St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-04-26

passed as some details could not be
completed when the trade was closed
but they will be made out in a very
few days.
There are four houses and barn on
the property, all of which are occu-
pied and the tenants will have to be
given a reasonable notike to vacate be-
fore the site can be oldared- for build
ing operations.
Architect Austin will have the plans
out in a very short time, the awards
will be given and the work started so
that Company D may start drills in the
fall. The building will be practically
a duplicate of the two armories which
were built by the State during the past
four years at st. Adams and Bellows
Falls: The Legislature of this State
provided an appropriation of $25, 900
every two years with which to build
an armory. The one at ST. Adams was
built with the appropriation which be-
came available in 1914 and the one at
Bellows Falls with the appropriation
which became available in 1912. The
money with which the armory is to be
built at ST. Johnsbury does not be-
come available until after July 1 of
this year.
The commission accompanied by
Capt. Herbert A. Wilcox and Lieut.
H. n. Ladd of Co. d inspected three
sites. The first was the Husband lot
on Eastern avenue where Architect
Austin said the foundation would be
| altogether too expensive. Then they
| inspected the property of Collins San
born, the old Underwood property on
Railroad street, but that was not large
enough. From there they went to the
Burnham property on Main street and
as soon as the architect had measured
the lot he said it was the only one
large enough on which a suitable
lot was selected.
The lot has a frontage of about 1872
feet and is 157 feet deep. The build
ing will have a depth of 13O feet and
| about SO feet wide in the widest sec
ton. 1t requires space for a drive
way at the side and for a driveway to
the rear and this is the only lot that
would allow these things. The build
ing will be an attractive one and will
greatly add to the appearance of Mail,
street where so many other public
buildings are located.
Several Landmarks To Go.
With the disposal of the buildings
on the Burnham lot to make room
for the new armory Main street will
! lose several landmarks. The oldesr
| of this group is the house now occu-
/ pied by Charles French and the ear
/ liest account of this building is its
purchase in 1850 by George G. Barney
This Mr.. Barney was afterwards post
master in Buchanan's administration
and built the small building now oc
cupied by the Caledonia Real Estate
company for postoffice. The affairs
of government were transacted in this
place from 1853 to 1861. Another in
teresting structure is that now occu-
/ pied by Gill's music store. This build
ing was formerly on the lot where the
AthenRum now stands. The grouno
floor was occupied by Emerson Hall
as general store while on the top
| floor F. B. Gage conducted a daguer-
reotype shop. Mr.. Gage. the original
daguerrean was one of the towns most
quaint characters and many anecdotes
come down to us of his peculiarities.
This building later acquired notoriety
as the location of the town liquor
agency. The Caledonia Real Estate
company has the disposal Of these
buildings but as yet they have not de-
cided just what will be done with
| them.