Welcome to Craftsbury!
We’re the Sedore sisters, fifth-generation Vermonters and owners of the Craftsbury Farmhouse.
Having grown up right here on these five acres, the hills and gardens, the sound of the nearby brook, and the expansive view will always feel like home.
And while we’re proud of our deep roots, we acknowledge that the original inhabitants of this land were the Wabanaki and N’Dakina people who were forcibly removed by European settlers.
We are committed to justice and equity for all people. We’re striving to create a community gathering place where every person is treated with dignity and care.
A History of Hospitality
As early as the 1930s our great-grandparents, Earl and Mary Wilson, opened their home to those looking for a temporary escape from the hustle of life in the city. In exchange for free room and board, these folks would help out around the farm.
Our grandfather, Bryce, grew up in the Farmhouse and attended Craftsbury Academy. After graduating from college, he moved to New Jersey with our grandmother, Audrey, and began his career as a guidance counselor.
Each summer, they would pack up the car with their four children, including our mother Lisa, and return to the familiar warmth of the Craftsbury Farmhouse.
A New Leaf
Shortly after our parents married and began a family of their own in New Jersey, they decided to make the move to Vermont, taking up residence right here at the Craftsbury Farmhouse. The renovated old barn became the home where we spent our best childhood days.
Upon retirement, our grandparents returned to the farmhouse to open Whetstone Brook Bed & Breakfast, which became a community staple for 17 years, hosting passers-through from all over the world, including Meryl Streep!
Every holiday season, they hung the “No Vacancy” sign and welcome our aunts, uncles, and cousins into the farmhouse for boisterous family reunions.
Not Letting Go
As our grandparents’ health declined and our own parents looked forward to retirement, we started to brainstorm what we could possibly do to hang onto the property.
Having grown up here wandering the same land as four generations before us, we didn’t want to let go of a piece of history so central to our family.
We began to form a vision of turning our childhood home into a community gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
With an incredible team and a whole lot of community support, the fully reimagined Craftsbury Farmhouse opened its doors to the public once again in May of 2018.
Finishing Touches
At the end of 2018, our long-time friend, Lee Kinsey, approached us about turning half of the downstairs into a bar and restaurant. The opening of Blackbird Bistro in the fall of 2019 took our “community hub” to a new level!
That year we officially bought the property from our parents, solidifying our commitment to local community-building. As part of that commitment, we continue to make changes as the need of our community evolve.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue the tradition of hospitality that began nearly 100 years ago. And delighted to share our home with you!