The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1903-03-27

plates, especially the crockery ones. |
In his dilemma the poor clergyman is
said to have rushed off and had enough |
iron plates made for the use of his
large family to save further breakage.
The iron pla; in Mr. PeckS collect
ion is one of these identical plates. We
can have some sympathy for the poor
clergyman when we look on this speci
men for as hard as it is a good sized
piece is broken off it's edge. The col
lection of old buttons are interesting
specimens and there is an old hand
button mould with them, in which the
buttons used to be run. The old time
warming pans, which are not so very
uncommon in a number of households.
Mr. Peck has two of. One he priz
from the fact the work on it is quite
superior to the ordinary, and it was
brought here from Fairfield
BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
by Capt Silas Fairchild. 1t was pre-
sented to him by Mrs Abigail Fairchild.
He has also two of the not uncommon
old grandfather clocks. One came
from Abel Stilson, father of Asa Still
son, and is considerably over 100 years
old, the works being entirely made of
wood, wheels and all. The other be-
longed to J. Russell Smith of Lake
George before it's advent into corner
of Mr. Peck's museum. In one corner
of the room stands an old cupboard
which was built 155 years ago and at
one time was the property of Zalmon
Sanford. 1t is filled with old china
and glass but Mr. Peck said his taste
didn't run in that line and so Mrs Peck
explained that on the shelves was a
sugar bowl out of which George Wash
ington had helped himself to sugar,
some plates and glasses that are of
very ancient date. Some of them be-
longed to Mrs Peck's great-grandmoth-
er, Mrs Barnum. This collection
would not fail to please the ladies. MI
Peck has good supply of canes. One
was noticed that was made from tie
jaw bone of whale caught in the Pa
cific ocean that is said to have been SO
feet in length, and this cane is very
handsomely inlaid with tortoise shell.
Then he has cane that was made
from portion of "a timber that was
taken from the old Stoddard house in
Woodbury., which was erected in 100
and not removed till 1880. This cane
is also handsomely carved. He has a
match box that is worthy of note. 1t
was made from part of the house
where Gen Washington had his head.
quarters in Stamford. In antique fur
niture Mr. Peck has collected some
very handsome pieces, especially in
chests of drawers and odd chairs. The
oldest piece Of furniture to be found
was a chair that belonged to John
Hull, dating back to 174O. BY this
time we had seen about everything
when Mr. Peck remarked: 81 suppose
you have seen my railroad track" On
being assured that it had not been ex'
hibited he brought it out and it prov.
ed to be section of the original
Housatonic railroad track. This was
as interesting an exhibit as the day
had afforded and nearly made the
thought of the exhibit of cash fade to
insignificance. To think that a rail.
way train ever ran on such old logs OF
wood with just slight band of iron
running along the top. There are not
many of us,who would risk our lives
going to Bridgeport on such track in
these days, not if we knew it. By this
time it was getting late. The after
nooon was spent (profitably spent) and
much informa tiOn was received from
Mr. Peck and his museum.
HIS COLLECTION is FAIRLY MARVEL
for what it is and what it may teach
and while we feel this skehch but
poorly portrays only small portion Of
it, or it's real worth, we also feel that
it should be more widely known anC
his work more fully appreciated. MI
Peck did not say anything about in.
wiling people to call for we guess he
knows that The BEE is too good an ad.
vertising medium and his place might
be besieged to- soon, but we venture
the remark that for those who are IN
terested in such collection as he has
gathered, if they drop in some quiet
afternoon when Mr. and Mrs Peck are
at home they will pass delightful
hour and learn much Of interest re-
garding the past that has never enter
ed their head before.-p Jay.