Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Collection Overview
Louis L. McAllister photographed people and places near Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT) and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851)...
Show moreLouis L. McAllister photographed people and places near Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT) and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851). Julius McAllister worked as a photographer and dentist in Washington D.C., Bristol, Vermont and Columbus, Nebraska. Around 1895, Julius, his third wife Amy, and their children left Nebraska for the Union Soldiers’ Colony in Fitzgerald, Georgia. By 1900, Julius and Amy were divorced, and Amy and her stepson Louis were working as photographers in Thomasville, Georgia.
In 1907 Louis McAllister married Cora Shepard (born about 1872 in Vermont) in Holland, Michigan. By 1910, they were living in Queen City Park in South Burlington, Vermont, where Louis established a photography studio. The McAllisters moved to Burlington, and by 1919 they lived at 47 N. Winooski Avenue. They continued to occupy a summer cottage at Queen City Park, and were active in the Queen City Park Association, which held spiritualist camp meetings annually. McAllister conducted his photography business from home until his death in 1963.
McAllister’s “trademark” was his panorama camera which made him familiar to all sorts of groups ranging from graduating classes to state police to summer camp groups. In addition he did print 8 x 10 photos, many of which document building construction and Burlington Street Department projects, as well as group and individual portraits.
The L.L. McAllister Collection includes portraits, construction projects, buildings, businesses and events in the Burlington area covering the period ca. 1920-1960. The collection also includes photos of street, bridge, airport and sewer construction and repair, as well as group portraits of clubs, schools, etc.
Revised April, 2010
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Related Archival Collection
Pages
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Battery Street Park
- Description
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May 26, 1938. Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the new pavement under construction. Note the new integral concrete curbs and gutters which were constructed during sub-zero weather in the month of January; also the...
Show moreMay 26, 1938. Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the new pavement under construction. Note the new integral concrete curbs and gutters which were constructed during sub-zero weather in the month of January; also the asphalt penetration base constructed over a heavy telford stone base on which a hot mix stone-filled-sheet asphalt wearing course is being constructed.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Battery Street Park
- Description
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1938 - 1940 photograph of Battery Park. Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the 10' asphalt sidewalk after the base had been placed and rolled just prior to placing the finish coat; also the concrete footing to receive...
Show more1938 - 1940 photograph of Battery Park. Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the 10' asphalt sidewalk after the base had been placed and rolled just prior to placing the finish coat; also the concrete footing to receive the stone masonry parapet wall. Note the old system of street light poles and the old pavement to the right. The look-off with Rock Point in the distance.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Briggs Street
- Description
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Photo dated Sept. 18, 1942. Original caption reads: Briggs St. Pavement Improvements Between Flynn Ave. and Morse Place. This view shows the completed pavement looking southerly on Briggs St. from Flynn Ave. This street was excavated with a power shovel, a 6 inch sand cushion was spread over the...
Show morePhoto dated Sept. 18, 1942. Original caption reads: Briggs St. Pavement Improvements Between Flynn Ave. and Morse Place. This view shows the completed pavement looking southerly on Briggs St. from Flynn Ave. This street was excavated with a power shovel, a 6 inch sand cushion was spread over the clay sub-base and an 8 inch Telford stone base was laid on the sand cushion. A standard 3 inch asphalt penetration macadam was constructed on the Telford base 27 feet in width leaving room for an integral curb and gutter on each side for future construction. The binder used for this job was 61-70 penetration asphalt cut-back with 5 percent No. 2 fuel oil.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Briggs Street
- Description
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Photograph dated June 30, 1942. Original caption reads: Briggs St. Street Improvements, pavement construction Looking south from intersection of Flynn Ave. This view shows the street after excavation work had been completed with power shovel to a depth to allow a 3 inch sand cushion with 8 inch...
