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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.