Vintage Photo: Old Brick Store, Main Street, Essex, NY

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

We invited you to play Vintage Essex Trivia when we posted this old photograph on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page last week, and asked the community to tell us what they knew about the scene. The photo was shared with us by Todd Goff who believes it may have been taken by George McNulty.

Did you recognize this once upon a time home of the Adirondack Art Association Gallery (do you spy the gallery’s sign)? Some of the details have changed over time since this photo was taken. The porch and covered stairway no longer exist, and the white details surrounding the front windows and doorway are currently painted a dark green. The lush foliage to the right is also no longer there.

If you’re not sure about the building’s identity, then take a look at the unique corbeled cornice detail along the roof-line that is found on only one Essex building. Do you recognize it now? It’s the Old Brick Store! This utilitarian Greek Revival store was built in circa 1840 and has stood proudly on Essex’s Main Street ever since.

Below are a few of the comments we received about the photo, including a couple reminiscing about the old family home to the left.

Dianne Lansing: I’d guess it was taken in the early 70’s. I think that was the Art Assoc.’s first home.

Peter Pierce: Main street essex.

Dianne Lansing: Well…in Essex most places are known by their former owners, so this is “you know, Brad Beers store”. It won’t become Larry Smeed’s brick store until he sells it.

Todd Goff: This was scanned from the Historic Essex (fka ECHO) archive. I believe it was taken by George McNulty.

Pam Pierce: Nice to see my Grandmothers home to the left of the Gallery…I miss our many summers in Essex.

Pam Livingston Lane: Can always recognize Grandma P’s house–nice memories.

Do you have anything else you can tell us about this photo? Do you know the exact years the Adirondack Art Association made the Old Brick Store it’s home? Now the gallery is located in the Old Firehouse across the street. Leave your knowledge in the comments!

Progression of Essex Art

We also received one comment about a possible Essex art project:

Todd Goff: It would be amazing to assemble the early works shown by the AAA, from collectors, and hang a show with contemporary works to see both how local art changed in terms of style and see the changes to the actual Essex scenes commonly depicted. “Essex in art (a forty year perspective)”

What do you think?

Vintage Stereoview: View from Essex Quarry (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Postcard: View from Steamer of Essex, NY (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Former Rosslyn Bathhouse (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Stereoview: Main Street, Essex, NY (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Vintage Postcard: Rosslyn/Essex Waterfront (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.