L. F. Abbott Groceries and Provisions, Boston

Trade cards, set of 4. Louis F. Abbott, Groceries and Provisions, Boston, Massachusetts. Copyrighted 1885 by F. C. Bryon, New York. Series 313.

Price for the set:  $40.00           Size for each:  About 5 x 3 and 3/4″

“A Merry Christmas To You., L. F. Abbott, Groceries and Provisions, 181 Eliot St., Boston.”

We’re not finding any other trade cards online for grocer, L. F. Abbott in Boston, and that’s surprising, given the size of these cards, which are larger than most – leading us to think he was doing pretty well. And these are absolute beauties, each showing a scene within a sparkling snow-rimmed leaf. (Sorry you can’t see the sparkle.) Enlarge the images and get lost in them a little – note also the flowery embellishments in the holiday message.

L. F. was Louis Frederick Abbott, born October 2, 1852 in Ossipee, New Hampshire, the son of Henry G. Abbott and Phoebe Abbott, her maiden name unknown.

On October 5, 1881 in Cambridge, Mass, occupation grocer, he married Myra W. Sherman. She was age 27, born in Rockland, Maine, the daughter of Alden Thomas Sherman and Bethiah (Glover) Sherman. Myra died in 1892, and the following year Louis married Myra’s younger sister, Julia. The 1900 Federal Census shows five children: the oldest, Sarah and Lulu would have been Louis’ daughters with Myra; the younger, Bertha, Henry and Fred, his children with Julia. By the 1910 census, the family has increased with sons Warren and Robert.

The business address on the cards of 181 Eliot St. in Boston, shows up in city directories from 1886 through 1890. In 1886 we find the short ad, below:

The store in question may or may not have been the same one our trade cards were advertising; as from this and a couple of other ads, Louis was also in the real estate business. By the 1900 Federal Census taken in Boston, his occupation is listed as real estate, rather than grocer.

Some Years Later……A Helpful Owl

If you’ll indulge the pretentiousness below:  Regarding “Mr. and Mrs.” Jean Martin (in French I always must use the “et” for “and”, otherwise it sounds absurd.)

It’s unclear how long Louis owned the 181 Eliot Street address but we did find a funny article in The Boston Globe, March of 1910:  The residents at that time were M et Mme Jean Martin, who kept a barn owl in the basement. The good owl had eliminated the rat problem that had come about (let’s presume) after the butcher shop moved out, the property perhaps having stood vacant for a time. (The article went on to explain that the rats are gone, so the residents feed the owl with meat.) Here’s an excerpt:

Sources:  Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook). (Ancestry.com).

New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840???1911. (Ancestry.com).

Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Masons Membership Cards 1733–1990. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. (Ancestry.com).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176768573/louis-frederick-abbott: accessed 25 December 2023), memorial page for Louis Frederick Abbott (2 Oct 1862–13 Oct 1937), Find a Grave Memorial ID 176768573, citing Seaview Cemetery, Rockland, Knox County, Maine, USA; Maintained by Sally – Midcoast Maine (contributor 48138595).

Year: 1900; Census Place: Boston Ward 21, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: 686; Page: 14; Enumeration District: 1479. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1910; Census Place: Boston Ward 21, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_623; Page: 11a; Enumeration District: 1587; FHL microfilm: 1374636. (Ancestry.com).

Boston City Directory, 1890. Boston, MA, USA: Sampson, Murdock and Co., 1890.

Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995.

The Boston Globe, August 18, 1886. Wednesday, p. 7. (Newspapers.com).

“No Rats Where It Has Its Home.” The Boston Globe, March 5, 1910. Saturday, p. 10. (Newspapers.com).

The Peter Odenbrett Homestead

Cropped, Divided Back Postcard, unused. Printer:  KRUXO. Circa 1908 – 1920s.

Price:  $15.00           Size:  About 4 and 1/2 x 3 and 7/8″

This farm was possibly located in Belfast Township, Murray County, Minnesota. That is, if the Peter Odenbrett that we found in that location, for that time-frame, is the correct property owner of this beautiful, and evidently well-maintained property….. And after a little more research, we’re not finding anyone else that fits, so it seems a safe bet for Peter Joseph Odenbrett:  born Wisconsin 1873; married Anna Thelen 1896; died 1962 in Worthington, Minnesota.

The missing stamp box that got cropped off of the card, might have narrowed down the date for us, as KRUXO had about seven different designs with researched corresponding dates or time periods, per Playle.com. But we’re estimating 1908 – 1920s per Kruxo, in general.

If you enlarge the image (twice) you’ll notice some figures on the roof of the attachment to the (massive) barn. One man is sitting up, another reclining, another standing up and the fourth is standing on what might be scaffolding. So, they might have been just finishing the building or maybe repairing the addition when this photo was taken.

Some other details to pick out are the buckboard wagon, a watering trough?, and a portion of a car, maybe a Model T, showing just on our right of the house. A grand, gorgeous farmhouse, it is, too, with two and a half stories, two chimneys and a porch on the ground and second levels.

