Travel through the years at the Eveleth-Crafts-Sheridan House
By Shelagh Talbot
GREENVILLE JCT — The Eveleth-Crafts-Sheridan House on the Pritham Avenue campus of the Moosehead Historical Society is now open for docent-guided tours. This yearly event brings people from far and wide to glimpse a world when most clothes were carefully made by hand and life traveled at the pace of horse and carriage.
Photo courtesy of Shelagh Talbot
CLOTHING THROUGH THE YEARS — A display of ladies bedroom attire and accessories from the 1900s to 1950s is at the Eveleth-Crafts-Sheridan House on the Pritham Avenue campus of the Moosehead Historical Society in Greenville. This year’s theme is “Through the Years.”
The theme this year is “Through the Years” and presents a delightful and fascinating look at the history of things used, and clothing worn from the time the house was built as a wedding present for Rebecca Craft in the 1800s, and threads its way through time as various members of the family inhabited the home into the late 1950s. Philip and Julia Sheridan, daughter of Rebecca and Arthur Crafts, generously bequeathed the home to the historical society as a way to commemorate and preserve the economic, social and cultural history of the Moosehead region.
When you enter the foyer of the house, two magnificent wedding dresses are displayed side by side, one belonging to Pearl Wilson and worn by her in 1900 and Mayah Smith’s beautiful gown from her marriage in 1960. This juxtaposition carries throughout the various rooms in the house and it is so much fun to see how things changed over the years. In the living room a female mannequin sits with a skirt and blouse from the late 1800s with a child beside her dressed in a fluffy robe reminiscent of the 1950s. There is a magnificent wicker baby carriage in the living room as well. Head Docent Marlene Stevens remembers the carriage was filled with popcorn balls and wheeled about during Christmas time at the C.A. Dean Hospital.
The dining room features two exquisite dresses; one belonged to Rebecca Crafts and the other a sequined stunner that her daughter Julia wore. Tiny sherry glasses are displayed on the dining room table — they were popular during the first half of the 20th century. I remember them well and also remember how difficult it was for my very tall father to sip sherry from them. “They’re way too small for my hands and mouth!,” he would exclaim, laughing.
There are some exquisite handmade quilts waiting to de discovered in the master bedroom upstairs, the most recent one displayed on the master bed. This timeless quilt, made by Linda West of Beaver Cove, garnered a second-place ribbon at the Pine Tree Quilters Guild’s annual show at the Augusta Civic Center in 2012. A Crazy Quilt from the 1900s is displayed along with one made from gentlemen’s vests and ties. There’s even one small “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” quilt made from ladies French lingerie collected between 1900 and 1920. Silk stockings featuring a back seam are also on display. I remember my mother admonishing me to “make sure your seams are straight!”
The guest bedroom features the Hunt and Nickerson family. Drs. Hiram Hunt and his nephew Dr. Norman Nickerson were some of the first physicians to practice in the area and their families have kindly donated the items on display, from Dr. Nickerson’s medical bag to an extraordinary hand made wedding dress and jacket created for Theo Alice Grant by her mother when Miss Grant married Dr. Norman Nickerson in 1919. The dress and jacket are unusual in that they are not the traditional bridal white, but made of a soft burgundy silk. There is also a small bridal dress top that belonged to Ellen Bloodgood Hunt, when she married Samuel H. Nickerson in 1887. The top is so tiny it would barely fit an average 7-year old today. There is even a child’s high chair on display. It would convert three ways – from a high chair to a smaller chair or a roller and belonged to Dr. Nickerson. In fact, the baby in the chair is wearing a tiny bonnet and robe that was his.
Julia Sheridan’s room features “Childhood Memories through the Years” and outfits from a modern ballet costume to a collection of children’s coats dating from the late 1800s to the 1940s are on display along with old-fashioned bassinets, which, interestingly enough, are making a comeback. Sometimes it’s hard to improve on a great idea like these versatile pieces of baby furniture.
Sheridan’s brother Oliver died when he was a child but his room remains, preserved as it was when he was alive. This year, his room houses an exhibit assembled by Bob Cowan entitled “A Call to Arms.” It features many military uniforms and items of interest from the armed services spanning well over 100 years. There’s even a little boy mannequin sporting an adorable Navy uniform.
The centerpiece of the Sunroom downstairs is an astonishing baby carriage complete with a fringed leather top to protect the infant from the harsh sun. It was probably made during the mid-1800s and was kindly lent to the society by the Muzzy family. When they moved in to their home they discovered it tucked in a corner under the eaves in the attic.
There’s an intangible feeling of time and place as you wander through these rooms and gaze at all the items exhibited. The knowledgeable docents point out personal histories and anecdotes bringing history alive and showcasing the remarkable people that lived their lives in this beautiful region of the world.
Start your own discovery tour through the years at the Carriage House on the Eveleth-Crafts-Sheridan campus at 444 Pritham Avenue The house is open for tours Wednesday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. until early October. Tours are reasonably priced. The Carriage House, which also contains the Lumberman’s Museum downstairs, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday all year long and can help you with general history of the area and genealogy requests. They have some wonderful gifts and souvenirs too.
You will also enjoy the Center for Moosehead History at 6 Lakeview Street in downtown Greenville. The center is open Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and houses the Aviation Museum as well as an extensive exhibit of Native American artifacts. Visit these fine museums on line at www.mooseheadhistory.org or e-mail mooseheadhistory@myfairpoint.net. You may also call them at 695-2909.