St. Johnsbury, Vermont – September 26, 2023 – Following the grand opening of the Caplan’s Building on August 10, 2023, Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury was awarded a Preservation Grant to support the renovation of the iconic building. The Freeman Foundation, in partnership with the Preservation Trust of Vermont, has granted $50,000 to support the building’s remarkable historic preservation efforts. This recognition comes after the successful completion of the renovation, which maintained the original storefront facade and incorporated the building’s historic elements, including hardwood floors, vintage signage, and a captivating history wall in the reception area.
The recent renovation, assisted by the Preservation Grant, made possible by a partnership between the Freeman Foundation and the Preservation Trust of Vermont, has breathed new life into the Caplan’s Building. The meticulous preservation efforts have ensured the retention of its unique character while offering a modern, functional space.
“We are honored to have received this generous grant from the Freeman Foundation and Preservation Trust of Vermont,” said Chris Towne, Chief Operating Officer of Northern Counties Health Care. “This award underscores our commitment to preserving the historical fabric of St. Johnsbury while providing walk-in healthcare services.”
Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury now calls the Caplan’s Building its home, marking a significant enhancement in healthcare accessibility for the local community. Additionally, the building is proud to host Catamount Arts as a temporary box office and downtown location for the Fried Family Gallery, ensuring access to artistic and creative experiences for the community.
The Freeman Foundation and Preservation Trust of Vermont’s support played a pivotal role in making this historic preservation effort a reality. Their dedication to preserving history and fostering community development is evident in the successful transformation of the Caplan’s Building.
The recent award acknowledges Northern Counties Health Care’s commitment to preserving the Caplan’s Building’s rich heritage and offering a vibrant space for both healthcare and the arts in St. Johnsbury.
About Northern Counties Health Care:
Northern Counties Health Care encompasses seven community health centers—including two walk-in primary care locations, three dental centers, and a certified home health care & hospice division providing a full spectrum of quality, affordable, and compassionate health care services to patients of all ages, throughout the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. For more information, visit www.nchcvt.org. NCHC is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3,343,777 with 80% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
Northern Express Care
Northern Counties Health Care Announces Tenant for Caplan’s Building Commercial Space
St. Johnsbury, July 27, 2023 – Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) is pleased to announce that Catamount Arts has been selected as a temporary co-tenant at the newly renovated Caplan’s Building, located at 457 Railroad Street in downtown St. Johnsbury. The Caplan’s Building, was acquired by NCHC in October 2021 after the closure of the beloved Caplan’s Army Store on December 31, 2020. The building has been recently renovated and will be the new location for Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury. Northern Counties Health Care is excited to open its doors to support the arts community and create a hub for creativity and cultural engagement.
A committee comprising representatives from NCHC staff, board of directors, and the St. Johnsbury community spearheaded the selection process. The 800 sq/ft space within the Caplan’s Building was made available through a letter of interest solicitation process. Catamount Arts emerged as the top choice to occupy the space while their building is temporarily closed. Catamount Arts, an esteemed cultural institution in the Northeast Kingdom, has been instrumental in promoting arts, film, and education in the region for many years. This exciting opportunity to temporarily occupy the newly renovated space at the Caplan’s Building will allow Catamount Arts to maintain a downtown presence and support its mission of enriching the community with creative endeavors and cultural experiences.
“The Caplan’s Building will continue to serve our community, and we are excited to welcome Catamount Arts to share the space with us,” said Chris Towne, Chief Strategy Officer at Northern Counties Health Care. “There is more to a community’s health than health care services, and we are pleased to support Catamount Arts and promote the region’s creative economy by sharing this vibrant space.” The Caplan’s Building, with its rich history, now enters a new chapter as a space for community enrichment. Northern Counties Health Care is excited about the potential of this collaboration to strengthen community ties and offer residents of St. Johnsbury and the surrounding areas a space to experience the transformative power of art.
“We are grateful to Northern Counties Health Care for this wonderful opportunity,” said Catamount Arts Executive Director Jody Fried. “Being able to continue our programs and initiatives from this centrally located space will allow us to further our mission and continue positively impacting the lives of people in the Northeast Kingdom.”
An open house and ribbon cutting of the Caplan’s Building including Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury and Catamount Arts’ temporary location is scheduled for August 10th at 2pm.
Express Care Clinic At Caplan’s Opening in August – Campaign To Raise Project Funding Underway
Craig Taylor, Facilities Director and Chris Towne, Chief Strategy Officer stand outside the Caplan’s Building. Photo credit: Brynn Evans
Courtesy of Caledonian Record (May 12, 2023)
Article by Dana Gray, Staff Writer
ST. JOHNSBURY — The conversion of Caplan’s Army Store into a downtown express health care clinic continues, and owner Northern Counties Health Care plans an August opening.
