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Greetings, Darkroom Enthusiasts!
Our Story So Far
We are a newly formed collective of photographers and artists in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, coming together to build a vibrant, community-centered darkroom in St. Johnsbury.
Our group has secured a rental space in the beautifully renovated Carriage House behind Catamount Arts, and we are now launching a fundraising campaign to help bring this vision to life.
Looking Forward
Our goal is to create one of the best-equipped and most accessible darkrooms in Vermont—ready to open by Fall 2026.
We are currently seeking financial support to subsidize the build-out, including equipment, ventilation, plumbing, and materials needed to support a wide range of analog photographic processes
Meet the Board
Kim Crady-Smith
Cornelia Hasenfuss
Kim Crady-Smith
Kim Crady-Smith is a bookseller and community builder with a lifelong passion for photography. During college, she spent four years working in the darkroom through a work-study program, developing hands-on experience with traditional photographic processes. Later, as a teacher at an alternative high school, she built a darkroom and taught
Kim Crady-Smith is a bookseller and community builder with a lifelong passion for photography. During college, she spent four years working in the darkroom through a work-study program, developing hands-on experience with traditional photographic processes. Later, as a teacher at an alternative high school, she built a darkroom and taught students the fundamentals of film photography. Kim continues to connect people through books, creativity, and shared learning.
Chad Harter
Cornelia Hasenfuss
Kim Crady-Smith
Photo Advisor of KCD Chad Harter, began his interest in photography at summer camp at age seven by developing a roll of film. His grandfather purchased darkroom equipment for him from Jenks Studio in Saint Johnsbury, Vt. when he was ten. He went to work for Hayman’s Photography, a commercial studio in York, Pa. as a lab technician/photogr
Photo Advisor of KCD Chad Harter, began his interest in photography at summer camp at age seven by developing a roll of film. His grandfather purchased darkroom equipment for him from Jenks Studio in Saint Johnsbury, Vt. when he was ten. He went to work for Hayman’s Photography, a commercial studio in York, Pa. as a lab technician/photographer in 1966. After returning from service overseas he began work as the general manager in charge of quality control for The H&W Company in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont in 1972. The H&W Company made high resolution black and white film systems for the U.S. government and others. He also founded Studio 5 in 1973 which specialized in aerial photography and large photographic prints (4X8 feet) for court room use. As a landscape photographer he mastered large format black and white photography using the Zone System. His color work mastery includes Cibachrome, Dye Transfer and Four-Color Carbon printing. He attended multiple workshops at RIT beginning in 1966, and at The Maine Photographic Workshops in 1973. He curated five gallery spaces in and around Burlington, Vt. from 1985-1995. He directed the Photo Co-operative at the University of Vermont from 1989-2004 after graduating from Johnson State College in 1988 with a B.F.A. in Studio Arts. He continues his obsession with fine art photography by chasing the light in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, and elsewhere with his camera.
Cornelia Hasenfuss
Cornelia Hasenfuss
Cornelia Hasenfuss
Cornelia Hasenfuss has been making images for over 40 years. Most recently, she has taught photo classes through Catamount arts, Outdoor Science at the Stevens School and skiing at Burke Mountain. Previously she worked at the Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan NH , and ran a high school AP program at the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah
Cornelia Hasenfuss has been making images for over 40 years. Most recently, she has taught photo classes through Catamount arts, Outdoor Science at the Stevens School and skiing at Burke Mountain. Previously she worked at the Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan NH , and ran a high school AP program at the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah. Her experience includes teaching portfolio prep and reviews, large format photography, studio lighting, medium format camera use, basic camera use and all forms of traditional darkroom skills from basic black and white silver printing to film development and alternative and historical printing processes.
She trained at the Maine Photographic Workshops, completing their Residency Program in 1994, and teaching there for an additional year. Other coursework includes classes at the Museum School in Boston and Mass College of Art. She has a BS in American Studies from Tufts University. She has photographed widely and as a photo-journalist, wedding photographer, and professional artist. Her personal art focuses on landscape images, as well as collage techniques including sewing, papermaking, hand coating images and historical processes of photography. Her other interests are in the outdoors: skiing, hiking and climbing, as well as traveling, gardening and playing with her children and pets. She lives in Peacham with her husband and two children.
Alfred Dedam
Melissa Duggan
Cornelia Hasenfuss
Alfred Dedam is a Peacham resident, stone mason, and founding board member of the Kingdom Community Darkroom. He first discovered photography as a senior at St. Johnsbury Academy during the inaugural year of the school’s photography program. The experience sparked a lifelong appreciation for the creative possibilities of photography and f
Alfred Dedam is a Peacham resident, stone mason, and founding board member of the Kingdom Community Darkroom. He first discovered photography as a senior at St. Johnsbury Academy during the inaugural year of the school’s photography program. The experience sparked a lifelong appreciation for the creative possibilities of photography and for the way light shapes the world around us.
Although his professional career has been in the skilled trades, Alfred has always maintained a deep interest in creative work and visual expression. Photography remains an important outlet for that creativity.
Alfred is an active member of the Peacham community and believes strongly in building local institutions that bring people together, share knowledge, and support creative exploration. Through the Kingdom Community Darkroom, he hopes to help make the tools and traditions of analog photography accessible to the wider Northeast Kingdom community.
Melissa Duggan
Melissa Duggan
Melissa Duggan
Melissa Duggan is a Massachusetts native with deep roots in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. A
lifelong photographer and horsewoman, she has documented people, animals, and the natural
world since childhood. She is the founder of WildIrish Farm in Massachusetts and Black Horse
Farm Vermont, a therapeutic equine program in Westmore, Vermont, and
Melissa Duggan is a Massachusetts native with deep roots in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. A
lifelong photographer and horsewoman, she has documented people, animals, and the natural
world since childhood. She is the founder of WildIrish Farm in Massachusetts and Black Horse
Farm Vermont, a therapeutic equine program in Westmore, Vermont, and a partner of Bright
Strides Art and Equine Therapy Nonprofit. She is expanding her work in the arts, embodying her
lifelong calling as an artist through creative, healing-centered practices at the intersection of art,
land, and care.
What we're building
Services
Our facility will offer flexible access for artists of all levels, including:
- A shared “gang-style” darkroom with communal chemistry and equipment
- Semi-private workspaces with dedicated enlargers and chemistry
- Limited private darkroom rentals
- Support for large format and alternative photographic processes
- Beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes, with discounted rates available for members.
Equipment
Stay tuned for details to come!
Membership
Memberships will be available for a small monthly fee, making the space accessible while supporting its sustainability.