Essex, New York Guide and Community Blog
The Van Ornam building is currently undergoing renovations under the guidance of Karen and Rick Dalton to transform the second floor and rear annex into the national headquarters for College for Every Student. The Old Brick Block was a mercantile shop(s) in Essex, NY that burned in 1924. It was replaced in 1937 (Images of [...]
As its name implies, The Old Brick Store is a brick building that was originally built to serve as a commercial store during the time of Essex’s economic boom. This utilitarian Greek Revival store was built in c. 1840, and has stood on Essex’s Main Street for 172 years. With the original three-bay storefront facade, this building is a [...]
The Dr. Samuel Shumway House was built early in the 1800s (Historic Essex/ECHO documents suggest 1832, but Everest & McNulty claim 1815), in stately Federal style with some Greek Revival architectural influences. Dr. Samuel Shumway was a town officer in Essex (1841-42), and was of course a local physician (History of Essex, New York). You can see a very brief [...]
The Charles G. Fancher House of Federal design was built circa 1824. The wooden house is located near the end of Elm Street as it approaches School Street. The original owner, Charles G. Fancher, for whom the house is named, was once the owner Wright’s Inn and was also Essex’s postmaster for a time (History of [...]
The “Old Brick Schoolhouse” on Elm Street (1830) stands on the probable site of the first school in Essex, erected in 1787. Expanded to the north in 1837, this one-story building served as the village schoolhouse until superseded by the large frame schoolhouse of 1867 (still surviving, and restored). Surmounted by a small belfry, the [...]
Located at the corner of School Street and Main Street in the village of Essex, New York, the Edwards Store was built c. 1836 by tailor Henry Edwards. Its original design was based upon the popular Greek Revival style, but later Victorian details were added including Carpenter Gothic vergeboards and bay windows (“Essex: An Architectural [...]
The historic Essex Inn is almost as old as the town in which it has thrived for two centuries. From the early 19th century when Essex was growing rapidly, the Essex Inn was a social hub for merchants, visitor and residents alike. In the 1820′s, Essex was “the busiest port on Lake Champlain.” Through it [...]
In 1817 John Gould began purchasing parcels of land just south of Essex’s town center to combine into a property upon which he could build his home. By the time his house was built he owned nearly the entire block (“Essex: An Architectural Guide.” 14). The John Gould House was finished circa 1833 in Federal design though the house also [...]
Essex on Lake Champlain (Images of America) is a beautiful collection of historical photographs of Essex, New York. Author David C. Hislop Jr. accompanies the important documentary images with informative descriptions that illuminate the culture and heritage of this architecturally significant town. Hislop begins the book with a brief history of Essex including its founding, [...]
Attention farmers, local artisans, and members of the Essex community! On Wednesday, December 12th, there will be a ‘Farm Store’ meeting in Essex. This is an opportunity for local farmers and artisans to discuss the idea of a common market, along with goals and concerns. The premise of this venture is to offer producers and the community [...]
