USA > Vermont > Addison County > Bristol > History of Bristol, Vermont (1762-1980), Third Edition > Part 3
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By 1978, with petroleum-based energy at a premium, Claire Lathrop decided to convert to an automatic wood-fired boiler to generate steam needed in the kiln drying of his lumber. His source of energy, wood-waste bark, became valuable fuel. Nearly all the better grades of lumber are now kiln dried.
James Lathrop, the fifth genera- tion, has engineered the installation of the machinery in the new mill, kilns, and energy plant. A second son, Thomas, grades the lumber as it comes from the mill. Bookkeeping is the responsibility of Claire's wife, Ruth. In 1975, Mr. Lathrop incorporated his business under the name of Claire Lathrop Bandmill, Inc.
Long-time employees include Wendell Mason, George Forand,
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David Weaver, and Ray Martin. In 1979, more than thirty-five men were employed at the mill, in addition to several crews working in the woods.
Kennedy Brothers located in Bristol in 1943, moving into a former garage building on Mountain Street (the present site of the Bristol Trading Post). There, John and Paul Kennedy manufactured and distributed gift- wares, specializing in woodenware and items of wood combined with other materials, chiefly pottery, glass, and metal. Some of the pottery was manufactured there by John Kennedy, and decorated by hand by his mother, Mrs. Franklin J. (Edna) Kennedy.
In 1959, the operation was moved to Vergennes, where it continues to prosper today. At present, there is a branch store on Church Street in Burl- ington.
John Kennedy sold his interest in the business to his brother in 1969, and established his own pottery shop, the Pittsfield Potters, that year. The shop is presently run by his daughter, Nan- cy, and in the spring of 1980, a branch of Pittsfield Potters opened in New Haven Junction.
On January 1, 1966, Clayton Ladeau, Jr., began the manufacture of hand-rubbed pine furniture, near his home on Briggs Hill. From this site, there is a magnificent view of Deerleap, the name of the rocky ledge at the south end of Hogback Moun- tain; hence, the name, Deerleap Fur- niture Company.
At first, the showroom was in the shop. In 1971, Deerleap Furniture moved its showroom to the south side of Main Street and located in the Tomasi Block where Van Raalte's had been. It is the only outlet for their products, which include bedroom, din- ing room and living room furniture. In addition to the pine furniture, the store carries compatible sofas, bedding, and accessories.
It is a family business involving Mr. Ladeau's wife, Zelva; their son, Brian; and a few employees.
After the death of John Kilbourn in 1968, the Kilbourn Mill closed down. In the early 1970's, Roy Camp- bell purchased the mill for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing his
personal design of wood block toys.
In 1976, Beverly Red, a native of Ohio, purchased the Kilbourn Grist Mill from Campbell to house her Free- mountain Toys, Inc. This site com- bined the necessary ingredients of a suitable building within an area of ex- perienced had sewers for a cottage in- dustry.
Beverly Red's main product is a durable cloth toy called a Vegimal. The copyrighted, animated Vegimals in- clude a carrot, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, peanut, tomato, corn watermelon, orange, etc. They are completed by approximately thiry-five hand sewers living in the Bristol area. Utilizing the original grain bins, the grist mill, now called the "Vegimill," is where the material are cut, assem- bled, boxed, and prepared for the thriving wholesale business.
The product won a Certificate from the Public Action Coalition on Toys. They conform to all fire-safety standards, are constructed from materials without any buttons or minute loose parts, and are used in nutrition and child-care programs as learning tools because of their educa- tional value. The toys are distributed to a wide range of quality outlets throughout the United States and Canada.
A seventeen-inch zippered velour pea pod, housing five smiling pea brothers, has proven the most popular of these Bristol products. Other Bever- ly Red machine-washable creations are a velour zippered can of sardines with four fish attached with velcro fasteners; a mother sheep of white sherpa fur and brown velour, with a baby lamb; a twenty-inch Emile Bearheart, with a pocket for a red stuffed velour heart; and an eleven- inch tan velour pyramid, with a blue velour mummy inside. The newest ad- dition to the line is a series of hats with various attachments to the sides: horns, wings, lightning bolts, and ears included. Because the hats are so popular, Freemountain Toys now employs between one-hundred and one-hundred-forty sewers.
In June, 1980, Beverly Red sold Freemountain Toys, Inc., to Vernon Michael Balser. Mr. Balser's plans for
Freemountain Toys are expansion, particularly the toy line, and continu- ation of the business as a cottage in- dustry with the company headquarters remaining at the Vegimill.
