Introduction:
Winooski Avenue was formed in the early twentieth century by connecting two older and formerly unrelated streets. White street was the original name of Winooski Aveneue between what is today Pearl Street and Main Street, getting its name from the original White Church which stood facing north at the corner of White and Main. This was Burlington's first church constructed in 1812 and later destroyed by arson in 1839, during a particularly nativist time in the city when Irish immigrants were flooding the community.
At the intersection with Main Street, White Street was at first blocked by a massive ravine which ran east to west through the heart of downtown and greatly effected the development of early Burlington. In the mid-1800s this ravine was gradually filled, thus allowing the connection between White Street (which by then had become known as Winooski Avenue) and Elm Street. This newly connected corridor then became North and South Winooski Avenue, north being that part of the street north of Pearl Street. The ravine, which was filled with dirt and refuse from other parts of the city can still be seen on the lower end of Church Street and through other parts of the city.
Buildings which survive from 1830:
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