Weekly Update

​Hello from beautiful, historic Easton!  Today is a sunny day, but fall weather is on the horizon, with showers arriving in the next few days and a cool down in temperatures arriving soon.  According to the weather report I heard this morning, we could see temps in the 30's overnight.  A killing frost probably is not far behind.


The Shaw's Give Back Where It Counts program is nearly over!  So far, more than 20 bags have been sold - I bought mine last weekend - and we are very grateful for your support, as each purchase earns the Museum $1.  Thank you to Shaw's for choosing us as the October recipient of this program!

With a chill in the air not too far off, it will soon be time to light up the wood stove, and that means I'll be bringing out the matchbooks.  Those matchbooks are much more than just a light though, and many of them serve as advertising pieces for local institutions.  Today's tidbit is just that, but what is inside is not what you might think.

Dating to the 1970's, a matchbook giveaway from the North Easton Savings Bank served patrons in a special way, all wrapped up in a clever advertising campaign.  At 2 3/8" x 3" when closed, the matchbook is much larger than one would expect.  It is large enough to be easily placed in a shirt pocket where many people would keep a pen handy.  That gives a clue to what is inside the match book.  It contains a small notepad of plain paper, 25 sheets of it, perforated at the bottom for easy removal.  When I worked as a machinist, I always kept three things in my shirt pocket - a pencil or pen, a steel rule, and a notebook.  It seems silly to do that today with all of the options available on electronic devices to do the same thing as my pen and paper would do, but growing up, I remember most people who worked always had something handy to take notes with.

This bright yellow matchbook / notebook reminded the user each time of the services that were provided by the bank - various loans, savings accounts, savings clubs, travelers cheques and even life insurance.  The rear cover struck a themed note, reminding the bearer to "Make a Note Now" to save regularly, check out mortgages, and refer a friend to the bank for those aforementioned items.  This advertising piece hit just the right "note!"

Until next week, stay well,
Frank