Name/Title
Minstrels winter parade on Maine StreetEntry/Object ID
OH.2199Description
A sepia toned mounted photograph of a pony wagon, followed by a group of approximately 11 caped men in top hats, followed by a band. The minstrel procession (see below) stands on a snow-covered Maine Street, Brunswick, ME in front of the Odd Fellows Block where Maine and Bank Streets meet. The stores of the Odd Fellows Block are, from left to right: J.F. Will, Adams & Townsend, F. Stanwood (groceries), and Stackpole's. At the end of the procession, on the right side of the photograph, a man holds an illegible sign. On the reverse of the photo is written: "Howard Stackpole's shoe store on right? born 1853, shoe dealer after 1875 & before 1907. Leon B. Strout directly following wagon."
When the picture was printed in the November 29, 1962 issue of the Brunswick Record, the caption read: "Minstrels on Parade - A typical turn of the century minstrel troupe pauses in front of the Storer Block at Maine & Bank Streets, Brunswick to be photographed. It was customary to parade before show time to drum up business. This building, new in 1883, housed the J.F. Will Department Store, Adams & Townsend, stationer, Stanwood's Grocery & Stackpole's Shoe Store. Upstairs were Odd Fellows Hall, Gilbert's Dancing School and professional offices. The Emmons grocery store later occupied the premises when J.F. Will moved to new quarters across the street. Tondreau Brothers bought out Emmons and built the present building on the site after this wooden structure burned in 1928."Lexicon
Search Terms
Odd Fellows Block, J. F. Will Store, Grocers - Brunswick, Winter Scene, Snow, Wagon, Parades - Brunswick, Shoe store - Brunswick, Photographers - G. B. Webber, Odd Fellows, Odd Fellows Hall, Emmon's Store, Gilbert's Danicng School, Minstrel shows - Brunswick, Entertainment - Brunswick, Bank Street, Maine Street, Streets - Brunswick