Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-17
NOTABLE BUSINESS EVENT
Richardson Property Purchased
as Home for Abernethy's Store
How Two Ideas for Grenter Burling-
ton Were Merged Togethcr-Ovcr
20 Years of Successful Steward
ship OF n Great Business

like that of John I FLYNN to Frank -. |
| .,a.,, az A., ,,.-,..,e,, ,ronortv at |
" ''' '''o'''
| the corner OF thurch ana rear '''o''
is very prosaic thing, dealing with legal
| forms and titlas feet frontage and all ,
that sort of detail. and vet it may in
vo,ve az in tb,s caae q tremendous vol |
ume OF pubIic continent and far-reach- |
ing and swearing vision In this partic-
u,ar instance an expression of public |
J .nirit in ono of tho ,,os. ornate business !
, buildings In tho citv and the ambition |
20 mako a preat business n semi public |
institution and credit TO the community, !
have Joined forces in a way that affords |
high promise for the future
| In other words the builder OF the Rich |
| ardson and the PROTECTOR of the new |
combination of possibilities for great
business concern were both animated by |
something broader and finer than the !
mere making of n good Investment. Love
Of Burlington and a desire to afford add- |
tional ornament and substantially and
! provress for this CITY as a great business
| center moved them In short both have
| buiIt for Burlington as we'll as for them
| selves That is the very essence of pub |
| lie spirit.
| Those who know the vision and sweep
Of Mr. hbernethy's ambition to put his
business in the very front rank of mer-
camille esta bIishments can readily pre-
sumo that he has in mind something in
addition 10 the present commanding
structure adjoining the corner of Church
and Pearl opposte that other impressive
edfice the Masonic Temple His purchase
includes in addition to the Richardson
vroper the large vacant lot next east
| thereof on Pearl street as we'll az the
| store net south occupied by j. j. White .
art store These combined properties
give him n frontage of 127 feet on Church
street and of 1853 feet on Pearl. While
Mr.. Alternately has not completed his
plane il ia fair to presume that ne has
purchased this property to accommodate
his growing business and that at some
time in the future 1t will be necessary
for him TO build still further on the land
available to meet the necessities of the
enlarged operations he foresees. 1t Is un-
derstood, however that no changes are
contemplated in the property at once or
in the near future
The Richardson. with its substantial
walls of brick and handsome trimmings
eurrn ounted by turrets and principal tow
ers stands on the site of the homestead
long occupied by the late Albert G. PIERCE,
who owned the business now owned by
IL. O. Middlebrook & Sons In 1895 the
late Albert T.. Richardson of the firm
of Wells & Richardson was moved to
erect a structure which should accom-
MEDIATE the McKtlip-Smith company's
dry goods store. and at the same time
he an ornament to that part of the city
az we'll as credit to the whole com
munity, That 1t was "A labor of love is
evident from the fact that he gave the
structure his own name. II is one of the
most beautiful business structures to be
found anywhere, and Burlington has
never ceased to be proud of it, or to be
grateful to the man whose public spirit
thus found bountiful expression.
In 1901 after an existence of five years.
the McKillp-Smith companys business
was purchased by the firm of II. w. Allen
g. Company, of which Mr.. Abcrnethy had
become a moving spirit. and which he
finally succeeded, thus becoming sole
proprietor of one of the oldest and most
successful corners in Burlington.
In 1S4S, the late Edward Lyman came
to Burlington from Woodstock and be-
came the junior partner Of the firm Of
E. e. +. Lyman. The business at that
time was located in the Lyman block
on the southeast corner of Church and
College streets now occupied by Paul
Kelley. After the lapse of three years
I Edward Lyman bought his uncle's inter-
est. and he remained sole proprietor until
1865, when he formed a partnership with
the late Heman w. Allen, one of his
former clerks, under the Arm name of Ly-
man e. Allen.
In 1865 the store was moved to the Sey-
lmour building on the east side of Church
street, between College and Bank streets,
and In 1879 the handsome double store
lin the new Howard Opera house block
at the corner of Church and Bank streets
was occupied.
In 1856 Frank D. Abernethy was admit
| ted to partnership in the business. Five
Years later Mr. Lyman died, and from that
time on for twenty years the business
was conducted under the firm name of
H. W. Allen & company In 1910 Mr..
Abernethy purchased the interest of Mr..
Allen in the store. since which time he
has conducted the business in his own
name alone
The real estate, whose title now passes.
became the property of the Ousatonic
Waterpower company of Derby, Conn.
half a dozen years ago or more. A short
time since it was purchased by John J.
| FLYNN and subsequently, sold Mr..
lAbernethy.
IL IL simple justice 10 MT. Apernethy u
\ say .ha' the business Oh .h's srua' 'ile,