This building is located at the intersection of Main Street and Station Road (NYS Route 22) at the only stoplight in town. It was built circa 1800 for use as a millinery (a women’s hat shop) and dry goods store. In 1812 Henry H. Ross apparently expanded the building for use as his law offices, and much later it became the home of the Essex Volunteer Fire Department—which is what most remember it for (hence referring to it as the “old firehouse”).
Today the three garage doors (installed for the firetrucks) are no longer present and instead large windows sit in their place, and the two poles in the center of the photo are also gone. The bright red and yellow paint has since been covered by more moderate blue/grey colors.
The Adirondack Art Association has hosted its gallery in this building for many summers, but this year they have moved to a new home down the street to the left. What will the next use of the building be? Who knows.
Feel free to share your speculation in the comments below!
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Dianne Lansing says
Well, its not that old! It was taken after the grey and white firehouse was painted red and yellow which prompted a spate of protests…..in the form of poetry posted on the town bulletin board.
Pat Gardner says
Joanne Soloski might remember, she was our director for the Youth Commission. It was to welcome some group of youth walkers that came through town and we gave them food and drink I think.