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Weekly Update

11/28/2020

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​Hello!  It is hard to believe that just one year ago we were in the midst of a very busy weekend!  We had a great Black Friday sale all weekend thanks to Jonathan Coe, whose retail expertise (and great book of Easton photos) got us off to a roaring start for the holidays.  We saw a lot of people, had a lot of fun, and raised a lot of important funds for the Society and Museum.  This year is the complete opposite!  But there is good news too.  The Museum will be open weekdays and Saturdays to help meet your shopping needs.  Masks and social distancing are required!  You can shop online - there is an option for curbside pickup - or you can drop by the Museum to shop for unique Easton gifts for someone special.  Beginning early next week I'll be sharing specials that you can take advantage of.  Watch your email or our social media for details!


Many of us use special dishes and place settings for our holiday meals.  Did you have your best china out for Thursday?  Or are you planning to set a festive table for Christmas or Hanukkah?  We often have that special item that has been passed down in the family from generation to generation.  Today's artifact is one of those very special items.

When Reuben Harlow married Hannah Fuller in Easton in 1791, she brought a special piece from her family.  It is a pewter dinner plate.  Attached is a photo of the plate, and a detail of the plate's rim.  Measuring just about 8 1/2" in diameter, it would have been a prized possession for her.  As a matter of fact, her initials are stamped on the reverse, probably by the manufacturer.  Unfortunately, there are no other discernible marks in the plate to identify the manufacturer.  But as the plate is stamped "HF" for Hannah Fuller rather than "HH" for her married name, she must have been given the plate prior to her marriage.  Hannah was born around 1770/1 in Sharon, Massachusetts to Lemuel and Ruth (Tisdale) Fuller.  She married Reuben Harlow (1773-1823) in 1791 and was in Easton at that time.  Reuben was a direct descendant of Sgt. William Harlow of Plymouth, MA. and the Harlow Old Fort House.  Hannah died in 1850, outliving her husband by 27 years.  They had four children including Tisdale, who was born in 1804.  He died in 1883, and built the farmhouse at 131 Poquanticut Avenue.  An 1825 map lists Hannah Fuller at that location, and the current house may have replaced an older home originally built for Reuben and Hannah.  The Tisdale name continues in the family for generations.  The Tisdale Harlow I knew growing up (he was our "backyard neighbor" on South Street) was the grandson of the Tisdale who built the old farmhouse.  

The Harlow family kept this plate in the family until 2012 when direct descendant Earl Nichols presented it to us.  Earl and his family attended the annual Harlow Family Reunion in Plymouth for years.  Earl grew up on Center Street, and moved to Pennsylvania many years ago.  The family always visited Easton when they returned for the reunion each year.  I met him several times at the Museum.  He wanted to see the plate "back in Easton" where it belonged.  We are honored to have such a cherished heirloom in our collection.

Stay well, and watch your email for exciting updates!

Frank
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    Curator: Frank Meninno

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Hello! June closes with a beautiful weekend of sun and warm, summer temperatures. This weekend would be terrific for sunning on the beach, working in the yard, cooking out, or taking in a ball game.

Sixty-five years ago that is exactly what was going on at Frothingham Park. In the summer of 1957, someone took a photo of a baseball game being played at Frothingham. The photo is taken from the hill near the Sheridan Street gate, and overlooks the outfield towards home plate. Though the photo is printed in black and white, one can easily see why playing ball at Frothingham Park is such a special experience! The field is well manicured, the basepaths smooth, the infield and outfield grass short and sturdy. Dozens of people are watching from the concrete stands. Others find the shade of the beautiful trees is the best place to watch from. Since the trees are well leafed out, I think this might be a summer game, perhaps our beloved Easton Huskies. How many of us have trekked to the Park to watch the Huskies, or our Oliver Ames High School teams, or Little League teams play? Even better, how many of us played in any of those games? With its beautiful baseball field, shade trees, natural beauty, and welcoming water fountain, Frothingham Park has no equal when it comes to a great place for sports. Today the Park is still a wonderful place to play in, or watch a baseball game. This photo, taken from approximately the same location as the 1957 photo, looks over that same green outfield towards the area of home plate. The field itself, aptly named for the late Robert "Buddy" Wooster who took such great care of the field, the park, and played games there, is as nicely kept as ever. The trees have matured since that 1957 photo was taken, providing even more beauty and shade. Driving by one can still catch a good ballgame, and certainly catch memories of heroics of years past. Does anyone remember Ken MacAfee hitting a ball onto Sheridan Street, over the iron fence? That must have been a truly Ruthian blast! Today the Park provides a safe playspace for young people, basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts, a track and paths for walking. A new pavilion adds a nice piece to an already inviting area. How many people packed a picnic lunch and escaped to the shady places at the Park to escape the summer heat? The Park is many things to many people, and a true treasure to our town since its establishment in 1930 as a gift from Mrs. Mary Ames Frothingham in memory of her late husband, Congressman Louis A. Frothingham. By the way, Mr. Frothingham was an excellent athlete and one of the best baseball players ever at Harvard. During the Great Depression, the Park was an anchor for so many. During this past pandemic, the Park once again proved its importance to so many people as a place to play, a place to relax, and a center of our community. Until next week, stay well,
Frank
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For more information feel free to contact us at:
508-238-7774              eastonmahsmuseum@gmail.com
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  • Home
    • Our Story
    • Curators Corner
    • Tours
  • Discover
  • Gallery
    • Richardson Buildings
    • Records
    • Maps
    • Ames Mansions
    • Event Photos
  • Research
    • Cemetery Records Collection
    • Crimes and Disasters Collection
    • Easton Churches Collection
    • Easton Ledger Collection
    • Easton's Neighborhoods
    • Folklore Collection
    • Frank Seymour Hersey Papers
    • George Warren Andrews Collection
    • Hayward Family Collection
    • Morse Family Collection
    • Randall Genealogical Papers
    • TECCOE Collection
    • Unity Church Collection
    • William L. Chaffin Papers
    • Links
    • Newsletters
  • Find Us
  • Books
  • Novelty Items
  • Prints and Maps
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Membership
  • Weekly Update
  • Weekly Update