E. Corinth’s century-old schoolhouse, which later became a Masonic lodge, appeared in both Beetlejuice films as Miss Shannon’s School for Girls. All photos © Erica Houskeeper.
Kendall Gendron's favorite movie is Beetlejuice.
When the Seattle native met her future husband, Travis, and discovered that his hometown was East Corinth—where the movie was filmed—it felt like a match made in heaven.
In 2016, the couple moved from the Pacific Northwest to East Corinth. When the opportunity arose to own the fictional Miss Shannon's School for Girls from the Beetlejuice movies, Gendron jumped at the chance.
It wasn’t just about owning a part of movie history, but how the iconic, Gothic structure on Village Road could become a vibrant events venue and community gathering space. "There's not a whole lot going on in East Corinth, which is by design. It's small-town Vermont," she says. "But I think every town needs a cultural or community hub.”
“Let’s Give Them Something They Can Hold Onto”
East Corinth is one of several villages in the Town of Corinth, a community that Gendron describes as “eclectic, homey, and very community oriented.” The town is home to everything you could hope for in rural Vermont—a library, post office, church, general store, ski area, and town hall.
Kendall Gendron speaks to the crowd at a recent outdoor fall market about her plans to renovate the Miss Shannon’s School for Girls from the Beetlejuice films into a community center.
But the high cost of living and housing shortage can make just about any place in Vermont a tough place to plant roots. Every day life can also feel isolating, Gendron says: “Young people are being priced out of being able to start their future in Vermont. For the people that can stay here, let’s give them something that they can hold on to.”
A Fall Market to Raise Awareness
The century-old schoolhouse, which later became a Masonic lodge, was purchased by Gendron in 2022. In mid-October, she hosted her first event: a Halloween-themed fall market on the building’s front lawn.
More than a dozen vendors set up shop to sell maple candy, wooden bowls, handmade jewelry, hand-sewn purses, and tarot card readings. Musicians strummed guitars and sang Cat Stevens and Gordon Lightfoot tunes. People from Bradford, Topsham, Corinth, Newbury, Fairlee and beyond showed up to carve pumpkins, play games, and socialize.
“This was the first event, and we saw so many people,” says lifelong resident Wade Pierson, who was dressed in Beetlejuice-inspired garb. He sold raffle tickets at the event and chatted with curious Beetlejuice fans about filming locations. “I'm sure awareness (about the project) will grow moving forward.”
Hatched During the Pandemic
The idea for purchasing the building emerged in 2020, when Gendron and her friends were talking about what they wanted life to look like post-pandemic.
“We thought that a community hub would be an asset to our local area, and also something we would frequent ourselves,” she says. “If your community has fun things that people want to do, and programming to keep people entertained, happy, and connected, I don't think there's any downside.”
Wade Pierson is a lifelong resident East Corinth and longtime Beetlejuice enthusiast. He attended the market event to help raise awareness about renovating the iconic Miss Shannon’s School for Girls building.
But first, Gendron needs to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars through her nonprofit, the aptly named Miss Shannon’s School House. Another challenge is that the condition of the building is “not great,” Gendron says. “Great bones, but she needs some work.”
Returning the Building to Its Former Glory
Community gathering spaces like historic town halls, schoolhouses, and libraries are treasured places in Vermont.
“There’s really something special when different generations in the community can share that common space and common history,” says State Architectural Historian Elizabeth Peebles of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. “And there’s always been a real commitment in Vermont to preserve good community spaces.”
Lily Boswell of Topsham carves pumpkins at the fall market in East Corinth.
Five years ago, the desire for a new community space in East Corinth wasn’t so apparent. But Pierson says the pandemic likely shifted people’s perspective.
“Pre-COVID, we might not have thought we needed it so much,” says Pierson, who lives near the schoolhouse. “But this building has a real presence in the community.”
Once it’s open to the public, Pierson says, visitors will be able to enter through the building’s double doors, walk into two large rooms on either side, and stroll across a long hallway that leads to a wide, sweeping staircase. Upstairs, they’ll find find an open room with seating and a theater stage.
“It's definitely not going to be an easy road with today's standards to make the building a public venue,” Pierson says. “But what Kendall’s doing is a start.”
The building was once a lively gathering space that hosted community dinners, Halloween celebrations and local theater performances. Diane Chamberlain, a former resident who now lives in Bradford, remembers it well.
“We would fill the entire place with people, which was amazing,” says Chamberlain, who was a member of the now-defunct Tabor Valley Players. “It was a very active theater and a form of entertainment for locals.”
People from Corinth, Topsham, Fairlee, and beyond came out to the fall market in mid-October.
Chamberlain’s memories of the building’s past complement Gendron’s vision for the future. Despite the enormous task ahead of raising money, applying for grants, and hiring contractors, Gendron feels confident that her plan can become a reality.
“It’s something I can put my heart and soul into, and a project I absolutely believe in,” she says. “This is about my love of Beetlejuice, my love for this town, and creating something that will be really special.”
Erica Houskeeper is a freelance writer and photographer who lives in Burlington, Vermont. She publishes Happy Vermont, a website, newsletter, and podcast about exploring the Green Mountain State.