Naulakha

Last night, we finally got a chance to see if the inside of local landmark Naulakha, Rudyard Kipling’s home from 1892 to 1896. When he arrived in Brattleboro, he was at the height of his prowess, despite only being in his 20s, and was one of the richest and most famous authors in the world. The post office dedicated a special room just for his fan mail, in a building that currently house is a RadioShack store. Kipling designed the house himself, and its construction was supervised by his brother-in-law. A falling out with that same brother-in-law was the proximate cause of the Kiplings’ decision to leave Vermont.

The evening’s entertainment was provided by Jackson Gillman, a full-time storyteller who did a wonderful job on several of the Just So Stories. Although I didn’t really grow up with these stories, many in the audience did, and were mouthing along to the famous phrases… “the great gray green greasy Limpopo river…”

Today, Naulakha is owned by the Landmark Trust USA, the local arm of a historic preservation outfit with hundreds of properties, mostly in the UK and Europe. They buy and restore old properties using traditional materials and techniques whenever possible, then add modern plumbing and amenities, and finally make the properties available to rent. Here, for example, for a price that is comparable to a local hotel, up to eight people can stay in Kipling’s home, soak in his bathtub, and even sit down at his own desk to post something clever on Tumblr.