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. The photo above was the one that we featured last week. It’s titled simply “Street Scene, Essex, NY,” but do you recognize the streets in the photo? Take a look at the buildings to help — do you recognize them? The community members who commented recognized the location right away:
Christine Herrmann: Corner of Main St. & Church St.
Lorraine Townsend Faherty: Straight up to Hickory Hill.
Betsy Oliver Eads: St. John’s is up the hill on the left behind the trees.
Sylvia Margo: look at the steeple….. it’s gone now
Dianne Lansing: The Comeau’s house on the left. Marion Mason lived there when we moved to town.
Karina Fink: Alex & Abby look at your house!
Alex Comeau: That house on the left does look oddly familiar… Essex on Lake Champlain, is the photograph/postcard dated?
Essex on Lake Champlain: No, the postcard isn’t dated. We’re hoping someone can help estimate a year.
And these commenters were right: the photo was taken on Main Street looking up Church Street.
Dating the Photo
When do you think this photo was taken? The streets look unpaved, but I’m unsure… What do you think?
With a little research I discovered that Collotype Co. (the publisher of the postcard listed on the back) was in operation from 1907-1957, which puts the postcard between that date range.
The Collotype Co. 1907-1957
Elizabeth, NJ and New York, NYPrinted black & white view-cards of the mid-Atlantic States up to New England as collotype. Some of their cards were crudely hand colored. (Metropolitan Postcard Club)
Does anyone know when the former Methodist-Episcopal Church located on the right (aka the Old Stone Church) lost its steeple? I believe it was the American Legion who removed the tower among other changes, and they purchased the former church in 1932. However, I don’t know when they made that change — soon after that purchase or later — does anyone?
Perhaps you might know when the house to the left with the gambrel roof and stonework columns was built? That would help narrow the time frame (possibilities spanning 50 years as of now). We do know it was taken in the first half of the 1900s. Can you help narrow it down even further?
Share your thoughts in the comment section 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: Essex Baptist Church (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Postcard: Former Methodist Church with Steeple (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Photo: Snowy Main Street (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Photo: Church Street, Essex, NY (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Photo: Old Stone Church and Essex Inn (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Postcard: Essex Main Street Looking North (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Hello Katie! I’m Lee C. Parker. I live in Birmingham ,Al, canparmkt@gmail.com …I am the 5th generation grandson of Joe Call’s older brother Jesse Call…that would make Joe my Uncle. I’ve quite a picture post card collection from the turn of the century I’ll check it for Essex. I’m really honored to be in such a fine Family Tree. I also think I have one of Joe’s or Jesse’s siding axe…got a few tales to tell…from Andrew Call…Civil War Veteran…To John H. Call Lumberman…my Great Grandfather form Balaton, Minn. Whew!
Best Regards…Lee C. Parker’69 Auburn University.
Wow, that is quite a family. We’d certainly love to share any Essex pictures or postcards that you can find. And if you’re interested in sharing any of those tales (Essex or locally-related) we’d be happy to have you as a contributor. Email me if you’re interested or find any images you’d like to share. My email is katie [@] essexny [dot] us.