Fremeau Jewelers today on Church Street in Burlington
This two story gable-front and wing, vernacular Queen Anne house is the only one in this area of the Old North End to be included in David Blow’s Historic Guide to Burlington Neighborhoods. The general massing of this structure has not changed since it was depicted on the 1890 map.[1] The house is similar to many others on Crombie Street in plan, though there are very little decorative details remaining, the main one being the window pediments. The windows themselves are two-over-two double hung sash. Both the siding and the roofing materials have been replaced.
Louis Xavier Fremeau (Fremau) Jr. first appears at this address in 1881-1883. Prior to this he was living on Cedar Street.[2] Fremeau was a jeweler, and son of another jeweler who established a store on Church Street in the mid-1800s.[3] This nineteenth century business still exisits on Church Street today. According to Blow, the structure at the rear of this lot on Crombie Street was a workshop for Fremeau, a two story building “topped with a square observatory.”[4] This building may appear on the 1890 map.
[1] 1890 Hopkins Map; 1978 Sanborn Insurance Maps.
[2] Burlington City Directories, 18775-1886.
[3] Blow, Historic Guide to Burlington Neighborhoods, vol 3, 34.
[4] Blow, Historic Guide to Burlington Neighborhoods, vol 3, 34.
Bibliography
Sara Gredler