Weekly Update

A hearty hello to my fellow lovers of all things historic!  As we slowly make our way to Spring, my thoughts begin to turn to “tourist season” here in Easton.  You might not think about Easton being a tourist attraction, but it is, and the approaching good weather makes that statement true as visitors begin to wander around, and wander in, discovering our corner of the world.  This past week I had two visitors from out of the area who came to look at Easton’s historic architecture, and they were pleased to be welcomed into the Museum for a visit.
 
When I think about tourism, souvenirs come to mind.  Our Museum Store is a great spot to browse for an appropriate Easton souvenir.  If we went back in time more than one hundred years, would a visitor to Easton be able to purchase a souvenir?  The answer is yes!
 
Thinking about this, one can imagine business travelers coming to Easton to do business with the Ames Shovel Works.  Visitors from other towns, and even from overseas, might come to visit their relatives who arrived from Ireland and Sweden to work and live here.  What might they bring back as a reminder of their time here?
 
In our collection are four items that feature a very familiar scene.  The attached files show the four items as well as a detail of the scene that is featured on all of them.  (Apologies for less than perfect images - I am adding a good camera to my wish list!)  From the top left, we have a large wood cylinder that originally had a pin cushion for a top; a small, thimble sized wood piece with a small pin cushion on each end; a wood shield shaped item whose velvet sides would also hold pins; and lastly a wood letter opener.  On each item is a street scene featuring the newly opened Oakes Ames Memorial Hall and the Ames Free Library.  The Richardson buildings and Olmsted landscaping not only began to change the feel of North Easton, they became an immediate attraction for visitors.  Of course, given an opportunity, someone would capitalize on that.  A small item in the Easton Journal, dated January 22, 1886, mentions a David Martin who had a jewelry stand inside the old North Easton Post Office building which stood at the time almost directly across from the Library.  This small, almost overlooked tidbit of news also mentions that he was selling souvenirs!  I do not know how long or how many different styles of these souvenirs Martin sold.  I am hopeful that we might find out more about both him and his business someday.  Who knows? Perhaps more of these items will turn up.  The large pin cushion was donated by the late Earl Nichols, and the shield was donated by Bob Vogel.
 
Until next week, stay well!
Frank​

Souvenirs

Souvenir Detail