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: Institute Road
- Description
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June 29, 1946 Institute Road - Rock Excavation Street Widening Project. This view looking easterly from the intersection of the road leading to Bishop Hopkins Hall looking toward North Ave. Shows the appearance of the sidewalk and filling as it was being constructed. Note that the sidewalk was...
Show moreJune 29, 1946 Institute Road - Rock Excavation Street Widening Project. This view looking easterly from the intersection of the road leading to Bishop Hopkins Hall looking toward North Ave. Shows the appearance of the sidewalk and filling as it was being constructed. Note that the sidewalk was placed parallel to the street line and a sufficient distance from the trees to avoid any injury to the trees.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Institute Road
- Description
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April 11, 1946 Institute Road - Rock Excavation Street Widening Project. This view taken from the intersection of the road leading to Bishop Hopkins Hall looking easterly toward North Ave. shows the appearance of Institute Road after all rock excavation and widening had been completed ready for...
Show moreApril 11, 1946 Institute Road - Rock Excavation Street Widening Project. This view taken from the intersection of the road leading to Bishop Hopkins Hall looking easterly toward North Ave. shows the appearance of Institute Road after all rock excavation and widening had been completed ready for the earth fill to be placed on the shoulders.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Intervale
- Description
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July 29, 1946 City of Burlington, Vermont, Street Department Intervale Road Project: -Asphalt Stabilized Base This view taken after the completion of the project shows the surface of the Armor Coat which was constructed on the stabilized base shown under construction in the previous picture.
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- Burlington Streets: Intervale
- Description
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July 29, 1946. Intervale road construction project by the city street dept. Shows road resurfaced near the railroad tracks and crossing sign.
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- Burlington Streets: Intervale
- Description
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June 29, 1946. Burlington Street Department - Burlington, Vermont. Intervale Road - Asphalt Stabilized base and Armor Coat Wearing Surface. This view taken from the intersection of Riverside Ave. looking northerly toward the railroad track shows the mixing process while constructing the...
Show moreJune 29, 1946. Burlington Street Department - Burlington, Vermont. Intervale Road - Asphalt Stabilized base and Armor Coat Wearing Surface. This view taken from the intersection of Riverside Ave. looking northerly toward the railroad track shows the mixing process while constructing the stabilized base using asphalt emulsion (XRM) as a binder. The materials used for aggregate on this job was road gravel hauled from the Lunderville Pit in the town of Williston last October (1945) and spread approximately 28 feet in width over the entire section from Riverside Ave. to the railroad crossing, a distance of approximately 875 feet. Note the Allis-Chalmers Power Grader mixing the gravel after the asphalt emulsion had been applied by pressure distributor. The Armor Coat Wearing surface was constructed directly after the stabilized base had been completed. This is a very economical type of paving, especially where a cheaper grade of materials can be used and the location does not demand a higher type of pavement.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Intervale
- Description
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June 29, 1946. Burlington Street Department - Burlington, Vermont Intervale Road - Asphalt Stabilized base and Armor Coat Wearing Surface This view taken from the railroad crossing looking southerly toward Riverside Ave. shows the mixing process while constructing the stabilized base using...
Show moreJune 29, 1946. Burlington Street Department - Burlington, Vermont Intervale Road - Asphalt Stabilized base and Armor Coat Wearing Surface This view taken from the railroad crossing looking southerly toward Riverside Ave. shows the mixing process while constructing the stabilized base using asphalt emulsion (XRM) as a binder. The materials used for aggregate on this job was road gravel hauled from the Lunderville Pit in the town of Williston last October and spread approximately 28 feet in width over the entire section from Riverside Ave. to the railroad crossing, a distance of approximately 875 feet. Note the Allis-Chalmers Power Grader mixing the gravel after the asphalt emulsion had been applied by pressure distributor. The Armor Coat Wearing Surface was constructed directly after the stabilized base had been completed. This is a very economical type of paving, especially where a cheaper grade of materials can be used and the location does not demand a higher type of pavement. Note the high embankment in the right background where several thousand cubic yards of filling was loaded by the Street Department with its power shovel and hauled with trucks to widen both sides of Intervale Road on the section between the railroad crossing and Riverside Ave. as well as the grading around the new catch basins and the filling of the ramp on the river bank where the undertile drainage pipe leads to the river. All of this filling was donated free of charge by the owner of the property (Geo. C. Stanley and Sons) to the City as well as a considerable amount of concrete sand and gravel for the construction of concrete catch basins and headwalls in connection with the drainage system. This project, which was approved for construction by the Board of Street Commissioners in June 1945 was practically completed on July 3, 1946 for the first section. The original plans included the second section from the railroad crossing northerly to a point approximately 100 feet northerly by the so-called Pariseau residence. This section was prepared last fall as to the grading and gravel surface and as no underground drainage is necessary it can be completed with very little expense as the only materials necessary to purchase will be asphalt emulsion.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Intervale Rd.
