Vintage Photo: Essex Main Street Winter Scene

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

We shared this image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invited our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia!

This vintage photo from circa 1890 captures a winter scene on Main Street in Essex, NY. In the background is the Essex Community Church, and as we go up the street we can identify Wright’s Inn (now the Town Hall), the Old Brick Store, and finally another old storefront. Several people stand in the street around the horse-drawn sleigh and under the awnings. The snow and heavy jackets (even on the horses!) makes it look like a very cold day.

We asked the community to tell us what changes they could see in this photo compared to Main Street today. Take a look at what they had to say, including a few cheeky comments:

Kevin Cooper: Wild guess, I think c.1890 The lovely porches are gone.. and, um, the snow finally melted

Sarah Prince: The church looks a little familiar

Connie Eisenhardt: Church iconic, Brads building seems still there town hall minus a bit to the south part…so what have you gleaned George, very interesting photo, good conversation and draws! Give what you have discovered? Thank you for these diddies

Lorraine Townsend Faherty: My grandmother, Mary Ross, was born at Hickory Hill in 1893…. maybe one of these people are Anna Smyth Ross or James Anthony Blanchard Ross……

Emily G. Phillips: Love the porch extending out over the sidewalk, has such an inviting feel… wonder what the shop was? and look at all the people!

George Davis: A horse drawn sleigh is cool enough, but horses wearing winter parkas? Priceless!

Steve Mckenna: Must be new construction, there aren’t many trees…

Jason Lozinski: The surrounding buildings are about 72 Stories too short? That, and I suppose the lack of tourism, hotels, a brewery and casino.

Vintage Photo: Essex Motor Boat Station (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Essex Photo: Marching Band (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Postcard: St. John’s Episcopal Church (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Essex Aerial View (rosslynredux.com)
The Magic of Christmas in Essex 2013 (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)

About Katie Shepard

Passionate about reading and writing stories, Katie Shepard enjoys discovering more about her home while writing and editing for Essex on Lake Champlain. Katie graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2011 where she studied English literature, philosophy, and Asian studies. Her first book Essex, New York Architecture: A Doodler's Field Guide was published in 2015. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or at Linked.in. Or email her at katie [@] essexeditions [dot] com.

Comments

Jerome says

November 25, 2013 at 6:35 pm

This is beautiful! I cannot wait to visit Essex..

My 2x Great Grandfather was most likely born in Essex circa 1828, but he was a free black man. I am trying like crazy to find him in the records there (or any traces)- any ideas folks??? He lived in the same time as Mr. Northup (of Twelve Years a Slave )