Essex, New York Guide and Community Blog
Sara Kurak and James Graves operate the Full and By Farm CSA in Essex, NY, sometimes with assistance from temporary farmhands and interns. Why “Full and By”? What does whimsical term actually mean? Here is the definition: full and by (adv.) [nautical]: Steering as close to the wind as possible while keeping the sails full. Nestled between [...]
Arriving in Essex, NY from Charlotte, Vermont by ferry, or by NYS Route 22 from the North travelers are greeted by a row of stately homes known as Merchant Row. Four elegant historic mansions overlook Lake Champlain and Vermont’s Green Mountains beyond. Built by wealthy merchant families in the 1800s, Merchant Row has withstood the test [...]
It’s time for another Poetry Open Mic in Essex, NY at the Belden Noble Library. Whether you participated in January’s poetry gathering and/or February’s Poetry Open Mic you are invited to attend and participate with your friends and neighbors on Wednesday, March 27 at 7:00pm. Fish around in your bureau (or your hard drive) for your [...]
Victorian architecture is a broad and diverse classification including Gothic Revival; Italianate; Second Empire; Queen Anne; Stick style; Romanesque style; Folk Victorian; Octagon style; and Shingle style among other architectural styles spawned during the Victorian era. Historians debate whether some styles fit into the Victorian style or are considered their own distinct architectural styles. This post will focus on [...]
I had the good fortune of meeting up with Susie Drinkwine at the Essex, NY Post Office recently. She was bubbling with energy and optimism about getting back to work soon. Her signature Susie Drinkwine ear-to-ear smile and infectious laughter filled the Post Office, and I regretted not having a camera to capture and share [...]
Greystone is arguably the crown jewel of Merchant Row. Its stately, imposing presence greets ferry commuters as they arrive in Essex, New York. Of local limestone [greystone] in two-and-a-half stories, it is a late Greek Revival mansion, characterized by superb stone work on the exterior and magnificent Federal plan and plaster work in the interior… [...]
Rosslyn, the second oldest home on Essex, New York’s Merchant Row, is located just south of The Dower House. This historic home (also known as the W.D. Ross Mansion, Hyde Gate, and The Sherwood Inn) was built by William D. Ross for his bride Mary Ann Gould (c. 1826-8) (“Essex: An Architectural Guide.” 30). Primarily Georgian in style, [...]
It’s time for another Poetry Open Mic in Essex! January’s poetry gathering at the Belden Noble Library celebrated local poetry ranging from poignant to amusing and formally structured to visual collage. Fish around in your bureau (or your hard drive) for your favorite wordsmithing artifacts and dust them off for “show and tell” next Wednesday [...]
When arriving in Essex, NY by ferry from Charlotte, Vermont travelers are greeted by a row of stately homes known as Merchant Row. The Dower House (aka the Daniel Ross House) is the northernmost residence with gambrel roof, white clapboard exterior and red shutters. The Dower House on Lake Shore Road was built prior to 1793 [...]
Located on the Lake Champlain shore of Essex, NY, the Noble Warehouse was constructed circa 1810 by the Ransom Noble and Sons firm (“Essex: An Architectural Guide.” 27). The Noble family controlled much of the maritime shipping in Essex, and constructed the warehouse and wharf to aid in their mercantile affairs. Originally the warehouse was a rather simple graystone [...]
