Frequently we share a different historic image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia.

Do you recognize this Essex home? Where is it — which street(s)? How has it changed compared with today? The caption along the bottom is faint, but I’m pretty sure it reads: “R. Residence, Essex, NY No. 3” That doesn’t give any identifying information besides the town.

Here is what the community had to say:

Mary Wade: The Stone House! across from Episcopal Church! Many changes around the house but house itself not much. Very beautiful building. I have painted many of my replicas of it over the years.

Kirsten Pope: We used to “explore” the boarded up house when I was too young to know better. Crystal chandeliers and dumb waiter inside. Mystical place.

Colleen Williams: I think a doctor lived there? That is my Essex lore memory anyway. It has always been well kept and lovely in my 62 years. There is supposed to be a ghost, just being a kid here. Love that house and the school near by.

Tilly Close: Home formerly of Mrs Robert Townsend

Dianne B Lansing: Corner of Elm and Church. Fence is gone and it looks like the road is I paved.

Everyone recognized it — and different people filled in where it is in town and the most obvious changes! The house was built in the early 1800s and is known as the Dr. Samuel Shumway House for one of its first (if not the first) resident. Do you have any other anecdotes or thoughts to share?

Below is the back side of this postcard. There no additional information there as it was never mailed.

Have any thoughts to share? Please leave a comment below!

Share Your Essex Artifacts

If you want to share your old photos of Essex (also brochures, postcards, menus, tickets, artifacts, etc.) on the blog please email us at editor [AT] essexonlakechamplain [DOT] com.