Every Monday we share an image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia.

Do you recognize this ferry? What can you tell us about it? Have you ever ridden it? When do you think this photo was taken? Do you know when it operated at the Essex crossing on Lake Champlain?

We had one question from the community:

Dianne Lansing: Was it a ferry or a passenger ship?

I’m not sure if this was technically a ferry or a passenger ship. Anyone know?

You can see another photo and learn more about this ship’s history and it’s eventual fate here: Vintage Photo: Steamer Vermont. I believe that the photo in the link and the one above are featuring the same Vermont ship, and if so then this is really the Vermont III. 

The letter this photo appeared in dates to 1908, and as I learned when we shared the other photo: the original Vermont sank in 1815 and the Vermont II had two steam funnels, which leads me to believe this ship must be the Vermont III. Unless it is a photo reprinted in the letter almost 100 years old?

What do you think?

Source of the Photo: Essex Souvenir Letter

This photograph appeared in an old “Essex Souvenir Letter” postmarked March 18, 1908, which contained other photos that we’ve already shared! See them here: Essex Souvenir Letter Archives.

The front of the letter tells us that it was published by “W.H. Cruikshank, Essex – on – Lake Champlain, NY.” Has anyone ever heard of this person or that surname?

Also, the back of the letter has printed on it “The Douglas Publishing Company, Buffalo, New York. Delaware & Hudson Railroad Series A.M.R.” The former is obviously the company that published the letter and the photographs therein, but what about the D&H Railroad? That was a railroad company that operated through the region (learn about the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Co. history here). Perhaps they sponsored the publication?

Share your thoughts in the comments 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: Lake Champlain Bridge (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)