Every Monday we share an image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia. Thank you Karen & Rick Dalton for sharing this one with us.
Take a look at this old photograph of Main Street in Essex! What can you tell us about what you seen in this photo? What do you recognize? When do you think the photo was taken? What has changed?
Here’s what the community already had to say:
Gary Berg: Love the architecture.
Lorraine Townsend Faherty: Post office
Susan Kellogg: beautiful print
Christine Herrmann: Diner/restaurant on left; Essex movie theater in middle; Essex post office on right.
Ken Hughes: If I turned around 180* what would this driveway lead me to?
Marc Hayward: My great-grandmother’s coffee shop on the left, post office my grandmother was postmaster of on the right….
Carolyn Hughes: So beautiful…
They’re right — this is the town Post Office! The building also contained a movie theatre in its early years and a restaurant and other businesses throughout the years. I do think it is correct to say that it housed the movie theater in this photo due to the large poster by the center doors. I don’t doubt that a restaurant of some type also resided to the left at this time. (The window dressing above the big pane points to that for me.)
Since this building was built in 1937 this photo post-dates that year. It’s likely it was taken in the late-30s or sometime in the 40s. I’m not sure when the movie theatre closed — anyone know?
On the awning of the building to the right in the foreground I can make out the word “News” something. Perhaps that was an old newspaper office?
Do you have any other thoughts to share? 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.
adkkathryn says
Also amazing that there is a vacant lot across the street.
George Davis says
True, Kathryn. Would be fascinating to produce/view a time lapse visual of buildings coming, going, and enduring in Essex. From street view and aerial view…