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
Show less
Related Archival Collection
Pages
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Hayward St. & Hayward St. Sewer
- Description
-
March 1, 1934. South Park at Hayward Street sewer project, Burlington, Vt. Men stand in a ditch with pick axes raised. A chain link fence runs across the path of the ditch. This picture shows a section of sewer trench leading to its junction with main leading from Shelburne Street where the flow...
Show moreMarch 1, 1934. South Park at Hayward Street sewer project, Burlington, Vt. Men stand in a ditch with pick axes raised. A chain link fence runs across the path of the ditch. This picture shows a section of sewer trench leading to its junction with main leading from Shelburne Street where the flow was diverted into new system. Done under P.W.A. sewer Docket No. 2353. Note heavy clay soil.
Show less
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Hayward St. & Hayward St. Sewer
- Description
-
January 12, 1942. Hayward Street Improvements: This view shows the drop-hammer weighing approximately 1 1/2 tons being operated by the crane to break through the frost in place of compressor and paving breakers. W.C. Kirby's power-shovel is loading the material into trucks. Three new catch basins...
Show moreJanuary 12, 1942. Hayward Street Improvements: This view shows the drop-hammer weighing approximately 1 1/2 tons being operated by the crane to break through the frost in place of compressor and paving breakers. W.C. Kirby's power-shovel is loading the material into trucks. Three new catch basins were constructed on this intersection to replace the old one.
Show less
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Hayward St. & Hayward St. Sewer
- Description
-
April 13, 1934. P.W.A. Sewer Project No. 2353. South Park. A section of Hayward Street sewer looking north and after backfill is nearing completion. Note wet condition of terrain which necessitated pumping during excavation preceding the laying of the tile and the addition of a 6" sand cushion...
Show moreApril 13, 1934. P.W.A. Sewer Project No. 2353. South Park. A section of Hayward Street sewer looking north and after backfill is nearing completion. Note wet condition of terrain which necessitated pumping during excavation preceding the laying of the tile and the addition of a 6" sand cushion under tile.
Show less
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Hayward St. & Hayward St. Sewer
- Description
-
March 1, 1934. South Park & Hayward Street sewer project P.W.A. Docket no. 2353, Burlington, Vt. View of the trench.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Hayward St. & Hayward St. Sewer
- Description
-
April 13, 1934. P.W.A. Sewer Project Docket No. 2353. South Park. A section of Hayward Street sewer looking south showing manhole in center of section which was of unusual construction due to ravine intersection with sewer main.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Hayward St. & Hayward St. Sewer
- Description
-
April 13, 1934. P.W.A. Sewer Project Docket No. 2353. South Park This view shows a section of Hayward Street Sewer looking north. Note unusual height of manhole construction occasioned by ravine intersecting sewer main at this point. This manhole was reinforced and protected on both sides by...
Show moreApril 13, 1934. P.W.A. Sewer Project Docket No. 2353. South Park This view shows a section of Hayward Street Sewer looking north. Note unusual height of manhole construction occasioned by ravine intersecting sewer main at this point. This manhole was reinforced and protected on both sides by cribbing made of old railroad ties and anchored with rubble and extra fill from sewer trench.
Show less
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Home Ave.
- Description
-
May 2, 1934. South End P.W.A. Sewer Project Docket No. 2353 A Section of Home Avenue near Wells Street. Note that ledge is encountered the entire depth from ground level to grade of sewer. The truck appears to contain the power source via tubing for the hand-held jack hammer one of the workmen...
Show moreMay 2, 1934. South End P.W.A. Sewer Project Docket No. 2353 A Section of Home Avenue near Wells Street. Note that ledge is encountered the entire depth from ground level to grade of sewer. The truck appears to contain the power source via tubing for the hand-held jack hammer one of the workmen holds.
Show less
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Pine St (4X5's)
- Description
-
March 1, 1934. South End Sewer Project. Docket No. 2353 Burlington, Vermont. Men work after a heavy snowfall.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Pine St.
- Description
-
September 15, 1944. Pine Street Project, D.A. - W.I. No. 4, Burlington, Vermont. (Defense Area - War Industry No. 4) This project financed by the Federal Government as an Access Highway to a Defense Plant was handled and supervised through the Vermont State Highway Department. The construction...