Information for this chapter was provided by the History of Bristol, Vermont, Second Edi- tion; the Three Rivers by Rowland Robinson; V. Michael Balser; Bernard Bosworth; Miriam Kilbourn Burke; Lottie O. Follansbee; Andrew Johnson; Barbara Kennedy; William A. Kilbourn; Clayton and Zelva Ladeau; Claire Lathrop; Gertrude Hewitt Lathrop; Beverly Red; and Rutherford W. Smith.
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North side of Main Street
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Three buildings on south side of Main Street
m The MERGrants Bank
5.10 BEN FRANKLIN 5-10
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South side of Main Street
III Business Center
In this section, we have attempted to list the businesses that have operated on Main Street since the First Edition of the History of Bristol, Vermont printed in 1940. The written infor- mation corresponds to the numbered sketches shown here of the blocks on the north side of Main Street and of the blocks on the south side of Main Street.
POOR
COFMIR ESTORE
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BRISTOL
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Watercolor sketches of both sides of Main Street - 1980 -- by Dennis Bye
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Main Street Blocks
1. NORTON BLOCK - owned by Edward Brown and Harold Mayo
First Floor - West Side
Present-1979 Cubber's, Cliff and Louise Adams, owners, restaurant.
1978-1976 Take-A-Break, Patricia Olson and James Morrissey, owners, restaurant.
1976-1962 The Mill Store, Drake & Smith Company, owners, furniture retail store.
1962-1940 Abrams' Department Store, A. J. (Jack) Abrams, owner.
1938-1907 Bristol Fruit Market, Peter Tomasi, owner.
Second Floor - West Side
1952-1921 Wendel's Barber Shop, M. J. (Jack) Wendel, barber.
First Floor - East Side
Present-1980 Cubber's, Cliff and Louise Adams, owners, restaurant.
1980-1978
Bristol Bakery, Paul Ralston, owner.
1978-1977
Bristol Bakery, Richard Smeraldo, owner.
1976-1962 The Mill Store, Drake & Smith Company, owners, furniture retail store.
1962-1920 Abrams' Department Store, A. J. (Jack) Abrams, owner.
Second Floor - East Side 1952-1921
Wendel's Pool Room, M. J. (Jack) Wendel, owner.
2. EMERSON W. SMITH BLOCK - owned by Edward and Alice Brown
First Floor
Present-1977 Sand & Pots, Sandra L. Murphy and Patricia Jackman, owners, retail florist.
1976-1971
The Mill Store, Drake & Smith Company, owners, furniture retail store.
1971-1964 Fabric Shop, Simone Weaver, owner.
1962-1939
Abrams' Department Store, A. J. (Jack) Abrams, owner.
Second Floor Present Apartments.
3. BISBEE BLOCK - owned by Edward and Alice Brown First Floor
Present-1977 Guy's Precision Cuts, Kimberly R. Bouvier and Anne Paquette, owners, hairdressers. 1976-1971 The Mill Store, Drake & Smith Company, owners, furniture retail store.
1971-1966
Fabric Shop, Simone Weaver, owner.
1966-1956
Quinlan's Appliance Store, Robert Quinlan, owner.
1956-1950 Grey's IGA, William and Marilyn Grey, owners. 1950-1933 Wixon's IGA, Clifton A. Wixon, owner.
Second Floor Present Apartments.
4. BRISTOL BLOCK - owned by Jaoa T. DaMotta
First Floor
Present-1977 1977-1971
1971-1960
1960-1943
Helen's Place, Helen and Lawrence Lathrop, Sr., owners, fabric and gift shop. Vacant. Way's Oddity Shop, Chester and Marjorie Way, owners.
1943
Second Floor 1946-1909
E. J. Bristol Estate, Hazel Bristol, owner, variety store.
Dr. R. J. Bristol, dental office.
5. DANFORTH BLOCK - owned by Paul and Gerrie Ralston First Floor
Present-1980 Bristol Bakery, Paul and Gerrie Ralston, owners.
1979-1978
Vacant.
1977 1976-1975 Village Craft Shop, Lucille Jimmo, owner. Piney Wood Hill Originals, Joseph Conowal owner, craft shop.
1974-1973
Vacant.
1972-1971 Record Shop, Gregory Paul, owner.
1970
1969-1966
Bristol Bakery, Hulda Baker and Lucille LaRose, owners. Demers Bakery, Joe Demers, owner.
