South Union Street
South Union Street was laid in two stages. The oldest part of the street was begun sometime around ca. 1840, and ran from Main Street south to Shelbourne St., which was considered the residential section of the town.[1] The years of 1863-1873 were highly profitable for most businessmen and budding industrialists. There was little expansion in those years because of the great loss in manpower inflicted by the war.[2] South Union was an exception. There were elegant Italianate and French Second Empire homes built during this decade, including the Burritt house (#172) and the Hilas Rohy house (#217) and the Seymour House (#347).[3] Sometime during the Civil War the second segment of South Union was completed, running from Main Street to Pearl.[4] This event had previously been let down by the ravine that cut across the line of Union at about College St. The relocation of the railroad to the Intervale allowed the ravine to be filled, and valuable real estate was created, but barely any development occurred before 1890.[5]
[1] Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden
County, Burlington VT, August 1977. CD-ROM Reference HP-002, Disk
8, created 7/22/02.
[2] Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden County, Burlington
VT, August 1977. CD-ROM Reference HP-002, Disk 8, created 7/22/02.
[3] Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden County, Burlington
VT, August 1977. CD-ROM Reference HP-002, Disk 8, created 7/22/02.
[4] Birds Eye View of Burlington and Winooski VT. (Madison, Wis:
J.J. Stoner, 1877).
[5] Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden County, Burlington
VT, August 1977. CD-ROM Reference HP-002, Disk 8, created 7/22/02.
196 South Union Street is a two story Italianate style house
with a stone foundation was built c. 1872. This Italianate style
house was most likely built for Edgar W. Burritt, a wealthy Burlington
druggist. Burritt began his career with A.C. Spear & Co.,
druggist. Hila's Koby and Bros. Were the builder/contractor for
this house.[1]
In 1873 he establishes himself as an independent druggist and
in 1874 he is listed in partnership with F.J. Burritt, called
Burritt Bros.[2] Originally they were located at 56 Church Street,
but moved to the building adjoining the Old Howard Opera House
(95 Church St) in 1879. In 1883 E. W. Burritt took over the company.[3]
This house has a 2/2 sash with essentially the same cast iron
lintels as found on 217 South Union. The difference between the
two houses is that these have an ornamental peak and keystone
applied.
[1] Clark Schoette,Vermont Division for Historic
Preservation. Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden
County, Burlington VT, August 1977. CD-ROM Reference HP-002, Disk
8, created 7/22/02.
[2] Clark Schoette,Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden County, Burlington
VT, August 1977. CD-ROM Reference HP-002, Disk 8, created 7/22/02.
[3] Burlington City Directory and Business Advertiser (Burlington
VT: Free Press Association, 1883), 16
202-204 South Union Street is a two and a half story Italianate style house with a stone foundation. The original use of this house was for dwelling use and is now used for apartments. This was the home for A.E. Richardson, vice president of the Wells-Richardson & Co. Richardson purchased this property in 1874 from L.C. Dodge and had the house built soon after.[1] Richardson only lived here for ten years and then moved to 52 South Williams Street in 1886.[2] Richardson was considered one of the richest men in Burlington and his residence reflected his stature.
[1] Clark Schoette,Vermont Division for Historic
Preservation. Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden
County, Burlington VT, July 1977.
[2] Burlington City Directory and Business Advertiser, (Burlington
VT: Free Press Association, 1877), 115
231 South Union Street is a two-and-a-half story Italianate
style house with a stone foundation. The original use of this
building was as a dwelling and its present use is now as offices.
This massive Italianate residence is similar in massing and detailing
to its neighbor 217 South Union. The newell post is identical
and the cast iron segmental arched window heads are the same as
217 and 196 South Union Street.
The house was built for Dr. James Lewis who was a dentist with
an office at the corner of College and Church Street.[1] He began
his practice in 1846 and was considered to be the oldest practitioner
in the state.[2] This house was built ca. 1870, and the Burlington
directories have Richardson living here in 1871/1872.
[1] Burlington City Directory and Business
Advertiser (Burlington VT: Free Press Association), 77
[2] Clark Schoette,Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden County, Burlington
VT, July 1977.
347 South Union Street is a two and a half story Italianate
style house with a stone foundation was built in 1872. This beautiful
brick Italianate residence was built for R. B. Seymour, a partner
in the firm of Van Sicklin, Walker & Co. This property was
#13 as laid down in the plan for William and George Harrington
in 1844, but was not built until 1872.[1] W. B. Seymour was believed
to have built this house.
Originally it had a mansard roof, which is stated in the deed
transfer of 1874.[2] Seymour only occupied the house for two years,
selling it in 1874 to Obadiah Walker.[3] The original use for
this building was a dwelling and its present use is now as apartments.
[1] Clark Schoette,Vermont Division for Historic
Preservation. Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden
County, Burlington VT, July 1977.
[2] Burlington Town Records, Real Estate Transfers, 1874.
[3] Burlington City Directory and Business Advertiser (Burlington
VT: Free Press Association), 103
355 South Union Street is a two-and-a-half story French Second
Empire style house with a stone foundation and was built in 1872.
The original use of this house was as a dwelling and is now used
as apartments. This French Second Empire residence was constructed
at the same time of its neighbor 347 South Union. This property
was #14 on the 1844 Harrington Plan.[1]
This house was built for William and Charlotte Walker. William
Walker was a partner in the firm Van Sicklin, Walker & Co.,
wholesale grocers.[2]
[1] Clark Schoette,Vermont Division for Historic
Preservation. Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden
County, Burlington VT, August 1977.
[2] Burlington City Directory and Business Advertiser (Burlington
VT: Free Press Association), 121
361 South Union Street is an Italianate style house with a
stone foundation was built ca. 1875. The two-story rear porch
added with projecting bay was probably built around 1890, as it
was shown on the 1890 Sanborn Map.[1] The original use for this
building was a dwelling and is now used as apartments.
This fine Italianate brick residence was built around the same
time as 347 and 355 South Union. These three houses are remarkable
because of their scale and similarities. This property was #15
on the Harrington Plan of 1844.[2]
[1] Map of the City of Burlington Vermont.
C.M. Hopkins, CE, Philadelphia, 1890.
[2] Clark Schoette,Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden County, Burlington
VT, August 1977.
483 South Union Street is an Italianate style house with a
stone foundation and was built ca. 1876. This simple Italianate
residence was built around 1875-76 for Abbie H. Truman, a relation
of some sort to Almus and Lathan Truman who had houses previous
to 1875 on St. Paul Street adjoining this property.[1]
This house is distinguished because of its nicely cut red stone
foundation, peaked window heads and paired round headed windows
in the gable end. The original use for this building was as a
dwelling and is still used as it today. [2]
[1] Burlington City Directory and Business
Advertiser (Burlington VT: Free Press Association, 1875), 100
[2] Clark Schoette,Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden County, Burlington
VT, August 1977.
526 South Union Street is a plain style building with a stone;
brick foundation was built ca. 1875-1880. This commercial-residential
structure was the house of John H. Hyrnes, a gardner employed
by M.E. Richardson.[1] It appears that the first floor space was
rented out as commercial space. William McGrath had his grocery
business located here as early as 1892, but it was not until 1894
that he purchased the building and moved his residence here.[2]
The building was used as a grocery and residence until the late
1960's when it was totally converted to residential apartments.[3]
[1] Clark Schoette,Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Chittenden County, Burlington
VT, August 1977.
[2] Burlington City Directory for 1894 (Burlington VT: Free Press
Association, 1894), 180.
[3] Sanborn Insurance Map, Burlington VT, Pelham, NY, 1977.