A History Mystery and Destination Shopping

Blog time this week has been devoted to some background historical research. The Historical Society is putting together a new collection of self-guided walking tours for the area around the old railroad station. One of the tours deals with the workers at the shovel company and is tentatively called "The American Dream Factory Tour." The underlying idea is that the shovel shop provided the jobs that allowed the workers to live the American Dream. That concept comes from anecdotal evidence found in the survey forms of North Easton houses done by the Historical Commission, but what if that is skewed by looking at the history of houses instead of people?

Rather than create a database of the 500 or so workers here in the 1880s and 1890s, I decided to track the workers who were listed in the 1850 census. Instead of dozens of Andersons and Johnsons, I'm looking at the Yankees who helped Old Oliver start the company and the new influx of Irish immigrants who were a trial to native census takers-Ahearn becomes Ahan and Patrick O'Hara becomes Patric O. Hara. The questions to be answered are: Did the workers in the 1850 and 1855 censuses stay in Easton? Did the immigrants become citizens here? Did they start families? And finally were they able to buy houses here? While you are fighting through the crowds on Black Friday, I'll be finishing phase one of the study.

About that Black Friday thing. Why not skip the whole thing and visit the new indoor Farmers Market at Simpson Springs?  The market continues to grow and this week several new vendors will bring chowder and jewelry to the eclectic mix. I'm a regular at the market buying the fabulous fish from Jordan's Fish Market and my weekly loaf from Bridgewater Bakery, but I've also picked up Christmas presents from Running Brook Winery and Omega Olive Oil and Vinegar. Last week I added a wonderful made-to-order bouquet of flowers. This transaction was the soul of local markets. I set my price, picked the main flowers, and then the shop keeper designed a beautiful bouquet. She'll even fill up a vase or container that you bring from home. The surprise of my bouquet, which is still going strong next to me as I write, is an ornamental kale flower that looks like a big white rose. Then there is cheese, chocolate, honey products, pickles, preserves, spices and cosmetics. Skip the Dunkin's and buy some fresh roasted coffee and home baked scones while you shop! See you at the market from 10-2 on Saturdays. Oh, and don't miss the new flavored club sodas from Simpson Springs: Lemon-lime, pink grapefruit, and cranberry.