Frederick Kerr This article started out as a story about the Fernandez Store (The Chase building) at the corner of Union and Water Streets. Further research revealed the history of the building, before Arsenio Fernandez traded his farm on Holton Hill for the market owned by Edwin Kerr.

Said to be one of the oldest buildings in town, the old Chase Building was built by a Captain Chase who operated a market. The building later came into the ownership of Daniel McCarthy, the landlord for Broggi's Market. Water Street was undergoing development!

Broggi's name appears in Green Mountain Heritage. "Michael Broggi, early 1900s, opened a 'hotel' in the house built long before by Christopher Dole, on the corner of Wall and Water Streets. He advertised 'Special Dining Rooms, one on the first floor and one on the second floor, PUBLIC BATHROOM, hot and cold water for public use and a full line of tobacco, cigars, soft drinks and ice cream'. He also received a license in 1903 for a 'bar-room.'

The Kerr brothers, Irwin, Ed and Fred, came to Northfield from Ontario in the early 1900s. They worked for Cross Brothers in the granite sheds before becoming businessmen. Irwin opened a market on Depot Square; Fred and Ed, engaged in the meat business, rented and then bought Broggi's Market in 1905

Photos courtesy Mary Comiskey This burned out hulk was rescued and rebuilt by Edwin Kerr on the corner of Union and Water Streets and was known as Kerr Brothers, Frederick and Ellis Kerr. It later became Fernandez Market. From an article in the Northfield News, exact date unknown, 1911.

WILL BE BUILT AT ONCE

Kerr bothers have purchased the McCarthy Property and a New Block will replace the One burned.

"The Kerr brothers have purchased the site and partially burned Chase block, at the corner of Union and Water streets, Northfield, of Daniel McCarthy for $1000. This includes 16 feet on the south side of the building.

"The building was gutted by fire at the early hour Wednesday morning the 26th… At first it seemed hardly possible that any part of it could be of value so completely was it submerged in fire and smoke.

"Later and careful examination showed that the ground floor occupied by the meat and provision store of Kerr Brothers can be utilized to quite an extent. The refrigerator room is in good condition, while much of the floor in uninjured and on the north side considerable of the finish, shelves, etc., are not charred deeper than the paint. The hay scales are also in good condition. A large safety tank of kerosene oil remains intact, although it was in a hot part of the fire.

"Quite a quantity of the stock was saved in a more or less damaged condition which was moved into the unused machine shop near the Chase building and the firm finished closing it out at a sale Saturday.

"That any part of the building or stock remained was due to the splendid water system and the efficient work of the fire companies. This fire showed the value of a modern water system with sufficient pressure, better than was ever before seen in Northfield.

"The purchase of the Chase property means that the Kerr Brothers are to at once rebuild the main building two stories. The lower floor will be occupied by the firm for the continuance of their meat, provision and grocery business of which they have built up a large trade…. The new store will be modern in every particular. The second floor will be finished into modern and desirable tenements.

"It is a matter of congratulation to Northfield that this block is to be so promptly rebuilt."

The 2 photos shown were loaned by Mary Comiskey, granddaughter of one of The Kerr Brothers, Frederick Ellis Kerr, b 1867, and d 1912. Mary recalls that her grandmother Lizzie (Averill) Kerr, wife of Frederick, lived in the tenement above the store. Her husband died young, and Lizzie went on to nursing school. She later lived in the Averill home in the Center and took care of mothers and new babies in her home.