- Description
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November 26, 1928. Washout on Intervale Road caused by flood of Nov. 4, 1927 as it looked just before starting work of construction of new road Nov. 1928.
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- Burlington Streets: Lake Street
- Description
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May 8, 1936. Lake Street, WPA Project No. 65-12-336 looking South from intersection of Depot Street. This project consists of widening pavement to twenty four feet with Telford stone base construction, surfacing with a leveling course of penetration macadam varying in thickness from one to four...
Show moreMay 8, 1936. Lake Street, WPA Project No. 65-12-336 looking South from intersection of Depot Street. This project consists of widening pavement to twenty four feet with Telford stone base construction, surfacing with a leveling course of penetration macadam varying in thickness from one to four inches and constructing Hot Mix stone filled sheet asphalt wearing surface two inches in thickness. Local businesses of Shepard & Morse Lumber Co. and Wilson & Co., wholesale meats seen to the right. Railroad cars and tankers to the left.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Lake Street
- Description
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May 8, 1936. Lake Street, WPA Project No. 65-12-336 looking South from intersection of Depot Street. This project consists of widening pavement to twenty four feet with Telford stone base construction, surfacing with a leveling course of penetration macadam varying in thickness from one to four...
Show moreMay 8, 1936. Lake Street, WPA Project No. 65-12-336 looking South from intersection of Depot Street. This project consists of widening pavement to twenty four feet with Telford stone base construction, surfacing with a leveling course of penetration macadam varying in thickness from one to four inches and constructing Hot Mix stone filled sheet asphalt wearing surface two inches in thickness.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Lakeside Ave
- Description
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December 5, 1945. City of Burlington, Vermont, Street Department. Lakeside Ave. Pavement Base Construction. This view was taken from a point near the intersection of Conger Ave. looking westerly toward the Lake Champlain. The new factory building just completed for the Blodgett Co. is shown with...
Show moreDecember 5, 1945. City of Burlington, Vermont, Street Department. Lakeside Ave. Pavement Base Construction. This view was taken from a point near the intersection of Conger Ave. looking westerly toward the Lake Champlain. The new factory building just completed for the Blodgett Co. is shown with parking area base recently constructed between the street line and the building. Note the asphalt emulsion stabilized base which was mixed the previous day before taking this picture. Cold weather and frost conditions had frozen the base mixture on the left half of the street but the job was continued on the north half in spite of the low temperatures as the street had to be put in condition to receive traffic for the winter, this street being on a regular bus line. The job was continued by placing a 2 inch layer of crushed stone on this stabilized base and penetrating the same with asphalt emulsion and covering with concrete sand as a "blotter" for the winter and then opened to traffic. This project will be continued to completion in the spring by constructing an integral concrete curb and gutter on the south side of a 3 inch hot plant mix wearing surface over the entire pavement area. Note the asphalt distributor applying emulsion and the tractor and harrow mixing the base.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Lakeside Ave
- Description
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December 11, 1945. City of Burlington, Vermont, Street Department. Lakeside Ave. Pavement Base Construction. This view was taken from a point near the intersection of Conger Ave. looking westerly towards the lake. Note that the temporary wearing surface had been constructed for the base after the...
