Join us for a few history facts from George, and then some very techie investigating to learn more about the store’s less visible inhabitants. Here are two short audio clips from last month’s visit. We had 18 participants plus the investigators.
Don’t Leave…
Here…
Here’s all the details:
Apologies for the glare. But this is an amazing piece of our local history. There are shops and businesses of all kinds on this 1940s advertising card table. You’ll definitely want to stop in at Bahoukas Antiques and take a peek. I’ll bet many locals have their families’ businesses listed here! There are many that were new to us! WOW!
This photo to the left is the label on the underside of the card table that gives the name and address of the advertising company.
Below are a few close up shots of different sections so that you might read a number of the businesses that are printed on it.
This is truly an remarkable piece. It’s most interesting where you might find research for your history project! Stop in and take a peek. If you have a story to share, be sure to chat with George!
Significant Responses Were HeardWe had 18 guests join the Paranormal Investigators on March 25th. It was a long night, but we had several interesting interactions. Here’s the first of several audio clips. It’s important to note that some of what you hear is the equipment we use. These are unedited.
These short audio clips give you a feel of what it’s like to join in on our Paranormal Investigations. They’re a lot of fun. But it’s especially exciting when everyone has heard the response. Listen for ‘the boat’…..
You’ll learn a little history of the building and possibly have an opportunity to listen to some of the “residents” who’ve been here a long time!
(Apologies for the blurry photo – no matter what we did, we either got blur or reflection!)
Jimmy told George years ago that his mom was a switchboard operator and the service was located on the 2nd floor of the old Post Office Building (where JoRetro is located) on the corner of Franklin and Union.
Now you knew that Bahoukas Antique Mall would certainly have a unique line of antique and collectible phones to complete this piece of history. Check these out (and they work!):
This is a beautiful phone. It’s a Western Electric “Stowaway” – it’s in a most beautiful wooden case and has a retractable cord on the phone. It’s from the 70s and talk about ‘stylish’! WOW! This piece is beautiful. You have to stop in and see it.
Then check out this unique phone. It’s almost a piece of sculpture. It’s an Ericsson, made in Sweden. The dial pad is on the bottom.
The next phones are a Bell System 1940s dial phone (on the left) and a Princess Style Phone from the 70s on the right. The color of the Princess Phone is rare.
Of course, we can’t ignore the wonderful working reproduction of the Candlestick phone with dial pad. And we encourage you to “Phone Home” just like E.T.
Did you know about the switchboard operator that worked on the 2nd floor of the old Post Office building? Anyone in cyber-land have any stories to add? Stop in one day soon at Bahoukas and share your stories with George.
CLICK HERE for a brief highlight of canning in Harford County.
EXAMPLE of labels that can be seen in our shop at Bahoukas.
Shortly after 1878, Stephen J. Seneca opened a fruit-packing factory in the S. J. Seneca Warehouse with a tin can factory next to Havre de Grace Waterfront. Seneca made improvements to canning with his patents; 1889 Can-soldering machine[12] 1891 Can-soldering machine[13] By 1899, Seneca had become a canned goods broker. Since the original railroad had run down St. Clair Street (now Pennington Ave.) to the river the location of the factory was advantageous for both water and rail shipping. Up until the Second World War many farmers in Harford County brought their produce to the Seneca Factory later run as Stockhams Cannery. S.J. Seneca lived at 200 North Union Ave. was Mayor of Havre de Grace 1893-1894 and donated the Methodist Church.[14]
The Seneca cannery, which is currently in use as an antique shop, is a very good example of a late 19th century brick industrial building. with its severally classical facade and massive stone buttresses on the rear.
from Wikipedia
Here’s another photo of area labels of the once, very profitable canning industry in Havre de Grace and surrounding areas.
Many patents followed the opening of the S. J. Seneca Cannery. 1901 The Baling-press.[15] 1905 The Cooker[16] 1905 The Tomato-scalder.[17] 1917 Improved Tomato-scalder.[18] 1917 The Can-opener.[19] 1918 The Machine for peeling tomatoes.[20]
from Wikipedia
Spencer-Silver Mansion, now a B&B, located at 200 S. Union Avenue, is an example of the wealth in Havre de Grace in the early 20th century.
