MONTPELIER — The past came back to life with a celebration to reopen the historic 1875 French Block on Main Street in the Capital City on Thursday.

It was standing room only at a ceremony at City Hall marking the yearlong refit of the Federal-style building across the street, which has been converted into 18 affordable homes for low-income people and the homeless.

The reopening of the French Block was a red-letter day for advoca...