Vintage Essex Trivia & Artifacts

Vintage Photo of Essex Gasoline Dock (Thanks to William Morgan for sharing.)

Ready for vintage Essex trivia? Are you knowledgeable about the history and heritage of Essex, New York?

If so, you’ll be able to identify (and possibly even contribute your own memories, stories, speculation for) the vintage Essex artifacts in this ever-expanding portfolio. If not, you’ll learn lots and enjoy even more as you explore this Essex digital museum.

The Essex community blog has been collecting, crowdsourcing, showcasing and curating diverse Essex artifacts since 2011.

What is Vintage Essex Trivia?

Former Essex Fire House Essex, NY (Image Credit: Allan Seymour Everest. Our North Country Heritage: Architecture Worth Saving in Clinton and Essex Counties. 135)

Each week we showcase a vintage Essex photograph, postcard, illustration or artifact. Some we discover ourselves, but most are generously contributed by members of the Essex community. First we feature the image(s) on Facebook to jumpstart the conversation. We ask for help deciphering the image. Who or what is featured? When and/or where was the subject recorded. The following week we publish a blog post revisiting the vintage image and sharing some of the comments shared by members of the community. Additional questions and insights can be shared in the public comments following the post. Sometimes a guess is all it takes to help unravel the mystery!

The weekly Vintage Essex Trivia challenge is a fun way to explore and preserve our local heritage. Part game and part research, this project (and the dynamic portfolio it is producing) represents a community-powered initiative to collect, share and preserve Essex history and memorabilia for all to enjoy. The Vintage Essex Trivia project is founded on the beliefs that:

people, memories and stories are as important as buildings, monuments and physical archives;
open, collaborative information gathering yields vital data that might otherwise be overlooked;
a digital 24×7, universally accessible Essex archive or “digital museum” benefits residents, visitors, travel planners, local businesses, academic researchers and journalists.

Play Vintage Essex Trivia!

Together we can collect and preserve valuable artifacts, knowledge and narratives before they succumb to the passage of time. We can celebrate the myths and memories of our forebears while simultaneously archiving and curating our cultural heritage for generations still to come.

Ready to join in the fun? Click on any of the images below to enlarge, read the caption and add a comment. And if you come across images or artifacts that you would like to share please email editor [at] essexonlakechamplain [dot] com or use the online submission form. Thanks!

Vintage photograph of the Essex Post Office (Shared by Susie Drinkwine)

Baptist Church, Essex, NY. Photo by B. Barker. (Shared by Susie Drinkwine)

Split Rock Lighthouse (Shared by William Morgan)

RR Station in Boquet Sept. 11, 1918 (Credit: William Morgan)

Vintage photo of St. John's Episcopal Church, Essex, NY — Vintage photo of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Essex, NY

Essex County Board of Supervisors with Harry Albee seated on the far right, kitty corner in back of the first man in the front row. (Credit: Olive Alexander)

Essex County Board of Supervisors with Harry Albee seated second from the right in the front row. (Credit: Olive Alexander) — Essex County Board of Supervisors with Harry Albee (Supervisor for the Town of Essex for 18 years) seated second from the right in the front row. (Credit: Olive Alexander)

Essex ferry ad from 1925 Automobile Blue Book, Volume 1

ads cut from the 1925 Automobile Blue Book, Volume 1 (back)

Waterfront with Nail Factory (Thanks to Susie Drinkwine for sharing.)

Hillcrest Farm, Essex, NY (Credit: Barbara Irish Smith)

Hobby Horse and Harold Tart Grocery (Shared by William Morgan.)

The Essex Inn and the Old Brick Block in Essex, NY circa 1908 (Thanks to Susie Drinkwine for sharing.)

South Farm, Essex, NY (Shared By: William Morgan)

Canal Boat c. 1870 (Credit: Historic Essex)

Vintage Postcard reads: "Camel's Hump & Mansfield from Essex, NY" — Vintage Postcard reads: “Camel’s Hump & Mansfield from Essex, NY”

Boathouses on Lake Champlain, Essex, NY (Thanks to William Morgan for sharing.)

