Michelle Kenny
Owner of The Wallingford Block
I am a local Vermonter, having been born and raised in Rutland, attending Mill River Union High School, Castleton University and law school here in Vermont.
I moved to the Wallingford area nearly 20 years ago, and have been committed to raising my family here and investing in this community. I decided to build a home in the village in 2006 and have served on various boards and committees, and at this time, both of my boys are students at Mill River. My decision to purchase the Block was nothing short of inspired action. As many of us do, I found myself at a fork in the road of my own life, and I would spend time walking my dog and pondering all that life had brought to me at that point.
I then "noticed" for the first time the utter deterioration of this gorgeous building, finding it evident the building was likely to fall down around itself. And then, as if in a movie scene, I looked up at the front of the building and saw the smallest paper "FOR SALE" sign tacked up between the 2nd and 3rd stories, tattered and hardly legible. In an instant I knew what I had to do. If I didn't save this beauty and do what I could to bring it back, we'd all lose it. I called the then-owners of the Block and discussed with them my thoughts and vision. They were incredibly supportive and in sharing with me their own personal story of their wishes and dreams for the Block, became part of the validation I needed to move forward.
One early morning in October of 2017, I was walking my dog and for the first time, despite the fact that I walked by the Block hundreds of times, I "noticed" this building, with architecture that was unmatched in what struck me as an existing time capsule.
It was up to me, and I took on the challenge with gratitude that I would have the privilege of bringing not only this building back together, but hopefully bringing a new sense of community to Wallingford.
— Michelle Kenny Owner