What was a wide open floor space on which to shelve, stack and hang merchandise in the long-time Caplan’s footwear and clothing store is now a series of walled-off spaces forming offices, exam rooms and a waiting room.
The outside has not substantially changed. The large letters once affixed to the Railroad Street-facing facade that spelled out CAPLAN’S ARMY STORE are gone, but letters noting “CAPLAN’S EST. 1922” on the north-facing exterior remain. The two street-front entrances and the large front windows used by Caplan’s to showcase merchandise remain, but the windows are new and double-paned.
And that’s just two-thirds of the first-floor renovation.
The second street-front entrance leads to a space that NCHC wants to lease to someone. It’s an open floor plan with a wall separating the clinic space that offers about 800 square feet. The lessee’s rent will include the space, heat, water, and electricity. There’s flexibility in the lease terms, said NCHC Chief Strategy Officer Chris Towne, in both lease length and lease rate.
“We are seeking proposals that will provide a community benefit or assist with a community need in line with our vision to build healthy families and thriving communities,” notes NCHC.
Towne said the tenant can be a non-profit organization or a for-profit business.
He said NCHC doesn’t need the entire space the Caplan’s building provides for the clinic. Walling off a space for a tenant still left NCHC with about twice the space of its current home further south downtown at the corner of Railroad Street and Eastern Avenue.
Towne said NCHC will consider any idea for a tenant, but sharing the building with a retail tenant would be a good way to offer a use that reflects what the building once was. He said when Caplan’s closed, there was a hope that a retailer would step up to fill the space.
“The town had a desire to have retail,” he said. “If there is a desire for a small retail space, we’d like to hear from people about what they’re thinking.”
NCHC bought the building from Dave Caplan in October 2021. By then, it had been closed as a retail store for ten months.
The timing of the project, coming out of the pandemic with worker shortages and supplies pricier through inflation, has meant a higher cost and a need for NCHC to reach out for community support.
“As for the budget, with increases in labor and materials we would really appreciate the community’s support,” said Towne.
The renovation cost is $679,080.
A capital campaign is underway with a goal to raise $179,000. Local banks – Union, Community National and Passumpsic – have each contributed $25,000.
NCHC is inviting any level of support; donate online here.
Supporters who make a donation by June 15 will be recognized at the grand opening set for Aug. 10. Donors contributing $250 or more will be honored on a donor wall at the Caplan’s Building. Towne pointed to the wall in the waiting room where the listing of donor names is expected to be located. He said they’d find a bigger wall for the listing if the number of donor names is especially long.
Among the enticements for people to give is the effort by NCHC to honor as much as possible the building’s past. This includes the placement of the original Caplan’s sign letters inside, referring to it as the Caplan’s Building and putting a sign out front that notes that, the use of the original flooring (sanded and refinished) and a tribute to long-time Caplan’s Army Store employee Gary Ely.
“We’re trying to preserve as much of the building as possible,” said Towne.
NCHC’s Director of Development, Marketing & Communications Brynn Evans said, “Knowing just how much a part of the community this was, we want to do this right.”
The grand opening with ribbon-cutting is set for Aug. 10. The next day the clinic will welcome its first patient. Graves Builders in Barnet began work on Feb. 6. Between Graves’ crew and subcontractors about 20 people have been at work on the Caplan’s conversion.
If interested in occupying the Caplan’s Building next to the Express Clinic, submit a letter of interest via email to rhondag@nchcvt.org or drop it off, or mail it to Northern Counties Health Care – Rhonda Gilman, 165 Sherman Dr., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. The deadline for submitting a letter of interest is May 31, 2023.
Temporary Maple Themed Mural at the Future Northern Express Care Site
St. Johnsbury, Vermont – In the midst of construction, a temporary plywood wall has gone up on the façade of the former Caplan’s Army Navy Store in downtown St. Johnsbury. Northern Counties Health Care has plans for a temporary mural by local artist Larry Golden to beautify the construction site.
The temporary plywood ensures pedestrian safety during the construction of the façade, which includes upgrading glass for the windows. When community partners learned the wall would be up for around two months, they connected to brainstorm about how best to beautify the site.
The group landed on a maple-themed mural to tie in with the upcoming Kingdom Maple Festival on April 22nd and help usher in spring. Artist Larry Golden agreed to the plan and started work on the mural this week. Larry’s son Ricky will be assisting with the process.
The mural is made possible through a partnership with Catamount Film & Arts and resident Heather Alger and funds from Discover St. Johnsbury and Graves Builders. Aubuchon Hardware and Sherwin-Williams generously donated paint for the mural.
“We know the Caplan’s Building is well-loved by many people,” said Brynn Evans, NCHC’s Director of Development & Marketing. “Northern Counties is thrilled that this partnership will help the building be part of the downtown community, even during construction.”
