These buildings were located at the corner of Main
and Church Streets, and would now be recognized as being at the corner of
Route 15 and Lee River Road in Jericho Corners. Although hidden by the
tree in this photo, these are actually two separate buildings. On the left
is the Chesmore Block, so called, which was in use as early as the 1850’s
as the home of L.F. Wilbur. About 1876, Spafford Wright had a carriage
manufacturing business here. Later, a store was operated by Samuel Clark
and A.A. Chesmore. The building on the right was reportedly used as a post
office as early as 1798. By the 1860’s, if not before, it was also being
used as a store. It was run by Harlow Percival from 1870 to 1892, then
E.W. Curtis, and starting in 1896, by E.B. Williams. Both buildings burned
in November, 1906. About 1935, Harmon and Agnes Howe built a luncheonette
from bricks salvaged from the servant’s house at the Galusha place around
the corner. It has been a private residence since the 1940’s, and is
currently home to Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Knapp. At the extreme left of the
photo can be seen some of the “Reporter office”, where A.D. Bradford
published the Chittenden
Reporter. |