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. Last week we featured the snowy image above that was shared with us by Susie Drinkwine. Do you recognize this Main Street location?
This building (sometimes called the Van Ornam building) was built in 1937. It did and still does house the Essex Post Office—I believe the sign above the door on the right says “Post Office.” Today it also contains offices of College for Every Student (CFES). However, it has also housed other businesses in the past including a movie theater, which I believe it did during the time the photo was taken—does that look like a framed movie poster to the left of the double-doors to you?
Read some comments from the community to hear more of this building’s history:
Tilly Close: The Essex Movie Theater, PO on right, maybe Myrtle on left.
Deborah Sells Blake: I remember paying ten cents for an ice cream cone at Myrtles!
Katie Withey: I remember going to see Grammy MacDougal (Myrtle) on the left and getting to see Nana (Phebe Sweatt) on the right. Anyone else remember the junk mail barrel? When we were kids it was one of my favorite things in the post office. Thanks Susie for sharing this one!
Christine Herrmann: I remember going to the movies there!
Nicholas Bailey: I remember the P.O. on the right and I remember Myrtle’s dinner (although I forgot the name) I do not remember the movie theater. I’m guessing taken…mid 60’s…?
Do you agree about the date guessed? Have any other thoughts or stories to share inspired by the photo? We’d love to hear them! 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.
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- Vintage Photo: Main Street Parade (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
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- Vintage Postcard: Essex Main Street Looking North (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Postcard: Gem of the Lake (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Photo: Essex Waterfront (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Postcard: Orchard Street (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
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