1939 World's Fair: Norway

Here is another book Madeline picked up at the World's Fair.  This is the front cover:

And here is the back cover:

Royalty!

No cell phones or email back then!

You wouldn't see an ad like this today!

So we can thank Norway for cod liver oil.

Hope you enjoyed this little taste of  Norway in 1939.

Next up:  The Dominican Republic

Some Photos of a Young Madeline

I like to skip around the years in Madeline's life.  Today is about Madeline as a very young child.

This is the house where Madeline mostly grew up in on Washington Street in Keene, NH.  It looks very idylic in the pic with the snow on the roof and the ground.  The inside of the house was just spectacular!  I was only at the house one day in my life, but I was overwhelmed by all I took in.  Pocket doors, old wood everywhere, the biggest soapstone sink I've ever seen in the kitchen with an overhead sprayer, a dumb waiter, beautiful old wooden stairway, and more dishes in display cabinets than I had ever seen. 

Madeline and her chickens.  This picture would have been taken at her first home in Newburyport, NH.  Her father raised chickens for a time.  I might not have put a child that young in with the chickens. 

Madeline flies the flag.  She was one of the most patriotic people I've known. 

With her umbrella.  Always with a prop.  Love the old car in the back.

With cousins Don and Harry.  Don't you love her big bow that is almost bigger than her!

Madeline's Wedding

Madeline and Archer were married on December 17, 1946.  They had only been dating for a few months. The engagement was properly announced in the local newspapers:

The announcement makes it seem that Madeline had done nothing with her life up to this point other than college, when in fact she worked at Paine's Furniture store in Boston.  I love how it says that Archer was well known throughout New England for his distinctive style of decorating.  He was an interior decorator with good taste and we were fortunate to have him decorate our first home at Fort Bragg, NC in 1980. 

The wedding invitation.

Madeline as a bride.

The bride and groom.

Wedding party.

Cutting the cake. 

This is a letter that Archer wrote to Madeline before their wedding.  He was staying with his mother who was quite ill and would pass on before the wedding.  Madeline had asked him what he thought of a certain silverware pattern.  It was very typical of Archer to take control of the event.

This beautiful card is from Archer to Madeline after their engagement dinner.  I'm thankful he sent her so many beautiful cards because now we all get to enjoy them.

Blodgetts' Landing Group Photo

This photo has been sitting on my desk for a few weeks now.  I pulled it out of a stack when I was unpacking a box.  The people and the setting really appealed to me and I wanted to know more about it. 

The sides of the photo tell us it is from J. B. Warren Photography Studio, Franklin, NH & Views and Groups are a Specialty. 

This is the reverse side:

You'll notice that on the side written in pencil is "M Rowe" (Madeline's mother).  So I am assuming that this is her handwritting and explanation and those are her parents (Madeline's grandparents) in the photo. 

I was curious what the occasion of the group photo was and what was with the long aprons that the women and men wore.  Notice some are holding plates or glasses and one man is holding a big pot.  The man in the middle of the front row appears to have a plate of  food.  Because some of the women in the back row are wearing some kind of  hat cover on their heads I thought they might be the hired help of a prominent family.  

I did a little research on Blodgetts' Landing and found it was a Spiritualist Meeting Camp  and this could be their annual camp meeting.  George Blodgett was the first resident.

This is an old postcard of Blodgett's Landing.  You can read more info about the place here.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the photo.

Annie's 1800s School Autograph Book

Madeline's parents traveled quite a lot with her father's business and she was basically raised by a woman named Annie who may or may not be her real grandmother.  (It's the family mystery, and we all have our theories.)  I believe Annie was the one who started Madeline on this path of saving everything and scrapbooking, as there are a few very old scrapbooks that Annie made with old cards and store trading cards.  This is Annie's school autograph book from the 1800s.  The penmanship alone is beautiful, not to mention the verses and little drawings from her classmates.  Hope you enjoy these selections: