This home was built the same year as the Overlake on South Prospect Street by its architect William Bergholtz. The home was constructed in 1859 for lawyer and high level diplomat E. J. Phelps. Phelps practiced law in Burlington until 1851, when he was appointed Second Auditor of the U.S. Treasury by Millard Fillmore. In 1885 Phelps was appointed Ambassador to the Court of St. James in London. Phelps also served as president of the American Bar Association in 1880. While living at different locations, Phelps continued to summer at the South Willard Street home. During Phelps' occupancy, J.P. Morgan visited six times. In 1913, 13 years after Phelps' death, his widow sold the house to John J. Flynn. Flynn had the home greatly remodeled adding the front porch and extending the south wing. Flynn was a founder of the Chittenden Bank, the Burlington Traction Company, the Barre and Montpelier Street Railroad, the St. Albans and Swanton electric line, the Bellows Falls and Saxtons River electric line, the Barre Gas plant, and the Vergennes Electric Company. Flynn had vast real estate interests in Burlington. He is perhaps best known for Flynn Avenue and the Flynn Theater, both of which are named for him.(1) The house passed through two other owners and has recently been purchased by Champlain College.
E. J. Phelps (left) J. J. Flynn (right) Photos: Round About Burlington 1900
(1) Historic Guide to Burlington