POLAND, Maine — A unique collection of antique horse-drawn buggies and sleighs is hitting the auction block in Maine next week.
Poland auctioneer Jody McMorrow says he has never seen a collection quite like it.
The more than 40 sleighs and buggies from the 1800s and early 1900s were collected by Carl Huston Sr., a Lisbon Falls contractor who died last summer at age 77.
McMorrow says many of the items need work, but many show a craftsmanship not often seen these days.
They range in value from about $50 to several thousand dollars.
Huston’s son told the Sun Journal the collection is being sold because the family has no place to store it. Carl Huston Jr. says he thinks the collection helped his father connect to his youth on a farm.
Source: bangordailynews.com
Antique bell found in Easton shovel shop site - Abington Mariner
The old steel bell sits on a pedestal at the former Ames shovel works like some rare archaeological find.
It’s rusty and dirty. It may not have its original wooden moorings.
But it’s a buried treasure come to life for local historians.
This is the bell that tolled throughout the town of North Easton for more than 100 years.
It awoke factory workers for their pre-dawn shifts, called them to lunch at midday and sent them home to bed at curfew.
It was finally silenced in the early 1960s. Then it disappeared into local folklore.
Melanie Deware, chairman of the Easton historical commission, said she just knew the bell would be found when work began on a project to convert the complex into apartments.
“It’s the Holy Grail. When they said they had found it, I felt vindicated,” Deware said.
The 1,500-pound bell was discovered in late May after developer Beacon Communities started work on the project to convert Oliver Ames’ famed 19th century shovel shop into apartments while conserving its history.
Workers found it tucked away in the cupola of one of the machine shops. They carefully brought it down with a crane and mounted it on a wood frame for safekeeping.
According to its markings, the cast steel bell was made by Naylor Vickers & Company of Sheffield, England. The 1857 stamp matches the date of the building in which it was located.
“It is clear that the bell was kept functional into the modern period. I would guess due to wood rot the structure holding the bell from above, down to its bearings as well as the wheel which held the pull rope are all modern,” said Greg Galer of the Easton historical commission.
Historians hope to unearth more artifacts from the site of the 15 granite and wood buildings that hammered out most of the shovels used during the industrial age.
But the bell was the drum beat of the town long before people set their radios and iPods to get them up for work.
“It was the clock for North Easton Village,” Galer said.
The bell will be afforded a place of honor when work is completed on the $40 million project that will conserve the granite building exteriors and rooflines. It is expected to be completed by 2014.
By the time the official groundbreaking takes place Friday, June 8, there may be little ground left to break.
Bulldozers have been moving earth from Main Street to Oliver Street since Beacon signed the official ownership documents earlier this month.
Source: www.wickedlocal.com
Entrepreneur plans to bring antique, cafe hybrid to Delaware - Delaware Gazette
KATE LIEBERS
Staff Writer
This summer, a new business is set to combine classic staples of downtown Delaware: coffee and antiques.
Melissa Dixon knocked down the walls at 31 and 27 W. Winter St. to present Coffeeology and Star Antiques. The shops aim to blend Dixon’s skills as a certified barista with the commercial antiquing experience her mother, Sharon Cole, has accrued over 20 years.
Downtown already is home to three antique malls and four full-service coffee shops, but the combination of the two will be unique to Delaware.
“It’s the only time you’re encouraged to take your drink into an antique store,” Dixon said.
In regards to antique shops, Main Street Delaware Executive Director Frances Jo Hamilton said more shops mean more business for all. Delaware draws antiquers from across the state, and adding another destination stop will only strengthen that pull, she said.
“You never just go to one antique store — it’s not like going to three different Targets,” Hamilton said. “Everyone who’s going antiquing is looking for some sort of treasure.”
Named after the image that has captivated Cole for years, Star Antiques will feature collectables from mid-century to modern day, Dixon said. Cole, who resides in Arizona, will be commuting to Ohio to drop off the bounty she digs from the west coast, Dixon said.
Similar to the antique mall target audience, Dixon said she hopes the conjoined coffee shop will lure new types of cafe-frequenters in the community, rather than detract from the existing establishments.
The cafe will differ from others in town by offering quick and healthy lunch items, Dixon said. She also plans to incorporate fresh pastries and baked goods into her menu of coffees, teas and frozen drinks.
The focus of the cafe, however, will be the expertly brewed coffee concoctions. Dixon said she is passionate about the entire coffee-brewing process, from pouring the perfect espresso to creating designs in the foam of lattes.
The name, Coffeology, is meant to reflect Dixon’s scientific approach to her brews. It could also apply to the atmosphere Dixon hopes to facilitate — one that inspires learning through academic, theological, professional or social discussions.
The seating will be designed to facilitate large group meetings as well as more private one-on-one conversations, she said. A large table will be available for work assemblies, Bible studies, student study groups, or other meetings.
Dixon said that espresso shops have been a comfort for her since she was a child and, since moving to Delaware in 2009, has felt compelled to bring this sort of gathering place to the community.
Hamilton, meanwhile, is pleased to see a new merchant breathe new life into an empty lot.
“I’m glad to see that corner filled again,” she said. “As always, it’s a benefit to the whole downtown when people drive in and don’t see empty spaces.”
Dixon plans to open her store by the end of summer, probably by August, she said
Source: delgazette.com
Newark couple shows off antique bicycle - Newark Advocate
NEWARK Paul and Lena Mae Weekly stored an old bicycle built for two in their basement more than 40 years, always planning to restore it.
Finally, last year, they asked Dave Bardsley if he would attempt a restoration of the bicycle, which turned out to be an 1892 Wolff-American model, similar to one on display at the Smithsonian Institution.
The result was a surprise Christmas present for the Newark couple, with the restored product now on display in the lobby of the Licking County Administration Building, 20 S. Second St., Newark.
The Licking County Commissioners and Newark Mayor Jeff Hall recognized the Weeklys on Thursday for sharing the bicycle with the public. They discussed asking The Works if it would put the bicycle on display after its stay in the county building.
We told Dave to take it and see what he could do with it, and we kept asking how the bicycle was coming and he said were still working on it, Paul Weekly said. On Christmas morning, they snuck it into the house and put it by the tree, and we were really surprised.
The transformation was remarkable, starting with a rusty frame and no pedals, seats or wheels attached. The final product looked like it came off the showroom floor, complete with the solid oak rims.
Bardsley, whose son is engaged to the Weeklys granddaughter, enjoyed the challenge.
I tinker around with bicycles, said Bardsley, the Newark Police DARE officer at Newark High School. I found a business with all the parts in Grand Rapids, Ohio. It took almost six months.
Bardsley enlisted the assistance of David Morris, who sandblasted and power-coated the bicycle, completing he restoration process.
Were glad that people are enjoying it and (are) hoping we can share it with other people, Paul Weekly said.
Weekly obtained the bicycle in the 1960s from friends Raymond and Sophie Smith when their Buckingham Street property was taken by eminent domain to make way for the Ohio 16 expressway.
They said to take anything in the garage, Paul Weekly said. All we had was the frame and wheels not on the bicycle. I was going to restore it when I retired.
Weekly, 85, said he worked in the office at an asphalt plant, then for an accountant, and didnt retire until four years ago. So, the project fell to Bardsley.
When asked if hed sell it, Weekly joked, I will take $20,000 for it.
Source: www.newarkadvocate.com
No comments:
Post a Comment