1965-1940
and prior
Second Floor
Present-1980 Apartment.
1979-1976 George R. Vince, attorney.
1976-1956 Vacant.
1956-1940
Hier's Barber Shop, William Hier, barber.
and prior
6. BROWE BLOCK - owned by Addison County Communit Action Group
First Floor
Present-1971
Addison County Buyer's Club, Addison
County Community Action Group food store.
1970-1969
Vacant.
1968-1966
Armand's Barber Shop, Armand Compagna, barber.
1966-1963
Adams' Barber Shop, Wayne Adams, barber.
1963-1962
Dottie's Restaurant, Dorothy Brown, owner.
1962-1958
Owen's Bakery, Claude Owen, owner.
1957-1956
V.F.W., Bristol Post #9449.
1955-1940
Browe's Barber Shop, William Browe, barber.
and prior
Second Floor
Present-1974
Vacant.
1974-1971
Tooth Hollow, Addison County Dental
Clinic.
1970 and
Vacant.
prior
7. WAY BLOCK - owned by George Basil, David Rowe, and Richard Brown
First Floor
Present-1979
(West Side) Burke Real Estate, Edward and Michael Burke, owners.
(East Side) Country Insurance, Inc., Alan and Diane Holcomb, owners. Bristol Owl Gallery, George Basil, David Rowe, and Richard Brown, owners.
Vacant.
1974-1971
Kountry Kupboard Restaurant, Toni and Bruce Cousino, owners.
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1978-1977
Vacant.
1976-1975
Vacant.
1970-1962 1961-1940
Vacant. Grand Union Company, Douglas Dion, Patrick Tyler, Kenneth Cameron, and Roy Clark, managers.
Second Floor Present-1974 1973-1940 and prior
Apartments.
Vacant.
8. DIKE BLOCK -- owned by George Basil and David Rowe First Floor
Present-1976 (West Side) Bristol Paint & Glass, Inc., Richard and Cynthia Cote, owners. (East Side) Bristol Auto Parts, Inc., Richard and Cynthia Cote, George Basil, and 1975-1962 David Rowe, owners. Dike's Grocery Store, Audrey Dike, owner. 1962-1940 A & P Company, Walton Brown, manager.
and prior Second Floor Present-1979 1978
Apartments. David A. Bronson, attorney.
1978
Twice Around, Tom and Sharon Alderman, owners, used clothing shop.
1977-1976
Vacant. Ezra S. Dike, attorney.
1975-1945
1945 and Tin Shop, Edgar Dike, owner.
prior
9. PALMER BLOCK - owned by Dorothy Palmer
First Floor -- West Side
Present-1976 Kountry Kupboard Restaurant, Richard Provost, owner.
1976-1975
Kountry Kupboard Restaurant, Toni and Bruce Cousino, owners. 1974 Electronic Lab, David Cobb, owner, tele- vision, radio, and stereo sales. 1973-1971 Vacant. 1970-1940 Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, William James, Wallace De Coursey, and prior managers, retail sales of electrical appliances. Second Floor - West Side
Present-1949
Vacant. 1948-1940 Masonic Hall.
and prior
First Floor -- East Side
Present-1974 Poor Richard's Corner Store, Richard E. Smith, owner.
1974-1970 Palmer's IGA, Gerald LaFoy, owner.
1970-1966 Palmer's IGA, Royden D. Palmer, owner.
1966-1957 Abel's IGA, Howard Abel, owner.
1957-1940 Tudhope's Market, John Tudhope, owner. Second Floor -- East Side
Vacant.
Present-1979 1979-1977 Woodworking Shop, Richard E. Smith, owner.
1976-1948
Vacant.
1948-1940 Masonic Hall.
and prior
10. HATCH BLOCK - owned by Ivan Hendee First Floor - East Side
Present-1980 Mr. Bumble's Pub, Albin and Margaret Booth, owners, restaurant.
1980-1978
Bristol Tavern, Wendel Farrell, owner.
1977-1976
Georgia's Place, Georgia Vaughn, owner, restaurant.
1976-1963 The B & L Restaurant, Beatrice and Lyle LaRose, owners.
1963-1939
Annie's Restaurant, Hubert Rivers and Barbara Desorda, owners.
First Floor - West Side 1972-1969 Quinlan's Paint and Small Appliances, Robert Quinlan, owner.
11. MARTIN BUILDING - owned by Daniel and Anthony Thomas
First Floor Present-1968 Thomas Sporting Goods, Anthony and Madine Thomas, owners.
