Every Monday we share a vintage image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia. Thank you to Todd Goff for sharing the above image with us!

Have you ever seen this old image of Essex, NY before? It was created circa 1846 by Edwin Whitefield. It’s an idyllic scene with peaceful waters, clear skies, and people fishing and boating on the lake. Do you recognize anything? Perhaps some of the landmarks?

In the village I believe I can make out two steeples rising above the other buildings. Can you? (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

In the past, Essex had been prominent in the shipping industry. Shipyards in the village produced many ships that went on to sail Lake Champlain. You can see many ships out on the lake in the scene above. I think it would be wonderful to see a sight like that on the lake again, although sometimes we see a similar sight with modern recreational sailboats.

I believe that I can make out an early ferry toward the back of the image (counting the canoe it is the fourth boat from the front). It’s out on the lake and a different shape than any of the other boats. Unless it’s something else? What do you think?

Do you know more about Essex during this time? Or see anything else of note in the image? 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.

Related articles

• Vintage Photo: Main Street (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• Vintage Postcard: Essex Main Street Looking North (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• Vintage Postcard: Camel’s Hump (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)