Office of the Town Historians

It is the mission of the Office of the Essex Town Historian to acquaint its local and regional citizens, students, schools, civic and social organizations with our resources/collections in order to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of the history and significance of Lake Champlain, Essex and surrounding lands to the town. Accordingly, the Town Historian will not only acquire, store, catalog, and preserve all non-governmental records, photos, materials, and local artifacts but will actively publicize and promote our resources/collection making them easily available to all local, regional and other citizens. We have a large collection of written and oral materials which can now be conserved, identified and saved in alternate media forms.

The Town of Essex has parterned with Storyworth to create a recorded history of Essex and its residents. Historian John Noble has assembled a terrific book that you might be interested in reading. We hope you enjoy!

Building History Notes

• 2175 Lakeshore Rd (Maria Sally Sherman House)
  as of 21 November 2023

• 2270 Lakeshore Rd (Marina)

• 2280 Lakeshore Rd (Stafford Reynolds House)

• 2286 Lakeshore Rd (Charles Gifford/Henry N. Gould House) (pending)

• 2304 Lakeshore Rd (Mark H Kidder Store)

• 2306 Lakeshore Rd (Robert Fortune House “Manse”)

• 2309 Lakeshore Rd (A.P. Meade “Old Brick Store”)

• 2803 Essex Road “Dower house”

• 35 Elm St (Archibald Fortune House and Barn)
  as of 15 November 2023

• 515 & 519 Walker Road (Daniel Safford+Orren Reynolds Houses)

• 327 Walker Road (North House) NR Nomination

• 493 Brookfield Road (Andrew Quick Farm)

• 6 Leaning Road (Stephen Stafford “Black Kettle Farm”)

• 91 and 77 Leaning Road (James Stafford Farm “Sugar Hill”)

• Camp Bonnie - Crater Club

• “Evaluation of Select Buildings in Essex” - John Mesick

Periodically updated as new information is obtained.

Historic “500 words” Interpretation Reports

• A Bountiful Table (PDF) November 2024

• Essex County Republican (PDF) October 2024

• A Diamond found in the Rough (PDF) September 2024

• SRYC since 1939 (PDF) August 2024

• Growing Up In Essex (PDF) July 2024

• Save 50 Miles (PDF) June 2024

• One Sunday in Essex (PDF) May 2024

• People Power (PDF) April 2024

• Essex Equestrian (PDF) March 2024

• Essex on the Party Line (PDF) February 2024

• M is for Memory, Part 2 (PDF) January 2024

• Happy Thoughts for the Holidays (PDF) Dec. 2023

• Celebrating Essex Today Yesterday (PDF) Nov. 2023

• Little House on the Big Lake (PDF) October 2023

• School Days (PDF) September 2023

• Back To The Future (PDF) August 2023

• A Little Summer Reading (PDF) July 2023

• A Founding Father (PDF) June 2023

• Honoring Our Vets (PDF) May 2023

• April Foolin’?? (PDF) April 2023

• To The Lighthouse (PDF) March 2023

• Ferry Tales (PDF) February 2023

• The Runner & Fads (PDF) January 2023

• M is for Memory (PDF) December 2022

• Split Rock and Native Peoples (PDF) November 2022

• Octagonal Schoolhouse (PDF) October 2022

• ECHO Celebrates 50 years (PDF) September 2022

• Maclurites magnus (PDF) August 2022

• Horse Nail Factory (PDF) July 2022

• Essex Firehouse (PDF) June 2022

• Texaco Sign at the Marine Base (PDF) May 2022

• Ben Franklin Ate Here! (PDF) April 2022

Disclaimer: Not for private reproduction. These are a collection of digital images obtained from numerous sources donated to the Town’s digital archive over many years. Images from copyright material may be present.