1968-1962 Thomas Sporting Goods, Daniel Thomas, owner.
1962-1943 Way's Hardware, Chester Way, owner.
1943-1907 R. C. Martin, Ramie C. Martin, owner, paint and paper business.
Second Floor Present Apartments.
12. PATNODE BUILDING - owned by Jackman's Inc.
Present-1961 Jackman's Garage, Jackman's Inc., owner.
1961-1960 Robinson's Garage, Robinson Oil Company of Bristol, Inc., owners.
1961-1942 Shadrick's Garage, Ralph W. Shadrick,
owner.
1942-1920 Patnode's Garage, Van Patnode, owner.
13. DUNSHEE BLOCK owned by Terrence and Joan Thomas.
First Floor - East Side
Present-1975 Bristol Electronics, David Cobb, owner, television, radio, and stereo sales.
1975-1974 W. R. Brooks, L. Stearns Gay, Jr., owner, clothing store.
1962-1948 Way's General Store, Chester M. Way, owner. 1943-1938 Brooks Men's Shop, Warren and Kathleen Brooks, owners, men's clothing.
Second Floor - East Side Present Apartments.
First Floor -- West Side
Present-1980 Moynihan's, Karen Yager, owner, clothing store.
1980-1975 Joni's, Joan Thomas, owner, clothing store.
1975-1974 W. R. Brooks, L. Stearns Gay, Jr., owner, clothing store.
1974-1943 W. R. Brooks, Warren and Kathleen Brooks, owners, clothing store.
1940's Dunshee's Clothing Store, Evelyn Dumas and Nellie Welch, owners.
Second Floor - West Side 1945-1930 Peggy's Beauty Shop, Peggy Hill, owner.
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14. WILSON BLOCK - owned by South Side Drug Store, c/o Jack Anderson
First Floor
Present-1974 South Side Drug Store, Jack Anderson, pharmacist and owner.
1974-1956 South Side Drug Store, Reginald F. Boynton, pharmacist and owner.
1956-1930 South Side Drug Store, Laurence E. McShane, pharmacist and owner.
Second Floor Present-1979 George R. Vince, attorney.
1979-1978 David A. Bronson, attorney.
15. BANK BLOCK - owned by The Merchants Bank
First Floor and Second Floor
Present-1969 The Merchants Bank, Harold D. Benway, manager.
1969-1902 The First National Bank of Bristol.
16. KILBOURN BLOCK - owned by William H. Danforth, Jr.
First Floor - East and West Sides
Present-1978 Mary's Restaurant, William H. Danforth, Jr., owner.
1978-1973 Mary's Restaurant, David and Mary Bolton, owners.
First Floor - East Side
1972-1964 Frank & Aggie's Coin Laundry, Frank and Agatha James, owners.
1964-1959 Burke's Coin Laundry, Edward and Miriam Burke, owners.
1959-1944 South Side Grocery Store, Edward and Miriam Burke, owners.
First Floor - West Side 1973-1943 Snap's Restaurant, Raymond and Marion Palmer, owners.
Second Floor 1951-1930
Bessie Sargent's Beauty Parlor, Bessie Sargent, owner.
17. PATTERSON BLOCK - owned by Ralph E. and Joan H. Burt
First Floor
Present-1976 Ben Franklin Variety Store, Donald and Dorothy Frey, owners.
1976-1947 Ben Franklin Variety Store, Lawrence and Doris Jewel, owners.
1947-1936 Ben Franklin Variety Store, John and Florence Cragen, owners.
Second Floor Present Apartments.
18. DUMAS BLOCK - owned by Stanton and Rosemary
Bryden
First Floor
Present-1949 Bristol Insurance Agency and Real Estate, Stanton H. Bryden, owner.
1949-1919
Bristol Insurance Agency, Albert M. Russell, owner.
Second Floor
Present-1978
Bristol Insurance Agency and Real Estate, Stanton H. Bryden, owner.
1978-1975
David A. Bronson, attorney.
1974-1972
Armand's Barber Shop, Armand Compagna, barber.
1964 Adams' Barber Shop, Wayne Adams, barber. 1950-1946 Ekman Photo Studio, Gustav Ekman, photographer.
19. FARR BLOCK - owned by Clayton and Zelva Ladeau First Floor
Present-1972 Deerleap Furniture Store, Clayton and Zelva Ladeau, owners.
1972-1952 Van Raalte Company, sewing factory.
