Historic Church Street Blocks - Historic Burlington Project University of Vermont

Church Street East Side between College Street and Bank Street

By Andrew Telesca

Church Street has seen continual development since the early 19th century. Specifically, the buildings on this block, between College Street and Bank Street on the East Side, have many interesting stories to tell. The different architectural styles present range from Greek Revival, to Mid-Century Modern. Most of the buildings which can be seen today date to the late 1800s. Although some were built as early as the 1840s and others as late as 1970. This page will help walk you through the rich history of Burlington, Vermont's most well known commercial corridor.

Fig. 1. This 1860s photograph provides some of the earliest photographic evidence of Church Street. Taken from a northwestern vantage point near the intersection of Church Street and Bank Street, we are able to see almost the entire east side of this block. Here, we can see 104 Church Street, which at the time was known as the Wingate Block. This is the fourth building from the right, with the gable roof. One door to the left, we see Seymour’s Building (102 Church Street) prior to the erection of a false front and cornice. These are the only two buildings which still survive, and provide a glimpse into another time. (Burlington Photo Files – Street Views “E. side of Church St. between Bank + College looking S.,” Courtesy of University of Vermont Special Collections)
Fig. 2. This 1862 map from the Burlington Free Press depicts the block’s occupants at the time. At the time that Prouty occupied 104 (then 154) Church Street, A.S. Dewey looks to have owned the two-story gable roofed building one door to the south, visible in Figure 1. It is likely that this structure stood on this address until Kelsey and Brodie purchased it, and erected the Brodie Block in 1882. Herrick likely occupied the small two-story gable roofed building one door to the south, and may have constructed a larger three-story structure on the site around 1867, when the new First National Bank was built. Herrick appears to have owned the property up until 1905, when his estate sold it to the Chittenden County Trust Company.
Fig. 3. This map illustrates the locations of each address on the block. Created by Andrew Telesca.

116/114 Church Street – Figure 1 is one the earliest known photographs of the block, and dates approximately to the early 1860s. From it, we are able to see at 114 and 116 Church Street were occupied by a three-and-a-half story brick building in the Federal style.1 From this photograph, we can likely date it to at least from the early 1800s. This is potentially the large L-shaped structure which occupies the space in Ammi Burnham Young’s 1830 Plan of Burlington Village.2 In 1867, a new three-and-a-half story brick building was built for the First National Bank in 1867.3 The ornate cornice and arched lintels suggest Romanesque Revival, a highly popular style for the time. In 1902, this building was taken down, and replaced with yet another three-story, granite faced building for the new Howard Bank.4 In 1942, Howard National Bank expanded to the north, doubling the width of the existing building. The addition was constructed by Thomas M. James Company of Boston, notable bank architects. The building which stood at 114 Church Street was purchased, torn down, and rebuilt as part of the new bank. In order to take advantage of the larger quarters, all layouts were rearranged.5

Prior to its demolition for the bank’s expansion, the building at 114 Church Street was a small, Italianate style structure that stood three stories tall. Early twentieth century postcards show the first floor with a standard glass storefront sheltered by fabric awnings. On both the second and third stories, there are three bays of windows with simple (presumably granite) lintels.6 B.B. Beeman & Co. continued the tradition of selling dry goods, cloaks, and suits from this location. Ultimately in 1905, the estate of S.L. Herrick sold the store with the intentions of creating a new banking house for the Chittenden County Trust Company. Upon the expiration lease on April 1st, 1906, Mr. Beeman’s store would be extensively renovated, with a new front façade and transformed interior.7 This work was subsequently done by architect W.R. Wilcox, and transformed the façade into what is seen here.8

Stephen & Burns, an Aveda salon, currently occupies the first and second floors of the Howard Bank Building and its subsequent expansion into the space next door.

howard bank
Fig. 4. Looking north, we see the south façade of the former Howard National Bank Building, located on the Northeastern corner of Church Street and College Street. This is the view as seen from College Street. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.
Fig. 5. Looking east, this is the west facade of the former Howard National Bank Building, located at 116-114 Church Street. This is the view as seen from the Church Street Marketplace. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.

