Norwood Museum Gets New Showcase--May 1969

From the Thursday, May 1, 1969 Potsdam Courier & Freeman written by Susan Lyman, Village Historian:

 

Moving a showcase into the Norwood Museum last Thursday afternoon began as a ten minute job but developed into a project which aroused the interest of passing motorists and gave the local sidewalk superintendents a field day. It all began innocently enough when Norfolk merchant Al Smith purchased a new showcase and donated a used one to the Norwood Museum.

It was with no particular concern that Norwood Superintendent of Public Works Hollis Shanty dispatched two men to Norfolk to get the case and place it in the museum. A few days earlier a showcase given by Norwood businessman Arch C. Royce had been carried in and up the winding staircase without a bit of trouble. Perhaps the two men had just a little inkling of "coming events" for they augmented their force with three other men.

When they returned to the village with the case they backed the pick-up truck up to the front steps and removed the plate glass shelves and top and the sliding doors before attempting to maneuver the case up the stairs. Then the fun began. The case was just a few inches too long to go up the letter-S stairs and through the door at the top. So back down the stairs and out to the walk went the men with their burden while Museum Director, E. D. Stowell and Mr. Shanty locate tools with which to remove the only large window in the upper front part of the 100 year old edifice which is the home of the Norwood Library and Museum. It was a good idea-but the top portion of the unusual oval window frame could not be budged! By that time Library and Museum trustee Arch C. Royce had arrived on the scene and suggested removing a portion of a decorative wooden divider at the top of the stair well. This was accomplished with a minimum of effort and the case was carried triumphantly into its new home. Mr. Shanty and the men, Roy Trimm, Lloyd Shanty, Leo Bowker, Maynard Garrow and Dan Peacock shrugged off all thanks and praise for their above and beyond the call of duty assistance. "It's all in a day's work and we are glad to help such a good community project," they said.

Other recent gifts to the Museum include a large and beautiful picture of a wood burning railroad locomotive formerly used in this area, other pictures and the 1874 Potsdam Junction assessment roll book from Mr. and Mrs. Arch Royce; a small glass china case will probably be used to display the permanent coin collection Clayton Seamans is preparing; a cash gift from the Norwood Chamber of Commerce; numerous paper items from an anonymous friend; a roll-up wall map of St. Lawrence County from the Drew Agency Corp. And a standard Remington typewriter with a wide carriage from the village historian.

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