Photo by Chelsey McKenney
By Bryanna Allen-Rickstad
When the Bomoseen Inn closed last spring, part of the town’s history closed with it. The Dog was one of the only bars in the area and students and locals alike have noticed its absence.
Maureen Belden, owner of the Harbor View General Store, located next to the now empty bar, has a melancholy feeling when she looks out the store window at the building.
“It’s just so disappointing to see that beautiful old Inn falling apart,” said Belden. “It has such potential; all it needs is some TLC.”
Belden and her husband, Stas, have owned the store for almost three years now, and although the closing of the bar had no financial consequences for their business, they had grown accustomed to the nightlife that accompanied it, and now find the emptiness“spooky at night.”
The Beldens live in the apartment above the store and would often go out on their balcony on Thursday nights, glass of wine in hand, to watch the nightlife.
“It became sort of a routine,”laughed Belden. “We would sit out there and watch the college drama unfold. We saw hook-ups, break-ups, fender benders and fights. It was entertaining.”
That sort of entertainment is not just a recent event. Bill O’Neil, who graduated from Castleton State College in 1988, remembers similar events at The Dog. Only O’Neil was part of the drama, not a witness to it.
“Every weekend revolved around The Dog,” said O’Neil, who recalls having a few too many drinks one night and attempted to scale the building’s roof. “Not only was it a part of the college culture, but part of the town. It’s sad that it’s gone.”
One of O’Neil’s most cherished memories involving the bar was the Castleton College graduation tradition of “Walking the Dog,” a symbolic exit to the college life. O’Neil is not the only one with fond memories; many current graduating students are disappointed that they will not be able to participate in the tradition.
Senior Chelsea LaForce celebrated her 21st birthday at The Dog and went every Thursday night after that.
“It was a lot of fun,” said LaForce. “It was a good place for students to go. It’s too bad that the younger people will never have the chance to enjoy it. I’m glad I at least got that.”
The lonely building is now owned by TD Bank in Rutland and has been on the market, but without much hope for a successful sale.
“We had an auction there last fall and we had a few interested parties, but did not receive a bid the bank could accept. The bank now owns the property and they will be trying to sell it,” said TD Bank Vice President Terry Owens.
When the Bomoseen Inn closed last spring, part of the town’s history closed with it. The Dog was one of the only bars in the area and students and locals alike have noticed its absence.
Maureen Belden, owner of the Harbor View General Store, located next to the now empty bar, has a melancholy feeling when she looks out the store window at the building.
“It’s just so disappointing to see that beautiful old Inn falling apart,” said Belden. “It has such potential; all it needs is some TLC.”
Belden and her husband, Stas, have owned the store for almost three years now, and although the closing of the bar had no financial consequences for their business, they had grown accustomed to the nightlife that accompanied it, and now find the emptiness“spooky at night.”
The Beldens live in the apartment above the store and would often go out on their balcony on Thursday nights, glass of wine in hand, to watch the nightlife.
“It became sort of a routine,”laughed Belden. “We would sit out there and watch the college drama unfold. We saw hook-ups, break-ups, fender benders and fights. It was entertaining.”
That sort of entertainment is not just a recent event. Bill O’Neil, who graduated from Castleton State College in 1988, remembers similar events at The Dog. Only O’Neil was part of the drama, not a witness to it.
“Every weekend revolved around The Dog,” said O’Neil, who recalls having a few too many drinks one night and attempted to scale the building’s roof. “Not only was it a part of the college culture, but part of the town. It’s sad that it’s gone.”
One of O’Neil’s most cherished memories involving the bar was the Castleton College graduation tradition of “Walking the Dog,” a symbolic exit to the college life. O’Neil is not the only one with fond memories; many current graduating students are disappointed that they will not be able to participate in the tradition.
Senior Chelsea LaForce celebrated her 21st birthday at The Dog and went every Thursday night after that.
“It was a lot of fun,” said LaForce. “It was a good place for students to go. It’s too bad that the younger people will never have the chance to enjoy it. I’m glad I at least got that.”
The lonely building is now owned by TD Bank in Rutland and has been on the market, but without much hope for a successful sale.
“We had an auction there last fall and we had a few interested parties, but did not receive a bid the bank could accept. The bank now owns the property and they will be trying to sell it,” said TD Bank Vice President Terry Owens.
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