Show moreDecember 11, 1945. City of Burlington, Vermont, Street Department. Lakeside Ave. Pavement Base Construction. This view was taken from a point near the intersection of Conger Ave. looking westerly towards the lake. Note that the temporary wearing surface had been constructed for the base after the work of mixing and stabilizing the base had been completed as shown in the picture under date Dec. 5, 1945. This stage of construction was done to enable the street to be used during the winter and early spring without experiencing the troubles of early spring break-up of the old dirt and cinder street. The pavement will be completed in the summer of 1946. Note the crushed stone base placed in the driveway after regrading to meet new grades.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Lakeside Ave
- Description
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Aug. 3, 1944. This view taken from Rutland Railroad tracks over underpass looking easterly on Lakeside Ave. shows condition of shoulder on outside of concrete pavement on the right where new concrete slab is to be constructed. Entrances to parking area will have to be recessed and old transformer...
Show moreAug. 3, 1944. This view taken from Rutland Railroad tracks over underpass looking easterly on Lakeside Ave. shows condition of shoulder on outside of concrete pavement on the right where new concrete slab is to be constructed. Entrances to parking area will have to be recessed and old transformer pole removed in foreground.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Lakeside Ave
- Description
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August 3, 1944. This view taken from the easterly side of Pine St. at the intersection of Lakeside Ave. shows the old 18 foot concrete pavement as it appeared on Aug. 3, 1944, before construction work began. The pole line on the left side of the pavement had just been reset to clear the center...
Show moreAugust 3, 1944. This view taken from the easterly side of Pine St. at the intersection of Lakeside Ave. shows the old 18 foot concrete pavement as it appeared on Aug. 3, 1944, before construction work began. The pole line on the left side of the pavement had just been reset to clear the center line of the pavement a distance of 26 feet, allowing for the proposed 12 foot shoulder. Note the stone monument in the foreground which marks the intersection of the center line of Pine St. and the center line of Lakeside Ave. This monument will be reset with a lamphole frame and cover for protection during construction work. Note Bell Aircraft employees cars parked in parking lot on left, also railroad underpass in back ground which is approximate westerly end of project.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Ledge Road
- Description
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January 23, 1935. V.E.R.A. (Vermont Emergency Relief Administration) Sewer Project On upper end of Ledge Road at intersection of So. Prospect Street. Note the heavy rock excavation.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Ledge Road
- Description
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October 9, 1935 view of intersection of Route 7 (Shelburne Road or Street) and bottom of Ledge Road as it ascends up hill to the east. City street dept workmen do road or sewer construction. A dept. truck supplies power.
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- Burlington Streets: Ledge Road
- Description
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Dated photo may be Feb. 1935. V.E.R.A. Sewer Project. Looking East on Ledge Road. Note the amount of rock excavation and the old 8" sewer pipe which is to be replaced with 15" pipe.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Locust St.
- Description
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Undated photo but may be 1930s road construction by city street dept. A portion of the road has been dug up.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Locust St.
- Description
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May 8, 1939. Locust Street, WPA Project No. 665-12-1-38 looking easterly from Pine Street while constructing telford base and sidewalk filling.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (4X5's)
- Description
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Mar. 18, 1940. This view shows the Snow King Rotary Snow Plow in section mounted on the front of the Street Department's Walter's Snow Fighter Truck in front of the Post Office on Main Street. Note the discharge spout delivering snow over the high side boards of the five cubic yard truck. This...
Show moreMar. 18, 1940. This view shows the Snow King Rotary Snow Plow in section mounted on the front of the Street Department's Walter's Snow Fighter Truck in front of the Post Office on Main Street. Note the discharge spout delivering snow over the high side boards of the five cubic yard truck. This loader is capable of loading a five cubic yard load in less than one-half minutes and has frequently loaded one hundred-five cubic yard truck loads of new fallen snow in approximately one and one-half hours working time including delays because of traffic and street intersections clean up.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (4X5's)
- Description
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March 18, 1940 late winter view of Main Street in front of the Strong Theatre building. The Snow King Rotary Snow Plow is mounted on the city street dept Walter's Snow Fighter Truck as it performs snow removal. Note the movie marque at the Strong, "The Marines Fly High" starring Richard Dix and...
Show moreMarch 18, 1940 late winter view of Main Street in front of the Strong Theatre building. The Snow King Rotary Snow Plow is mounted on the city street dept Walter's Snow Fighter Truck as it performs snow removal. Note the movie marque at the Strong, "The Marines Fly High" starring Richard Dix and Chester Morris.
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