Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-27
Improvements on the Square.

Fifty years ago, the mercantile business
OF Burlington. much of which had previous
ly been transacted in the stores along Pearl
street, above Church street, which have
long since disappeared. was setting pretty
decidedly toward Court House Square.
An important step in this movement Of
trade was marked by the erection. in 1880,
of new brick block. for the then young
firm Of j. Il J, II. Peck Il Co, on the north
side Of the Square It was Of three stories,
which was then as high as anybody built in
this region. and it was intended 10 be. and
was, the be-t block in Burlington, or in the
State at that time The seven columns Of
brown sand stone which distinguished its
front, gave it an ominenty substantial ap-
appearance. somewhat impaired in later
Years. il l. true. By the lowering Of the
grade OF the sidewalk, which uncovered the
stone foundation wall a: the base Of the
columns
Oa the ~e-ternm1s. Of these columns the
late Pr John Peck. when the block was
hailt. placed hall dime which was found
lat - ring. ny Mr. f " Peek. when the
tearing ga. ol the front commenced, Ca the
pot where bis iatbcr placed it forty i've
Years before The block. originally. a now
inc,ul5d tie buildings on the eas' and Gr~t.
at present occupied by K. B. Stoa:ns y Co.,
and the Merchants National Bank The CEN
,ral portion. OF iorty-eght feet frout, was
owned and occupied by J. u j. II. Peck u
Co, the second f Dor being let, as it Is still,
for ydi1e- Here George p Marsh, and
Wyily- Lyman, AID Charles D. Kasson. and
Other well known lawyers of that day, had
their Offices; and here f. A. Stansbury pub
lished the Burlington Courier, in the rooms
from which in after years SAKE Issued the
N.nhaG
There was sharp rivalry in those days be-
tween Water street and the quare-between
the wholesale store at the head Of the South
Wharf, and that Of which We write
"A rivalry the details of which, extending
~ it did in time to political and social
circles, AID eliminating in the rival rail-
road interests Of the Vernon; Central and
Rutland roads, would make a longer story
than We have room for Today.
The Square, however, became fairly the
business centre Of Burlington. Here were
loaded most of the big six horse and eight
hor-e LAID ships, which, before the era
OF tie railroads, distributed iron and nails.
flour and groceries across Vermont; and
here the house oi j. ~ J H. Peek d Co did
II trade Which was not equalled in extent
by any COMMERCIAL house between Troy
and Montreal
Some twenty odd years ago. the Street Com
missiouers began lowering the grade Of CO..
leEe street on the north side OF the Square.
which has reached its present level by NJ
inerous stages Of depression The lowering
Of the sidewalk, of course, ali cted the ap-
pearauee of tie block and was an neon
venience "a it, occupants. The owners Of
Peck's Book. would not. hovcycr. lower
their 'ral., ,il ;hey could have some guar
anty tht, !.e trade would stay J8 aud
thy arc naf sorry they wai.el They have
seen ia ia..'s -iiTc year, past. no less than
fce l3~trr-~ col Tue grade ct C9lle.e
street la ir,nr Of thcia, and sig Coverings D,
the lev, col, the Sidewalk. Finally, the
grade w. a--eb,i>hed at IL present. level.
aud vh'u 30. passage 81 the receu; law.
makins .o.i~ liable az. damages 10 private
proper .,.l-ianei BY change of grade ofa F.
stree: al.,r 'he ,ama has been duly estab- .
lshed aud recorded, gave s,nr assurance |.
OF pcrnan2nca. the proprictIs began to
plan the pre-5n, Improvements They had .
previously, in 1865. added fourth story.
which, Nitb lis brackctel cornice. added .
much 10 tho appearance of the block Tney
began five months ago the work or
LOWERING TIE FRONT.
The cellar was first excayated four feet,
the foundations being guarded by wing
walls OF heavy masonry. The ground floor
was next lowered four icct and four inches.
Elegant glass fronts, Of modern style. took
the place Of the OLD store front The old
stone pillars were removed. and the walls
supported on iron columns. This was sue
cessfully accomplished without the slightest
settling of the walls The spacious court
yard in the rear. between the stores and the
ware houses Of f. W Peek Il Co.. was also
lowered four feet. work involving the
excavation and removal Of some / 800 cubic
yards OF earth.
TIE NEW FRONT
is now di'ided into three handsome stores.
hoished in similar style, in native woods.
and all superbIy lighted by windows, each
composed Of single pare Of French plate
glass, six feet four inches wide by ten feet
six inches high
T. W. PECK a. c0.-wH0LEsALE DEPARTMENT. I
The wholesale department of the firm of ,
+ W. Peek & Co, the lineal successor of
the old firm OF j. * j. H. Peck Il Co. of
which Mr.. +. W. Peck i the sole surviving
partner, occupies the largest of these diyis-
ions The store is 50 feet front by 80 feet in
depth and fourteen feet high The
floor is OF hard maple. laid in mar
row strips, making smooth and bsauti- d
fol floor. The walls are waInscotted with a
chestnut AID black-walnut. the strips Of the a
latter having new corrugated finish which a
gives particularly neat effee:. Above the
wainscot' the walls and ceiling are hard fin I
ished. with stuccO centre piece from wbicl ;
bangs an elegant chandelier In the eastern
front corner stands the long desk, of chest T
nut and black-walnut, Of Mr.. Stephen II :
Russell, Jr.. the courteous chief clerk oftbe !
concern guarded from intrusion by rich
open work railing of chestnut and black
walnut, with heavy black-walnut rail
From this room on the west side. ope7s tho .
private Office Of Mr.. E. y. Peck. the senior =
member OF the firm, and who Tor over twenty =
years has been the manager OF its wide and
business. Mr.. Peck is also tho
President Of jLe Cbamplain Mu;uaI Fire st
Insurance Company, and Secretary and Ell
Treasurer OF the Burlington and Lamoille b
Railroad. His office connects with the wbole. W
sale store. by door and by an arebed win Il
dow IN the partition. casod with handsome v
and closed by plate glass win rs
dow which moves up or down at topcl
on Anderson new spring sash balances y
With ITS broad and high window. front- n
ing on the Park, its Brussels carpet. al
its desk Of black walnut made to order "
n Boston, and its other tasteful 6,tinr-
his is handsome Office. The copnt;,., y
loom. over which the competent book "
keeper OF the concern, Mr.. SAyles Nichols p
presldes, Is paTttioned off from the store t.
though connected with it by a door ana
'rched window. 1t is quiet and pleasant T.
'oom, 10 by IL, handsomely finished. like y
he rest, in native woods Mr.. Nicb,ls Y
whose connection with the concern dates C
back to 1896. is also the Secretary of the 81
Jhamplain Mutual Fire Insurance Compa- \.
~, whose growing business is here trans OF
4cted. The counting room, clerks desk
md Mr.. Z. W. Peck's private Office all