Every Monday we share an image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia.
What do you recognize in this scene?
I can make out the Old Dock to the left, that building that is half way into the frame of the photo. In the center of the photo I can see Rosslyn Boathouse. What else do you see?
What has changed since the photo was taken? One things that jumps out to me is the amount of foliage — there is less along that stretch of shore today because I can recall being able to see the homes on the other side of the road more clearly when looking back at Essex from while one the ferry.
And it is likely this photo was taken from the ferry (if not, then from on another boat of some kind).
See the back side of the postcard below. It tells us the the postcard was “Printed for W.C. Alexander, Essex, NY.” The postmark also shows us when it was mailed. It is a little faded, but I believe it reads: “August 23, 8PM, 1915.” If that’s correct then the photograph dates to pre-1915. Rosslyn Boathouse, which is present in the photo, was built in 1898. So that gives us a range of 1898-1915, but it is probably closer to the latter half of that date range because it’s likely that the postcard was sent soon after being purchased and wasn’t created too many years before that. Do you agree?
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.
Related articles
- Vintage Photo: Essex Waterfront with Ferry to South (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Stereoview: Outdoor Group Portrait (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Postcard: Sherwood Inn Waterfront (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Postcard: Serene Boat Scene (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Photo: Gas Dock (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Photo: Inside the Old Dock Tavern (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
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