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The museum's collection focuses on the Revolutionary War, with special emphasis on General Henry Knox and his family; artifacts relating to the history of the Town of Thomaston, especially its seafaring past; and the area's extentive involvement in the Civil War. The Thomaston/Rockland area was the home of the 4th Maine Infantry Regiment and 1st Maine Calvary Regiment that played such pivotal roles in the success of the Union Army. The museum has an excellent collection of photographs, pictures and drawings of many of the wooden ships made
in Thomaston and an extensive collection of photographs depicting the growth and development of the town. |
| This Civil War hat called a “kepi” belonged to a soldier
in the Union Army, 1st Division of the V (fifth) Corp as designated by the red insignia on the top known as a Corps Badge. The system of Corps badges and flags was developed by General Daniel Butterfield who also developed the bugle calls, including “Taps.” |
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A Civil War Ammo Case that had belonged to Silas Luther or Leathers who served two and a half years during the war. (Donated by Mr. Beniah Harding.) |
| An "Automatic Receiving Teller" Machine from the Thomaston Savings Bank. One might consider it a very early ATM except that you could make deposits only. There were no withdrawals. |  Click on photograph to enlarge |
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19th century kerosene ship's lanterns were a culmination of centuries of technological development. Early lanterns burned cloth soaked in animal or vegetable oil. By the 18th century candles became common place. However, in the 19th century, with the wide spread use of metal working and glass blowing techniques along with the discovery of kerosene, this type of lantern came into general use. Such lamps provided cabin light and were used as running and signal lights aboard sailing ships. |
| Three of the collection's early medicine bottles. |
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The Teapot from a Luster ware tea
service dates back to the Mid-19th Century. The pattern is "The Mother's
Grave and Orphans." (Donated from the Estate of Elizabeth Newcomb by Pat
Demmons.) |
| Sextant in
its original mahogany case. A sextant was used aboard ship to measure the
angle between celestial objects and the horizon, which is known as the
altitude. The angles, and the time it was measured, are used to calculate
a positional line on a nautical chart. (Donated by Col. Frank Shroeder.)
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A very early machine for washing clothes.
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| Tarbox Jug
- James Tarbox was an early potter in Thomaston, setting up business on
the mall in 1819. He later moved to the northwest corner of Green and Hyler
Streets, where he lived until his death on October 29, 1887 at the age
of 90 years and 5 months. Few of his pieces survive. |
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This soup tureen belonged to the family
of Senator John Ruggles, father of the U.S. Patent Office. Ruggles was
the holder of the first patent (Number 1) which was a special railroad
wheel he invented. (Donated by Dr. & Mrs. John Russell of Santa Rosa,
California.) |
| As an
integral part of every sailing vessel, blocks were a common sight in
Thomaston's harbor during the 19th century, and still are today, wherever
sailing ships are present. A block, together with a ships lines (ropes),
are used to gain mechanical advantage for the halyards which raise the sails,
the sheets which adjust the angle of the sails, or ropes for loading cargo.
It consists of an outer shell enclosing a number of sheaves (pulleys) through
which the lines run. The number of sheaves determines the mechanical advantage.
John Elliot, Jr. and William Metcalf set up separate block making establishments
in Thomaston is 1826. |
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Tools used in the sail making industry. These particular tools came from Dunn & Elliot, one ot the larger sail lofts in the area during the nineteenth century. |
| Two lockets owned
by Hannah Parsons and Patrick Keegan that were exchanged at their wedding
ceremony in 1827. The couple had nine children Mr. Keegan was a town businessman
and importer. (These items are from his estate.) |
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Scales from the cement plant in Thomaston. (Donated by Mr. Beniah Harding.) |
| Bone handled Dinnerware
Utensils: 53 Piece silverware set belonging to Annie Dunn Wiley and Captain
Walter B. Wiley, son of Captain William Wiley who perished on the Alfred
D. Snow. Exotic collectibles were brought here from distant ports by Thomaston
Sea Captains. (Donated by Douglas Walker, M.D.) |
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