Northern Counties Health Care plans to honor the history of the Caplan’s Building through the renovation project. Once completed later this summer, Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury will relocate to the building. The new space will enhance walk-in primary services for the community. Details about the project can be found here.
Construction Begins at Former Caplan’s Building
L-R: Northern Counties team members Craig Taylor – Facilities Director and Jim Windrow – Assistant Facilities Director stand with Bill Graves – Owner of Graves Builders on the first day of construction at the Caplan’s Building.
St. Johnsbury, VT – Construction began on Monday, February 6, 2023 at the former Caplan’s Building in St. Johnsbury. Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) is transforming the space in order to relocate Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury to the building during the summer of 2023.
The general contractor for the project is Graves Builders out of Barnet, VT. The first step in the project is demolition and prepping the space for the build out. NCHC strives to honor the history of the building and is working to keep as much of the building’s aesthetic as possible. The organization also plans to honor Gary Ely for his long-time commitment to the Caplan’s Army Store, the building, and the community.
Learn more about the Caplan’s Building project here.
Plans for Caplan’s Building Announced
Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) is pleased to announce that plans are moving forward to make use of the Caplan’s building to better serve the community.
The organization purchased the Caplan’s building in October 2021, and since that time, NCHC has been considering the best way to utilize the building as part of its efforts to help build thriving and healthy communities. That plan has now been formed.
NCHC, following the appropriate town and state permitting processes, will relocate the Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury practice from its current location, on the corner of Eastern Avenue and Railroad Street, to the Caplan’s Building. In addition, a portion of the building will be renovated for future community use.
Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury opened in November 2020, through a partnership with NCHC and NVRH. The number of patients seeking walk-in care at the location has increased, and a new space is needed to meet the demand for services now and in the future.
“Caplan’s is an ideal space for Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury,” said Dan Sherman, NCHC Director of Primary Care. “Being downtown provides a convenient walk-in option for people seeking care. The Caplan’s building allows us to stay downtown and provides the additional space needed to continue providing high-quality care, with an improved patient and staff experience.”
“Vermont’s downtowns are special, and we are thrilled that the Caplan’s building will serve St. Johnsbury for years to come,” said Michael Costa, NCHC CEO. “We are grateful to play a small part in the efforts already underway to make sure downtown St. Johnsbury is a vibrant destination for our residents and visitors alike.”
NCHC plans to incorporate the building’s history in the redesign, and will also permanently recognize and remember Gary Ely as part of this project.
Beyond medical space, the building will retain some space for future community needs.
“We want to learn and grow with our community, and keeping some of the building open provides us with a platform to collaborate with our community,” said Chris Towne, NCHC Chief Strategy Officer. “We plan to convene a small group to explore other community-focused initiatives for approximately 900 square feet of the renovated space.”
NCHC is currently finalizing the design and engineering for the building and will then work through the necessary permitting steps. Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury will open in the new location during the summer of 2023.
Northern Express Care Celebrates Newport Opening
Courtesy of Caledonian Record (July 8, 2022)
Article by Kevin Doyon, Staff Writer
Photo credit: Keith Chamberlin
NEWPORT — Northern Express Care, a collaboration between Northern Counties Health Care and North Country Hospital, held its grand opening in Newport on Friday.
Located at 137 Main Street, the walk-in care center was an idea that has been in the works for just shy of a year and a half. With that goal finally brought to fruition, the doors will officially open to the community on Monday, July 11.
“Bringing walk-in primary care to the downtown is a really big deal for the Newport community,” NCHC Chief Strategy Officer Chris Towne said. “We really want the community to know that we are here to support them.”
Northern Express Care was an idea that had been in the works for a little over a year and a half. Towne says the demand for express care in Newport was expressed by community members because they wanted more convenient access to healthcare, particularly primary care. Both NCHC and NCH used health need assessments to gather insight from community members. As a result, the express care project was started as an answer to what they heard back.
“This vision started in the community,” NCH CEO Brian Nall said. “This is really a response from the community’s needs and desires for convenient access. This is not a profitable venture, this is a community venture where we are looking to contribute to the overall well-being.”
The facility also serves to reduce avoidable emergency room visits, since often times the visits could be handled by a walk-in center at a much cheaper cost.
“Our goals are fairly simple,” Towne said, “We want people to get the right care, at the right time, at the right place. We want to connect people to primary care. We know that there are community members that do not have an established primary care provider and we can help with that.”
“Working together, we can get Vermonters the care that they need when and where they need it,” added NCHC CEO Michael Costa.
Costa said he is grateful for the support of the initiative from the policymakers in the legislature throughout the process, which was begun and completed during the pandemic.
