22-24 Blodgett Street

The name associated with this property on the 1890 Hopkins map is that of H.H. Atwater.[1] Atwater was a prominent physician and surgeon who worked from his home at 44 Pine Street. In 1885, Atwater was the Burlington City Physician.[2] There is a building on the map at this location but it is unclear if it was the structure that stands there today. A Sanborn map from 1889 shows a rectangle similar to the structure on the Hopkins map.[3] This house is not numbered, and unfortunately cannot confirm listings in the city directories. A 1900 Sanborn map shows a footprint similar to the current building form, but it too is not numbered.[4]

This unusual two-story, rectangular block structure is 3x3 bays with a one-story, shed roofed wing on the rear. The eaves-facing-front house has a Queen Anne door with rectangular light in the base of a two story central pavilion terminating in a gable with boxed cornice and oculus window. The roof of the pavilion breaks above the eaves, and changes to a shallower pitch. According to anecdotal information conveyed by current Pitkin Street resident Ray Hebert, the building was slightly modified some time in the 1930s or 1940s with the installation of 1/1 sash on the second level, and modern 3-part picture window units around the entire ground level. 

According to David Blow’s book, the Historic Guide to Burlington Neighborhoods., published by the Chittenden County Historical Society in 1991, this house was originally a lightkeeper’s house perched upon the breakwater in Burlington Harbor.[5] Intended for a site in Buffalo NY, the “prefabricated house”arrived in Burlington by accident in 1874. Local beauracrats decided to keep the building, and apparently never thought of sending it on to its original destination. After consultation with the War Department engineers, who then had charge of Lake Champlain, it was decided to build the house on the breakwater and in December 1874, the house stood ready for occupancy. It can be found on the 1877 “birdseye view” of Burlington.[6] None of the light tenders, however ever lived in the house and in 1884 the government sold it at auction.[7]

The 1912 Sanborn Map lists this house as 42 Blodgett Street.[8] The 1926 Sanborn Map lists the address of this house as 42 Blodgett Street as well as noting its next listing as 22 Blodgett Street.[9]

The earliest city directory listing that offers a street number corresponding with this address is in 1901. Mrs. Anna McGlynn’s home is found at 42 Blodgett Street. She is listed as the widow of John, and lives here with Thomas and Miss Laura McGlynn.[10] The listings for the McGlynn’s at this address start in 1899.[11] Nothing further could be found listed at this address in earlier directories, nor can we confirm that the structure they occupied is the same structure sitting at 22-24 Blodgett Street today.

Mrs Angeline Latourell and Joseph Lawrence, a laborer, lived here in 1906.[12]

In 1910, Mrs. Julia Trow, and Louis Trow, an actor, are living at 42 Blodgett Street.[13]

By 1919, 42 Blodgett has become the home of Patrick H McGrath.[14] This address listing continues until 1922. In 1923, the address changes to 22 Blodgett.[15] McGrath was employed at W. G. Reynold Co., who specialized in carpets, draperies and furniture at 81 Church Street, and later at Vermont Hardware Co. McGrath continued to live at 22 Blodgett through the 1930s.[16] McGrath appears to be patriarch of a sizeable clan on Blodgett Street. Catherine McGrath was employed by the City of Winooski; Harold P. was an employee at The Old Bee Hive; John C., employee of Shepard & Morse Lumber Co.; Patrick was another W.G. Reynolds Co. employee; Sarah F, student; Earl J, employed at National Bread Co.; Elizabeth M., employed at the Lakeview Sanitarium; Ieline M, employee of the O.L.Hinds Co.; and Margaret McGrath all lived at 22 Blodgett.[17]

In 1924, 24 Blodgett is also home to Edward Howley, a laborer, and in 1930, Elphege P. Hebert, a painter resided at this location.[18]