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
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- Burlington Streets: Maple Street
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Photograph dated July 12, 1933 taken at a track crossing on Maple Street near Battery Street. The photograph is looking easterly up Maple Street past the Burlington Coal & Ice Co. (50 Maple Street) and, across the street, Burlington Grocery CO. (49 Battery Street).
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- Burlington Streets: Maple Street
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Undated photograph taken at the intersection of Pine and Maple Street showing the apartment building on the northwest corner of the intersection.
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- Burlington Streets: Mill St.
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Photograph dated Nov. 1, 1941. Looking westerly, the bridge crossing the Winooski River can be seen. Original caption reads: Mill Street, Burlington, Vermont showing completed job. American Bitumuls Stabilizer being used for 4 1/2" stabilized base on which a 2" penetration armour coat has been...
Show morePhotograph dated Nov. 1, 1941. Looking westerly, the bridge crossing the Winooski River can be seen. Original caption reads: Mill Street, Burlington, Vermont showing completed job. American Bitumuls Stabilizer being used for 4 1/2" stabilized base on which a 2" penetration armour coat has been constructed. The sidewalk at the right was constructed with soft coal cinders and stabilized with Bitumuls Stabalizer.
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- Burlington Streets: Morse Place
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Original caption reads: W.P.A. Highway Construction. A view looking east along Morse Place showing the road bed already prepared and a portion of the telford base in place. This photograph was taken from a point east of the intersection of Pine Street and Morse Place.
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- Burlington Streets: Morse Place
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Photograph taken Dec. 9, 1942. Original caption reads: This view shows lower Pine Street looking south from the intersection of Morse Place after the underground work including gas main, water main and sewer main had been completed and excavation for telford stone base was being dine. A...
Show morePhotograph taken Dec. 9, 1942. Original caption reads: This view shows lower Pine Street looking south from the intersection of Morse Place after the underground work including gas main, water main and sewer main had been completed and excavation for telford stone base was being dine. A considerable amount of boulders and rock excavation was necessary in widening and relocating the limits of the street.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Morse Place
- Description
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Photograph dated Mar. 1, 1934. Original caption reads: P.W.A. SEWER PROJECT NO. 2353. A section of Morse Place Sewer near Pine Street. This section is all heavy clay soil with some boulders and was done under sub-zero weather conditions resulting in a much decreased efficiency.
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- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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Photograph dated June 4, 1934. The C. H. Goss Co., an auto dealership located at 237 North Avenue, can be seen to the left. Original caption reads: P.W.A. Project #2232. This is a view of the North Ave Widening Project looking northerly from Barry St. It shoes the completion of the Project which...
Show morePhotograph dated June 4, 1934. The C. H. Goss Co., an auto dealership located at 237 North Avenue, can be seen to the left. Original caption reads: P.W.A. Project #2232. This is a view of the North Ave Widening Project looking northerly from Barry St. It shoes the completion of the Project which included 10" Telfold base, a 2" penetration course and a 2" binder wearing course together with integral curb and gutter.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: North Ave
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Photograph dated Sept. 18, 1940. Original caption reads: North Avenue Reinforced Paving Project. This view is taken from a point opposite the Thayer School looking northerly. Note the work being done to raise the last slab of concrete on the easterly side of the old pavement after it has settled...
Show morePhotograph dated Sept. 18, 1940. Original caption reads: North Avenue Reinforced Paving Project. This view is taken from a point opposite the Thayer School looking northerly. Note the work being done to raise the last slab of concrete on the easterly side of the old pavement after it has settled because of sewer construction near the right hand edge; also note the several house connection installations being done in advance of the paving construction.
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- Burlington Streets: North Ave
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Photograph dated Oct. 2, 1940. Original caption reads: North Avenue Concrete Paving Project. This view shows the progress of paving construction since September 18, 1940. The concrete slabs in the immediate foreground are old nine foot width slabs. Note that the new slabs are ten feet in width....
Show morePhotograph dated Oct. 2, 1940. Original caption reads: North Avenue Concrete Paving Project. This view shows the progress of paving construction since September 18, 1940. The concrete slabs in the immediate foreground are old nine foot width slabs. Note that the new slabs are ten feet in width. The easterly slab has been completed to station 1700, just north of the intersection of Stanford Road. The grading has been completed on the westerly half for the distance shown in the asphalt heating kettle shown in the right background.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: North Ave
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Photograph dated Nov. 8, 1938 showing the condition of North Avenue. The photograph is looking northerly past the Lake View Cemetery, the fence of which can be seen to the left. A photograph in this collection dated Nov. 4, 1931 was taken from almost this exact location.
