Creamery Building
Is Sold in Chelsea
By Cornelia Cesari

Rumors rippling through Chelsea last week were confirmed by Brent Ryan, who announced that he had sold "The Creamery," building to Bobby Button.

Thus ends nearly a decade of angling by the town to purchase the real estate, which borders the school property to the south. Extending across the First Branch, it also borders Button’s property north of the Heath Recreation Field.

"It’s too bad that it won’t be a piece of town property," selectboard Chair Andy Pomerantz commented ruefully, "but at least it’s in good hands. Part of our interest is in keeping it open and Bobby will do that. It won’t go to an out-of-town developer."

Ryan claims that no one from the town ever approached him directly. "Their lawyer contacted my lawyer; they started pushing me to sell before I had permission to," he said. "But no one walked up to me and asked. It cost me money every time they had anything to say to me!"

Ryan’s father, Francis Ryan, died three years ago, leaving the property filled with old trucks and parts and the creamery building in disrepair. Ryan says that settling the estate has been a tremendous project.

"It’s been three years of my life, and I’m ready to move on," said Ryan. His family lives in the Middlebury area, and he works as an electrician in Montpelier.

Ryan decided he wasn’t going to make any money on the estate, noting, "It was a ‘know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em’ type of situation, and Bobby walked down the road at the right time. I’m glad of it, too. He won’t make any drastic changes to the place. It will still look like Chelsea for his lifetime, anyway."

Button, owner of Button’s Feed Store, plans to make repairs to the building and, for now, use it for storage and warehouse space.

____________