by Tara Harrison

35 North Union Street

This house was built between 1862 and 1869 on the property of A. Atwater, who resided in the house next-door at 29 N. Union Street (1). From the late 1870s until 1881, a physician, Prentice J. Kent, used this site as his home and office (2). Dexter G. Reed, a carpenter and employee of C.H. Blodgett and Co., was the next resident for ten years, before moving to New Jersey (3).

The two-bay, gable front house is similar to many others built in Burlington in the 1860s. The one-story, shed roof, side wing and flat roof, rear addition were added by 1889 (4). The porch overhang was added shortly after. The original windows have been replaced, and aluminum siding currently covers this balloon frame structure. The house is still used as a single residence.


(1) 1862 and 1869 Maps of the City of Burlington.
(2) Burlington City Directories.
(3) Burlington City Directories.
(4) Sanborn Insurance Map, 1889.

86 North Union Street

This house was built between 1862 and 1867. In 1867, E. L. Loomis sold a house and lot on the east side of Maiden Lane to Francis Green (1). By 1869, the house served as the home of Henry Green. Green operated a tannery at the rear of his property that was torn down for the creation of Loomis Street c. 1872 (2). Green remained at the corner of N. Union and Loomis into the 1870s. J.J. Bigelow was the owner around the turn of the century (3).

The three-bay, gable front house features a side hall plan, popular in Burlington during the 1860s. The pediment over the front entrance and cornice return are Greek Revival details. Since 1889, the house has had several ells and porches added and removed (4). Currently, a large, two-story addition at the rear is separately numbered as 5 and 7 Loomis Street. The building is divided into several apartments, with a two-story, side porch allowing access to the upper levels.


(1) Burlington Town Records, Real Estate Transfers, 1867-68.
(2) Burlington City Directories.
(3) 1890 Map of the City of Burlington.
(4) Sanborn Insurance Map, 1889.

100-102 North Union Street

In 1867, E.L. Loomis sold this property to Hiram Salls (1). Salls, a mason by trade, probably built this brick house for himself c. 1868, a time of significant development of this area. Salls remained in residence here for about ten years (2) and was later owned by John Lavelle, as income property (3). Early renters include James Goddall, a plumber, and James Connor, a coachman (4).

The hipped roof, three-bay, brick house stands out from the other gable front structures in the area and probably reflect the builder's own vernacular interpretation of the current style. By 1889, a one-story rear ell was added and later a smaller, shed roof addition was also added (5). The center window on the second-story was probably closed around 1900, when the building was divided into apartments. This remains the continued use.


(1) Burlington Town Records, Real Estate Transfers, 1867-68.
(2) Burlington City Directories.
(3) C. Richard Morsbach, "Vermont Historic Sites and Structures Survey" June 7, 1978.
(4) Burlington City Directories.
(5) Sanborn Insurance Maps, 1889 and 1900.

108-110 North Union Street

This house was built between 1853 and 1862 (1). Originally listed as the home of Rodney Roby, a carpenter and proprietor of H. Roby & Brothers construction company. Long time residents of North Union Street, Roby and wife continued to live here until his death c. 1917, when Harriet relocated to Pearl Street (2).

The large, wood frame, gable front structure shows a vernacular interpretation of Gothic Revival detail in the pediment roof and monumental door surround. The original clapboards and two-over-two, double hung, sash windows remain; however, the basic L-plan home has undergone several alterations. Beginning in 1889 (3), several one and two-story additions have been added. The building is currently divided into eight apartments.


(1) 1853 and1862 Maps of the City of Burlington.
(2) Burlington City Directories.
(3) Sanborn Insurance Maps, 1889 and 1977.

 

124 North Union Street

This house was built in the late 1860s (1) with Chauncey C. Peck, an employee of Burlington Manufacturing Co. as the first resident. His son, Hamilton S. Peck, an attorney, remained here until 1883, when his success allowed a more prestigious address on Pearl Street (2). From 1888 until 1924, John H. Brooks lived, manufactured and sold cigar from this house (3).

This simple, one and a half-story, gable front structure was later updated with Queen Anne details. Before the turn of the century, the projecting bay windows were added to the front and side facades. The pedimented entry porch, with turned columns was also added at the same time. By 1889, a one-story rear ell is added for the cigar manufactory (4). The clapboard house is still used as a single family home.


(1)1862 and 1869 Maps of the City of Burlington.
(2) Burlington City Directories.
(3) C. Richard Morsbach, "Vermont Historic Sites and Structures Survey" June 12, 1978.
(4) Sanborn Insurance Maps, 1889.


132 North Union Street

This house was built c. 1869 on the land the east side of Maiden Lane that George Barrows sold to Leonard A Marshall (1). Marshall only lived here for a couple of years. In 1881, Martin V.B. Weeks, a successful shoe and boot dealer, and his family became the next residents. Weeks continued to live here until his death on March 25, 1907 (2).

This one and a half-story, gable front house has Greek Revival cornice returns and sidelights. The three-bay structure features original two over two, sash windows, but the exterior is clad with aluminum siding. Three separate one-story, gable roof ells were constructed at the rear of the original side hall, rectangular plan by 1894 (3). A small, shed roof wing was added to the north façade by 1900, and the front entry porch was evident before 1919 (4).


(1) Burlington Town Records, Real Estate Transfers, 1867-68.
(2) Burlington City Directories.
(3) Sanborn Insurance Map, 1889.
(4) Sanborn Insurance Map, 1900 and 1919.

141-43 North Union Street

The house a t 141-143 North Union Street was built in the late 1850s (1). The original owner is listed as Lyman Hadley, and later Dennis Shortsleeves, Jr. (2) Neither of these residents remained for more than a couple years, and it is possible that the property was used as a rental. O.C. Stacy, owner of a livery on Church Street, owned several adjacent properties, and potentially this one as well. Later residents include John P. Gallagher and Mrs. Amanda Cilley, around the turn of the century.

The two and a half-story, three-bay, gable front house originally had an L-shaped plan. By 1889, two, one-story shed roof ells were added. Five years later, the two, two­story wings were present, and the building was divided into two apartments (3). The original clapboards and two over two, sash windows are still present on both the main house and additions. Prior to the 1970s, an additional ell was added at the rear, as well as a two-story porch to access the second floor (4). The building is currently divided into four apartments.


(1) 1853 and 1862, Maps of the City of Burlington.
(2) Burlington City Directories.
(3) Sanborn Insurance Map. 1889.
(4) Sanborn Insurance Map. 1977.

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