One era that has remained difficult to document to my satisfaction is the period of the late 20's and early 30's. Keeper Cushman was in residence, (at least part of the time) and later Arthur and Nora Cobbett were here the latter running a store and the former serving as "Special Officer for Lighthouse Park." My issue is that there must be photographs of this store or, at least, someone who can describe it in more detail than I currently have. We have the chairs that were used, donated by the Hall family, Cushman relations so we know you could sit down. What I want to know is what was on the menu, who came out on a birthday, or who visited after going fishing.
So, blog readers of far and wide, more than 700 of you at last count, who is going to fill in the blanks for me. Who knows someone who knows someone who has a box in the attic that is a missing link. I need them, the public clamors for them, you will be doing a good deed in finding them and sending me word. You will be as renowned as Howard Carter or Indiana Jones. You can see in this 1935 picture from the Library of Congress that there was phone service and a sign for some kind of soft drink in the window. What else could you get?
So in a paraphrase of the old, annoying, chant of my childhood, I scream, you scream, we all scream for pictures of the Lighthouse Ice Cream and Penny candy store.
You have probably seen this postcard view of the lighthouse, probably 1930s. http://cgi.ebay.com/MASSACHUSETTS-POSTCARD-SCITUATE-LIGHT-HOUSE-SCITUATE-/190445231864?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c576b9ef8
ReplyDeleteCopies are likely available at the Scituate Historical Society.
Lyle
I have seen that post card - the red always raises questions - thanks for getting in touch - keep looking for the store and especially any interiors -
ReplyDeleteThe 1927 Bates Bulletin, page 9, says "Above is a picture of the Scituate lighthouse ..." I don't have the picture or the bulletin, but you may want to check into it. Description is at http://books.google.com/books?id=sVQbAAAAYAAJ&q=%22scituate+lighthouse%22&dq=%22scituate+lighthouse%22&hl=en&ei=Bpb0TN2zJIa0lQfGlcSeBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEwQ6AEwCTgo
ReplyDeleteLyle
There is a young man who is volunteering to take a trip to the BPL for me - I will add this to his list as these books are held there. Thanks for your persistence.
ReplyDeleteThe sepia postcard of Old Scituate Light is being held at the Print Dept., 3d floor of McKim Bldg (central library) -- contact Jane Winton, direct dial 617-859-2280. She said I could bring a camera to photograph the card. I suspect it is from 1914 or earlier, but it's worth a look if your volunteer is making a trip.
ReplyDeleteThe Bates Bulletin sounds like something that should be in our Historical Society. If not, maybe he can bring back a photocopy.
Lyle, kln50@aol.com
P.S. He may want to check out the BPL collection of photos from the old Boston Herald Traveler morgue of 500,000 photographs from 1920 to 1972.
Unfortunately we don't have old issues of the Bates Bulletin in the Society's library. We just subscribed so future ones will be available.
ReplyDelete