President Don Welch, the church will become the society’s place of business and will be open to the public for special events, including one or two religious services per year.
The historical society purchased the church from Christ the King Church Conference. Welch declined to disclose the sale price.
“We want to bring this property back into the community and get community involvement and make it available so it can become part of the community again,” Welch said.
Upgrades to the buildings will begin this winter. Historical society members are preparing the necessary permits with the hope of opening the new headquarters in spring 2023. Over the last few years, the organization has maintained the two buildings on the property. The church will be the first building to be opened to the public on a limited basis for small gatherings, as it requires less work to upgrade than the Sunshine Hall.
Planning for the church began in 1854 and it was constructed by Samuel Turner in 1855. It was supported by six different religious denominations over the years, each of which had use of the church depending on how much money they pledged to it. Eventually, the Congregational Church was “the last standing denomination that used it,” Welch said.
Despite the work ahead, the purchase represents an important step. “We feel very good about our society to have a home,” Welch said.
This story was originally published in The Valley Reporter.
A newsletter published by the Duxbury Historical Society in 2008 contains some highlights of the history of the South Duxbury Church property. It can be found online here.