Show morePhotograph dated June 30, 1942. Original caption reads: Briggs St. Street Improvements, pavement construction Looking south from intersection of Flynn Ave. This view shows the street after excavation work had been completed with power shovel to a depth to allow a 3 inch sand cushion with 8 inch telford stone base and 2 inch penetration binder course with a 2 inch wearing course of asphalt penetration. Note the stone base being constructed in the background at the intersection of Ferguson Ave., also sewer connection being installed from manhole on Ferguson Ave., to new addition being built at the south end of the Vermont Structural Steel Corp. Plant.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Center Street
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Workmen spreading asphalt to a portion of Center Street in Burlington. View is from intersection of Center Street and Bank. Buildings seen are 191-195 Bank and 207 Bank. Date may be 1920s?
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Center Street
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Workmen spreading asphalt to a portion of Center Street in Burlington. View is looking down Center Street from Bank Street.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Center Street
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Workmen are spreading asphalt on a portion of Center Street (also once called Catlins Lane) in Burlington probably in the 1920s. Steamroller can be seen to the right ready to tamp the pavement. Buildings seen include 191-195 Bank Street on the left, 207 Bank Street on right, 196 Bank to the mid...
Show moreWorkmen are spreading asphalt on a portion of Center Street (also once called Catlins Lane) in Burlington probably in the 1920s. Steamroller can be seen to the right ready to tamp the pavement. Buildings seen include 191-195 Bank Street on the left, 207 Bank Street on right, 196 Bank to the mid-left. View is looking down Center St. toward Bank Street. The mansard-roof building to the right of center has been replaced by a parking garage. McAllister's embossed name seen in lower right. Photo published in Images of America Burlington, Vol. 2, p. 35.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Cherry Street (4X5)
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Cherry St. - Asphalt Paving Project. Photo dated June 29, 1946. This view of Cherry Street taken from the intersection of St. Paul Street shows the new stone-filled-sheet asphalt hot plant mix pavement in front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Catholic church (97 Cherry Street) only...
Show moreCherry St. - Asphalt Paving Project. Photo dated June 29, 1946. This view of Cherry Street taken from the intersection of St. Paul Street shows the new stone-filled-sheet asphalt hot plant mix pavement in front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Catholic church (97 Cherry Street) only a few days after its completion. This pavement was constructed approximately 2 inches in thickness over the old pavement as a base. The gutters were first built up to maintain a uniform depth of 6 inch curb face. Left side building is 35 St. Paul (three story wood frame with brick veneer)
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church St. (4X5)
- Date Created
- 1943-06-25
- Description
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June 25, 1943. Trolley Rail Removal Project, Burlington Street Department, Burlington, Vermont. This photo was "reshot" and is similar to another also showing the rail removal process in front of City Hall and Police Station with the paving crew following close behind the rail removing crew...
Show moreJune 25, 1943. Trolley Rail Removal Project, Burlington Street Department, Burlington, Vermont. This photo was "reshot" and is similar to another also showing the rail removal process in front of City Hall and Police Station with the paving crew following close behind the rail removing crew filling the trench with quick-setting cement concrete. Retail stores include Hayes and Carney Mens Clothes on the right next to the Western Union office. Distant right is City Hall. Further down is the mansard roof building that once served as a place of worship for the First Baptist Church from 1845-1864.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church St. (4X5)
- Date Created
- 1943-06-25
- Description
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June 25, 1943. Trolley track rail removal project. Church Street retail stores seen to the right include Hayes and Carney Men's Clothes, Western Union office, City Hall (distant right), mansard roof building (center) on Main Street that once served as place of worship for First Baptist Church...
Show moreJune 25, 1943. Trolley track rail removal project. Church Street retail stores seen to the right include Hayes and Carney Men's Clothes, Western Union office, City Hall (distant right), mansard roof building (center) on Main Street that once served as place of worship for First Baptist Church from the 1840s to 1864.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church Street
- Description
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Salvage Project. Trolley track Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view taken in front of Burlington City Hall (right) while the last rail was being pulled on June 25, 1943, shows the special rail pulling equipment including the device for the "rolling pull" on the rail shown at the...
