This one story commercial structure is east facing and has survived many changes in use and in appearance.  It stands in the middle of what used to be a commercial area of Burlington's waterfront.  The building was included in the National Register nomination for the Battery Street Historic District.  Building #23, the Foreign Car Shop, was described as the site of a wheelwright's shop from 1885 to 1919 [1] .  In 1869, the property was part of the Franklin House [2] .  Hayes and O'Brien owned the property [3] .  J.W. Hayes was a grocer and wood dealer on Champlain Street near King Street [4] .  Timothy O'Brien lived on the corner of King and Champlain Streets [5] .

            There is little mention of the property in the city directories.  James McGrath boarded at 157 South Champlain in 1884 [6] .  The building was vacant in 1902 [7] .  In 1907 John W. Grace, a blacksmith, is listed as the occupant of this address [8] .  In 1912, Jerome J. Poquette, a horse shoer, and Irving B. Whitcomb, a livery stable worker, are listed as working at this address [9] .   The building stood vacant in 1932 [10] , much like it does today, but in 1952 it was home to Champlain Radiator & Auto Repair operated by George T Lawrence and Joseph Beaudoin.