Last week I wrote about a Bank of True Love valentine from Marjorie Boynton Cross. Below are the sod house and Bondville blizzard letters I mentioned. Sod House “Sargent, Custer County, Neb. May 3, 1885 “You wonder how a … Continued
The photo with this article is an early valentine. It’s a tad larger than a current $1 bill. The paper is very thin and flimsy. I know this as “lace paper.” The denomination is 100; other denominations and themes exist. … Continued
The below is from a June 1927 Carpenter’s Store News. “Carp,” as he was known, was a gifted writer. Carp wrote under several pseudonyms. Carp signed this story, “DIOGENES.” In part, it reads: “Signs of the times “Been a pretty … Continued
What is cross writing? I can only speak from my own experience from handling these early pieces of ephemera. In my 50 years buying and selling early letters and other old documents, I have only seen a handful of cross … Continued
The photo with this article is a real photo postcard from Danny Clemons. Danny and I spent a year going through a collection of thousands of Vermont postcards. While Danny and I share common collecting interests, we each buy cards … Continued
As New England’s population increased in the early 1800s, a slow, westerly migration began. By the 1840s, pioneers in wagon trains were traveling west to Oregon. These pioneers came from New England and other eastern states. Some came from Vermont … Continued
The photo with this article is a Black River Academy souvenir. It was published in 1955. It’s a look back at old Ludlow from 1905 class members. In part, it reads: “Alumni Day, June 18, 1955 On this, our Fiftieth … Continued
Beginning in the 1860s, schoolteachers gave “Rewards of Merit” to students who had done well in school. These colorful cards were about the size of a modern business card. Also at this time, autograph books came into being. Students collected … Continued
I have spent a lifetime buying and selling antiques. There are countless stories I could tell. Chelsea, Vt. One day, 50 years ago, I was picking up in Chelsea. I had a lot to learn. I stopped at a … Continued
I wrote the following story about Hessie some years ago. I have rewritten it, and added “Other memories.” Merry Christmas I remember my first grade teacher Mrs. Hammond at Chester Elementary School telling us kids that Santa Claus was known … Continued