Rosslyn Redux

Tag: Stereoview

  • Steamer Vermont Stereoview, circa 1870

    Detail from Steamer Vermont Stereoview, photographed by S.R. Stoddard c. 1870
    Detail from Steamer Vermont Stereoview, photographed by S.R. Stoddard c. 1870

    In the thirteen years since arriving in Essex (or perhaps it’s only the twelve years since purchasing Rosslyn?) I’ve succumbed to a romantic-if-frivolous obsession with local and regional artifacts. Sometimes I’m fortunate enough to document firsthand relics from Essex yesteryear or Lake Champlain yesteryear. Other times I’m afforded a mere glimpse.

    That cinematic snapshot above, as moody as it is patinated, falls into the latter category. Like a still from a crumbling film no longer visible. A phantom. A memory. Men aboard the steamship Vermont. Serious, contemplative, well dressed gentlemen (and likely a few imposters) recline or stand solemn on the forward, upper deck as they sail across Lake Champlain.

    Who are they? Where are they headed? What is their occupation, their task, their conversation? Who is their haberdasher?!?!

    We know only that the photograph, a detail from two images arranged in the stereoview below, was captured by S.R. Stoddard (circa 1870s according to the auction listing). Fading mementos of forgotten travelers. Worn edges and sepia-tinged souvenirs. Formal calligraphy on bright orange cardboard.

    Sadly another bidder beat me to this treasure. But others will surface in due course…

    Here’s the original stereoview.

    Steamer Vermont Stereoview, photographed by S.R. Stoddard c. 1870
    Steamer Vermont Stereoview, photographed by S.R. Stoddard c. 1870

  • Blood’s Bay in Essex, NY

    Vintage stereoview of Blood's Bay in Essex, New York
    Vintage stereoview of Blood’s Bay in Essex, NY

    In my ongoing quest to gather and showcase vintage artifacts from our fair hamlet, I often come across images and other items that stump me. The vintage stereoview in this post is one such example. We’ve shared it on the Essex on Lake Champlain community blog in the hopes of crowd-sleuthing the whereabouts. Our understanding was that this sliver of an Essex harbor was once known as Blood’s Bay. But that’s far from certain…

    Here’s what we offered our neighbors by way of brainstorming invitation.

    I have read that this northern Essex harbor was once-upon-a-time referred to as Blood’s Bay or some such similarly sanguine moniker. Do you know of any other names this bay has been called throughout the years? (Source: Essex on Lake Champlain)

    And here’s how two of our neighbors responded.

    Steve Mckenna: Whallons bay.
    Mark Kupperman: Second vote for Whallon’s bay, from what used to be the town beach? Is that building part of original Barracks?
    George Davis: Or perhaps a bit further north?
    Steve Mckenna: Ha! That was my second [guess] (Source: Essex on Lake Champlain)

    Perhaps they are right. Perhaps the image was made near where the intersection of Albee Road and Lakeshore Road. But I’m not certain. And at the risk of perpetuating a falshood (and in the hopes of soliciting more learned feedback), I’d like to reword my thoughts from the original post on our Essex community blog.

    Given other historic photographs from early in the 20th century it appears that the timbers in the foreground of this stereoview were part of a “crib dock” pier near the present day Essex-Charlotte ferry dock, and the “barn” in the distance was most likely located near Sandy Point. Or possibly on the now defunct crib dock north of — and parallel to — Rosslyn’s boathouse? This is more apparent in another stereroview shot from the opposite perspective which we’ll share online soon. (Source: Essex on Lake Champlain)

    What do you think? Any idea what we’re looking at?