South Union Avenue: North from Maple Street UTM: 180642457E; 4926071N |
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 Sarah L. Graulty December 7, 2006 |
Louis McAllister captured this image looking north on South Union Street from its intersection with Maple Street in 1930 during the rail removal process following the city’s transition from streetcars to busses. The funds for this removal and resurfacing work on South Union were provided by the Burlington Rapid Transit Company, who paid $1330.00 to the city in 1930.[1] The 1930 Annual Report notes that the street department took up rails and brick liners and laid down a “stone-filled-sheet-asphalt surface”[2] on South Union from the Main Street intersection to the south side of Adams Street. In this image, the tracks have been removed, but the city has not yet made surface repairs. We can identify several houses in McAllister’s photograph. On the left, partially hidden by a tree and dark parked car, is 207 South Union. This 2.5-story, brick veneer, wood frame house is, according to the South Union Street Historic District National Register nomination, “one of the best examples of extravagant turn-of-the-century Colonial Revival architecture in Burlington.” The most obvious feature in this photograph is the pedimented central entrance portico with a pair of Doric columns flanking a large paneled square column at each corner. The house was built in 1902 for Charles D. Ordway, a businessman first listed in the house in 1903’s Burlington directory. Ordway, who worked as president of the Vermont Spool & Bobbin Company and, later, vice president of the Vermont Milk Chocolate Company, is still listed at the residence in 1930[3], the year of the above photograph. To the right of Mr. Ordway’s house is 199 South Union. In his Historic Guide to Burlington Neighborhoods, historian David Blow reports while “no dwelling appears at this site on the 1853 Presdee and Edwards map of Burlington, the 1857 Walling map shows a dwelling with the name ‘P. T. Sweet’ next to it.”.[4] Paul T. Sweet, a successful and well-respected Burlington businessman, died on January 18, 1876 and his funeral was held at his home at 199 South Union Street.[5] His widow, Mrs. Maria Sweet, is listed in the city directory until 1879-81, at which time Henry Ballard, a prominent attorney, also appears at the address. Several years later, businessman Solomon Walker purchased the property and proceeded to make significant alterations, creating the French Second Empire look that characterizes the house today. An item in the Burlington Free Press on July 9, 1888 reads, “Mr. Solomon Walker is making extensive improvements on his recently purchased residence, including an addition.” These changes are reflected on the 1889 Sanborn Map. In February 1905, Dr. Guy E. Loudon, an osteopath, purchased the house in order to “give hi more room for his constantly increasing practice, even without the addition he contemplates making at some time in the future”.[6] In 1930, the year of the photograph, Dr. Loudon is still listed in the Burlington directory at 199 South Union Street. On the far right side of the image we see 210 South Union Street, a 2.5-story Queen Anne-style house with a deep front porch and turned porch posts. According to the South Union Street Historic District National Register nomination #210 and #216 next door, whose awning can just barely be seen protruding from the porch, were built by a local contractor in 1893 as “spec” houses[7] and are nearly identical in plan, massing, materials, and detailing. Just past 210 South Union Street is #204 South Union Street, a stately Italianate house with a large front porch characterized by chamfered posts and Doric capitals. The building also displays paired brackets, corner quoins, and a bellcast gambrel wall dormer crowning the façade. This grand house was built for an eminent member of the Burlington community, Albert E. Richardson, who was a very successful businessman and a city alderman. The Burlington Free Press reported on September 21, 1874 that Richardson, vice president of local manufacturing Wells Richardson Company, purchased a “building lot on Union Street next south of E. W. Burrett’s [sic.].”[8] The house was built soon after and the Burlington directory first lists Richardson in this home in its 1977-78 edition. An article in the Burlington Clipper on March 29, 1877 notes that “Mr. Richardson … now occupies his house on Union Street, which is one of the pleasantest on that popular boulevard.”[9] The Burlington directory suggests that Richardson moved out of this house and to another residence on Williams Street by 1888-89. By 1930, the year of the photograph, the Burlington directory puts Harry L. Ford, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and secretary of the Waubanakee Golf Club in the house. By 1933, per the city directory, Harry L. Ford was deceased and his wife, Martha, operated the Ford Realty Co out of the house. To the left of 206 South Union Street sits #196, a 2-story Italianate house of brick in American bond. The South Union Street Historic District National Register nomination suggests that it was built "possibly by the local contracting firm of Hilas Roby & Sons"[10]. Edgar W. Burritt, an apothecary and druggist with an office on Church Street, was the house’s first resident. The Burlington directory first lists Burritt in this location in 1873-74. Burritt likely died around 1884 and is not listed in the 1884-85 directory, but his brother and business partner, Frederick W. Burritt, moved into the house in time to be listed in the 1886-87 Burlington directory. As late as 1924, the Burlington directory still lists a member of the Burritt family, Emeroy M. Burritt, at this address. The following year, J. Shaw Webb and his wide, Grace A. Webb, are listed as chiropractors living and working in the house[11]. In 1930, when this photograph was taken, Dr. Grace A. Webb still lived at 196 South Union. Dr. Webb, who practiced chiropractics for years and also gained notoriety as a visual artist, died in 1979 at age 90.[1] Burlington City Annual Report, 1930, p. 207. |
Today, the neighborhood retains its quiet, residential character. Many of the grand homes have been turned into apartments, including both 210 and 216 South Union Street. At each house, large windows on the front porches were transformed into doorways to create second entrances to the left of the original, primary doorways.
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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 |
