East Avenue: South from Carrigan Drive UTM: 180643886E; 4926224N |
 Louis L. McAllister January 17, 1936 |
 Sarah L. Graulty October 15, 2006 |
This photograph depicts winter road construction on a 1936 W.P.A. project at the southerly end of East Avenue. Further down the road is the intersection with Main Street, marked by a row of telephone poles just barely visible running parallel to the horizon in the distance. In the image, dated January 17, 1936, workers are laying the road’s heavy stone base in the foreground and excavating materials to the side of the road for grading purposes on the left. This image was published in the 1936 Burlington Annual Report to demonstrate important and successful public works projects from the previous year. The report printed a companion photograph along side this image depicting the completed project with “fine crushed stone surface layed [sic.]”.[1] In 1936, this area was still very much the country, with mostly farms and open land. Improvements such as these meant a great deal to Burlington's sense of identity as a successful and growing city.[1] Burlington City Annual Report, 1936, p. 284. |
In 2006, this area of Burlington is very much a center of activity. The above image looks south to Route 2/Main Street/Williston Road just by the entrance to the interstate, I-89. Looking through the trees, one sees gas stations and a shopping center that contains several chain-type stores. Immediately to the right, out of the range of the lens, is the Fletcher Allen Health Care complex, which covers most of the west side of East Ave. from Colchester Avenue to Main Street. In 1938, the Burlington Annual Report noted of this area, "Another project is being prepared for future development of a new pavement and further widening at the south end of this street."[1] Even as late as 1957, the Annual Report praised recent public works by calling East Avenue"a country road in the city before reconstruction."[2] Today, this end of East Avenue is adjacent to one of the busiest and most developed sections of road in Burlington.
[1] Louis L. McAllister, "Burlington Street Department Photographs" (Burlington: Bailey-Howe Library, c. 1929-1941) |
Historic Burlington Project Depression Era Streetscapes: Old North End | Burlington 1890 | Burlington 1877 | Burlington 1869 | Burlington 1853 | Burlington 1830 Produced by University of Vermont Historic Preservation Program graduate students in HP 206 Researching Historic Structures and Sites - Prof. Thomas Visser - in collaboration with UVM Landscape Change Program Historic images courtesy of University of Vermont Library Special Collections, Louis L. McAllister Photograph Collection |