Showing posts with label Americana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Americana. Show all posts

Sep 19, 2011

Booklet - 1911 Glidden Pathfinder Flanders 20, Down the Dixie Trail, New York to Jacksonville, The Studebaker Corporation E M F Companies Factories, Detroit Michigan

1911 Glidden Pathfinder Flanders 20, Down the Dixie Trail, New York to Jacksonville, The Studebaker Corporation E M F Companies Factories, Detroit Michigan

This booklet tells the story of  The Flanders 20 that set a record for travel, without pause for mechanical difficulty, covering the 1490 miles between New York and Jacksonville in ten days. this booklet is filled with photo and I post it here for your enjoyment.


Cover of booklet showing the rough trail they had to endure

Fob Mason - P D Mullins Mason Jewel Consisting of Three Hinged Gold; Washington County, Pennsylvania, Monongahela Chapter No. 249; Donora Lodge No. 626; McKean Commandery 80; Pennsylvania Consistory, 32 Degree Double Eagle

P D Mullins of Monongahela Chapter No. 249; Donora Lodge No. 626; McKean Commandery 80; Pennsylvania Consistory

The late 1800's to early decade of 1900's saw the height of Masonic and other fraternal elaborately engraved jewels presented to past master of the lodge. Some are works of jeweler art and they spared no expense to show their appreciation depending on the wealth of the lodge.
This particular jewel is unusual in that it commemorates the four organization PD Mullins belonged to in Pennsylvania.
It is a wonderful crafted jewel, even with some element missing. It is hinged and when open reveals beautiful enameling . Once on the double eagle 32 degree part of the jewel was a large diamond.

This jewel could be worn as a pendant or as a watch fob. It weights 40 grams and is very heavy for a small item and measures 1 3/8" high x 1" across.

I am trying to find more information on PD Mullins that I found years ago.......


To Be Continued...........more info coming about PD Mullins


Sep 14, 2011

Salem - John F. Hurley Blog 1894 John F. Hurley, Member of Salem Water Board Before Being Elected Mayor of Salem, Massachusetts, When on the Salem Water Board, New England Water Works Association, Construction of Pipe Line from Lake Wenham, Longham Basin


1894 - 1895 John F. Hurley, before being elected Mayor of Salem, Massachusetts,  When on the Salem Water Board,  New England Water Works Association, Construction of pipe line from Lake Wenham, Longham Basin

John Hurley was a member of the New England Water Works Association Water Board Salem Division. I have no idea when he was elected to the board, but he is in all the group photos.  They ran large pipes from Lake Wenham to Salem by way of Longham Basin to bring water to the growing town.  I think from him being on this board motivated him to seek higher office.  Six year later at the turn of the century he was elected as mayor of Salem. This is the beginning of John Hurley's political life and that is why I am listing it. 

All the photos have been cropped and are partial until  a latter date when I will post the entire photo.
These are very large cabinet cards photographs that shows different phases of the construction of the Water Works.  There are a series of eight  9.5" x 7"  photos on 10.25"  x 9" cabinet cards. 

The first photo is a group photo of the New England Water Works Association, Salem Board.  It is separate from the series of eight photos of the construction of the Water Works.

Below is a photo of what is left of the caption on the first of nine photos that shows the construction and completion of the Salem Water Work project of 1894(or maybe earlier) to 1895.


 (Partial). NEW ENGLAND WATER WORKS A......I believe the rest is ssociation. Photographed by O. W. Leighton, Salem, Mass
and underneath this a chip that has printed:   M  WATER BOARD. In all probability the letter M is for Salem.


This is John Hurley in the middle of the group photo of the Salem Water Board.  I believe the lady to his right is is wife, for she is wearing a similar badge in their lapel, except hers is smaller.  He is wearing his trademark Top Hat and mutton sideburns.



Sep 10, 2011

Salem - John F. Hurley Blog - Mayor John F. Hurley, Salem, Massachusetts; 1909 Old Home Week Celebration; Mayor John F. Hurley Presentation of Silver Service, Clock and Columbia Phonograph to USS Salem; Parade Route; Fireworks; Presdential Yacht;


Official Programme of the Celebration in Salem, Mass. Old Home Week July 26 - 31 1909; Presentation of Gifts to U.S.S. Salem; Illumination of the Shore, Military and Civic Parade, Reception of Officers and Crew, Banquet at the Armory

I have decided to captioned each page of this program. The reason I have listed everyone that was on these committee's is so that families that are doing a search of ancestors will find them. Without listing them, the families of these individual would never know something about their ancestors involvement in this period of history and an occasion they had something to do with. It is time consuming, but the nice emails I get from family members for their appreciation of my other postings, motivate me. It also keeps my mind sharp and my fingers nibble (smile.)

Many of the individuals listed I have recognized from prior searches on historical items I have.  I have an archive of a Salem shop keeper and many of these individuals ancestors are mentioned. I am also familiar with Daniel Low the silversmith, for I collected souvenir spoons for awhile and I have  some of the ones he made.