112 Church Street – The 1860s photograph which we have been referring to shows a narrow two-story building with ornate cornice and lintels.9 These features suggest an early example of Italianate-style commercial architecture. However, the 1869 Sanborn map shows a three-story structure here with a gable roof.10 Looking at early 20th century postcards, we can obtain more information about the later three-story brick structure.11 Also Italianate, the building appears to have the typical ornate cast iron lintels and a decorative cornice. Interestingly enough, the cornice appears to be identical to its next door neighbor, 114 Church Street, despite obvious differences in window massing and other details. On June 19th, 1947, a malfunctioning electric motor started a fire, which destroyed the building.12 A. Verret and Sons’ Grocery, who had operated from this location for forty-one years, were forced to relocate to a newly reconstructed store in South Burlington.13 On July 9th, 1947, wrecking crews razed the building, as tow-trucks pulled the walls down in a dramatic spectacle.14 A later “mid century,” two-story building was later constructed on the site, and still stands today. This space is currently occupied by Lippa Jewelers.

Fig. 6. Looking east, this is the west façade of 112 Church Street. This building was constructed some time after the demolition of the A. Verret and Sons Grocery, which previously occupied this address. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.

110/108 Church Street -  From early photographic evidence, a two-story Greek Revival building stood at 110 Church Street. The 1869 Fire Insurance Map of Burlington displays this building as a dry goods store.15 Presumably, it stood in this location until the construction of a four-story brick structure originally known as the “Brodie Block.” This block was erected in 1882 by Kelsey and Brodie, who were at the time in partnership in the boot in shoe business. A large, ornate cornice and pediment can be seen atop the building in a late 1800s photograph.16 It is likely that by the early 1900s, these details had either deteriorated, or had been damaged beyond repair in the June 3rd, 1894 fire, which had created an estimated loss of $60,000.  The walls of the first and second floors were intact while half of the third floor, all of the fourth floor, and about a third of the roof were all destroyed. In fact, it was reported that a recently purchased piano had fallen from the fourth floor hall, straight through to the basement.17 D.A. Brodie bought M.L. Kelsey’s interest in the building, and began rebuilding. Iron wedges were driven into the foundation to straighten damaged walls, and iron girders were placed throughout the building. Once complete, the first floor was occupied by the clothing store Pease and Manson. Veterinary surgeons Miller & Miller occupied the second floor, alongside D.A. Brodie’s office. Four offices were created on the third floor, and the fourth remained one large hall, which Brodie used as an overflow stock room. D.W.C. Clapp was in charge of rebuilding the block.18 While the first floor has seen continuous commercial use, the upper floors were later converted to apartments. In 1966, a fatal fire gutted the longstanding Brodie Block, which was owned by a Mrs. Jeannine Hardy. A Winooski wrecking firm subsequently demolished the burned-out structure.19

The lot stood vacant for four years until 1970, when local developer Antonio Pomerleau built the building which stands there now. The bottom floors remain as commercial storefronts, while the upper stories are used as offices and apartments.20   These two addresses are currently occupied by the retail stores Tradewinds and Downtown Threads.

Fig. 7. Looking east, this is the west façade of the building which currently occupies 110 and 108 Church Street. This building was constructed in 1970 by Antonio Pomerleau. The Brodie Block previously occupied this address from 1882-1966. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.