Show moreSeptember 15, 1944. Pine Street Project, D.A. - W.I. No. 4, Burlington, Vermont. (Defense Area - War Industry No. 4) This project financed by the Federal Government as an Access Highway to a Defense Plant was handled and supervised through the Vermont State Highway Department. The construction work was done under contract by D. W. Overocker, General Contractor of Burlington, Vermont. The Pine Street Section of the Project consisted primarily of: - (a) Furnished and placed gravel base approximately 12 inches in depth over the entire length of this section from Howard Street to Flynn Ave. (b) Excavating sections near the intersection of Howard Street including the railroad crossing, the intersection of Lakeside Ave. and the intersection at Flynn Ave. where-ever the old pavement would not permit a minimum depth of 12 inches. (c) Furnishing and installing drainage pipes and constructing catch basins and cross culverts for surface drainage. (d) Constructing 3 inch mixed-in-place asphalt pavement 24 feet in width with 5 foot gravel shoulder on either side. (e) Reconstructing railroad crossing to Tuletex Plant (at expense of E. B. and A. C. Whiting Co.). This view shows item (e) railroad crossing during construction. Note 12 inch depth of forms placed on top of surface of old pavement and new rails and ties placed on top of old crossing which was left in place. Concrete was poured in one pouring with 12 inch depth. Note extra rail placed inside of main rail for flanfe protection. This view was taken at the intersection of the center line of the crossing with the westerly sidewalk. Note that the track has been raised at this point to allow for constructing the new track above the old crossing which was left in place as the old concrete street crosing extended.
Show less
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Pine St.
- Description
-
February 19, 1932. Men in the railroad yard working on the tracks with heavy machinery, shovels and drills.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Proctor Place
- Description
-
June 13, 1935. Burlington, VT. V.E.R.A. Project No. 402-B7-15. Proctor Place sewer from Wright Ave. ravine sewer. Workmen stand above the ditch while others work in it.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Proctor Place
- Description
-
June 13, 1935. Burlington, Vt. V.E.R.A. Project No. 402-B7-15 Proctor Place sewer from Wright Ave. ravine sewer. Men work in what looks to be an open field. Small outbuildings or sheds seen to the right.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Prospect Street
- Description
-
February 13, 1935. V.E.R.A. (Vermont Emergency Relief Administration) Sewer Project looking north on Prospect Street. Excavation is through about 5 ft. of frost at this location.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Riverside Ave.
- Description
-
December 7, 1932. Photo of a stone culvert at the bottom of an embankment along Riverside Ave. Water from the Winooski River can be seen flowing out.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Riverside Ave.
- Description
-
Undated photo (1929 or early 1930s?) of Riverside Ave showing road construction project by the city street dept crew. Billboards are seen in the background including one advertising Lucky Strike cigarettes. Filling station seen to the left may be Fairview Garage of 110 Riverside Ave.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Riverside Ave.
- Description
-
Undated view (1929 or early 1930s?) of Riverside Ave embankment with timber barrier constructed. Billboards are seen across the road that include advertising for the New Sherwood Hotel. Another photo of this is in the collection looking from the opposite direction. (mcalA06F13i03)
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Riverside Ave.(4X5)
- Description
-
Undated view of Riverside Ave from across the gorge (Salmon Hole?) on the Winooski side. In the distance both the Fairview Garage (left) and Riverside Service Station (right) can be seen.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Staniford Road
- Description
-
October 1, 1942. Photo No. 15. This view of Staniford Road shows the Power Grader blading the surface and shaping the crown after the mixing and compacting with the Sheep's foot roller has been completed. Note the section in the background which was completed the previous day.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Winooski Ave.
- Description
-
Photograph dated Sept. 17, 1928, looking south on North Winooski Avenue from the intersection with North Street, showing the trolley tracks. This is the first in a pair of photographs showing the road surface before and after the paving project. Picture 2 has the id number mcalA07F10i13.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Winooski Ave.
- Description
-
Undated but apparently taken in 1924 as the below description indicates the street sweeper was purchased in 1923. Location is South Winooski Ave site of the old Burlington Street Department location. The "Elgin" Street Sweeper: Purchased by the Street Department April 1923. Cost $6,500 This...
Show moreUndated but apparently taken in 1924 as the below description indicates the street sweeper was purchased in 1923. Location is South Winooski Ave site of the old Burlington Street Department location. The "Elgin" Street Sweeper: Purchased by the Street Department April 1923. Cost $6,500 This picture was taken after one year's service in which over 17,000,000 sq. yards of pavement were cleaned and 4688 cubic yards of dirt was picked up at an average cost of $0.22 per 1000 sq. yards cleaned and $0.84 cubic yard. picked up. This picture taken as it started out on it's second season after being completely overhauled and painted by the operator and his helper.
Show less