The 1890 Hopkins Map defines the only residential block in the Old North End west of North Avenue as the M. Noyes Plan. [1] This block was the first wave of development on the 112' bluffs overlooking Lake Champlain and adjacent to the intersection of North Avenue and North Street . In 1890, the neighborhood was comprised of three streets Haswell Street, just north of North Street's termination into North Ave.; Canfield Street, one block north of Haswell; and Bissell Street, which runs parallel to North Ave., and connects the western ends of Haswell and Canfield. Some of the first houses on the western side of the lower end of North Avenue were also built around this time.
Morillo Noyes was the grandson of Oliver Noyes. Oliver kept the first store in Hyde Park , a town that he helped settle. Morillo's father was Breed Noyes, Breed was for many years the only merchant of any consequence in the town of Hyde Park . Breed had a large family, mostly sons, and most of whom resided in Hyde Park with the exception of Morillo and his brother, Carolus, who both lived in Burlington . They were all known as men of good business ability. [2]
By 1847, Morillo was the secretary and treasurer of the Winooski Mill Co. [3] He continued in that office for over a decade before moving into other business interests.
Noyes was a member of the first directors of The Pioneer Mechanics Shop Company. This group of citizens formed themselves into an association for the purpose of promoting the industrial interests of Burlington , and was granted a charter from the state legislature in November 1852. This company erected a building with steam engines and fixtures for running machinery that was rented to mechanics and manufacturers in an effort to facilitate new branches of industry. The corporation went bankrupt in 1855, and the buildings burned to the ground on April 2, 1858. [4] A number of years later the facility was rebuilt by a new set of investors. [5]
On the 1853 Map of Burlington, Vermont published by Presdee & Edwards, the name Noyes appears next to a few buildings on Water Street between the base of King Street and South Street . Across Water Street and backing up to the harbor is the Noyes Block. [6]
Morillo Noyes lived on Bank Street between Church Street and St. Paul , according to the1867-68 Burlington City Directory. The directory also lists a firm by the name of Noyes, Drew & Co., as jobbers and commission merchants located in the Noyes block on Water St. [7] In 1868, Morillo Noyes occupied a store at the foot of King Street , [8] presumably the same building. He ran his shop from this location for over a decade.
M. Noyes is the name listed on the only undeveloped parcel on the west side of lower North Avenue on the 1869 Beers Atlas Map [9] The 1877 Birdseye Map shows that there still has been no development in this area at all. [10]
Ten years later in 1878, Noyes has moved his business to the Park Block on
St. Paul Street . His company is described as being jobbers in glass and tin
ware. He is also publicly active as a vestryman at St Paul 's Episcopal Church.
Noyes served as secretary for the Church in 1878. [11]
Further civic activity included appointments as city cemetery commissioner in 1880 and 1881.[12]
By 1881, Noyes' business was now expanded to include wood items and “Yankee notions,” along with glass and tin ware. [13] His business continued to thrive here until 1885. [14]
On June 2, 1885, Morillo Noyes was appointed Superintendent of the Division of Supplies in the Post Office Department. Although his wife was a cousin of the Postmaster General, it was stated that his selection was made solely upon the recommendations of Messieurs Smalley and Atkins of Vermont. [15]
The 1886-1887 city directory reflects this change by listing Morillo Noyes and his family as removed to Washington D.C. [16] On March 29, 1887, Morillo Noyes was appointed Chief of the Bond Division. [17]
Morillo Noyes last lived in Burlington on Bank Street between Church Street and St. Paul Street . This was a good address for a man who was a successful businessman as well as a devout Episcopalian at St. Paul 's Church, just around the corner. This was reflected in the names that Morillo and his brother Carolus chose for the streets in their joint 1888 development adjacent to North Avenue .
Mrs. Morillo Noyes was a daughter of a local political figure instrumental in building the Burlington breakwater in the 1830s.[18] Nathan B. Haswell was also a prominent Episcopal laymen, and according to the 1853 Presdee & Edwards Map of Burlington , the owner of this area north of North Street and west of North Avenue .[19] Thomas H. Canfield served as registrar of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont and the Rt. Rev. W.H.A. Bissell was Episcopal Bishop of Vermont at the time. [20]
The 1890 Hopkins Map shows the neighborhood clearly developed with three streets all divided into parcels. [21] This block was the first wave of development on Lakeview Terrace, the common name of this neighborhood today, and the name Bissell Street was changed to in the 1920s.[22]
The modest frame dwellings that survive today have simple, vernacular designs. While there is a mixture of styles, most have gable fronts. For over 115 years, this neighborhood has remained the comfortable home of working and middle-class tenants and landowners on the “Terrace.”
1. G.M. Hopkins C.E., Map of the City
of Burlington Vermont from Official Records, Private Plans, and Actual Surveys, (Philadelphia:
Hopkins, 1890).
2. Abby Maria Hemenway, The Vermont
Historical Gazetteer, v.II, p.654, (Burlington: Hemenway, 1871).
3.
Abby Maria Hemenway, The Vermont
Historical Gazetteer, v.I, p.513, (Burlington: Hemenway, 1871).
4.
Abby Maria Hemenway, The Vermont
Historical Gazetteer, v.I, p.514, (Burlington: Hemenway, 1871).
5.
Charles E. Allen, About Burlington
Vermont, (Burlington: Hobart J. Shanley & Co., 1905
6. Presdee & Edwards, Map
of Burlington, Vermont, 1853, (New York,: Presdee & Edwards, 1853).
7. Free Press Association, Burlington
City Directory and Business Advertiser, (Burlington: Free Press, 1868).
8. Abby Maria Hemenway, The Vermont
Historical Gazetteer, v.I, p.669, (Burlington: Hemenway, 1871).
9.
Beers Atlas Co., Plan of the City
of Burlington, Chittenden County, VT, (Burlington: Beers, 1869).
10.
E. Meilbek, Birdseye View of Burlington & Winooski,
Vermont , (Madison WI: J.J. Stoner, 1877).
11. Free Press Association, Burlington
City Directory and Business Advertiser, (Burlington: Free Press, 1878).
12. City of Burlington, Sixteenth
Annual Report of the City of Burlington, Vermont: for the Year Ending December
31, 1880, (Burlington: Free Press, 1881).
13. Free Press Association, Burlington
City Directory and Business Advertiser, (Burlington: Free Press, 1881).
14. Free Press Association, Burlington
City Directory, (Burlington: Free Press, 1885).
15. Burlington Free
Press, Another
Burlingtonian Receives a Governmental Position, (Burlington: Free Press,
6/2/1885).
16. Free Press Association, Burlington
City Directory, (Burlington: Free Press, 1887).
17. Burlington Free
Press, Morillo
Noyes Appointed Chief of Bond Division, (Burlington: Free Press, 3/29/1887).
18. David J. Blow, Historic Guide
to Burlington Neighborhoods, Burlington: Chittenden County Historical
Society, 1997.
19. Presdee & Edwards, Map of
Burlington, Vermont, 1853, (New York,: Presdee & Edwards, 1853).
20.
Blow.
21. G.M. Hopkins C.E., Map of the
City of Burlington Vermont from Official Records, Private Plans, and Actual
Surveys, (Philadelphia: Hopkins, 1890).
22. H.A. Manning Company, Burlington
and Winooski Directory (Greenfield, MA: Manning, 1930).