Vintage Postcard of James S. Harlan Community Hall, Essex, NY

Vintage postcard featuring Orchard Street, Essex, NY. (Thanks for sharing, Mary Wade!)

Vintage postcard featuring Bluff Point, Essex, NY. (Sent June 11, 1940)

South Main Street Essex, NY circa 1910s (Vintage postcard date September 26, 1917)

Street View, Essex, NY (Vintage postcard, unsent c. 1915)

Vintage postcard of the Old Dock Restaurant in Essex, NY.

Image of Essex, NY from vintage Essex-Charlotte ferry brochure — Essex, NY image from vintage ferry brochure

Mary Wade's Postcard — Essex Inn and Main Street (Vintage Postcard; Shared by Mary Wade)

Vintage image of Edwards Store in Essex, NY?

Essex Hillcrest Farm 1944 painting by Dorothy Wight

ads cut from the 1925 Automobile Blue Book, Volume 1 (front)

Adirondack House and Main Street, Essex, NY (Thanks to Susie Drinkwine for sharing.)

Edwin Douglas Painting of Lake Champlain from Beggs Park

Painting and artist details from Edwin Douglas' painting of Lake Champlain from Beggs Park — Painting and artist details from Edwin Douglas’ painting of Lake Champlain from Beggs Park

Split Rock Light-On-Lake-Champlain, N.Y. Copyright: 1907 By B. Barker Burlington, VT.

Vintage Postcard of "The Old Dock Tavern, Essex, NY" — Vintage Postcard of “The Old Dock Tavern, Essex, NY”

Old Stone Church in Essex, NY (Courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church, street scene (Photo courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church, circa 1930s (Courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church, circa 1933-1934 (Courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church: circa 1975 photograph of Methodist-Episcopal Church main hall interior (from Roger Trancik, et al., Essex: A Land Use Planning Process., September 1975, courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church, Michael Kempster 1980s plaster restoration (Courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church: American Legion Hall (Courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church, 2005 (Courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church, 2004 (Courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church, 1993 (Courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church: 27 June 1983 Press Republican article describing the initial town rehab under Supervisor James Morse (Courtesy Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church, 1980s (Courtesy Todd Goff)

"Essex on Lake Champlain. Gem of the Lake, NY" [Cowan. Photo] — “Essex on Lake Champlain. Gem of the Lake, NY” [Cowan. Photo]

Close up of boats in postcard. "Essex on Lake Champlain. Gem of the Lake, NY" [Cowan. Photo] — Close up of boats in postcard. “Essex on Lake Champlain. Gem of the Lake, NY” [Cowan. Photo]

Barbara Irish Smith at Whallons Bay with Split Rock in the background.

Barbara (me) in Essex. In the distance is the cottage that Dr. Morch and the Slakins rented from the farm. This is the only picture I have of it as the cottage is gone now. (Credit: Barbara Irish Smith)

Ticonderoga Ferry (Our thanks to Mary Wade for sharing.)

Betty Irish Williams portrait done by Sid Couchey. This was 1946 making her 16 years old.

Helen Irish getting married to John MacKenzie on August 30,1943

5 Irish girls with Dad & Mummy at Barbara’s high school graduation 1954

St. John's Episcopal Church, Essex, NY — St. John’s Episcopal Church, Essex, NY

Whallons Bay Painting by Barbara Irish Smith

Orchard St. Essex, NY (Vintage Postcard; Shared by Mary Wade)

Vintage postcard featuring the former Methodist Church, which is commonly called the "Old Stone Church" today. (Thank you, Mary Wade for sharing this with us!) — Vintage postcard featuring the former Methodist Church, which is commonly called the “Old Stone Church” today. (Thank you, Mary Wade for sharing this with us!)

Painting of the Alexander family's prize winning bull Torrado. (After treatment by Phillips Art Conservation LLC) — Painting of prize winning bull Toreador. (After treatment by Phillips Art Conservation LLC)

Painting of the Alexander family's prize winning cow Nancy. (After treatment by Phillips Art Conservation LLC) — Painting of prize winning cow Nancy. (After treatment by Phillips Art Conservation LLC)

Vintage photo of Essex, New York's waterfront from Lake Champlain. (circa-1900-1910) — Vintage photo of Essex, New York’s waterfront from Lake Champlain. (circa-1900-1910)

Fishing at Kent Boys Camp (Credit: 1915 Kent Camp Brochure)

Tents at the Kent Boys Camp (Credit: 1915 Kent Camp Brochure)

Swimming at Kent Boys Camp (Credit: 1913 Kent Camp Brochure)

Essex firetruck — (Thank you William Morgan for sharing!)

