Name/Title
Collection George and Larry SinnottEntry/Object ID
2023.21.1Scope and Content
This is a collection of photographs and stories from George Sinnott.Context
Taken from correspondence between George Sinnott and the Shelburne Historical Society May 2023:
"This is a picture of Myself and my brother Larry with the gas station in the background. This photo looks to be around 1943 based on our estimated age. My father built the gas station after he built the house, the house would have been built around 1938 and the gas station about 1940.
My father and mother operated the gas station during WWII, my father could not go into the service since he had polio as a younger child. After the war, my father added two bays to the gas station and rented the station, One of the renters last name was Morrow and another renter I remember last name was Patrick.
The museum staff made several attempts to purchase the property and my father finally sold both the house and the garage in 1953. I believe the selling price was just over $50K which was pretty good for that time. The museum said we could have the house if we moved it.
My father hired a moving company and the house was moved south on Rt 7 to the northeast corner of Shelburne Road and Meadow Lane.
House off foundation - I remember waking up one morning and workers were removing the foundation to our house with sledgehammers, the house was put on a large steel frame and moved up Route 7 to the new location.
House on 7-2 - House being moved up Rt 7 being hauled by trucks
Moving wires - Electric company moving wires on rt 7 to house could proceed up the street.
Completed house - An addition was put on the house after it was moved to the new location.
Route 7 was not a dirt road at the time, it was paved ever since I remember, so it would have been paved prior to 1945 for sure.
I did forget to tell you that the museum moved the garage across the street behind the house that was used as a museum office at the time (1953). It was used as a repair facility for the museum's vehicles.
Most of the property on the east side of route 7 from Marsett Road North to about where Le Marche restaurant is now located was owned by Marsett who lived on the Southeast corner of Marsett Road and Rt 7. The property was farmed in the 1950's but is now a subdivision.
The house just to the south of our original location (On the museum grounds) was owned by Jim Barnes, he was a local contractor and did the addition to our house after it was moved. He bought a piece of land just to the north of where our house was moved to and built a new house.
The next house south of our original location was owned by someone with the last name LaBerge, that house was moved across the street to the east side and was occupied by Duncan Monroe, an early employee of the museum. Duncan's son was an outstanding bird carver and painter of these birds, the museum may even have some of these birds on display.
The next house to the south was owned by Dubois who also had a woodshop as part of the house. He did Finish Carpentry.
Some of the jobs I (George Sinnott) held in Shelburne:
Picking weeds in John Tracy's garden at $.25 per hour. John owned a large garden at the end of Cottage Lane. John was a college grad that also was the gravedigger for the local cemetery.
Store clerk at the IGA store which was located on the southwest corner of Harbor Road and Route 7 at the time. The store was owned by Charlie Towles and Doengies (sp)
Post office clerk during christmas time.
Gas Station Attendant at the Texaco Station located on the northwest corner of Harbor Road and Route 7 (I think it is now a Mobile Station).Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Photograph, Black-and-WhiteNomenclature Primary Object Term
PhotographNomenclature Sub-Class
Graphic DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Shelburne Museum, Barnes, James, LaBerge, Monroe, Duncan, Dubois, Tracy, John, Doenges & Towle, Shelburne Post Office, Texaco StationCopyright
Type of License
Copright Statement - In CopyrightCopyright Holder
Sinnott, GeorgeCreated By
Boucher, DavidCreate Date
January 6, 2024Updated By
Boucher, DavidUpdate Date
July 30, 2025
