Weekly Update

​Hello, and a very happy (early) Mother's Day!  Let's take time this weekend to honor our moms and honor the memories of those moms we miss.


This morning, as I look out the window of the Museum towards the Governor Ames Estate, I can see a sure sign of pandemic recovery - the Easton Lions Club Fishing Derby is taking place!  Excited children, all well-spaced out, are trying their best to get hold of a prize-winning catch along the shores of Shovel Shop Pond.  After a long year that saw so many events cancelled, it is a wonderful sight to see things slowly coming back to normal.

Today's photo was included in our recent newsletter, but in honor of the anglers across the street this morning, I thought it might be nice to send it out in my update.  


Wearing their “Sunday best” clothes, a well-dressed couple fishes at “Pout Rock, North Easton.”  A handwritten caption on the back of this photo says “Oct. 5, 1902” and “Book Keeper, O. A. Ames Office.”  While the names of the couple are not recorded, the name of the location is written on the front.  There are two “Pout Rock” locations in North Easton: at the site of the former Flyaway Pond on Lincoln Street, and a second location on a high ledge off Pond Street that overlooks Langwater Pond.  This photo was taken at the Flyaway Pond location, which is much closer to the water.  Our well-dressed couple share what appears to be a bamboo fishing rod. Bamboo is a strong and resilient wood, and it was a popular choice for sporting equipment (does anyone remember the old bamboo shaft golf clubs that were once so popular?  I had a few as a child, given to me by a neighbor who wanted me to learn golf.)  Flyaway Pond's “Pout Rock” was also a popular spot for another activity, swimming, and on any hot summer day many years ago local boys would indulge in the coolness of the water, with or without swimsuits!


Stay well, and until next week,
Frank