Main Street: Southeast from University Farm UTM: 180643639E; 4926140N |
 Louis L. McAllister September 1, 1933 |
 Sarah L. Graulty October 15, 2006 |
Louis McAllister captured this quiet rural scene on September 1, 1933, before a road widening and resurfacing project. The view looks southeast toward the mountains from a point opposite the University of Vermont Farm.
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Today, the scene is vastly different. The road has been widened to four lanes and the stately elms lining the road are long gone. The grubby median grass reminds the viewer how much has changed since this area of Burlington was considered "out in the country". At the bottom of the hill, one sees green signs marking the entrance to the interstate, I-89, and dangling traffic lights shine in intervals all the way down the hill. The University farm that once served as the photographer's geographic landmark for this image has also been dismantled. The University used the farm until the 1960s, when the Board decided that "the urbanization of Burlington makes it 'impractical' to have a farm in the city, and there is not enough space on campus."[1] In 1961, they decided to relocate farming operations to a site along Spear Street in South Burlington. The move was complete by 1965 and on September 25 of that year, the Burlington Free Press reported that the University was beginning to tear down unused buildings. "Removal of these two units," the article read, "marks the first step in eventual removal of most of the farm buildings in this area."[2] Although University President Fey said in 1961 he "hopes this land can be redeveloped for classroom or faculty or student residence use,"[3] today it is a paved parking facility. Nonetheless, the familiar outline of the mountains in on the horizon serves as a reminder that this is, in fact, the same spot of land as seen in the 1933 McAllister picture.[1] John Mullins, "Poultry Farm in Line for Summer Move" Burlington Free Press (26 Dec 1961) 11. |
Historic Burlington Project Depression Era Streetscapes: Old North End | Burlington 1890 | Burlington 1877 | Burlington 1869 | Burlington 1853 | Burlington 1830 Produced by University of Vermont Historic Preservation Program graduate students in HP 206 Researching Historic Structures and Sites - Prof. Thomas Visser - in collaboration with UVM Landscape Change Program Historic images courtesy of University of Vermont Library Special Collections, Louis L. McAllister Photograph Collection |