In January 1990, neighbors Sarah and Ted Montgomery and Gail and Michael Shaw generated the idea of Ten Stones – a blend of cohousing and intentional living. Others joined them to look at land, to engage in committee work and finally to purchase our current 84.5 acre land on October 21, 1992. Years of siting, permitting and infrastructure development were done by Ten Stones’ founders (some of whom never ended up living here) and early residents.

In 1994 Pat and Andy Lee, the first residents, completed their house and moved in, followed shortly by Beth Comolli and Ed LeClair, Gail and Michael Shaw, and Judy Rowe. In November of 1995, Tim Yandow and Jane Rowe finished their house on the west side of the green. The next few months were a period of slow growth; we mowed the hayfield (the green) and held Open Houses to attract new members. This was a time of economic challenge to those members who held the financial responsibility for the land's mortgage. Though lot sales were intended to finance a Common House, the development project ran over budget and no money was available for the Common House. Around this time, Pat and Andy moved to North Carolina and sold their house to Mary Spicer and Tiffany Renaud.

In the summer of 1996, with good press and the Shaw's Vermont Public Radio interview about cohousing and straw bale houses, a wave of the next five families arrived. Gillian and Russell Comstock, Edorah Frazer and Michael Rubin, Oliver Kiehl and Bert Nubile, and Steven Wisbaum and Suzanne Lourie built their straw bale houses. In the midst of those arrivals, the Shaws started construction on the last straw bale house and sold their original house to Barbara Hoke and Ken French. The next three houses were built by Ron Miller and Jennie Lloyd, Carol Talley and Jeffrey Jarrad, and Ted and Sarah Montgomery. The final three houses were completed by 2003 by Joan and Per White-Hansen, Cami Davis, Jeffrey Jarrad, and Mark Boudreau and Megan Godfrey.

6 September 1998
Most Commonly Asked Questions About Ten Stones
Q. How long has Ten Stones been in existence?
A. Ted Montgomery, architect and resident, conceived the first iteration of the Ten Stones Community as his senior thesis project in 1972. After years of discussion with other interested families and many site visits, this site was purchased in 1992. The first home was constructed in 1993, and the last family moved in July 2003. Download PDF for complete document.

February 2005
Community Job Rotation:Download PDF for complete document.

February 2005
Community Meeting Process and Committees: Download PDF for complete document.

February 2005
Community Decision Making Process: Download PDF for complete document.