What do Burlington and Lyon, France, have in common?
Both cities played a vital role in the development of color photography, revolutionizing how we see the world.
Brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière pioneered color photography with their autochrome process.
Near the turn of the 20th century, the brothers had built Lumière North American—their only non-French factory—in Burlington.
The historic building where they produced photography and films—they are also credited with inventing cinema in the late 1800s—still stands today in Burlington's South End, now the home of Burlington Beer Company..
Why Burlington?
The Lumières chose Burlington as it made financial sense to build a factory in the United States rather than import goods to France and pay a hefty tariff.
In the early 1900s, Burlington was a bilingual city with many French-speaking residents. The city was additionally the home base of Diamond Dyes, and dye was crucial to the autochrome process.
Burlington was also an attractive option as it was a relatively remote area. As the brothers were working hard to launch their invention, they wanted to protect their trade secrets from competitors in larger cities.
The factory on Flynn Avenue, which operated from 1903 to 1912, was considered one of the most advanced in the world, with environmentally controlled and lightproof rooms. The film was stored year-round in refrigerated rooms, and workers wore silk to prevent dust particles from getting on the film.
In 1904, the Lumière brothers patented autochrome. By 1907, autochrome had been perfected, thanks to the labor of the factory workers and the testing of early photography carried out in secrecy from 1905 to 1907.
The Power of Color Photography
The advent of color photography stunned the world and revolutionized how future generations see history and current events.
Autochrome immediately played a role in scientific research. The natural sciences were able to record plant species in natural color out in the field. The environmental movement relied on autochrome images of national parks to support the establishment of the National Park Service.
When World War I swept across Europe, war coverage was the primary focus of news media for four years, and photography was more important than ever.
For the first time, war events were captured in color, accurately showing the participation of soldiers from Algeria, India, and Sub-Saharan Africa alongside European soldiers, as well as the daily life and death of trench warfare. The immediacy of humanity in crisis needed color, and autochrome was there to record the full impact of war.
The End of an Era
The Lumière brothers' tenure in Vermont ended in 1912. Declining business in France and the escalating cost of importing gelatin—a critical film component—were pivotal factors. Following the merger with a competitor to form Lumière & Jougla, the brothers found that operating two factories was too expensive.
The original Lyon factory was demolished during urban renewal projects in the 1950s.
But the Lumière North American Company custom-built structure in Burlington remains, including the original boiler house.
The next time you visit Burlington Beer Company or take a photo of a gorgeous sunset over Lake Champlain, consider Burlington's role in how we share memories, capture moments, and see the world—in glorious color.
See the Vermont History Journal, volume 89 for a comprehensive tale of the origins of the building.
Check out the full article here.