1952-1946 Tomasi Hardware, James and Prudence Tomasi, owners.
1946-1938 Tomasi Soda Fountain, Peter, Domenica, and James Tomasi, owners. Previous Farr family hardware business.
Second Floor
Present-1972 Deerleap Furniture Store, Clayton and Zelva Ladeau, owners.
1972-1947 Van Raalte Company, sewing factory.
20. TOMASI BLOCK - owned by Frank and Agatha James First Floor
Present-1972 Frank & Aggie's Coin Laundry, Frank and Agatha James, owners. Frank's Photos also on premises.
1972-1952 Van Raalte Company, sewing factory.
1952-1946
Bristol Freeze Locker and Soda Fountain, James and Prudence Tomasi, owners. Block built by James Tomasi.
1946
Second Floor
Present
Apartments.
1972-1947
Van Raalte Company, sewing factory.
21. LATHROP BLOCK - owned by Howard and Harry
Steinburg
First Floor
Present-1976
King's Barn Annex, Gerald King, owner, antiques.
1975
Bristol Bargain Box, Fred Curtis, owner, assorted goods.
1974-1968
Vacant.
1967-1916 U.S. Post Office of Bristol.
Second Floor - Back
Present-1970 Apartment.
1970-1954 Vacant.
1954-1953 Harley G. Shepard, M.D.
1952 Charles S. Paine, M.D.
1951-1924 Western Telephone and Telegraph Company: office.
Second Floor - Front
Present-1924
Apartment.
Basement
Present-1977
Bristol Teen Center.
1976
Bristol Paint & Glass, Richard and Cynthia Cote, owners.
Bristol Paint & Glass, Wayne Adams, owner.
Armand's Barber Shop, Armand Compagna barber.
Vacant.
1953-1947
Lathrop's Sporting Goods, George N. Lathrop, owner.
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1976-1973
1972-1968
1967-1954
ONEAT A
GRAND UNION
North side of Main Street - 1950 (compliments of Bristol Historical Society)
RESTA_PIN"
North side of Main Street - 1979
Haymarket Square
Haymarket Square existed previous to 1920 on a square vacant lot located between the Martin Building and the Dunshee Block on the south side of Main Street.
In material written by Randall E. Brown in 1978, he describes Hay- market Square as follows: "The most memorable events that took place at the square were auctions of personal property. Furniture, tools, books,
animals, etc. were sold to the highest bidder, the lifetime accumulations of assorted stuff.
Haymarket Square's colorful ac- tivities came to an end in 1920 when Van Patnode's automobile sales and service garage was erected on the site. This site is now known as Jackman's Garage.
Information compiled from material written in 1978 by former Bristol resident Randall E. Brown.
Early Hostelries
One of the first public houses in Bristol was a log house built by Henry Mclaughlin in 1788 at what is now known as Daniels Corner at the in- tersection of Routes 17 and 116 west of the Village. In 1800, he built a brick house near the log cabin and continued his work as host to the public. This was the house where the first post office was located. The log house of the Caldwell Brothers, four miles north- east of Bristol Village, on the Starksboro road, was also a public house and it was here that the post of- fice was located from 1804-15. Robert Holley opened a house in Bristol Village in 1808. At a later date, V. Miller ran a tavern on Bristol Flats in a house which had been built and owned by Robert Dunshee. Harvey Munsill's manuscript reports that Henry Vraden- burgh in 1835 kept a public house in Bristol, too. The O'Neill Block, which was located at the east end of Main Street on the north side, was used as a hotel at one time. It was destroyed by fire in 1929.
The Commercial House, owned by Ryland Hatch, made its appearance in the 1880's as a rival to the Bristol House. The Commercial House ran a coach to convey passengers to and from New Haven Depot, as this preceded the arrival of the Bristol Railroad Station. The Commercial House was located in the so-called Hatch Block at the eastern end of Main Street on the south side. Mr. Hatch maintained a large livery stable at his establishment. The Hatch stables burned in 1896 and were never rebuilt.
