Patrice Westrate lives across from Hemlock Gorge in Upper Falls. Her father-in-law Larry Westrate was in the park and came across a very mysterious object. He found it on the Newton side of the river, near the foundation of an old fireplace, on the hillside by Echo Bridge (where we’ve held the Eggcelent Breakfasts) but down the slope, more towards the river.
Says Patrice “It’s so interesting because it has letters (A-E) marked on the different parts of the image, where the image is cross-sectioned (as indicated by the cross-hatching). These letters are backwards on the artifact. When the image is printed the letters are facing the correct direction – I do think it is meant to be used for printing because of this and the way the design of the hand with its raised edges. The piece is definitely tool steel as it has iron in it.”
Time for a little “crowdsourcing”. If you have any idea of what this is or where it may have come from, send us the details ([email protected])
Here are photos of the back of the object and an image that Patrice printed with it.
I seem to recall there use to be a fire equipment, extinguisher company in the mill buildings way back when. The ‘ABCD’ might refer to fire suppression standard reference. The printed block has an appearance of leather straps bound by a common brass rivet type connector. – firefighter equipment related? love the mystery.
@Harry Sanders – Lots of speculation there, but I like it. Maybe more likely than this that I just received from Upper Falls News reader from Bruce Blakely –
I’ve done more research, ask them if they would sell it for $100.
Village14 meets eBay
Hi Harry,
I’m not interested in money, it’s the mystery that is exciting. And if this is a truly historic piece, it should be shared with the community; perhaps the historic commission or similar.
Thanks!
Patrice
alright then, I can tell I’ve run into a tough negotiator. Does $250 do anything for you, with the stipulation that you will bring me to the site along with my deep scan metal detector?
Here’s a wild guess from Jim Lerner ..
Patrice did say it’s steel though, not leather
Here’s a little research material that Bruce Blakely found. I haven’t got a chance yet to read it but there’s a chapter on the Newton mill at Upper Falls. Maybe there’s a clue there.
uh oh, researchers are gaining ground; limited time offers do expire. Not wanting to be caught in a bidding war: Morganization takes precedence.
3 ‘R’ s of ebay, research research research
Patrice – can you clarify where this was found? Between Ellis St and the river, and between Echo Bridge and the church? If you look at the 1895 map of Newton here: http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/43855 and scroll down to plate 25, was it in the area shown as the property of Adela Ellis (which in the subsequent 1907 map is shown as vacant state-owned reservation property)?
Jerry – the book I found that you linked primarily covers the industrial property at Oak and Needham (wrong location but probably the right industrial era).
In the late 1800s people were leaving the cities and building homes in Newton for the fresh air thought to promote good health and ward off respiratory diseases of the day like tuberculosis. People thought of themselves as “Gentleman Farmers” since it was en vogue to plant gardens on their newfound land even though the planting couldn’t be used for subsistence or profit. Newton was (and still is) known as “The Garden City.” Yet, by the early 1900s the population was swelling and the industrial age began impacting the well-to-do farmers. This upset them since the newfangled machinery disturbed their lazy summer days spent reading and having important conversations–some of which could now be conducted by the newly invented telephone. The aristocrats thought their time to be more valuable than the newcomers’ desire for machinery so the establishment wielded its power in a misguided attempt to roll-back progress. Thus in 1915 Newton enacted its very first leaf blower ordinance. This artifact was actually part of the printing die used to make the placard banning early leaf blowers. The slogan was, “Leaf Blower Idle be the Devil’s Work” and there was a finger pointing at a hand holding a rake.
Glad to be able to share this with all of you! …Patrice has the piece and I will let her do whatever she sees right for it. She knows the exact location of the find, but nothing else was discovered there that would relate to it. Many rusted pieces of metal, glass, plate shards and anthracite coal were found there on the ground… no digging was done, of course! Enjoy the mystery!
Hi Bruce,
It was found near the area of 39 Ellis Street, closer to the border of area of Clara Taylor/Henry Fanning. It was near the walking path but slightly up the slope towards the 39 Ellis foundation.
Thanks for showing those plates!
Harry -I don’t want a bidding war, I just want to learn of the history of this piece and share it. If we find it is a part of Newton history it may need some preservation. If it is for example a die for stamping book leather then maybe it can be part of a library display.
Perhaps this came from the Fanning house. There was a Fanning Printing Company on High St (according to Ken Newcomb’s “The Makers of the Mold” history of Upper Falls). Fanning also had other businesses in Upper Falls, that apparently outlasted this house. Why this would have been brought home from the business is curious.
Here’s a comment from Nelson Lipshutz
I’ve been looking for a Viking connection along the Charles River since I was a kid and this may be the hidden key. This looks very Viking to me. We now know that a second Viking settlement has been found in Newfoundland and is 200 to 300 miles further south from the original settlement near the tip of the peninsula near Labrador. The move to find additional settlements further south in New England has a new impetus.
Maybe just maybe the Vikings did make it down to Massachusetts and traveled up the Charles River until they hit Hemlock Gorge and shared all kinds of gifts with the Native Americans who came regularly to the area to fish. Is it totally impossible that this “mysterious object: could not have been one of the really special gifts the Vikings presented to the native inhabitants. Until something better comes along, I’m sticking to this story. And what a great way to put Hemlock Gorge and Upper Falls on the map. A great postscript to “Makers of the Mold”.
I will bring the mysterious object to the Friend’s of Hemlock Gorge meeting tomorrow (3/7) at the Emerson Community Center, 7:30pm for those curious.
It’s clearly a Cylon.
One more question: how large is this? Wish I could come see it tonight. Convinced this is tied to Fanning Printing (agree with Nelson Lipshutz, was used to print an illustration in a technical book; was probably brought home to use as a door stop), I googled Fanning Printing. No eureka moment, but found that they printed pamphlets for Newton Public Schools and for the City circa 1890-1920 (Newton Library appears to have at least two city published books printed by them). One interesting find is this: https://www.abaa.org/book/558936218 “Souvenir of Echo Bridge”. Curious to know if anyone has seen or heard of this book. For $150 might be a great addition for someone’s collection or perhaps the Newton Library would want it.
Also found the following, from the Typographical Journal, 1902:
“The Fanning Printing Company, of Newton Upper Falls, is inclined to be unfair, not having recognized the scale of our union. This firm’s imprint is a fan, with the words Fanning Printing Company, Newton Upper Falls. Mass. The firm makes a large number of paper boxes for firms all over the country. If any of the firms in your city use the goods of this firm, kindly have them withdraw their patronage.”
oh well, I tried. The opportunity to recognize and seize upon value was there. Ecommerce in the global aspect thru ebay and Gregslist will sustain Newton material resource..
@Bruce – the size is 3″ x 2″ (widest part of width). It’s thin but robust ~ 1/16″ thick base and design adds another 1/8″ thickness.
It was found to be not magnetic! Maybe it is lead?
Thanks for the article. I’m going to go to the library and see what they have from Fanning!
Thanks!