I will be listing John Hurley's papers in groups to make it easy for searches. So enjoy!  This program measures 6 x 9 inches and consist of eight pages with a decorative cover of embossed and engraved quality printing on textured paper

At the end of this blog there is some biographical information on Honorable John F. Hurley


This is the front cover of the program with an embossed knotted rope around an engraved seal of the City of Salem in gold.

Sep 9, 2011

Salem - John F. Hurley Blog - Mayor John F. Hurley, Salem, Massachusetts 1901-1902-1908-1909-1913-1914; 1855 City of Salem Annual Report of Several Departments and Committees; Photo Archive; New England Water Works and Sewer Project at Wenham Lake, Longham Basin



Salem, Massachusetts Mayor John F. Hurley, 1901-1902-1908-1909-1913-1914; 1855 - City of Salem Annual Report of Several Departments and Committees; Photo Archive; New England Water Works and Sewer Project at Wenham Lake, Longham Basin


We used to have these Inaugural Address to understand the essence of the politician, but once they relied on speechwriters to make sure all bases were touched (beginning of political correctness) there was no intellectual scale to judge them on, not like the politicians of old.  The politicians like Hurley relied on their intellect to write, for citizen in his era demanded higher of their leaders. Today its the sound bite of a professional speechwriter or an unguarded moment to define the politician; this is what makes these addresses so informative for me when I find them, it gives an insight to that politician view.

This is Hurley's first address that he gave. He sat down and wrote what his vision for the City of Salem he hoped he could make a reality with his speech the foundation to built upon and a blueprint the citizen could follow.  I do not expect anyone to read everything, so I will caption the interesting comment or observation on each page and then you decide if you want to read that page.

This will be a work in progress, for I have many documents and photos, including the 1855 Annual Report that is over 75 pages showing the cost of running government then . 

I will start with these photo and document first.

I have added some information on Mayor Hurley at the end of this blog.


This is the Honorable John F. Hurley official city photograph; He is wearing a classy top hat and in his lapel button hole he is wear the membership pin of GAR, the Civil War Fraternal Organization that was at its height of their influence due to the large number of dedicated members


Here is a metal door sign, hand painted for the Mayor office which was one of the old Alderman's office.



Honorable John F, Hurley First Inaugural Address .  He had just won the mayors seat in the election held December 11, 1900 and what we have here is a 32 page booklet addressing his hope and aspiration in how he was going to govern and he lays this out in this, his first Mayor's Address given on January 7, 1901

This is an insert in the booklet of his first Mayor Address attesting to his making these booklet available  with his compliments.



This is how he looked at taking office on January of 1901. As you see from the Official City Photograph that I listed first, he had by 1914 gone completely gray

Here is the title page showing the seal of the City of Salem and the year it given

He starts off with giving a summary of what he just went through


























Here is some information on John F. Hurley:

From 1838 when the city was incorporated, until 1917, John Hurley was the most elected of all prior mayors at that time. He was elected a total of six time mayor of Salem. Mayor Hurley was one of Salem's most colorful political figure ever elected. He was know for his great mutton chop sideburns. These so named sideburns were made famous by Civil War General Ambrose Burnside and they were known at first as Burnside's and some how by the end of the century it evolved into the name sideburns.

Hurley had worn his Burnside's from after the civil war until his death. Another distinct attribute was that he wore a stovepipe top had, even when it became unfashionable he wore one. You could always pick him out of a crowd for that top hat and mutton chops sideburns. Mayor Hurley was a member of G.A.R., the civil war veteran association and was a member of Post 34 of Salem.

Mayor Hurley was mayor at the time of the Great Salem Fire of June 25, 1914. The fire destroyed approximately 1300 building, with 20,000 people losing their homes and 10,000 jobs. This great tragedy weighted so heavily on Mayor Hurley, that he never again sought public office.

When he died in 1935 he had a requiem high mass at Immaculate Conception Church that was filled to capacity and then interred at St. Mary's Cemetery. His funeral was attended by many politicians of the day,. Present in 1935 was Mayor George J. Bates and ex-mayor Denis J. Sullivan of Salem, G.A.R. Veterans comrades James Carney and Edward I. P. Benson, Legionnaires and throng of citizens.

As I find more information I will add it,


Aug 31, 2011

Sculpture Rogers - 1870 John Rogers Sculpture Coming to the Parson, Movie Little Woman, June Allison, Katherine Hepburn

1870 John Rogers Sculpture Coming to the Parson, Movie Little Woman, June Allison, Katherine Hepburn
Coming to the Parson
Patented 1870
John Rogers
Painted Plaster
21 1/2 x 16 1/2 x 10 in. (54.5 x 42.0 x 25.4 cm)

These sculptures were very popular or very fragile during the Victorian age. Very rarely will you find them without damage. There were two version of this grouping, one with dog and cat and one without. If you ever have a chance to see the movie, the re-make of  "Little Woman" with June Allison playing the title role, (I personally like the Kate Hepburn original edition) you will see the grouping (with dog and cat).