104 Church Street – This is one of the earliest surviving structures on the street, alongside its neighbor 102. Prior to 1885, the building’s address was 154 Church Street.21 Today, 104 Church Streetis almost exactly as it appears in the 1860s photograph depicting the eastern side of Church Street.22 The building can be easily identified by its gable roof which faces the street: an architectural feature which few other buildings on Church Street retain. In Ammi Burnham Young’s 1830 Plan of Burlington Village, a building with similar footprint can be seen.23 In 1858, the store was occupied by G.W. Baxter, an importer, jobber, and retail dealer in crockery, china, glassware, wallpaper, and table cutlery.24 By 1859, the store was newly occupied by A. Prouty Jr., a boot and shoe dealer. Eventually, the building was sold to C.W. Wingate and Son of Boston.25 By 1883, the New York China and Tea Co. had opened a branch within Wingate’s Block.26 In both the 1885 and 1889 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, the space is split between the tea and coffee store, a gun and lock-smith, and the Commercial Union Telegraph Company. In 1888, the entire front of the then Wingate Block was torn out, and replaced with plate glass windows.27 Sanborn Maps through 1919 show the spaces continued to be used as the telegraph office. In 1923, Morrisville’s local newspaper, the News and Citizen, reported that additional construction and repairs commenced on the Wingate block.28 The main building is currently occupied by the retail store FatFace. The narrow addition to the left of the building was presumably built sometime after 1919. All maps beginning in 1869 throughout 1919 denote the structure as an elevated wooden platform, which led to a “Tin Shop” located behind 104.29 This is currently occupied by Cosmic Grind.

Fig. 8. Looking east, this is the west façade of 106 and 104 Church Street. Previously known as the Wingate Block, this building is one of the oldest buildings on Church Street. Although exact dates for construction aren’t known, it likely dates to the early 1850s. To the left of the photo, we can see the narrow addition which Cosmic Grind currently occupies. This was constructed sometime after 1919, enclosing a previously elevated wooden platform which served as a right of way to a former Tin Shop. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.

102 Church Street – The Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from 1869 displays this three-story structure at 152 Church Street as Seymour’s Building. At the time, the space was used as a dry goods store and warehouse.30 According to the map, it appears to retain its gable roof with a parapet wall on the primary façade facing Church Street. A large fanlight window (which appears to have been bricked-in) is centrally located on the gable, and chimneys emerge on either side of the parapet.31 At some point in the late 1800s, a false front and cornice were put up to hide the gable end, in order to resemble the high style Italianate buildings which were being erected up and down Church Street. In the 1877 Birds Eye View of Burlington, the building is illustrated with its gable roof, perhaps dating the false front to the 1880s.32 This space is currently occupied by the retail store Expressions.

Fig. 9. Looking east, this is the west façade of Seymour’s Building, which occupies 102 Church Street. Alongside its neighbor 104 Church Street, this is one of the earliest constructed buildings on the block. Unlike most other buildings on Church Street, 102 retains its original gable roof. A false front and cornice were constructed at some point during the late 1800s in what was likely an attempt to modernize its looks. The gable roof can still be seen from behind. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.

100/98 Church Street – Figure 1 shows that a small, two-story brick building originally stood in this location. Likely early Federal style, the structure resembles a scaled down version of its southerly neighbor, 102 Church Street, with a similar parapet wall on the primary façade. Much like Seymour’s Building, a large fanlight window is centrally located on the gable, and chimneys emerge on either side of the parapet.33 This suggests that the two were perhaps built by the same builder. In Figure 2, we can see that it also received the same “false front” and cornice treatment. By 1885, the building is depicted in Sanborn Maps as a 2 story stone hardware store, with brick veneer around all exterior walls. 34According to the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, this building was built in 1894 by the Isham Brothers as an investment property.35 By 1923, Hagar Hardware had left their location at 174 College Street (which they had occupied since at least 1871 according to City Directories) 36and moved into 98 Church Street.37 Hagar Hardware continued to operate out of 98 Church Street up until 1978.38  The space is currently occupied by Jess Boutique, as well as Bao Tak Fai Tai Chi Institute.

Fig. 10. Looking east, this is the west façade of the Isham Block, which occupies 100 and 98 Church Street. This block was occupied by Hagar Hardware (one of Burlington’s oldest family businesses) for over 56 years. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.