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- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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Original caption reads: Mouth of River Project. This view taken from a point just northerly of the curve at the foot of the hill shows the old narrow roadway leading up the hill and the "hairpin" curve. The road leads around the curve to the right at the foot of the hill. Brush from tree cutting...
Show moreOriginal caption reads: Mouth of River Project. This view taken from a point just northerly of the curve at the foot of the hill shows the old narrow roadway leading up the hill and the "hairpin" curve. The road leads around the curve to the right at the foot of the hill. Brush from tree cutting was dumped into the gully in the foreground to help prevent erosion, the brush being later covered with excavated materials.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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Photograph dated Aug. 28, 1931, showing a work crew spreading asphalt during a North Avenue paving project. The fence to Lake View Cemetery and the residence at 455 North Avenue can be scene behind the crew.
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- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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Original caption reads: North Avenue Street Widening Project, WPA No. 65-12-336 looking North from a point opposite Lake View Cemetery residence. Note telford base nearly completed on west shoulder with crushed stone for penetration course in place. East shoulder approximately one-half excavated...
Show moreOriginal caption reads: North Avenue Street Widening Project, WPA No. 65-12-336 looking North from a point opposite Lake View Cemetery residence. Note telford base nearly completed on west shoulder with crushed stone for penetration course in place. East shoulder approximately one-half excavated with Telford Base and chestnut stone in place.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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Photograph dated Feb. 23, 1940. Original caption reads: WPA Project No. 655-12-2-62. This view shows the construction of the North End Sewer in front of the George Farrington [1106 North Ave.] and the Ralph Thayer [1076 North Ave.] residence opposite the entrance to the Burlington Rendering...
Show morePhotograph dated Feb. 23, 1940. Original caption reads: WPA Project No. 655-12-2-62. This view shows the construction of the North End Sewer in front of the George Farrington [1106 North Ave.] and the Ralph Thayer [1076 North Ave.] residence opposite the entrance to the Burlington Rendering Company's plant. This section of the project is a 15" sewer being constructed entirely with hand labor, using sledge hammers and wedges for excavating through the frost. The Universal Crane used for pulling sheeting and handling materials on the job can be seen in the distance where the excavator is being used for installing the 18" pipe. The depth of the sewer at this location is approximately 12-13 feet.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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Photograph dated Oct. 2, 1940. Original caption reads: North Avenue Concrete Paving Project. This view is taken from just northerly of the intersection of Staniford Road where the last slab to approximately station 1700 is being poured before starting the second slab near the Thayer School. The...
Show morePhotograph dated Oct. 2, 1940. Original caption reads: North Avenue Concrete Paving Project. This view is taken from just northerly of the intersection of Staniford Road where the last slab to approximately station 1700 is being poured before starting the second slab near the Thayer School. The excavation in the right foreground is for installing a sewer connection prior to constructing the concrete pavement.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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Photograph dated May 15, 1934. Original caption reads: P.W.A Project #2232. This view looking northerly on the North Ave Widening Project shows the application of the 2" binder wearing course.
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- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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Photo dated June 29, 1931, showing a work crew widening North Avenue in preparation for paving. The fence to Lake View Cemetery can be seen to the left, as well as the residence located at 455 North Avenue.
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- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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Photograph dated May 2, 1934, taken in from C.H. Goss Autos. Lake View Sanitorium can be seen to the right. Original caption reads: P.W.A. Project #2232. This view of the North Ave Widening Project looking northerly from Barry St. It shows the construction of the Telfold base course. Not the...
Show morePhotograph dated May 2, 1934, taken in from C.H. Goss Autos. Lake View Sanitorium can be seen to the right. Original caption reads: P.W.A. Project #2232. This view of the North Ave Widening Project looking northerly from Barry St. It shows the construction of the Telfold base course. Not the integral curb and gutter in place.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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Undated photograph showing a work crew drilling holes at the start of the blasting project on the hill located just north of Institute Road on North Avenue. This stretch of North Avenue has yet to be paved, and the tracks of the trolley line can be clearly seen in this photograph.
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- Burlington Streets: North Ave
- Description
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This photograph was taken before 1931 when Saiger's Store (pictured) was renamed Colodnys Public Market at 87-95 North Avenue. Note trolley tracks. Original caption reads: Looking west on North St. to North Ave., before new construction work.