Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-10
INTERESTING ANTIQUITIES.
An Old Timepiece and other Choice and
Rare Relics Of'' We Olden Tymes."
R0atorl Post

"Inere," SAID DIR. William HOVey, IA
Main street, Bunker Hill district, point
ing to an old-fashioned tall clock, shat is
an eight-day clock made by Benjamin
Bagnell, of Boston, some time about 1920.
As far as can be learned, he had made
only four of the clocks when he died and
left the business to his son, Samuel. Wy
mans Genealogies and Estates in Charles
town states that Benjamin Bagnell was
paid for cleaning a clock Aug. %, 1924.
You see the clock is running and the time
is correct. aFwind her up every Sunday
morning, anu, as far as / know, she goes
just as well as she did $50 years ago."
''Have you any other relics?' asked the
reporter.
''Yes," replied the doctor, and going to
bureau he produced plate, sugar bowl
and salt cellar. "These belonged to my
great grandmother, whose maiden name
was Abigail Burnham. She was born in
Chebacco, now Essex, Mass, and used
these dishes after she married William
Goodhue, about the year 1740. Here also
are three chairs used by that family at
that time"
you prize these articles highly, no
doubt?'
''Yes, indeed. Here are two fire buck
cts, in use in CharlestOWn about 1894, be-
fore the hand-engines were introduced"
The doctor then went into anOtherroom
and returned with a pile of books.
Here" said he, sis a complete set of
Robert B. Thomas Almanacs; from iS00
to the present time" In looking through
the almanac for 1900 the reporter found
the following item 'Boston and New
York mail stage sets off from Pease's stage
office, No. II state street, every Monday,
Wednesday and Friday at 10 O'Clock IN the
morning, and arrives at New York every
Thursday, Saturday and Tuesday, IL
O'Clock; leaves New York every Monday,
Wednesday and Friday, IL O'Clock, morn
ing, and arrives at Boston every Thurs
day, Saturday and Tuesday at u o'clock
noon."
'Let me show you what l call Eglassa-
chord,'" said the doctor, as he lifted the
cover of what appeared to be melodeon.
1t contained, however, glass goblets, set
in wood, and when touched with a wet
finger the goblets gave forth sweet
sounds. "This musical instrument was
bought at the sale of the old museum at
the corner of Court and Hanover streets,
Boston, the first museum ever in the city.
The purchaser was Archibald BabcOck, of
CharlestOwn, who also bought the musi-
cal clock, then great curiosity, but he
was so annoyed by people coming to see
the clock that he sold it. / believe there
is only one other 'glassachord' in the coun-
try, and that is in Philadelphia"
"Here are my old coins," said the doc
tor. 81 have one 1-cent piece issued by
the United States for every year from 1893
to 1884. l sold three 1-cent pieces Of the
year 1898 for $40 each, and one made in
1904 brought me 500. Here is a Feucht-
wauger cent, made of nickel in 1887, and
presented to Congress for adoption in
place of the large cent, but was rejected.
Here are four 5-cent pieces issued in 1888,
one with a shield, another with a large V
bII0 mn on
other with a large v and the words Five
Cents and the fourth with large V with
a milled edge. L have an old Jackson
cent and a copper piece good for one cent
at Dunn 81 Co.'s oyster house, issued by
the firm in 1864, when change was scarce.
l sold one OF these pieces recently for ST."
81 have not shown you all my curiOsi-
ties yet. There is my diploma of member
ship of the Mercantile Library, issued in
1887, when James T. Fields, Daniel N.
Haskell and E. 2. Whipple were young
men. Then here are pair of whalebOne
'swifts,' made by a sailor while in the
Pacific ocean. | don't know how many
years ago. Here is a family umbrella
used at the time of the revolutionary war.
This is a sampler worked by Martha
Story, when she was II years of age, at
Fitchburg in 1897. Here is a decanter
used in CharlestOwn in 1872. l have also
in my. cellar, nicely packed, the d9can-
tersand wine-glasses used by Rev. DR..
Morse, father OF Morse of telegraph fame,
when he was pastor of the First Parish
Church, CharlestOwn. They were sold at
auction, april 1, 1920. We have been
talking about wine-glasses and decanters,
and as it was formerly the custon to treat
guests L viii revive the habit on this oc-
casiOn and give you a taste of cider
which is old enough to be respected for its
age"
DR.. Hovey then went to q closet and
brought forth an oldfashioned quart bot
tie, and handed it to the reporter. Blown
in the bottle were the words ''Cyder,
Ehen'r Breed, 1906" The reporter tasted
of this aged cider and found it most eX-
cellent, having the flavor of prime sherry
VINE.
''Ebenezer Breed" said the Doctor
"kept a grocery stoge in Charlestown
square, and my father bought this cider of
him."