96/94/92/90 Church Street – Prior to the existing building, the 1869 Sanborn Map appears to show two different structures on this plot. Both of which, appear to be early, two-story wooden framed buildings. The larger of the two is recorded as a shoe factory.39  In Figure 2, these are the two eaves-front buildings with wood clapboard siding in the foreground. By 1885, three, two-story wood framed buildings spanned the lot. This block is known as the Warner Block, designed by W.H. Townsend.40 This block was built in 1886, funded by a Mrs. Wheeler, who inherited “the lot and ample funds for the erection of the block” from her uncle, Mr. Charles F. Warner.41 The stonework, brickwork, and plastering for the exterior was contracted out by Guy N. Willard. 42The building was ready for occupancy as of January 1st, 1887. The lower store (which was 22 by 135 feet at the time) was first occupied by Geo. H. Kinsley. This was at the time the deepest store in the city, and contained a unique rear sky light and rear side windows.43 96 Church Street is currently occupied by both Stella Mae and Warner Supply. 94 Church Street is residential apartments and condos. 92 Church Street is occupied by B. Good, and finally 90 Church Street is occupied by Free People.

Fig. 11. Looking east, this is the west façade of the Warner Block, which occupies 96, 94, 92, and 90 Church Street. This block was designed and built by architect W.H. Townsend in 1886, funded by a Mrs. Wheeler who inherited the lot (and funding for construction) from her uncle, Mr. Charles F. Warner. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.

88/86 Church Street – In looking at the 1889 Sanborn Fire Insurance map, we see that this lot remained vacant. Just 4 years earlier, the Sanborn map depicted a wood-framed structure, three-stories tall in front, two in back. According to a September 6th, 1889 Burlington Independent article, Mr. G.D. Weller (“though advanced in years”) began building a new business block. According to the article, “It may be the building is rather narrow, but what it lacks in width it abundantly makes up in height.”44 Masonry was completed by Heman Crooker.45 By 1890, the first story had been occupied by Soule & Co., a boot and shoe dealer.46 In 1932, the building was almost destroyed by a fire in the basement. At the time, the Burlington Military Band had been rehearsing on the third floor, when they noticed smoke. Quickly turning in an alarm, the prompt work of the Burlington Fire Department saved the building. All of the departments in the city were called out, and effectively saved the building.47 88 Church Street  is currently occupied by Asiana Noodle House. 86 houses the Saratoga Olive Oil Company.

Fig. 12. Looking east, this is the west façade of the Weller Block, which occupies 88 and 86 Church Street. This block was built in 1889 by then City Treasure G.D. Weller. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.

84 Church Street – Based on its Italianate styling and similarity to its neighbor 80 Church Street, the construction for this building probably dates to the mid-1860s. The 1869 Sanborn Map depicts a three-story structure of similar footprint, without cornice. By 1885, Sanborn Maps display the building as wood framed with a brick façade and wood cornice facing Church Street. By 1906, it appears to have changed to entirely brick construction.48 According to the City Directories, 84 Church Street was home to Mr. and Mrs. G.F. Collison, owners of the millinery store one door to the north (80 Church Street). Mr. Collison, originally an employee of B.S. Nichols & Company, may have run a machine shop out of the first story.49 This first floor of this building is now occupied by The Body Shop, with apartments in the two stories above.

84 Church Street
Fig. 13. Looking east, this is the west façade of 84 Church Street. Although exact dates for construction are not known, this building approximately dates to the early 1860s. From its construction up until 1906, it was wood framed with a brick veneer. Interestingly enough, the corbels located on the cornice match those on Seymour’s Building, located at 102 Church Street. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.

82/80 Church Street –  This building was believed to be constructed in 1865, for The Fisher & Loomis Dry Goods store. Its presence can first be seen in the 1869 Sanborn Fire Insurance map, which depicts a three story building with wood cornice.50 This ornate cornice and cast iron window lintels make the building yet another fine example of commercial Italianate style architecture on Church Street. Fisher and Loomis opened their store here on December 12th, 1865.51 Between 1869 and 1871, Fisher & Loomis relocated from the corner of Church and Bank to 87 Church Street.52 In 1887, Mrs. G.F. Collison (who owned the next-door building at 82 (now 84) Church Street opened up a “model millinery and ladies store” in the building.53 City Directories show that they had run the millinery up until the early 1890s. By 1906, the Concord Candy Kitchen had set up shop.54 The candy shop operated for over 50 years, until it closed in 1960.55  By 1961, the building was vacant.56  Since this point, the first floor (80 Church Street) and the second floor (82 Church Street) have been occupied by commercial and retail businesses. The third story has been residential housing for some time. Currently, 80 Church Street is occupied by TD Bank, and Marketplace Dental Associates occupies the floor above (82).

