A few weeks back, I was on a day trip to Northern Massachusetts, on a road I’ve traveled quite a bit. There’s an antique store that I had passed at least a dozen times, but had never stopped at. From the front, the only discerning feature that sets this particular store apart from the rest, is the sign advertising that they also have a cafe and sell ice cream.
And why hadn’t I stopped here before?
So, on that day, a few weeks back, not particularly burdened with having to get somewhere, I stopped. And though ice cream was on my mind, that idea quickly melted away (you like how I threw that in, ice cream…melting away? Get it?) Anyway, once I saw the glorious stack of anonymous photographs, any thought of anything else became secondary.
Stores like this are treasure troves for the history of a place. Most of the time, when I find a collection of old photographs, they detail the past of the area where the store is located. And in this case, it’s Orange, Massachusetts. And today’s entry comes to us courtesy of G. H. Thompson, Photographer, 6 South Main Street.
So I guess it’s not really anonymous now, is it? Well semantics aside, according to the notations on the back, this image of Ms. Jennison was taken in 1886.
1886! It also says she was 67 years of age at the time, which puts her birth at 1819. I haven’t been able to find anything else with regard to either the photographer or his subject. All I have, is this moment captured 121 years ago. A moment that shows us a woman who more than likely didn’t take no jive. God bless you Mr. Jennison, wherever you may be, and rest assured Mr. Thompson, I’ll treasure your work.
