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Shelburne Road at Rotary Intersection Looking North UTM 18 0642551E, 4924841N |
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| Taken October 1, 1931 by Louis McAllister, this photograph shows the intersection of Shelburne Road with Ledge Road and South Willard Street to the right and Locust Street to the left. This time however, we are facing north. From this angle, we get a good view of #44 Shelburne Street where Shelburne Street and South Willard Street meet. This two-storey house is crammed into the small triangular lot. Its large porch crowds the sidewalk along Shelburne road to the left. Built around 1900 it was the home of Willis D. Phelps and his wife Lillie. Willis was the owner of Redstone Quarry further down Shelburne Road. [1] Purchased by UVM in 1958, the quarry is still accessible from the end of Alfred or Hoover Streets of Shelburne Road. [2] By 1931, when this photograph was taken, Lillie had been widowed and was living there alone. [3] To the right of #44, we can clearly see #616 South Willard Street. It too abuts the street closely, no doubt due to road-widening projects. Built before 1900, it served between 1923 and 1927 as the Bittersweet Tea Room, owned and operated by Margaret L. H. Smith (Mrs. Wadsworth Ramsay Smith). [4] She and her husband bought the property when they first moved to Burlington. A well-known Burlington resident, she was also an author and real estate broker. In 1927 she moved the Tea House to 151 South Prospect Street where she remained until 1979 when she died at the age of 94. [5] In 1931, when this photograph was taken, Kenneth T. Salls owned the house. [6] Finally, to the far right is #82 Shelburne Road. In 1931 it was a gas station owned by J. P. Smith. [7] The circular Tydol sign peeks out from behind one of the large utility poles that lined the east side of Shelburne Road and two gas pumps are visible in the open paved space in front of the building. These contrast with the elm trees lining the opposite side of the street. Also noteworthy is the small “silent policeman” in front of #44 Shelburne Street. As of 1931, it was the only means of directing traffic at this difficult intersection.[1] Burlington City Directory, 1904 (Burlington: Hiram S. Hart, 1890-1915). |
Today, this intersection has undergone some radical changes. Immediately apparent are the loss of the large elm trees along the left side of the street, as well as those lining South Willard Street to the right. On Shelburne Road, large street lamps have replaced the elms. The combination of widening the street and the loss of the trees makes the intersection much more open. It appears less residential than in the thirties when McAllister was took his photograph.
The loss of the trees has also made #83 Shelburne Street much more visible. Largely unchanged in the 71 years since McAllister’s photograph, it remains a private residence. Behind it, #77/75 Shelburne Road has undergone some cosmetic changes, including replacement of the shingle siding with vinyl siding. However, it too, remains a residential building. More striking is the loss of the house at #44 Shelburne Road. It was demolished in 1936 to make way for the South End Service Station. The site remained a Texaco gas station under several different owners until the early sixties at which point the City Directory mentions several changes, listing it as a Drug Store, Variety Store, and even Butcher Shop. The present building, a Century 21 Real Estate Office opened in 1980. [8] The house at #616 South Willard Street had the same fate as #44 Shelburne Road. It was demolished in the late thirties and a Shell gas station was erected at the site in 1940. It too went through several owners before becoming the present Rotary Mobile in 1988. [9] Lastly we must mention that the Tydol station. Though the site remained a gas station, it did change names several times and is currently called the Rotary Gulf Station. [8] City Directory, 1936-1980. |
 Louis McAllister October 1, 1931 |
 Louis McAllister November 1, 1935 |
These two photographs document a road-widening project along Shelburne Road between 1931 and 1935. Click on either image for full descriptions. |
Historic Burlington Project Depression Era Streetscapes: Old North End | 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 University of Vermont Library Special Collections, Louis L. McAllister Photograph Collection |
