Vintage Photo: Main Street with Gas Station

Main Street Looking South, Essex, NY (Credit: Unknown; Shared by Susie Drinkwine)

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.

Some questions that immediately spring to mind for Essex residents and visitors: Do you recognize this scene? What buildings can you identify? What has changed? What things in the photo are no longer there? When do you think this photo was taken?

The photo was taken in the center of Main Street at its intersection with Station Road (aka Route 22). A few things that immediately jump out to me as no longer present are the gas station on the left, the porch on the Adirondack Hotel (once Wright’s Inn and today the Town Hall), and that big sign in the middle of the road giving directions.

Also, I’m not sure if it’s just not apparent in the photo, but I believe this was taken before the stoplight was put in place. The roads also appear unpaved to me. What do you think?

Take a look at some comments we’ve already gotten from the community to discover the answer to some of those questions raised above:

Mary S Houston: I first saw Essex in September 1958. I think that Kenny Tart’s gas station burned down later but that Billy’s was still going just to the West of the Wright’s Inn. Changes came after the porches were taken off!

Catherine DeWolff: Upstairs porch on the town hall, too. I love that road sign. Who has that?!

Christine Herrmann: Intersection of Main St. & Station Rd., old fire station on near left, Adirondack Hotel (now the town offices) on near right.

Sara Jane: Essex Inn on the right…I see the firehouse on the left.

Steve Mckenna: Back when Essex had a gas station…

Rose Marie Mello: Love these old photos Susie!

Dianne Lansing: And there is a traffic thing at the intersection; porch across the front of the ‘town hall’. Was the road paved?

Norma Goff: Maybe in the 30’s or earlier, judging from the old car. Nice pic of the gas tanks and former Tart store that burned around 1960 or so. Thanks, Susie!

Do you have more information to fill in some blanks or simply have memories to share? Leave a comment!

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.

Vintage Photo: Essex Waterfront with Ferry to South (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Postcard: Essex, NY from Lake Champlain (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Postcard: Essex Main Street Looking North (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Photo: Lake Champlain from Crater Club (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Postcard: 1940s Main Street Looking South (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Photo: Essex Waterfront (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Brochure: Sherwood Inn (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 Facebook or at Linked.in. Or email her at katie [@] essexeditions [dot] com.