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JOHN BEAL : 1873 - 1886 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT AND PHOTOGRAPHIC RETROSPECTIVE MEMOIR OF A BOSTON BORN MAINE MAN

32mo - over 4" - 5" tall. On offer is a simply superb collection of photographs from the later part of the 19th century. This volume is actually a small 3-ring binder measuring 5 inches by 3 inches. The volume consists of 64 pages and is 100% complete. The handwriting is actually printing and it it perfectly legible. John D Beal was born in Mechanics Falls, ME in 1873. His family moved to Boston about a year later. Casual research has not found any additional biographical data. This volume includes a mix of excellent photographs and general commentary of events from the year of his birth until 1885. This was clearly put together when Beal was much older as the commentary and descriptions are very well-written and at a level beyond a 12 year old. The photographs are all annotated and there are many local references: Mechanic Falls in the eighteen seventies was a lively manufacturing town. The Dennison Paper Co. Running night and day, shoe factory, Winslow Canning Factory, Penny Machine Co, cheese factory, washboard factory and in 1875 the Evans Repeating Rifle Co. Started. Father moved back to Mechanic Falls from So. Boston to take charge of the stock room of the Rife Co. "Uncle Al and Richard Dean lived with us in the Chelsea St. House. Uncle Al at the time was working as an engineer in CW Cobb Bros. Wholesale & Retail Grocers, Washington St., Boston Mass. ... Uncle Will, Aunt Lel-Blanche and Ethel Dean lived on the other side of the house. ..." Pictures of people have all the individuals named. Photographs of buildings have notes regarding who lived there or events that occurred there - e.g. a fire. He also notes larger events such as the change to standard time or the appearance of a comet: "Haverhill Bulletin, Nov 19th, 1883 New Standard Time - The transition from the old to the new standard of time was attended with but very little disturbance ... Each man had his watch in his hand to 'set it right and it is safe to say that for once at least noon watches and clocks in town indicated more correct than ever before. ..."; "The Great Comet of 1882 - The comet was conspicuously visible to the naked eye for some weeks in September and altogether remained in sight for the for the long period of nine months. ..." Another personal entry: "Nov 22nd 1883 - Father died ..." Historians or researchers in urban history of history of the late 19th century or early American industrialization would find this to be an outstanding resource. The observations are keen, the photographs are well-referenced and the descriptions are thorough. As noted above there are many individuals and businesses mentioned which make this an excellent resource for cross-referencing.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good +

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