Fig. 14. Looking southeast from the corner of Bank Street and Church Street, we can see the Fisher Block, located at 82-80 Church Street. This building was likely built in 1865 for Fisher and Loomis Dry Goods, which operated from this location until the early 1870’s. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.
The following additional photographs show this area of Church Street through the years.
Fig. 15. This photograph from Joseph Auld’s Picturesque Burlington highlights a number of interesting details about this block of Church Street. In the foreground, we can see the first Howard National Bank on the corner of Church and College Streets, clearly different from the structure pictured in this location in Figure 1. Looking to the Brodie Block (110) we can see the highly ornate cornice and pediment atop the fourth story. In later photos, this has disappeared, likely due to deterioration or fire damage. We can also see that Seymour’s Building has its false front façade. The lot where the Isham Block now stands (next door to Seymour’s Building) is occupied by what appears to be a small, two-story, store with false front. Finally, we can see the newly constructed Warner Block, which likely dates this photograph to 1885 or 1886. (Joseph Auld, Picturesque Burlington, A Handbook of Burlington, Vermont, and Lake Champlain (Free Press Association, 1893), 244.)
Fig. 16. This circa 1900s Church Street postcard highlights a number of changes to the block. First and foremost, we see that the new Howard Bank (116 Church Street) has been constructed on the corner. Second, we see the first façade of its neighbor, 114 Church Street, which was home to B.B. Beeman & Co. at the time. By 1905, this façade will have been extensively remodeled. Finally, we can see that the decorative cornice and ornate pediment atop the Brodie Block has disappeared. (“Church Street, Burlington, VT” Made in Germany for Swasey, Importers, Portland, ME, Courtesy
Fig. 17. Here, we are able to see the extensively remodeled façade of 114 Church Street, then home to the Chittenden County Trust Company just beyond the Howard National Bank at the corner of Church Street and College Street. By 1942, this structure will be demolished, and absorbed by the growing Howard Bank. (“Church Street, Burlington, VT” Valentine & Sons’ Publishing Co. New York and Boston, Courtesy of University of Vermont Special Collections)
Fig. 18. Taken from the intersection of Church and College, we are able to see both the eastern and western sides of the block. This photo dates to approximately 1903 or 1904. The new Howard Bank is shown at the corner, and B.B. Beeman & Co. next-door has not yet been extensively remodeled for Chittenden County Trust Company. This postcard in particular provides an excellent viewpoint for a modern comparison. (“Church St., Burlington, VT” Published by C. H. Bessey, Burlington, VT. Courtesy of University of Vermont Special Collections.)
Fig. 19. Here we have a modern view of the block, taken from roughly the same vantage point as Figure 6. Looking north, from the intersection of Church Street and College Street. Photograph by Andrew Telesca.

NOTES

1. Burlington Photo Files – Street Views “E. side of Church St. between Bank + College looking S.,” Courtesy of University of Vermont Special Collections

2. “Plan of Burlington Village,” Historical Maps of Burlington and Winooski, Vermont, Ammi B. Young, 1830.

3. Joseph Auld, Picturesque Burlington, A Handbook of Burlington, Vermont, and Lake Champlain (Free Press Association, 1893), 244.

4. Charles Edwin Allen, About Burlington Vermont (Vermont: J. Shanley, 1905),123.

5.“Howard National Bank Having Its Official Opening Today,” Burlington Free Press, 29 August, 1942, 10.

6. “Church Street, Burlington, VT” Postcard Made in Germany for Swasey, Importers, Portland, ME.

7. “New Banking House,” Burlington Free Press, 2 August, 1905, 7.

8. “City News,” Burlington Free Press, 22 December, 1905, 8.

9. Burlington Photo Files – Street Views “E. side of Church St. between Bank + College looking S.,” Courtesy of University of Vermont Special Collections

10. Insurance Maps of Burlington, Vermont, Chittenden County, Sanborn Map Company, 1869, Sheet 2.

11. “Church Street, Burlington, VT” Postcard Made in Germany for Swasey, Importers, Portland, ME.