"The Crater Club, Essex, NY" — This vintage postcard reads, “The Crater Club, Essex, NY.”

This old postcard reads: "Colonial Inn, Essex, NY." (Thank you Mary Wade for sharing.) — This old postcard reads: “Colonial Inn, Essex, NY.” (Thank you Mary Wade for sharing.)

Vintage postcard entitled: “Main St. Looking South, Essex, NY.” circs 1940s

Built out of snow see Champy on rising out of frozen Lake Champlain in Essex Bay. (Credit: William Morgan)

A closer look at snow-Champy and the ones who built him. (Credit: William Morgan)

A closer look at snow-Champy's face and his creators. (Credit: William Morgan) — A closer look at snow-Champy’s face and his creators. (Credit: William Morgan)

Building the lake monster...(Credit: William Morgan) — Building the lake monster…(Credit: William Morgan)

Postcard featuring a photo of Essex on Lake Champlain, taken in 1909. (Original Photograph: Pub. by J.S. Wooley, Ballston Spa, NY)

Tart's Variety Shop in Essex, New York, circa 1961 (Courtesy of William Morgan) — Tart’s Variety Shop in Essex, New York, circa 1961 (Courtesy of William Morgan)

Harry "Puss" Lapine Jr. — Harry “Puss” Lapine Jr. (Credit: Press Republican)

The Ross Mansion (aka Hickory Hill), Essex, NY

1973 Essex, New York painting/postcard by S. Alberts

Postcard photo of pre-1907 Main Street, Essex, NY. (Caption reads, "Adirondack Mts, Main Street, Essex, NY".) — Postcard photo of pre-1907 Main Street, Essex, NY. (Caption reads, “Adirondack Mts, Main Street, Essex, NY”.)

The Old Dock Coffee House in Essex, New York (postcard)

Celebration on Essex's Main Street. Photo taken after 1972. (Thank you to Mary Wade for sharing) — Celebration on Essex’s Main Street. Photo taken after 1972. (Thank you to Mary Wade for sharing)

Sleigh in front of Essex Community Church

A winter scene (c. 1890) of Main Street, Essex, NY (Photo courtesy of ECHO)

Postcard illustration of St. John's Episcopal Church in Essex, NY. — Postcard illustration of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Essex, NY.

Vintage stereoview: Steeple of Essex Baptist Church rising in the background. (Thanks to Todd Goff for sharing this photo.)

Shumway House exterior and interior photo from a real estate posting. (Credit: Unknown)

Essex High School (postcard) — Essex High School Postcard (Shared by Mary Wade)

Essex waterfront (Photo shared by Mary Wade)

Girls Walking by Old Stone Church (Shared by Todd Goff)

Old Stone Church and Essex Inn (Photo shared by Todd Goff)

View (c. 1880) of the Palmer Havens Gardens (the former John Gould House)

This vintage stereoview shows us a pair of men and horses overlooking Essex from the North.

Wes Vanderhorst Memorial Bench--books — Wes Vanderhorst Memorial Bench–a pile of books, a nod to his first wife Jessie Vanderhorst

Old Brick Store on Main Street (Photo provided courtesy of Todd Goff)

The Essex Exception (Photo: Andy Duback)

(23) Photo of 21st Regiment officers buttons from the War of 1812, 16 on string, right after they were taken out of the ground.

(20) A very lucky find was a set of 21st Regiment officers buttons from the War of 1812, string of 16, perhaps silverplated. He found one and went inside to rinse it off. And then he decided to check just one more time before filling the hole. That’s when he found 15 matching buttons on a flight on a rotted away string.

(22) Close up of one of the War of 1812 buttons (front & back). Inscribed on the rear of the buttons is the makers information: Giles Richards, Boston.