The public house of early times which was the most well known was the Bristol House, later called the Bristol Inn. Its history spans one-hundred- thirty-nine years. A public house built by Abram Gaige was burned in 1817. In 1820, he rebuilt and this was the beginning of the Bristol House. Mr. Gaige was the landlord from 1820 to 1835. From 1835 to 1871, the place changed hands several times. In 1871, J. J. Ridley bought the hotel. He con- tinued as landlord until 1896, except for a few months in 1893 between his sale of the Bristol House to Q. E. Grover and W. E. Frank and his repur-
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chase of it. In 1896, Thomas Leonard became the proprietor of the hotel, followed by Clement Burnham in 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Burnham remained owners of the Inn for nearly fifty years. In 1954, Walter Palmer pur- chased the Inn, and in 1955 sold it to the Dog Team Corporation. In 1958, Earl and Geraldine Laviana bought the Bristol Inn. In 1959, financial dif- ficulties were encountered, and the Bristol Inn buildings were sold in 1960 to Clement and Aurore Legault but the land was retained by the Lavianas. The north annex was moved to Mountain View Street where it is currently used for apartments. The one-hundred- thirty-nine-year-old main building of the Bristol Inn was torn down in the early spring of 1961 to make room for a Grand Union Store and parking lot. Now the Brooks Discount Store oc- cupies the former site of the Grand Union Store.
Certainly the Bristol Inn played a major role in the economy of the town. During J. J. Ridley's proprietorship, he advertised his hotel in the 1888 Bristol Herald in this way: "It is 51/2 miles from New Haven Depot. Stage connects with trains twice daily. Telegraph and livery connected with the house." The Bristol House ran their horse-drawn coach to carry guests to and from the Rutland Railroad sta- tion at New Haven. During Ridley's
ownership, mainly two steady types of customers patronized the Bristol House. One group of customers were the men who came in once a week to catch up on the news and enjoy gentlemanly companionship. This was a carry-over from the days when once a week a horseback rider from Mid- dlebury would arrive with the Bristol mail. The Bristol House was the distribution point for the weekly mail delivery.
The other main customers were the traveling salesmen, "the drum- mers." They would arrive by train, take the coach to the Bristol House, rent a horse and buggy from the livery stable there, and proceed on their rounds. They were glad to return to the atmosphere of the Bristol House after a day of business. Proprietor J. J. Ridley was one of the promoters of the idea of a Bristol Railroad which in turn would develop his business at the Bristol House.
In a taped interview with Kate Peake and her son, Peveril, in February 1979, Peveril related a tale of the Bristol House from the days when his father boarded there. Peveril says, "Father boarded there from the time he was seventeen years old. That was when the Ridley's owned it. They ran not a bad place, but it was more male oriented, you know. There were spittoons and if some of it splashed
over the woodwork, well, it was mahogany rather than the golden oak. . ..
During the Burnhams forty-eight years as owners, the Bristol Inn became a more genteel hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Burham remodeled the house inside and out, redecorated the interior, land- scaped the yard with bushes and flowering bulbs, and greatly increased the attractiveness of the Inn. The Burnhams initially had forty horses in the livery stable and many carriages and sleighs for use by the traveling salesmen who did business in the area. The Bristol Inn maintained its livery service longer than any other establish- ment in town.
In 1930, the Burnhams built an annex on the north side which was needed for their increasing trade. When Middlebury College ran its Ger- man School in Bristol during the 1930's and 1940's, the students boarded at the Bristol Inn. Fine service and excellent cooking made the Bristol Inn well known.
Royden D. Palmer was a close friend of Harry Burnham, son of the Bristol Inn owners. In a taped inter- view in November 1978, Mr. Palmer spoke of the Inn during the Burnham's time: "The Inn was noted for hospitality and good food. . .. The salesmen made their headquarters here and not just salesmen, but people from all over the country came here. The Burnhams had a reputation that it was an awful good place to stay. The peo- ple came in the lounge in the evenings and sat there and just talked about the events of the day here - what was go- ing on."
After the Lavianas bought the Inn in 1958, they initially made extensive repairs and improvements. The three dining rooms had a capacity of three- hundred-sixty-five people. There were twenty-four guest rooms. There were many antiques in the Inn, a Currier and Ives collection, and a glass collec- tion.
When the Bristol Inn buildings were sold and the townspeople learned the original building was to be razed and the north annex moved to another location, some action was attempted. The local planning commission at that
Bristol Inn - in the 1950's
THE BRISTOL INN
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time tried to interest other res- taurateurs in buying the Inn. A citizens group also tried to block the ruination of the Inn. All was to no avail, and the razing of the one-hundred-thirty-nine- year-old Bristol Inn was completed in the early spring of 1961.
One newspaper later wrote that "the clock in the belfry of Holley Hall has seen many things come and go in Bristol, but perhaps the loss of the Bristol Inn was the greatest loss the old clock has ever witnessed."
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