The house was built to reflect the wealth and position of its original owner John Spenser, who was in the fish packing business. Along with the Seneca Mansion (HA 815) and the Van Diver Mansion (HA 1124), all on Union Ave., the house represents a small concentration of considerable wealth in the town at the turn of the century. The house was bought at auction in 1917 by Charles B. Silver, a local canning magnate. source: Maryland Historical Trust
You may also want to visit the Steppingstone Museum located within the Susquehanna State Park, at 461 Quaker Bottom Road, Havre de Grace. They have excellent exhibits of our rural history, including a great deal about our canning industry. Be sure to stop in to Bahoukas for more history of Havre de Grace and they’ll eagerly give you directions to other locations in Havre de Grace to learn more.
This bond was signed on January 1, 1879. The following are the signatures of A.P. McCombs, President, and the Secretary, E. Mortimer Bye.
These items can be seen at Bahoukas Antique Mall and Beer MuZeum.
A.P. McCombs built the grand Victorian Home located at 120 S. Union Avenue in Havre de Grace. This beautiful home is well-known in the area as “The Pink House.” You won’t miss it! Click the link below to read the pdf and learn more about this building from the Maryland Historic Trust document with photos.
In addition, A.P. McCombs built the building on the east side of N. Union Ave – corner of Union and Franklin – 467 Franklin, which at one time was used for the U.S. Post Office. JoRetro is now located there! Click the link to the JoRetro site to view photos of the building! (It’s also a wonderful shop to visit while you’re in town!)
From 1868-1881, A.P. McCombs & Son published a weekly newspaper, The Havre Republican. The clip below is from Pettengill’s Newspaper Directory and Advertisers’ Hand-Book for 1878:
Needless to say, A.P. McCombs left a legacy in Havre de Grace. Stop in and chat with George, he’s a wealth of information and the most interesting tidbits about Havre de Grace!
Susquehanna Hose Company Auxiliary Police DepartmentThe photo is the badge of the Fire Police, Havre de Grace.
This photo shows the members of the Susquehanna Hose Company being sworn in as Auxiliary Policemen by Mayor Walter McLhinney. We believe this photo is from around 1947-1949.
Members taking the oath from left to right are:
G. Robert Pennington, Sr., Fred Bernard, Phil Pascuzzi, UNKNOWN, Charles Gamatoria, Frank Perugino, Harold “Jake” Tollenger, Ed McComas, Alvaro Moretti, Dick Walker, Jack Lay and Chief of Police William Bullock.
I saw this and kept wondering how small the cannon must have been to use these cannon balls. hahahahaha Needless to say, one needs to read the entire description. These are Cannon Ball ‘folding-siding Garage Door Set Combinations’ – not cannon balls!!!
Sadler’s Hardware was located on the corner of Warren and Union (opposite from where the 7-Eleven is located). It’s now a parking lot. This box was from Sadler’s. I didn’t measure it, but it was about a foot square. Do you have info you wish to share with us about the Sadler Hardware? Please visit out FB page and share what you know.
George’s first story of ghosts in the store was from a visiting couple. It seems he was a paranormal and sensed a woman whom he said enjoyed the shop and was sitting in a particular chair.
Here’s George to tell us about “Mary.” Do you know who she might be?
NOTE: the photo is NOT the lady (sorry)
NOTE 2: The chair has since been sold. We’re not sure Mary stayed, but we’ve had no bad energies even though we sold her chair.
The US Battleship “Maine” is an American naval ship that sank in Havana Harbor during the Cuban revolt against Spain, an event that became a major political issue in the United States. The Spanish–American War began in April 1898, two months after the sinking. Advocates of the war used the rallying cry, “remember the Maine! To Hell with Spain!” ___from Wikipedia
This trade card offers the painting of the U.S. Battleship Maine sailing along the coastline, by Fetherston. On bottom right reads: Copyright 1898 by M.F. Tobin, U.S.V. Navy, New York. Measures framed 16 1/2″ high by 24 1/4″ wide by 1″ deep. Visual 8 3/4″ high by 16″ wide. It includes a small portrait of Capt. Charles Sigsbee (top right) and includes the artist’s signature (bottom left).
Here’s the LINK to the personal narrative of the sinking of the “Maine” from Capt. Sigsbee.
CLICK HERE for an excellent piece titled “The Painting on the Wall” by Dean James Stavridis, a retired Navy Admiral, regarding the US Battleship Maine. It’s a different artist’s painting, but the thoughts from a 2013 perspective are interesting.
