The Massena, New York Museum - Part 2

I was touring the Massena, NY Museum (see also Part 1, posted yesterday) and stopped at this old writing desk for a closer look:

 Victorian Era wicker wheelchair and crutches. I thought the uniforms were from World War I but wasn't sure, and I saw no signs to tell me:

There was kitchen furniture and furnishings from a variety of eras:

An old still, probably the only real one I've ever seen:

And this mysterious object. I'll bet you don't know what it is. It's a bottle capper from Massena Springs (see also next photo):

 

I knew nothing of Massena Springs, so I checked the town website and learned this:

During the 1800’s, Massena grew in prominence as a health retreat as people flocked to the area to enjoy the medicinal benefits of bathing in the sulfur mineral springs found along the Racquette River. Known to the Indians as Kanaswastakeras, meaning "the place where the mud smells bad," the Iroquois had been visiting the springs and using the waters for their "curative" powers for generations before settlers from New England and Europe came to this area. The Indians described the springs as a place where many moose, deer and their sick brothers would come to drink the healing waters.

The sulfur springs provided a booming economy for the place known as Massena Springs, N.Y. Many grand homes and hotels opened and grew to accommodate the many people who would come to "use The Massena Waters." For those who couldn't travel here, the curative waters were locally bottled and shipped far and wide:

I kept having the feeling that I was being watched, and this exhibit was the reason why. This woman tended an old fashioned general store, comprised of artifacts from former Massena merchants:


This Dayton scale (early 1900s) was once used in Tarpenian's Grocery Store. The store counter was once used in "Honest John" Serabian's store:

Lots of old grocery items, but it was calendar which caught my eye. It was from September, 1946,  before I was even born. I've reached the age when I see lots of things in museums which are younger than me, and it was a pleasure to see this calendar which was older than I:

An old cash register from Podgurski's store:

Uniform and switchboard from the Massena Police Station in the 1950s:

And a phone book from 1953-54 to authenticate it. Massena was called "The Aluminum City" because of the aluminum production plants which once ruled the city. Only Alcoa is left, and that has a much reduced workforce now. Massena was a boom town in the heyday of aluminum production and again during the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. I have been told that Massena's population is now only half of what it once was:

This was my last stop for the day, a collection of items saved by local residents and donated to the museum. I'll have to return when they other half of the museum opens:

The Massena, New York Museum - Part 1

I drove into Massena one sunny day and visited the town museum, newly moved to a former bank building and looking elegant:

I'd been there before but didn't remember the two giant murals. I had to ask about the subject of the paintings. They depicted Jacques Cartier's exploration of the St. Lawrence River in the mid 1500s:

 

Cartier was a French explorer and named Canada by misusing the Iroquois word, "kanata," which meant village or settlement. He met a number of local tribes, and apparently they received him with friendship:

Only half the museum was open when I visited, as the other half was being rearranged for a new exhibit. But there was plenty to see in the open half, like this home spinning equipment:

There was no sign on these handmade dolls and I wish I'd asked about them. I will next time:

I headed down the hallway, which was filled to overflowing with local artifacts:

A Victorian dress, butter churn and milk can:

Victorian doll, baby carriage - an old desk and artifacts from an early church and synagogue:

Lots of hand tools, which I assumed were for kitchen use because those few which I recognized were kitchen tools:

Mohawk baskets, wagon wheels and lots of artifacts from Massena's history:

Farm and fireplace tools:

Tools for barn building and use around the farm:

A Civil War Uniform. There was a lot more to see, though, and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

Village Of Norwood, New York Museum-Part 1

The Village of Norwood museum is only open four hours per week in the summer and I hadn't been there in several years, so one afternoon I returned to have another look. There were several people there, sorting and cleaning, and all were friendly and welcoming:

I began in the parlor. I was told that this house once belonged to the village doctor, and this room was his office and examination room:

The inlaid floor was dramatic, and evidence of the railroad money which once made this town prosperous:


Now the room is a comfortable looking, Victorian Era parlor:


The next room was a tribute to the town's railroading history. They had more railroad lanterns than I've ever seen in one place:

I imagine that town residents donated most of the artifacts in this museum as well as all the other town museums I've been to:

Toy train cars, photos and memorabilia:

This old high button shoe was found inside a wall in a local house which was being remodeled. The tool with the hook was to help with the cumbersome job of getting in and out of such a shoe:

A room filled with village mementos:

Typewriters so old that they were even before my time:

A very old and faded red wig and a deluxe hairbrush set. I could only imagine that the bright red wig was used by a woman of dubious morals who entertained the railroad crew and passengers at the American Hotel, which used to be just down the street:

A baby's bonnet and more high-top shoes. There was a lot more to see at the museum and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

The Parishville, New York Museum - Part 2

I was touring the Parishville, New York town museum (see also Part 1, posted yesterday) and entered the children's bedroom, which contained several cribs, doll carriages, toys and many dolls:

And there was a room filled with high school marching band memorabilia:

And old typewriters:

A sunroom upstairs had many handmade displays such as this one with miniature wooden tools. It had been there so long that the sun had bleached out the signs which explained the tools:

And this being a pioneer town, there were three model log cabins. This one, with a cutaway showing the interior, was my favorite:

Another model log cabin:


And a huge display of old tools:

Woodworking and other tools:

The master bedroom reminded me of my grandmother's bedroom:

This was small town life in the Victorian era:

Even the closet was filled with old clothing:

This old dress was interesting, but what was that tag hanging from it? I moved in for a closeup:

It turned out to not be for the dress, but instead it was directions for using the old dress form:

My final photo at the Parishville Museum was of this hat collection, a reminder of small town life many years ago. I love these town museums, and the Parishville Museum is certainly one of my favorites: