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: Elmwood Ave.
- Date Created
- 1931-08-28
- Description
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August 28, 1931 dated photo. Construction crew works repaving the street. Sign atop one of the vehicles identifies it as belonging to the City of Burlington Street Dept.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Elmwood Ave.
- Date Created
- 1931-08-28
- Description
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Aug. 28, 1931 dated photo. City of Burlington Street Dept vehicles and construction crew on repaving project. American Elms line the street.
- 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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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (4X5's)
- Description
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Undated (may be late 1920s or early 1930s) overhead view of the continuation of asphalt application over the old brick pavement on Main Street between South Winooski Ave. and Church Street. Note the old trolley car tracks which are being covered up. Cable wires are still strung and barely visible...
Show moreUndated (may be late 1920s or early 1930s) overhead view of the continuation of asphalt application over the old brick pavement on Main Street between South Winooski Ave. and Church Street. Note the old trolley car tracks which are being covered up. Cable wires are still strung and barely visible overhead. On the right is the Post Office. Further up the street is the Strong Theatre building.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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May 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project by the city street dept. of Burlington, Vermont. This view shows a close-up of the design of the "A" frame and the method of attaching it to the end of the crane boom. The corner of City Hall can be seen to the left in the background with its cupola rising above.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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May, 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project. Burlington, Vermont by the city street dept. This view shows the construction of the "A" Frame and the method of attaching the frame to the end of the 26 foot boom of the Universal Truck Crane. The chain falls attached to the end of the frame and the boom were...
Show moreMay, 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project. Burlington, Vermont by the city street dept. This view shows the construction of the "A" Frame and the method of attaching the frame to the end of the 26 foot boom of the Universal Truck Crane. The chain falls attached to the end of the frame and the boom were used for raising the frame when moving or when rough or uneven surface would not allow the frame to slide over the pavement without digging into the surface. Behind to the left is 174 Main, location of the Burlington Mutual Fire Insurance Company and on the right is 184 Main location of Gove, the Florist.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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April 29, 1943. Rail Removal Project by the Burlington Street Dept. Burlington, Vermont. In progress at intersection of Main and Church Street looking east. Note the method of removing brick pavement and breaking the concrete base with the aid of paving breakers. One truck mounted Chicago...
Show moreApril 29, 1943. Rail Removal Project by the Burlington Street Dept. Burlington, Vermont. In progress at intersection of Main and Church Street looking east. Note the method of removing brick pavement and breaking the concrete base with the aid of paving breakers. One truck mounted Chicago-Pneumatic air compressor (#110 cu. tt. per min. capacity) is shown at the right operating two paving breakers and an Ingersoll-Rand steel wheel mounted compressor (#160 cu. Ft. per min, capacity) with auxillary tanks is shown on the left drawn by an Allis Chalmers IB tractor. This auxillary tank arrangement was to provide extra storage capacity of air for use with additional paving breakers and more especially for the use of an Ingersoll-Rand Wagon Drill which was used in drilling through the solid concrete on Church St. and on Winooski Bridge. Large corner building on the left is location of Upton's Sandwich Shoppe at 156 Church Street(was earlier location of Burlington Sweet Shop), near top of building is still seen sign for Burlington Mutual Fire Insurance Company at 174 Main Street. To the left of Upton's is Howard's Grill at 152 Church Street ground level and above is billiards owned by William P. Denham.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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Mar. 18, 1940 dated photo. Allis-Chalmers, Model IB Tractor with 16 HP Engine, Equipped with a Baker "V" Type Sidewalk Snow Plow No. 281420-223V-111. This view shows the Allis-Chalmers Tractor #1 mounted with reversible blade plow being used to clean the ice and snow from the pavement on Main...
Show moreMar. 18, 1940 dated photo. Allis-Chalmers, Model IB Tractor with 16 HP Engine, Equipped with a Baker "V" Type Sidewalk Snow Plow No. 281420-223V-111. This view shows the Allis-Chalmers Tractor #1 mounted with reversible blade plow being used to clean the ice and snow from the pavement on Main Street, March 18, 1940, pushing the ice and snow into windrows for loading by Snow King Rotary Snow Plow. Directly behind are the First National Stores and Gove the Florist. Gove is at 184 Main Street.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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May 5, 1943. Trolley track Rail Removal Project by crew members of the Burlington street dept. Burlington, Vermont. This view looking west towards City Hall (seen in the upper right corner) shows the rails being removed from Main Street in front of the U.S. Post Office where a hot-mix asphalt...
Show moreMay 5, 1943. Trolley track Rail Removal Project by crew members of the Burlington street dept. Burlington, Vermont. This view looking west towards City Hall (seen in the upper right corner) shows the rails being removed from Main Street in front of the U.S. Post Office where a hot-mix asphalt pavement had been constructed over the top of the rails to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. On the left further down the street is the sign for the Hotel Vermont.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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Feb. 17, 1944. Snow Removal Project by the Burlington street dept. of Burlington, Vermont. This view looking east shows the results of using salt as an aid to snow removal and safe driving conditions. Note the height of the snow banks where the snow has been plowed to the shoulder and the absence...
Show moreFeb. 17, 1944. Snow Removal Project by the Burlington street dept. of Burlington, Vermont. This view looking east shows the results of using salt as an aid to snow removal and safe driving conditions. Note the height of the snow banks where the snow has been plowed to the shoulder and the absence of snow in the traveled portion of the street only a few hours after the application of the salt. To the right are businesses that include Amoco gas station, Chrysler car dealer.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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May, 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view shows 3 stages of the project on Main St. in front of the U.S. Post Office (on the left). In the foreground can be seen the concrete base which is just being poured in the trench on the right and the sub-base ready to receive the...
Show moreMay, 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view shows 3 stages of the project on Main St. in front of the U.S. Post Office (on the left). In the foreground can be seen the concrete base which is just being poured in the trench on the right and the sub-base ready to receive the concrete in the trench on the left, also 6 inch header at point of switch. The trench on the right beyond the header is ready for the rail to be removed. The rail is being removed in the background from the trench on the left by aid of the "A" frame and derrick. 2 inch hot asphalt plant mix will be constructed on top of the concrete base to finish the pavement. Also on the left center is the mansard roofed building that once was a place of worship for the First Baptist Church. Across the street from that building is seen a corner of the City Hall. On the right are businesses including the Federal Savings and Loan.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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Sept. 1, 1929. View of Main Street looking east up the hill from intersection of Church Street. Note the old trolley car tracks and overhead wires, also uneven and worn condition of the old brick pavement. This picture was taken just before constructing the new asphalt pavement by the city street...
Show moreSept. 1, 1929. View of Main Street looking east up the hill from intersection of Church Street. Note the old trolley car tracks and overhead wires, also uneven and worn condition of the old brick pavement. This picture was taken just before constructing the new asphalt pavement by the city street dept., using the old brick pavement as a base. Parked cars and businesses line both sides of the street. On the right is the Strong Theatre with a sign along one side of the building advertising "Vermont home of Chilton Paint Co." In the distant center of photo a car cruises through the intersection of Main and South Winooski Ave.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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May 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view shows Rail Removal Project on Main Street in front of U.S. Post Office where a hot-mix asphalt pavement had been constructed over the top of the rails to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Retail stores on the left include the State Liquor...
Show moreMay 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view shows Rail Removal Project on Main Street in front of U.S. Post Office where a hot-mix asphalt pavement had been constructed over the top of the rails to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Retail stores on the left include the State Liquor Store, Federal Savings and Loan and business sign advertising personal loans.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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Undated view (may be late 1920s or early 1930s) of the corner of Main Street and St. Paul showing workmen (probably city street dept crew) working on the sidewalks. Portions of the sidewalks can be seen covered with a protective material. The street is paved with brick. A horse and wagon can be...
Show moreUndated view (may be late 1920s or early 1930s) of the corner of Main Street and St. Paul showing workmen (probably city street dept crew) working on the sidewalks. Portions of the sidewalks can be seen covered with a protective material. The street is paved with brick. A horse and wagon can be seen in the center of the photo. Behind is the Hotel Vermont.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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May 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project. Burlington, Vermont by the city street dept. This view, looking east up the hill, shows Rail Removal Project at intersection of Main Street and So. Winooski Ave. where a hot-mix asphalt pavement had been constructed over the top of the rails to a depth of 2 to 3...
Show moreMay 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project. Burlington, Vermont by the city street dept. This view, looking east up the hill, shows Rail Removal Project at intersection of Main Street and So. Winooski Ave. where a hot-mix asphalt pavement had been constructed over the top of the rails to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. On the right are businesses that include (extreme right) Kent-Thomas Co advertising Armstrong tires at 211-213 Main, further up is 229 Main location of Nourse's restaurant. Across the street at 220 Main is the Chittenden County Jail, J. Frederick Lynch, county sheriff.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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Oct. 19, 1929 view of Main Street looking east up the hill following the repaving of the street over the old brick surface and the trolley car tracks done by the city street dept. The overhead cable wires are still visible. To the right is the Strong Theatre and the "Vermont home of the Chilton...
Show moreOct. 19, 1929 view of Main Street looking east up the hill following the repaving of the street over the old brick surface and the trolley car tracks done by the city street dept. The overhead cable wires are still visible. To the right is the Strong Theatre and the "Vermont home of the Chilton Paint Co."
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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May 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view shows Main St. between Church St. and St. Paul St. after the rails had been removed and the trenches filled with concrete. From left to right is marque for Flynn Theatre advertising My Friend Flicka film starring Roddy McDowell,...
Show moreMay 5, 1943. Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view shows Main St. between Church St. and St. Paul St. after the rails had been removed and the trenches filled with concrete. From left to right is marque for Flynn Theatre advertising My Friend Flicka film starring Roddy McDowell, Preston Foster, center photo is the Park Cafe, Hotel Vermont seen on the corner and Van Ness House background right.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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Repaving of lower Main Street seemingly near the Ferry docks. The overhead trolley cable wires are still seen. City street dept crew and vehicles on site applying what looks like asphalt on a corner. Sign on the side of a building advertises the Ferry to Ausable Chasm across Lake Champlain on the...
Show moreRepaving of lower Main Street seemingly near the Ferry docks. The overhead trolley cable wires are still seen. City street dept crew and vehicles on site applying what looks like asphalt on a corner. Sign on the side of a building advertises the Ferry to Ausable Chasm across Lake Champlain on the New York side. Undated photo but may be late 1920s or early 1930s.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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Undated (late 1920s, early 1930s?) view looking east up the hill with trolley (cable) car tracks running the center of lower Main Street. Two men (possibly city street dept crew) stand beside a truck and seem to access the construction project. To the right a sign advertising "Star Cars, low cost...
Show moreUndated (late 1920s, early 1930s?) view looking east up the hill with trolley (cable) car tracks running the center of lower Main Street. Two men (possibly city street dept crew) stand beside a truck and seem to access the construction project. To the right a sign advertising "Star Cars, low cost transportation".
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