Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)

This collection contains 794 images comprising 122 years of history in Vergennes, Vermont’s oldest city. Featuring a wide range of topics, which date from the 1866 Civil War parade to the 1988 Bicentennial, the collection provides a comprehensive and unusual look at small town life in northern Vermont. These photographs document the full visual spectrum of history in Vergennes, from businesses, industries, and transportation to natural scenery, paintings, and portraits of people who once walked the city’s streets. These images were scanned from 35mm slides located in the Bixby Memorial Free Library archives in Vergennes. The slides were made around 1987 from color photographs taken of the original images. The originals, mainly of the Vergennes area but including several from Ferrisburgh and Lake Champlain, had accumulated over the years in the library’s historical materials repository. Many of these photographs, along with the slides and accompanying inventory notebook, can be viewed with permission at the library. The authors of these photographs remain undocumented and anonymous, except for a selection of photographs by local artist Harvey Custer Ingham (1863-1931), a personal friend of local businessman and library founder William Gove Bixby (1829-1907). Mr. Bixby left funds from his estate for the founding of a public library in the city of Vergennes, including the construction of the imposing Greek revival library building on Main Street. The library opened on November 4, 1912, and in 2012 celebrates a century of continued service to Vergennes and the surrounding towns of Addison, Panton, Waltham, and Ferrisburgh.

Showing 11 - 20 of 130 Records

Main Street before fire of 1893
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    • Parent Collections: Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)


    Main Street
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      • Parent Collections: Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)


      Sherman Block
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        • Description: View of the so called Sherman Block (now owned by Benton and Fishman) on Main Street in Vergennes after the fire of April 9, 1896. The building was badly gutted by the flames and the roof fell in. Plans for restoring the building included taking off the third floor and making a flat roof. This photo was loaned by Mrs. Harry Barrows of Ferrisburgh.
        • Parent Collections: Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)


        Welcome Home
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          • Parent Collections: Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)


          Boats at Vergennes dock
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            • Parent Collections: Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)


            Custer Ingham photo
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              • Description: Falls
              • Parent Collections: Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)


              Falls
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                • Parent Collections: Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)


                Falls
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                  • Parent Collections: Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)


                  Falls
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                    • Description: Vermont Shade Roller Co.
                    • Parent Collections: Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)


                    Falls
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                      • Parent Collections: Photographs of Vergennes (Vt.)