Show moreSalvage Project. Trolley track Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view taken in front of Burlington City Hall (right) while the last rail was being pulled on June 25, 1943, shows the special rail pulling equipment including the device for the "rolling pull" on the rail shown at the end of the "A" frame. In the background beyond city hall is a mansard roof building (corner of Church and Main) used for worship by the First Baptist Church of Burlington from 1845-1864.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church Street
- Description
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Salvage Project Photo dates June 25, 1943 Trolley Track Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view shows Church Street in front of the Police Station showing the rail puller pulling the rail in front of the City Hall while the trench is being cleaned ready for replacing the concrete in...
Show moreSalvage Project Photo dates June 25, 1943 Trolley Track Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view shows Church Street in front of the Police Station showing the rail puller pulling the rail in front of the City Hall while the trench is being cleaned ready for replacing the concrete in front of the Police Station entrance and the concrete being replaced in the foreground. The concrete was mixed at the Municipal Asphalt Plant with the Asphalt Pub-mill mixer and hauled to the job in trucks where it was shoveled into the trenches as seen in the picture. View looks south toward Main Street. Signs for retail stores seen on the left include those for Grover's Radio Shop, a bakery and Howe's Market. Name of McAllister's studio embossed in lower right.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church Street
- Description
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Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vt. Date on photo June 25, 1943. This view shows the process of removing the trolley car tracks on Church Street where they were embedded in reinforced concrete. An auxiliary air tank was used to supply additional compressed air for operating the paving breakers...
Show moreRail Removal Project, Burlington, Vt. Date on photo June 25, 1943. This view shows the process of removing the trolley car tracks on Church Street where they were embedded in reinforced concrete. An auxiliary air tank was used to supply additional compressed air for operating the paving breakers in loosening the cement around the rails. This picture was taken on the last day of this project. Construction workers seen. To the left is Burlington City Hall; just beyond is the Fire Station. On the right are retail stores that include Ellsworth jewelry, Star Restaurant American and Chinese (144 Church St.)
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Cliff Street
- Date Created
- 1938-08-10
- Description
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An operator drives one of the City of Burlington Asphalt Distributor vehicles during the paving construction of Cliff Street at the intersection with Summit(?) Street sign post seen to the right. View is from the top of the street looking down the hill. McAllister studio name embossed in lower...
Show moreAn operator drives one of the City of Burlington Asphalt Distributor vehicles during the paving construction of Cliff Street at the intersection with Summit(?) Street sign post seen to the right. View is from the top of the street looking down the hill. McAllister studio name embossed in lower right above date. Aug. 10, 1938.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Cliff Street
- Date Created
- 1938-02-26
- Description
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Construction of Cliff Street looking up the hill. Workers stand in a wide trench. Scattered rocks in the foreground. Date on photo Feb. 26, 1938.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Cliff Street
- Date Created
- 1938-07-27
- Description
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Construction of Cliff Street in Burlington. Date on photo is July 27, 1938.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Cliff Street
- Date Created
- 1938-02-26
- Description
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Construction crew on Cliff Street as the men work in a wide trench dealing with the rocks. Truck seen center. View looking up the hill probably from So. Willard. Date Feb. 26, 1938.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Cliff Street
- Date Created
- 1938-02-26
- Description
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Construction crew digging on Cliff Street in Burlington in this Feb. 26, 1938 photo.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Cliff Street
- Date Created
- 1938-07-27
- Description
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July 27, 1938. Construction of Cliff Street in Burlington. The construction crew has prepared the road bed with crushed stone. Wooden stakes mark the center. View is looking up the hill. McAllister studio name embossed.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Cliff Street
- Date Created
- 1938
- Description
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1938 construction of Cliff Street in Burlington. The road surface has been covered with crushed stone and leveled. View is looking down the hill. McAllister studio name embossed.