James Christison's Mourning Collectibles
Pursel's Furniture, on the southeast corner of Main and Temperance in Waterford.
As in many towns, the furniture maker was also the undertaker -
you can see the hearse pictured here in front of the shop.
Photo courtesy of Toronto Public Library's Digital Collection.
As in many towns, the furniture maker was also the undertaker -
you can see the hearse pictured here in front of the shop.
Photo courtesy of Toronto Public Library's Digital Collection.
James Christison came to us all the way from his job at the Waterford Historical and Agricultural Museum to showcase some of his creepiest collectibles - including coffin plates, memorial art, hair weaving, photographs, a carved wooden grave marker from Newfoundland, and a child's coffin.
Apparently, people who collect this stuff don't talk about it much so we were lucky to get James to open up about it.
Apparently, people who collect this stuff don't talk about it much so we were lucky to get James to open up about it.
A Tale of Two Bridges with Rick Collins
Rick Collins (far left) with a few members of the audience: Bob Stevenson, Iris Brunning, Mary Koopman
Rick Collins told us stories and showed pictures of:
- Waterford's original wooden Main Street Bridge
- the first high bridge (built 1929-1931) when Main Street was rerouted and many downtown buildings removed
- the second high bridge (built 1999-2000) - many of us remember using the Bailey Bridge and the Blue Line Bridge during that construction
Road Trip to Norwich
We had a good turnout and fine weather for the Road Trip to the Norwich Museum in June 2012. The Norwich Museum has several buildings and 200,000 artifacts! There wasn't quite time to view them all!
Norfolk's Cemeteries with Marie Shull
We were amazed to learn that Norfolk has over 135 cemeteries scattered in back fields and backyards throughout the county. Marie told us stories of tracking these cemeteries down and documenting them all in book and electronic form. Obituaries and other information are being gathered to match up with the data she has gathered. It was a fascinating discussion and we applaud Marie for her years of dedication to this task. And I think we might have to organize a field trip to some of the cemeteries ... perhaps in the summer.
Shifting Sands: A Look at Agriculture Through the Years in Norfolk
with Judy Livingstone
Judy Livingstone, Curator of the Delhi Tobacco Museum and Heritage Centre gave a very interesting presentation on the history of agriculture in Norfolk. We learned of how tobacco became the dominant crop in the area, the many changes in its cultivation, and the new crops that are being grown in its place. Judy had some fascinating old pictures of drifting sands caused by agricultural practices that were inappropriate for our sandy soil - this led to a lively discussion in the audience about whether the removing windbreak tree lines, which we see happening today, is really a good idea in the long run. Also lots of audience reminiscences of summers spent in tobacco fields. My back still aches when I hear that word ...
