Maine State Museum March Roundup

Museum Roundup

News & Updates from the Maine State Museum

March 2023

The Latest...

Looking Back at the Museum's Online Action in 2022

Learn more about how the Maine State Museum’s popular interactive online programs can come to students, adult learners, and you in 2023! Check out the programs here.

Fly Rod Crosby, Maine’s First Registered Guide, Celebrated on "Maine Calling"

On February 15, 2023, Maine State Museum Curator of Archives Zach Selley was a guest on Maine Public Radio’s Maine Calling, which featured a story about Maine’s legendary outdoorswoman, Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby. She promoted outdoor activities in Maine and was the first Registered Maine Guide. Click here to listen.

As Zach notes in the program, the Maine State Museum’s collection includes Crosby’s personal photograph album. Those images and other objects related to Crosby are planned for inclusion in a new exhibit in the reopened museum. Stay tuned!

Behind the Scenes in Collection Storage, or Where Do You Keep a One Ton Tractor?

Before museum renovations could begin in 2022, staff had to dismantle exhibits and find space to safely store hundreds of objects. Many of these objects had been on exhibit for over 40 years.

An especially challenging object that needed a new museum home was a 1920s Fordson tractor. As seen in the photos above and below, the crew from the Cote Corporation expertly moved the tractor from its exhibit environment to a new museum storage facility.

It was then up to Natalie Liberace, museum collections manager, to organize the tractor’s storage and safe-keeping. The tractor was only one of many large objects to present such challenges. With Natalie as your guide, take a peek behind the scenes to see more!

room full of 19th century farm and industrial equipment with a woman speaking

View Video Here

“A Natural Mechanical Genius” and a MYSTERY

Dwight (left) and Brian Aspinwall with the clock donated by their family.

Note Samuel Aspinwall's signature on the clock face.

Two brothers, Dwight and Brian Aspinwall, recently traveled to Augusta to donate a rare and exceedingly handsome tall clock to the museum. The brothers presented the clock on behalf of the Duncan P. and Dorothy D. Aspinwall family.

With the clock, the brothers also brought a mystery. The clock was made by a family ancestor, Samuel Aspinwall (1773-1856) of Pittston, Maine. Samuel signed the clock face, and included his location in Pittston, but there are few other historical records of him or his clocks. A published family genealogy described Samuel as “a natural mechanical genius” but failed to mention why!

In 1804, Samuel Aspinwall moved from Massachusetts to Pittston with his wife and five children. He identified himself as a clockmaker on his land deeds, but no other Maine record describes his artistry and craftsmanship. Aspinwall lived in Pittston until 1821, when he moved north to Phillips, Maine.

Have you ever seen a clock made by an Aspinwall? We are looking for any reference we can find. Contact us at maine.museum@maine.gov.

Thanks for your help!

MAINE STATE MUSEUM www.mainestatemuseum.org

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