A Place to Gather, Then and Now
From Chauncey Butler’s grand home to Whipple’s summer hotel, from bowling leagues to beloved dinners out, Orchard Hall has always been where stories unfold.
Orchard Hall honors its past while opening its doors to new memories–rooted in history, shaped by community, and guided by the belief that good food brings people home.
Welcome to the next chapter of a Sauquoit landmark.
Welcome to Orchard Hall.
Our Story: A New Chapter at Orchard Hall
Orchard Hall stands on land rooted in nearly two centuries of history. Its story begins in 1840, when Revolutionary War hero Captain Abner Bacon received the property as a land grant from President George Washington. He built the region’s first grist mill along Sauquoit Creek in 1796, and the original burhstone still stands outside Orchard Hall today. Only a few years later, New York State Senator Chauncey Sage Butler commissioned the stately home that forms the core of the building. Locals came to know it as 'Butler Hall,' a landmark whose elegant façade has endured since 1843.
Throughout the early 20th century, the space evolved through generations of owners, each adding their own chapter. In 1920, John Whipple of Old Orchard, Maine renamed the property ‘Orchard Hall’ as an homage to both his hometown and the orchards that once dotted the land. Under his ownership, it became a summer hotel. In 1925, it was sold to Dr. George Armstrong, who ran it as a speakeasy, and in 1932 it was sold to the Borden family for use as a private residence.
Perry Gillette brought bowling to the building in 1957; Gary and Sharon Puleo later expanded outdoor dining and added the banquet hall after taking ownership in 1992. Through all these changes, Orchard Hall remained a place where Sauquoit came together.
Today, Orchard Hall enters a new era under the care of Danielle Getter and Chris Krause. And for Danielle, this isn’t just a business venture–it’s coming home.
Danielle grew up half a mile down the road. She bowled here. She laughed here. She saw Orchard Hall not just as a local icon, but as part of the fabric of her childhood. After more than two decades living and working in New England, honing a hospitality philosophy rooted in warmth and comfort, she felt the pull back to her hometown.
There’s a quiet poetry in that journey. A century ago, John Whipple brought a touch of New England to Sauquoit when he renamed and reimagined Orchard Hall. Today, Danielle brings her own New England chapter home again–this time not through a name, but through the flavors, spirit, and sensibilities that will shape Orchard Hall in the years to come.
Her vision is simple and heartfelt: comfort food with local character, regional ingredients, and the subtle influence of the New England tables that shaped her craft. Orchard Hall becomes, once again, a place where familiar dishes feel special and special dishes feel familiar.
