The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-02-09
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waipoie. N. H.--walpole has "A bid
curiosity shop Of nA<te ssllan l4eAl
tame. For a number Of years Wot
pole has been noted Tor Its summer
visitors Through them the little ola
curiosity shop has gained wide
reputation, and with It's property, :
lifelong resident OF the town is now
pointed out as ono 'iof the sights o1
the village |''h ~ ~
waipoie "a one Of the most histotic
places IN The state. and Hes In his.
toric country. Just across the riter
the first blood OF the srex6fNtion wAa
shed at the Westminster court house
and the first bridge across the Con.
necticut was constructed. Here wae
the first settlement In this part oa
New England. Most Of the houses are
125 years or more old and many date
back even earlier.
About ten years ago Daniel w
Smith, then quite an old man, became
interested in family relies and heir.
looms and began slowly to gather to-
?nther a collection OF antiques. Since
that time he has picked up many valu.
! able and historic articles from the
most improbable places. He takes
| the material collected from miles
around to his little red shop, near the
center of the town, and there It lies
until under his mastery touch II ID
transformed from rusty relic Of the
past into thing OF beauty.
Mr.. Smiths shop itself looks ftq
part II is situated well hack from the
road, and is as ancient looking as the
contents within. Mr.. Smith himself
is quiet. unassuming person. He II
white-haired and old. but his kindly
eyes shine forth welcome to all visi.
tors.
II one Ia able to strike him In rem
niscent mood he will tell Interesting
tales Of his most valuable pieces, 70.
lating the deeds and lives OF the drst
inhabitants OF the town over 200 yeara
ago.
Many articles were picked up undn
peculiar circumstances. and their HE
tory Is most entertaining.
This building Is his Workshop aad
home, where ne spends all OF his time
when not travelling about the country.
One of the most interesting. rooms 10
filled with the skeletons Of former
glory, which he has gathered together
from every direction. In one corner
is an apparent pile Of Iron junk. but
from this will come an ancient Gooh
Of majestic proportions. Bits OF bro.
ken china almost worth its weight In
gold will be cunningly glued together.
nattered pewter sets will be ham,
uered into shape again.
In the next room may be seen the
objects ready for the finishing
As soon as he finishes an article Mr..
Smith stores 1t in his rooms upstairs.
Here several rooms are filled with
beautiful pieces Of furniture, precious
china brought over from the ola
country many years ago. pewtes
D'ates and platters cherished by the
thrifty Puritan housewife. AZ we'll a.
the many curious Implements used
in those days,
uc uioot NuludOlc tHiuB III tue uuOU
is clock which Mr.. Smith picked up
several years ago In a farmhouse
away back on the hills. The children
had played with the works until trey
were almost beyond repair, and the
case was about to be consigned to the
woodpile. Its exact age is not known,
but 1t is certain that It was brought
TO Walpole by one OF the early pioh, |
GERS. Iohn Kilburn. about 1850. This !
clock is especially valuable to the
town, as Mr.. Kilburn was promineht |
~ connected with its early history. |
IT is Mr.. Smiths intention TO present |
II 10 the library Of WalpoleH 1
nIr. Smith has several high-boys. bu. !,
rcaus and desks brought from Holland |
and England fully $50 years ago. some
Of which are beautifully carved ana
inlaid. picture embroidery made
before the revolution Is another vaiu, |
able relic, as is flintlock pistol cap |
turod from a British officer Ii the bat |
,le Of Pennington by one OF the a..
cestcrs Of prominent family near !
here Otbcr ancient firearms. includ. |
Jue - sword from the battle OF Bunk.
or TlilL arc numerous,
h, chipa Tr. Sndli has several rare
piaccs of old Dedhsm ware which are
estimated 10 be at least la5 years old. ].