She is in the parlor when her Aunt drops by where she staying in a upscale rooming house in New York. She learns that her aunt has decided to take her sister to Europe instead of her and as her aunt is telling her why she is standing next to this sculpture  Many good angles in the movie of this grouping.


Aug 30, 2011

Sterling Silver Trophy - 1901 Series Race For Centre Island Cup Race, Second Place Sterling Trophy Bowl Award to Marcia, Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, 1890's Article and Etching of Seawankaha Commodore, Larchmont Commodore, New York Yacht Club and Corinthian Yacht Club of New YorkYacht Club of New York

1901 Series Race For Centre Island Cup Race,  Second Place Sterling Trophy Bowl Award to Marcia, Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, 1890's Article and Etching of Seawankaha Commodore, Larchmont Commodore, New York Yacht Club and Corinthian Yacht Club of New York

This a sterling silver bowl for the Centre Island Race Trophy won by the sloop Marcia which placed 2nd and so awarded. The  Marcia owners belonged to the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club that time was located on Oyster Bay, New York   They also had a land club at Seawanhaka Yachting Club that was located at 7 East 32 street New York, New York in 1890's.

I bought this bowl in 2004 from an auction house that was offered it. I  was taken with it's most unusual script and decided I would bid on it.  I am still trying to find the proper name for the style. The letters are written in an organic flowing style, unlike the period Arts and Craft style of the period but closer to the Nouveau which was taking off when bowl was won. It has element of nouveau, but with a organic flair.  The closest I could find was a script called  ribbon, shaded or threaded script, but this is definitely in a class of its own. 

The inscription on the bowl is as follows: 

SERIES RACES FOR THE CENTRE ISLAND CUP 1901  SECOND PRIZE Won by  MARCIA

The unusual script spells out:

Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club

Bowl  measures 9 1/2 inches across by 4 1/4 inches high and weights approximately 22 ounces. The bowl was executed by the silversmiths BLACK, STARR and FROST. It is marked Sterling and has a number 15 on one side and a hallmark of a shield with a fleur-de-lis clover.

This trophy was the for second annual Centre Island Cup Race. The year 1900 race had been such a success that the person that had donated the trophy for that race decided to offer a similar prize for competition during the 1901 season of Seawanhaka knockabout's owned by club members. the main trophy would be for winning the  the greatest number of races in a series of seven to  be sailed. The dates of the race would be  June 15 and 22, July 6, 20 and 27, August 10 and 17, 1901. 

Here is how the winner would be determined. In each race each yacht was credited with a number of points equal to the number of yachts she defeats, with one point added as a premium for entry. A yacht which start and does not finish or is disqualified will receive no points, but will be counted as a defeated yacht in assigning points to her competitor.  In order to qualify for the series prize a yacht must start in at leas five of the seven races .  No yacht shall be counted in awarding points to others after it has become impossible for her to qualify in this series.  The record of a yacht shall be the percentage which the total number of points to her credit at the end of the series bears to the total number of points she would have received had she won every race in  which started.  At lease two yachts had to be present to constitute a race.

In addition to the trophy cup to be awarded to the winner the cup would provide for a second prise to the yacht finishing second on the same system of scoring and to the winner of each individual race the usual pewter mug provided no other prizes are arranged for . There was an prize  for any crew that was strictly a Corinthian crew in all her races, the club presented individual Corinthian prizes to each member of the crew. Should the offer of the Centre Island Cup result in arousing sufficient interest the donor purposes continuing  the gift annually. 

This Club has a rich and historical past with a wonderful short history written by past Commodore P. James Roosevelt. He traces the inception of the club to present day in a most elegant and informative style. If you click on  www.Seawanhaka.org  it will take you to their beautiful website. 

The following image is of the inscription side of the bowl.  Visible is the reed edge at the top and bottom edge of the bowl.



Below you will see several images of the unusual  script that was applied attributing the bowl to the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club which the winner of trophy belonged.






Below you will find a scan of an article that appeared in The Illustrated American



This image below is the model room of the New York Yacht Club.


Below is an image of the Corinthian Yacht Club of New York at Tompkinsville, Staten Island


Below closeup of article above the model room of the Corinthian Yacht Club


The etching below is captioned : A winter's cruise ashore:  Atlantic Basin, Bay Ridge.  Far away to the eastward the angry sea beats against the bleak Long Island shore and the tiny craft fares not so well as her wealthy owner.


The 1890's etching below is captioned: A winter's cruise ashore:  Model room of the Seawanhaka Yacht Club, New York.  It is in this room that the famous Seawanhaka mess dinners are held on Saturday nights.


Close up below of the model room of the Seawanhaka


Article below showing 1890's Commodore of the Seawanhaka and The Larchmont Yacht Club


Below is Robert Center, Commodore of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club.