Sources:  “Real Photo Postcard Stamp Boxes, K-L.” Playle.com. (Accessed September 17, 2022).

Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849 – 1905. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1910; Census Place: Belfast, Murray, Minnesota; Roll: T624_708; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0131; FHL microfilm: 1374721. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1920; Census Place: Belfast, Murray, Minnesota; Roll: T625_848; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 141. (Ancestry.com).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86821301/peter-joseph-odenbrett: accessed 17 September 2022), memorial page for Peter Joseph Odenbrett (12 Sep 1873–3 Mar 1962), Find a Grave Memorial ID 86821301, citing Saint Gabriel Cemetery, Fulda, Murray County, Minnesota, USA; Maintained by Russell Kasper (contributor 47146727).

Windmill Lodge, Ferris, Ontario

Divided back, unused postcard. Circa 1930s – 1940s.

Price:  $8.00     Size:  6 and 1/4 x 4 and 1/4″

“Windmill Lodge. Ferris, Ontario. Phones 425W4 and 83W5. 5 miles north of Callander on Highway No. 11. Watch for cream, black and orange windmill and cabins. 100 feet off highway on the beach on the way to North Bay. Mrs. Allan Leigh, prop. Insulated cabins and cottages on-the-lake. Inner spring mattresses – showers, running water in cabins, flush toilets. Delicatessen, meals and lunches. Sandy Beach – Safe Bathing – Pike, Pickerel and Bass Fishing.”

To get our bearings again (as per the prior post) the red “pin” on the map above marks the town of Callander, and according to the description on the card, the Windmill Lodge would have been located about 2/3 of the way up from Callander to North Bay. Today, there is the township of East Ferris, and West Ferris, a suburb of the town of North Bay. For time-frame and a little more info, we found a matching postcard at the excellent VintagePostcards.org (towards the bottom of the page in the link.) According to VintagePostcards, the Windmill Lodge is estimated as operating in the 1930s – 1940s, and may have been a forerunner to the Leighaven Cottages.

Sources:   Callander, ON, Canada. Google.com. (accessed March 29, 2017).

East Ferris. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Ferris. (accessed March 29, 2017).

“North Bay, Ontario:  Canadian History in Vintage Postcards.”  VintagePostcards.org. (accessed March 29, 2017).

J. E. Allen & Sons Trade Card

J E Allen & Sons tc1J E Allen & Sons tc2

“Compliments of J. E. Allen & Sons. No. 16 N. Third St., Harrisburg, PA.”

Here’s a beautiful trade card for the winter season:  a country scene in brown and white on gray; showing a man driving a two-horse drawn sled which is hauling some very large logs. They are driving past a large windmill, appearing on their left. The road is bordered by a rustic wooden fence, and there are some trees and buildings in the background; note the church steeple. The back of the card has a beautifully delicate design, which is a partial border around the message:

“Go to ALLEN & SONS. No. 16 North Third Street, Harrisburg, Pa. For Fine Confections, Fruits, Nuts, &c. ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY CAKES FROM THEM. A Specialty Made of Fruit Cake. The Largest and Finest Stock of TOYS in the City.”

Imagine being able to go back in time to this store, especially just before Christmas!

J.E. Allen & Sons was John E. Allen, and sons James C. and George. The 1880 Federal Census for Harrisburg shows:  John E. Allen, born about 1825; his wife Frances E., born about 1834; son’s George, born about 1856; James C., born about 1858; daughter Mary E., born about 1862; son Charles E., born about 1865; and Rosanna Paul, occupation servant, born about 1827. All in the household are Pennsylvania natives except for Frances, who is native to New York. Occupations for John E. Allen and sons George and James C. are listed as baker. City directories found online for this company are running from 1876 – 1882.

Trade card, circa 1876 – 1882.   Size:  4 and 1/2 x 2 and 1/2″

Price:  $15.00

Sources: Boyd’s Harrisburg City Directory, 1876 – 1877. p. 81. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989)

Boyd’s Harrisburg “Telegraph” Directory, 1882 – 1884. p. 343. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989)

Year: 1880; Census Place: Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1123; Family History Film: 1255123; Page: 193A; Enumeration District: 087; Image: 0389 (Ancestry.com)

Woman With Shoulder Yoke

Woman With Shoulder Yoke pc1Woman With Shoulder Yoke pc2

Undivided back, unused postcard. Publisher unknown. Circa 1901 – 1907.

Price:  $5.00

This postcard shows an artist’s close-up view of a beautiful dark-haired young woman gazing off into the distance. She wears a lace head covering, a grey blouse or dress, with a red collar or necklace, and a wooden shoulder yoke used for carrying buckets. There are several windmills in the background. I am not sure what the pom-pom looking things are that are attached at each side of the yoke.

There is no visible artist’s signature, nor publisher information, but since this is an undivided back postcard, presumably printed in the U.S., the date would be from December 24, 1901 up until March 1, 1907.