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The Historical Society's Museum Collection
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The museum's collection focuses on the Revolutionary War, with special emphasis on General Henry Knox and his family; artifacts relating to the history of the Town of Thomaston, especially its seafaring past; and the area's extentive involvement in the Civil War. The Thomaston/Rockland area was the home of the 4th Maine Infantry Regiment and 1st Maine Calvary Regiment that played such pivotal roles in the success of the Union Army. The museum has an excellent collection
of photographs, pictures and drawings of many of the wooden ships made
in Thomaston and an extensive collection of photographs depicting the
growth and development of the town. |
| This Civil War
hat, called a "kepi", belonged to a soldier in the
Union Army, 1st Division of the V (fifth) Corp as designated by the red insignia
on the top known as a Corps Badge. The system of Corps badges and flags was developed by General Daniel Butterfield who also developed the bugle calls, including "Taps". |
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Click on photograph
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A Civil War Ammo Case that had belonged
to Silas Luther or Leathers who served two and a half years during the
war. (Donated by Mr. Beniah Harding. ) |
| An "Automatic
Receiving Teller" Machine from the Thomaston Savings Bank. One might consider
it a very early ATM except that you could make deposits only. There
were no withdrawals. |
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Click on photograph to enlarge
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19th century kerosene ship's lanterns were a culmination of centuries of technological development. Early lanterns burned cloth soaked in animal or vegetable oil. By the 18th century candles became common place. However, in the 19th century, with the wide spread use of metal working and glass blowing techniques along with the discovery of kerosene, this type of lantern came into general use. Such lamps provided cabin light and were used as running and signal lights aboard sailing ships. |
| Three of the
collection's early medicine bottles. |
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Click on photograph
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The Teapot from a Luster ware tea
service dates back to the Mid-19th Century. The pattern is "The Mother's
Grave and Orphans." (Donated from the Estate of Elizabeth Newcomb by Pat
Demmons.) |
| Sextant in its
original mahogany case. A sextant was used aboard ship to measure the angle
between celestial objects and the horizon, which is known as the altitude.
The angles, and the time it was measured, are used to calculate a positional
line on a nautical chart. (Donated by Col. Frank Shroeder.) |
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Click on photograph
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A very early machine for washing clothes.
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| Tarbox Jug
- James Tarbox was an early potter in Thomaston, setting up business on
the mall in 1819. He later moved to the northwest corner of Green and Hyler
Streets, where he lived until his death on October 29, 1887 at the age of
90 years and 5 months. Few of his pieces survive. |
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Click on photograph
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This soup tureen belonged to the family
of Senator John Ruggles, father of the U.S. Patent Office. Ruggles was the
holder of the first patent (Number 1) which was a special railroad wheel
he invented. (Donated by Dr. & Mrs. James Russell of Santa Rosa, California.)
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| As an integral
part of every sailing vessel, blocks were a common sight in Thomaston's
harbor during the 19th century, and still are today, wherever sailing
ships are present. A block, together with a ships lines (ropes), are used
to gain mechanical advantage for the halyards which raise the sails, the
sheets which adjust the angle of the sails, or ropes for loading cargo.
It consists of an outer shell enclosing a number of sheaves (pulleys) through
which the lines run. The number of sheaves determines the mechanical advantage.
John Elliot, Jr. and William Metcalf set up separate block making establishments
in Thomaston is 1826. |
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Click on photograph
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Tools used in the sail making
industry. These particular tools came from Dunn & Elliot, one ot the
larger sail lofts in the area during the nineteenth century. |
| Two lockets owned
by Hannah Parsons and Patrick Keegan that were exchanged at their wedding
ceremony in 1827. The couple had nine children Mr. Keegan was a town businessman
and importer. (These items are from his estate.) |
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Click on photograph
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Scales from the cement plant in Thomaston. (Donated by Mr. Beniah Harding.) |
| Bone handled Dinnerware
Utensils: 53 Piece silverware set belonging to Annie Dunn Wiley and Captain
Walter B. Wiley, son of Captain William Wiley who perished on the Alfred
D. Snow. Exotic collectibles were brought here from distant ports by Thomaston
Sea Captains. (Donated by Douglas Walker, M.D.) |
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