The Cairo bulletin., 1907-02-06
OLD. CURIOSITY SHOP
QUAINT NEW HAMPSHIRE STORE
FILLED WITH ANCIENT RELICS.
Historic Clock Brought TO Little Town
Of Walpcie About $50 Years Ago
Among Possessions Of q. W.
Smith, the Shopkeeper.


Walpole. ~ Il.--Walpoie has an old
curiosity shop OF more than local
tame. For number OF years Wal.
pole has been noted for It's anmmer
visitors. Through them the little old
curiosity shop has gained wide
reputation, and with its property, q
lifelong resident of the town is now
pointed out as one of the sights OF
the village.
Walpole is one of the most historic
places In the state. and lies in n his.
toric country Just across the river
the FIRST blood of the revolution was
shed at the Westminster court house
and the first bridge across the Con.
necticut was constructed. Here was
the first settlement in this part OF
New England Most of the houses are
lo5 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 relics and heir
looms and began slowly to gather TO-
gether 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 10 his little red shop, near the
center of the town, and there it lies
until under his mastery touch II Is
transformed from a rusty relic OF the
past into thing of beauty.
Mr.. Smiths shop itself looks its
part 1t is situated we'll back from the
road. and is as ancient looking as the
contents within, Mr.. Smith himself
Is quiet unassuming person. He is
white-haired and old. but his kindly
eyes shine forth welcome to all visi
tors
-tlf one is able to strike him In rem
iniscent mood he will tell interesting
tales OF his most valuable pieces re.
lating the deeds and lives of the first
inhabitants OF the town over 200 years
ago,
Many articles were picked up under
peculiar circumstances, and their his
tory is most entertaining.
This building is HIS workshop and
home, where he spends all of his time
when not travelling about the country. |
One OF the most interesting rooms Is
filled with the skeletons OF former
glory, which he has gathered together
from every direction. Ia one corner |
Is an apparent pile of iron junk, but |
from this will come an ancient clock |
Of majestic proportions, Bits of bro
ken china almost worth its weight in |
gold will be cunningly glued together |
Battered pewter sets will be ham
mered into shape again.
In the next room may be seen the
objects ready for the finishing
touches
AS soon as he finishes an article Mr..
Smith stores it In his rooms upstairs
Here several rooms are filled with
beautiful pieces of furniture. precious
shlna brought over from the old
many years ago, pewter
plates and platters cherished by the
hrifty Puritan house wife as well as
he many curious implements used
n those days.
The most valuable thing in the shop
3 clock which Mr. Smith picked up
several years ago in farmhouse
way back on the hills The children
lad played with the works until they
we're almost beyond repair, aud the
ase was about TO be consigned to the
yoodpile Its exact ace is not known, |
nut IL is certain that It was brought
0 Walpole by one of the early pion-
ers, John Kilburn. about 1859 This
lock is especially valuable to the
own, as Mr., Kilburn was prominent
Y connected with its early history.
t is MIR. Smiths intention to present
10 the library of Walpole.
Mr.. Smith has several high-boys. bu
eaus and desks brought from Holland !
nd England fully $50 years ago. some
which are beautifully carved and
llald. A picture embroidery made
efore the revolution is another valu- t,
BILE relic, as Is fiintlock pistol cap f,
ired from a British officer in the bat.
e of Bennington by one of the an
sstors of 4 prominent family near F,
ere. Other ancient firearms, includ-
x sword from the battle OF Bunk
r Hill. are numerous.
In china Mr. Smith has several rare i
eoes OF old Dedham ware which are a
stimaled to be at least l25 years old. '