Governor Phil Scott attended and spoke at the event and Senator Bernie Sanders spoke via phone call. Sanders was introduced to the Newport location a few months prior and described Northern Express Care as a “very innovative and bold idea” that he hopes and expects will be replicated around the country.
“It is no great secret that in the United States, we have the most expensive health care system in the world,” Sanders said. “It is unaffordable and unsustainable. One of the many reasons that our health care system is so expensive is that there are millions of Americans who do not have a medical home and a doctor of their own. So when they get sick with a non-emergency problem, they go to the local emergency room which is far and away the most expensive primary healthcare in America.”
Sanders stated that it sometimes costs 10 times more to provide primary care to a patient than they would pay if they had gone to a community health center instead.
“So what NCHC and NCH are doing, is saying let’s figure a way to keep people out of the emergency room and give them good quality healthcare in the community,” Sanders continued. “This is a really, really important step forward.”
Sanders also spoke upon his vision to have the U.S. join every other major country and guarantee healthcare to all people as a human right.
“Our country still has tens of millions of people that are uninsured or under-insured that can’t seek medical attention or see a doctor when they need to,” he said.
In Vermont, over the last several decades, there has been progress made in expanding primary healthcare. According to Sanders, almost one-third of the people in Vermont go to community health centers spanning all across the state — with expansion still continuing to the southern parts of Vermont.
“Bottom line is, what we want to see in Vermont, is easy access to healthcare for everyone,” he said.
Costa introduced Gov. Scott by describing him as “the most genuine elected official that he has ever met.”
Photo credit: Keith Chamberlin
Scott used his time to speak on the importance and impact that a facility such as Northern Express Care has on the community. He touched upon the challenges that Vermonters had faced over the last few years, living through a pandemic and now figuring out how to live with the ongoing price inflation.
“But, here you all are,” Scott said, addressing the members of NCHC and NCH that were present for the ceremony. “On the front lines trying to work together to find solutions. This express care is part of the solution. A community coming together to do the right thing is part of the solution. Trying to find ways to help people every single day.”
Friday’s celebration featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, serving as an official unveiling of the new facility. Ribbon-cutters included Nall; Frank Knoll, Chair of North Country Hospital Board of Trustees; Linne Humbargar, MMS, PA-C, Northern Express Care – Newport Provider; Jessica Kirby, FNP, Northern Express Care – Newport Provider; Casey Myers, Northern Express Care – Newport Practice Manager; Towne; Dan Sherman, NCHC Director of Primary Care; Craig Taylor, NCHC Director of Facilities; Bill Graves, Owner of Graves Builders; and Costa.
Once the ribbon had been cut, attendees were invited inside for an open house and tour of the new building and its amenities.
Northern Express Care is open to anyone, no appointment necessary, that needs a minor injury or illness treated. This can include, sprains, strains, bumps, bruises, minor cuts, cold and flu, sore throat, stomach issues, UTI, fever, minor skin irritation or rash, ear infection, pink eye, vaccinations etc. Essentially, instances where primary care is needed but emergency care can be avoided.
“It is not about big plans or fancy ideas,” Costa said. “It is about what can be done, each and every day, to make Vermont a little better and to make the lives of Vermonters better.”
Newport joins Lyndonville and St. Johnsbury as the third Northern Express Care location. Its hours will be Monday-Friday 9-7:30 and Saturday 9-3.
Northern Express Care – Newport Opening July 11th
Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) and North Country Hospital (NCH) are pleased to announce the grand opening of Northern Express Care – Newport on Monday, July 11, 2022. Located in downtown Newport at 137 Main Street, Northern Express Care will provide walk-in care to the community.
“After months of planning and work, we are thrilled that the Newport community will have a new option for convenient care, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Michael Costa, Chief Executive Officer of NCHC. “Community partnerships are key to improving life and access to care in the Northeast Kingdom. We are proud to partner with North Country Hospital to expand health care options in the region.”
Brian Nall, Chief Executive Officer of NCH said, “North Country Hospital is committed to improving the health of our community and we are grateful for this partnership to open a new walk-in care practice. The Northern Express Care model is ideal. It’s open to everyone, provides an additional option for urgent non-emergency healthcare needs, and helps people connect to and establish relationships with regular primary care providers.”
“We have put together an excellent care team for Northern Express Care-Newport,” said Chris Towne, Chief Strategy Officer of NCHC. “Starting on July 11th, Northern Express Care will be open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Care will be provided with no appointment needed for individuals in need of assistance with minor illness or injuries for things like, sprains, bumps and bruises, respiratory illnesses, and vaccinations.”
More information about Northern Express Care can be found at www.NorthernExpressCare.org.
The community is invited to an open house and ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, July 8, 2022 from 2:00 – 4:30 at Northern Express Care – Newport, 137 Main Street. There will be special remarks, a ribbon cutting, tours, snacks, and give-a-ways.
