Essex, New York Guide and Community Blog
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 [...]
Wild turkey vandalism? Yes. Sometimes Adirondack living feels like a 24×7 safari. In case you’ve missed the wilder side of Essex, NY, here are just a few of the wild critters we’ve featured recently on the Essex blog. Rattlesnakes Coyotes Bobcats Feral pigs Mink Owls Northern Pike Lampreys Bats Swamp “things” You get the idea. [...]
Grown out of the Italian Renaissance in Europe and ancient Greek and Roman influences, the Georgian architectural style was developed by English architects who ”emphasized classicism, order, and symmetry regardless of function” (Historic New England). Georgian architecture spread across the Atlantic and was popular in America from about 1700-1830. It is the oldest style of the historical homes remaining in Essex, NY. Admired for its symmetrical [...]
On the side lawn of The Harmon Noble House (c. 1835) sits an elegant octagonal building that likely served as an 1850′s one-room schoolhouse or office. Commonly referred to as the Harmon Noble Schoolhouse, the diminutive building may have been used to educate the Noble family children which would make it one of two remaining octagonal one-room [...]
Built on a pier jutting into Lake Champlain in Essex, NY across Lake Shore Road from Rosslyn stands a charming dock house constructed in 1898 (“Essex: An Architectural Guide.” 30). Rosslyn boathouse is modeled on a late 19th century Eastlake Design, considered part of the Queen Anne style of Victorian architecture (Images of America: Essex on [...]
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, [...]
Hickory Hill (aka the Ross Mansion), the “finest Federal residence” in Essex, NY (“Essex: An Architectural Guide” 18), was built by the Honorable Henry Howard Ross at the intersection of Elm Street and Church Street. “Hickory Hill” on Elm Street, and “Rosslyn” on the Lake Shore Road represent the residences of the wealthy merchants and [...]
“On the shore adjacent to the Ross wharf and the dock house, William D. Ross constructed a cut limestone store and law office.” (Images of America: Essex on Lake Champlain. 87). The stone W.D. Ross Store was built to serve as a warehouse and store in Essex, NY circa 1810. A clapboard addition was added on the left [...]
Saturday, March 24th, 11:00am At the Davis’ boathouse in Essex The Fling into Spring Polar Plunge for Planned Parenthood will be Saturday March 24th, 11:00 AM at the Davis’ boathouse. For those of you who don’t know that is right next to the Essex Ferry on Lake Champlain. We invite fearless friends who plan to plunge [...]
What a spooktacular start to Halloween Monday! We think of goblins and ghouls and the Great Pumpkin on All Hallow’s Eve, but early this morning the pre-sunrise lighting over Lake Champlain was simply spooky. And stunning! Shoot me your favorite Essex Halloween shot for my creepy collage, coming soon…
