Travelling in stereo

804 On the Sugar Levee, New Orleans, La., 1901
804 On the Sugar Levee, New Orleans, La., 1901

Sometime early in the last century, someone at the Frederic C. Adams Public Library bought just over 600 stereoviews.  The views date from 1893 to 1907 and show a wide variety of places around the United States and the world, with commentary from Baedecker’s and other travel guides on the back.

805 The Cotton Levee, New Orleans, LA., 1901
805 The Cotton Levee, New Orleans, LA., 1901

Using a stereoscope to view the double pictures in 3D, library patrons in Kingston could travel the world without leaving Summer Street.

Motormen

Three motormen, no date
Three motormen, no date

In the search for photographs for the summertime exhibit, these three images turned up.  As seen in earlier posts, the Plymouth & Kingston trolley, which started in 1886, merged with other lines and expanded until the tracks reached Brockton in 1900.   The emergence of Kingston as a summer destination and the development of the cottage communities of Rocky Nook quickly followed.

The company evolved into the Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway, which (despite its name) runs buses on the South Shore.

Inside a trolley, no date
Inside a trolley, no date

While it’s not clear if these men are motormen (drivers) or conductors (ticket takers, schedule keepers and safety inspectors), they seem very serious about the work at hand, or at least about posing for the photographer.

Two motormen and friend, no date
Two conductors and friend, no date

Not to mention well-armed.

New Exhibit: Summertime

This month’s exhibit celebrates summer in Kingston with picnics and parades, fresh sweet corn from the farmer’s market, swimming, fishing, and just lounging on the grass eating ice cream.

Horse-drawn float in the 200th Anniversary Parade, 1926
Horse-drawn float in the 200th Anniversary Parade, 1926

Here’s the front of a float in Kingston’s 200th Anniversary Parade, which rolled on August 20, 1926.  The four boys behind the float seem very interested in whatever’s going on behind that shack…

Bathing beauties on 200th Anniversary Parade float, 1926
Bathing beauties on 200th Anniversary Parade float, 1926

Well, yeah, that’s why!

113 years ago

The Frederic C. Adams Library was dedicated.

"Dedicatory Exercises" program, 1898
"Dedicatory Exercises," 1898

There was speechifying, praying, poetry and hymns.

"Programme," 1898
"Programme," 1898

Thanks to Frederic C. Adams,

Frederic C. Adams, no date
Frederic C. Adams, no date

Kingston got a library.

Frederic C. Adams Public Library, by A.S. Burbank, no date
Frederic C. Adams Public Library, by A.S. Burbank, no date