Colchester Ave toward East Street- McAllister Photo, June 1933

McAllister documented the city work crew on June 6, 1933 laying a dark substance (possibly tar) on the south side of Colchester Ave.  The work crew in the foreground has shovels and seems to be moving the material around.  A steamroller is also on the south side of the avenue in the distance with a man driving it towards East Avenue.  A man, possibly part of the work crew, is viewing the steamroller closely.  A boy in breeches on the south side of the avenue watches the work being done.  Two automobiles are parked on the north side of the avenue as other automobiles are driving in both east/west directions. The area is back-dropped by a vast lawn to the south and residential buildings across the street to the north.  Large American elm trees line both sides of Colchester Avenue and give much shade.

#66 Colchester Avenue is the only clearly visible structure in the photo.  It is a 1-1/2 story front gable, vernacular building set amongst trees on the north side of the street.  The city directories list J. Edward Bisson, a plumber, residing at the address from 1893 until 1930.  In 1930, the city directory lists Louis A. Ritchie also residing.  The 1935 city directory only lists Ritchie residing at the address.  The Sanborn maps, beginning in 1900, have the house listed as #68 Colchester Avenue, however the actual address is #66.

 

 

 

 

 

Colchester Ave toward East Street- K.Smith Photo, Oct. 2005

  The present photo dates to November 2005 and shows a streetscape that has changed.  The road is now divided to allow for four lanes of traffic: two lanes in two directions.  The vast lawn to the south of Colchester Avenue is now inhabited by Fletcher Allen Hospital.  The residential buildings on the north side of Colchester Avenue remain, however many are used for commercial purposes.  #66 Colchester Avenue structurally remains unchanged, however a dentist office now occupies the building. A traffic light now marks the entrance to the hospital.  One very noticeable difference is the absence of the large American elm trees.  Colchester Avenue is now lined by small shade trees and evergreens.

 

 

 

 

 

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Historic Burlington Project
Burlington 1890 | Burlington 1877 | Burlington 1869 | Burlington 1853 | Burlington 1830

Produced by University of Vermont Historic Preservation Program graduate students
in HP 206 Researching Historic Structures and Sites - Prof. Thomas Visser
in collaboration with UVM Landscape Change Program
Historic images courtesy of Louis L. McAllister Photograph Collection University of Vermont Library Special Collections