Vintage Stereoview: Sunnyside

Every Monday we share a vintage image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia. The stereoview above we shared with the public last week.

This old stereoview was found on the NY Public Library’s Digital Collections simply identified as: “View of a home in Essex, N.Y.” Do you recognize it? It was noted that the image was taken by photographer E. M. (Elbert M.) Johnson (1844-1910) and dated as circa 1875, so it’s likely that there have been some changes to the location and building since then.

One of our viewers did correctly identify it:

Catherine DeWolff: Sunnyside. The red brick was painted over. However, the house that is very close to the north is throwing me off. That cannot be Rosslyn, or can it?!

That’s right, the home is Sunnyside also known as the Harmon Noble House, one of the merchant row mansions overlooking the lake on the north road out of town. Catherine is correct that it is a brick building that was once painted over; I’ve seen other old photos of the house decorated that way. The little gazebo-looking building in the background cinches the property as that is definitely the Harmon Noble Schoolhouse.

Sunnyside was built circa 1835 and the Victorian schoolhouse was added to the grounds in the 1850s.

In the far back I can make out the side of another house that Catherine questions as possibly being Rosslyn. I can’t make out much detail because of the trees, but it must be that home as the location is right and it was built prior to Sunnyside during the 1820s.

I’m unsure if the foreground of the photo is depicting some simple shrubbery or possibly part of larger gardens. What do you think? If so, they are no longer there today.

What other changes do you note? Share your thoughts in the comments!

What is a Stereoview?

You may be wondering – just what is a stereoview? Historically, photographers once produced these double image cards to be used with a stereo viewer. The stereoview card was inserted into the device, and when looked through it gave the appearance of 3-D.

Share Your Essex Artifacts

If you want to share your old photos of Essex (or brochures; postcards; menus; tickets; any artifact) on the blog please email us at editor [AT] essexonlakechamplain [DOT] com.