Brick Block

By Emmitt

Introduction

Anyone who lives in or near Richmond Vermont will know what the "brick block" is. The brick block is a large strip of connected buildings on Bridge Street in downtown Richmond. The brick block has a wide variety of local businesses ranging from clothing to coffee. There is a lot of interesting history behind these buildings. They have been used for many things over the years.

1908

Damaged by Fire

Before the fire of 1908, the block was not the "brick block" because it was made of wood. In section one there was a produce store, the town record room, the village library, a drug store, post office, dentist office and masonic meeting room. In section two there was another drug store, a hat store and apartments. In section three there was a hardware store, a barber shop and a law office. In section four was a general merchandise store, a meat market and a jewelry and optical parlor. In 1870 there was a place called Ransom's Hotel which is where Cumberland Farms is now. There was also a stove hardware store of J.P. Barnum which is where GreenSea is now. The brick block burned downed on April 23, 1908 at 11:30pm starting in the basement of the masonic temple. There was a light breeze so the fire quickly spread north feeding off the wooden structures , burning all the homes and buildings.

Richmond Vermont during the fire in 1908

Rebuilding the brick block after the fire of 1908

1868 - 1928

Ownership

Thanks to tax records in the Richmond Town Offices, we can trace the ownership of the brick block from the years 1868 to 1928.

On September 7, 1868, J.W. Rawson took out a mortgage on the North Star building. The mortgage had to be paid off by October of 1870. He paid off the mortgage in December of 1869 in the amount of 600 dollars. (Vol 10, p. 789)

On August 23, 1904 North Star Lodge was sold for 1,100 dollars to A.J. Stevens. (Vol 15, p. 134)

North Star Lodge borrowed 11,000 dollars from Burlington Trust Company in 1908. This could be the funds to rebuild after the fire in 1908 to make the building more fire proof. (Vol 15, p. 460)

In February 1928, a lease started for 25 dollars a month and the North Star ownership changed to A.W. Fargo. (Vol 19 p. 481)

1970

Stores in the Brick Block

According to various local residents of Richmond who lived here in the 1970s and 1980s, the town library was located in the basement of the Masonic Temple. Where the thrift store/food shelf is now, was a type of thrift store back then called Miscellaneous Mart. There was an appliance shop in the brick block as well. There used to be a small grocery store called Cash Market in the brick block near the end where Hatchet is located. This was where people got most of their groceries. The law office of David Sunshine who is still there today, was there in the 70s and 80s. Where Cumberland Farms is there was a gas station/mechanics shop.

Today

2018

There are a wide range of business in downtown Richmond today. The brick block is home to the Masonic Temple, Richmond Thrift Store and Food Shelf, Poppy's Rustique, Andy's Dandies, Bridge Street Hair, Sweet Simone's, Hatchet, David Sunshine's law office, a bike repair store, Richmond Home Interiors and more. It is a very popular place for people to get food, have meetings, and visit friends. Also there are apartments on the upper stories where people live.

This is the brick block today

Resources

1.) “Chapter XIV - Big Blazes in The Business District.” Richmond, Vermont: a History of More than 200 Years, by Harriet Wheatley. Riggs, Richmond Historical Society, 2007, pp. 313–326.

2) Turner, Martha. “THE HISTORY SPACE: The Day Downtown Richmond Burned.” Burlington Free Press, Burlington Free Press, 4 Apr. 2014, www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2014/04/04/the-history-space-the-day-downtown-richmond-burned/7272017/.

3) Hayes , Emmitt K, and Karen Yaggy. “Brick Block History.” 29 Nov. 2018.

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