All I want for Christmas...

This is one of the most precious and wonderful images I have ever come across. Several weeks ago, I stopped at an antique store on Route 4 in Northwood, NH and saw this remarkable cdv of a young girl with her doll. I talked myself out of buying it but a week or so later, I decided I could not pass this one up! Luckily, it was still there locked behind the glass case and within a few moments it passed into my possession for a long time to come. This adorable youngester was probably from Lawrence, Massachusetts, where the image was taken by Yeaw & Co. at 166 Essex Street likely during 1860-61. The simple white card the image is glued to with no ornamentation or gold border suggests this is a very early American carte de visite.

The subject is so special and it's obvious this large doll was perhaps her most valued possession for a girl 10 years old or possibly younger. Was it a Christmas or birthday gift? It's very possible since her parents wanted to have a picture of their daughter with the doll. The carving on the chair in the photographer's studio is also amazing in detail. Please click on the picture to get a closer look.

I would like to dedicate this post to my aunt Diane Jones, who tragically and suddenly passed on from this world on Sunday, December 21 at the age of 56. She was a wonderful teacher, human being, and always a kid at heart!

Dashing Through the Snow

In light of the recent ice storm that ravaged Northern New England and the Great Blackout of 2008, I thought it would be fun (and appropriate) to post a winter-related image from times past. This wonderful cabinet card of a couple dashing through the snow in the studio of E.M. Johnson of Crown Point, NY was probably taken during the 1890s, or late 80s. I'm not sure how the effect of falling snow was created, maybe someone from above was dropping it, but the background is definitely painted so the image was most likely taken inside. I'm sure this "realistic" photo using cutting edge technology must have been quite a conversation piece back then!

Brothers in Arms?

This is a wonderful image from the Civil War era showing two very good friends or possibly brothers from Dexter, Maine or in that vicinity. Dexter is a central Maine community situated in a small valley along Route 7 that runs north from the intersection of Route 95 in Newport and continues toward the Moosehead Lake Region. It was incorporated in 1816, four years before Maine became a state in 1820. On the back of the photo, is printed "J.F. Page, Dexter, ME." which is the photographer. In pencil is written "Tallest man is Maxwell of Dexter, Me." It's possible that one or both of these men fought in the Civil War, and more than 3o guys from Dexter enlisted in the 22nd Maine Regiment. So far I have not been able to locate the guy in our photo, but I haven't given up yet! Still a great image that I will update someday.

Mill Girl from Manchester?

This is a stunning and lovely carte de visite of a young woman taken during the 1860s by "A.W. Kimball, Photographer, 244 Elm Street, Manchester, N.H." This is one those pictures which the advertisement appeared on the back of the image. I acquired this one from my friend Marti Jones, ironically, in Manchester only yesterday! Who this pretty lady was remains a mystery, but it's very possible she worked as an "operative", as they were called back then, at the Amoskeag Mills in New Hampshire. During the Civil War period (1861-1866), Southern cotton used to produce cloth became very scarce, so the company's foundry made over 27,000 rifled miskets and 6,892 Lindner carbines. Following the war, the country's rapid industrialization continued, with Manchester becoming a textile manufacturing center far larger than its namesake back in England. Company engineers built more factories, lining both sides of the Merrimack River. Mill No. 11 was the world's largest cotton mill, 900 feet long, 103 feet wide, and containing 4000 looms! Amoskeag peaked by World War I, supplying the Federal government with massive quantities of fabric. It employed up to 17,000 workers in 74 textile departments, with 30 mills weaving 50 miles of cloth per hour. The company eventually succumbed during the Great Depression, and today the mills have been restored to their former glory, as a home for businesses, museums, and restaurants. Was this young woman one of the thousands of workers to arrive from all over New England to work in the famous mills of Manchester? It's certainly possible.

Put Your Hand on My Shoulder...

As you can see, this is very nice cabinet card photograph of a Vermont couple taken in the state capital of Montpelier sometime during the 1890s. The young lady is wearing a cross around her neck as well as some sort of medallion pinned to her dress, but I have been unable to make out what it is. The both have a look of confidence and love in each other, but unfortunately there is nothing on the back of the image to help identify who this happy couple was.

Monpelier, by population, is the smallest state capital in the United States, but it is well worth a visit. The Vermont State House is very impressive and the "city", if you can call it one, is really nice and very walkable. Montpelier was chartered by the Vermont General Assembly on August 14, 1781. Colonel Jacob Davis, one of the first settlers, selected the name after the French city of Montpellier. The name is a combination of "mont"– hill, and "peller" – bare or shorn. It is very likely that he named Montpelier for the French town of Montpellier, in honor of France's aid during the American Revolution.