12. “Church Street Fire is Blamed Upon Electric Motor,” Burlington Free Press, 19 June, 1947, 11.

13. “New Verret Store to Open This Morning,” Burlington Free Press, 15 December, 1947, 15.

14. “Church Street Bldg. Ruins are Razed as Crowd Watches.,” Burlington Free Press, 9 July, 1947, 9.

15. Insurance Maps of Burlington, Vermont, Chittenden County, Sanborn Map Company, 1869, Sheet 2.

16. Joseph Auld, Picturesque Burlington, A Handbook of Burlington, Vermont, and Lake Champlain (Free Press Association, 1893), 244.

17. “Gone Up in Smoke,” Burlington Free Press, 4 June, 1894, 4.

18. “Brodie Block. Structure Which Has Risen from the Ruins of a Fire,” Burlington Free Press, 27 October, 1894, 4.

19. “Hotel Breton Sues as a Result of Fatal Fire,” Burlington Free Press, 15 October, 1966, 11.

20. “Construction Starts in May on Vacant Church Street Lot,” The Burlington Free Press, 10 February, 1970, 11.

21. Insurance Maps of Burlington, Vermont, Chittenden County, Sanborn Map Company, 1869, Sheet 2.

22. Burlington Photo Files – Street Views “E. side of Church St. between Bank + College looking S.,” Courtesy of University of Vermont Special Collections

23. “Plan of Burlington Village,” Historical Maps of Burlington and Winooski, Vermont, Ammi B. Young, 1830.

24. Burlington Times, May 17, 1858, 7.

25. Burlington Clipper, July 30, 1891, 5.

26. “New Tea Store.,” Burlington Clipper, 31 May, 1883.

27. Burlington Clipper, 24 May, 1888, 5.

28. News and Citizen, 5 September, 1923, 2.

29. Insurance Maps of Burlington, Vermont, Chittenden County, Sanborn Map Company, 1919, Sheet 19.

30. Insurance Maps of Burlington, Vermont, Chittenden County, Sanborn Map Company, 1869, Sheet 2.

31. Burlington Photo Files – Street Views “E. side of Church St. between Bank + College looking S.,” Courtesy of University of Vermont Special Collections

32. Birds Eye Map of Burlington and Winooski VT, E. Meilbek, J.J Stoner, Madison Wisconsin, 1877.

33. Ibid.

34. Insurance Maps of Burlington, Vermont, Chittenden County, Sanborn Map Company, 1885, Sheet 4.

35. Burlington Historic Sites and Structures Survey, Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, 1977.

36. Burlington City Directory: 1871-72, 64.

37. Burlington City Directory: 1923, 542.

38. Burlington City Directory: 1978, 68.

39. Insurance Maps of Burlington, Vermont, Chittenden County, Sanborn Map Company, 1869, Sheet 2.

40. Burlington Clipper, 17 June, 1886, 3.

41. The Burlington Independent, 4 June, 1886, 5.

42. “The Warner Block.,” The Burlington Independent, 19 June, 1886, 5.

43. Ibid.

44. The Burlington Independent, 6 September, 1889, 1.

45. The Burlington Independent, 17 May, 1889, 5.

46. “Soule & Co.,” The Burlington Independent, 13 June, 1890, 4.

47. “Blaze in Basement of Weller Block Threatens Four-Story Brick Building- All Apparatus in City Called Out,” Burlington Free Press, 6 December, 1932, 8.

48. Insurance Maps of Burlington, Vermont, Chittenden County, Sanborn Map Company, 1900, Sheet 22.

49. Burlington City Directory: 1881-1883, 27.

50. Insurance Maps of Burlington, Vermont, Chittenden County, Sanborn Map Company, 1869, Sheet 2.

51. “New Opening,” Burlington Daily Times, 12 December, 1865, 1.

52. Burlington City Directory: 1869-71, 38.

53. Burlington Clipper, March 24, 1887, 3.

54. Burlington City Directory: 1906, 290.

55. Burlington City Directory: 1960, 581.

56. Burlington City Directory: 1961, 583.