Photographer: Louis L. McAllister
Date: November 23, 1928
This photo was taken looking northwest at 41, 45, and 47 North Winooski Avenue. An inscription on the photo reads, “No. Winooski Ave. looking north near intersection of Grant Street. Note streetcar traffic using pavement 72 hours after pouring concrete base with ‘Incor’ Knickerbocker cement (1-2 ½ - 5 mix) and only a few hours after completing the 2” asphalt wearing surface”. The years of 1928 and 1929 had fairly substantial road projects completed. Knickerbocker was a brand of Portland cement, and Portland cement was introduced to the United States in the late 1880’s when it was used in the Erie Canal.(1) The improvement of paving the street allows a smoother ride for cars and buses: the transportation of the future. A streetcar is still in use as seen in this photo, but less than a year later, streetcars were a thing of the past. The last streetcar ran on August 4, 1929:
It was the day when the last trolley cars were all scrapped at once with funeral obsequies, and a fleet of buses was installed. From noon until 3:30 o'clock that day all trolleys in the city, wearing black crepe bows of mourning, took no fares, and at the latter hour the electric current was shut off. At 4 o'clock there was a concert in front of the Hotel Vermont in City Hall Park, and in the presence of the mayor and other dignitaries an ancient trolley, appropriately draped and wreathed, was rolled up and converted into a funeral pyre as taps were blown. There was no record of tears.(2)
A few cars are parked along the sides of the street. In 1853, this was all open land.(3) These Queen Anne style homes were built in the 1880’s. They are all similar in scale and ornament. The photo was taken after a snowfall, with snow covering the ground and icicles dangling from the eaves of the roofs.
(1) “A History of Cement” Portland Cement Association. http://www.rumford.com/articlemortar.html 4 November 2005
(2) Little, Charles O. “The History of Vermont Transit”. http://www.vermonttransit.com/history.html 14 November 2005.
(3) 1853 Presdee and Edward Map |
Photographer: Rebecca McNamara
Date: December 6, 2005
UTM Coordinates: 18T 0642250 4926910
Standing in front of 38 North Winooski Avenue looking northwest
Description:
From 1928 to 2005, this section of the street has changed very little; the main changes have been on the houses themselves. In 1942, an addition to a rear garage has been added to 47 for use as a three-car garage. By 1978, an addition has been built on the south side of number 41. And by conducting a site survey, it is noticed that all three houses are apartment buildings. Number 41 has been resided with modern siding, wider than the original, in a brownish color. The roof of the bay windows is still slate, and the rosette pattern can still be seen. It appears that the current owners are doing work; the upstairs bay window frame is being primed. Number 47 was resided with yellow aluminum. The porch has been painted white; and the balcony from the 2nd story balcony has been removed. Number 47 appears to be in good shape; it appears to retain the original siding. The main difference on the front façade is the entrance porch has been expanded, and a second story added on. Unlike the rest of the contemporary comparisons on the street thus far, the trees are much larger here in 2005 than in 1928. The traffic of automobiles has greatly increased since 1928; the modern photos show cars and vans racing down the street, as modern society is very reliant on the automobile.
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