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page 25 -- Connecticut Boot & Shoe Co., Franklin J. Smith, Hammond's Paint and Slug Shot Works, Clark Thread Company, M.C. Jones

updated 25 September2015
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The address of this business was listed as 28 E. Main St. in The New England Business Directory and Gazetteer (p.1434) for 1912. (from Archive.org)



The only clue I could find for a "Miss Lester" appears below. She was probably a famous actress of the period. No identification is available for the portrait of the actress on the left-hand side of page 25. The one on the right is Minnie Palmer and the one on the bottom of the page is Rosa Massey.

identity unknown

Minnie Palmer
 A little more of Minnie Palmer from Google Books:



Rose Massey
Google Books confirms that Franklin J. Smith was in business in Collinsville CT, but I am unable so far to find any additional information about Mr. Smith or his store.




from The Garden Magazine, Oct 1909, Archive.org
What a name for a company! Here's an ad that helps explain what this business was all about, from Google Books:

Fishkill Landing, Fishkill-on-Hudson 1907
glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. from Library of Congress
This could very well be the ferryboat "City of Newburgh" built in Newburgh in 1879.
I recognize this as being the Beacon terminal for the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry, on which the Diver family crossed the Hudson River many times as we went to visit Earl J. and Pansy Arnold in Waltham MA.

In the 1950s the Diver family approached the terminal on the Newburgh side down the excessively wide boulevard that led to what was then Newburgh's thriving waterfront district. The odor of old wood, well soaked in brackish water mixed with the fumes of vehicles waiting to board the ferry. Waiting was what one did. Mostly waiting while worrying that the boat might sink before reaching its destination. We would start out very early in the morning in an effort to avoid the rush hour and were happy if we experienced a delay of merely 30 minutes or so.

Crossing the Hudson on the ferry was an exciting experience. Loading, unloading, arriving and exiting the terminals always seemed a bit uncertain. Returning to firm ground was a great accomplishment. I know one eight-year-old that couldn't wait to get off what appeared to be a marginally seaworthy craft. It was a great trip for sightseeing. For those with places to go, however, it was a nightmare.

Google Books, Historic Beacon, p.53
For a history of the Newburgh-Beacon ferry, I recommend the resource in which the above photo appeared:

1920s Newburgh Ferry crossing

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church history is linked to the story of Hammond's enterprise:

from St. Andrew's Episcopal Church history


Going by the "O.N.T" on the spool of thread (the beginning "C" and ending 'S" are also a clue), I believe the above card was probably made for the Clark Thread Company, which is discussed in more detail on page 72 of the Earl J. Arnold Advertising Card Collection.

This one's a mystery! Please let me know by commenting below or email if you find anything. Thanks!

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