Every Monday we share an image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia.
Look familiar? What do you recognize? What has changed? When do you think this was taken/created?
If you didn’t recognize this as Main Street in Essex, NY the tiny caption in the upper left hand corner identifies it for you. And you very well may not have recognized it, this same view today would look somewhat different. Not only is the road now paved, but that large brick building in the right-side foreground is no longer there. It was known as the Brick Block and was destroyed in a fire in 1924. What is there today? The Essex Post Office and offices of College for Every Student offices. That replacement building (sometimes called the Van Ornam Building) was built in 1937. So this dates the postcard to pre-1924.
Perhaps the backside will give more clues to better date it? Take a look at that side below:
By the postmark we can see that this postcard was sent on July 16, 1909, from the post office at the Crater Club (a private club in Essex, NY).
Do you notice any other changes in this scene compared with today? Have any other thoughts to share? Please leave a comment below!
Share Your Essex Artifacts
If you want to share your old photos of Essex (or brochures; postcards; menus; tickets; any artifact) on the blog please email us at editor [AT] essexonlakechamplain [DOT] com.
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