Weekly Update

​Happy Saturday greetings!  A gentle rain has been falling since last night, and the freshly cut lawn and trimmed hedges will get the full benefit of being well-watered in the next few days.  That means, of course, that the mower and clippers will soon be put back to work!


A few weeks ago, I was able to meet with students from the Queset Brook Outdoor Cooperative, a homeschool program that meets at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Lincoln Street, where students learned some of the legends and lore of Easton.  This past Monday and Tuesday morning, I took our show on the road to the second grade students at Moreau Hall, where they saw artifacts, photos, and heard stories from Easton's history.  We met outdoors in a socially distanced and comfortable setting. It has been good to get back in touch with some of our young people after not being able to do so for a year.  Arielle Nathanson assisted with both talks, and shared a few "interesting" food recipes from an 1875 cookbook.  Note that this took place before lunch both days!

During the week we were given two bottles from one of our local druggists, Ernie Spooner (1868-1951).  Spooner, whose father Elijah ran a tin store at 10 Center Street, North Easton, worked as a young man for druggist George G. Withington, whose store was located across from the tin shop at what was once 11 Center Street.  Studying under Withington, Spooner learned the trade (I assume he may have had some formal schooling, but I do not know where.)  Upon Withington's retirement, Spooner took over the business and ran it for many years.

The two bottles featured here date to the early 1900's, probably no later than 1920.  One bottle contained a medicine known as "tincture of lobelia."  Lobelia, a flowering herb, could be used to treat ADHD, depression, asthma, drug addiction, and different respiratory disorders.  When used too much or at the wrong dosage, one could suffer severe side effects and even be poisoned by it.  The second bottle contained something we all know about - citronella oil.  The label on the bottle actually states its use for mosquitos.  This product, so common today, was once a prescription remedy.  Thanks to William Rose for donating these two bottles.

I hope you all have a good weekend, and until next week, stay well!

Frank