Littlefield and Hosmer, Dealers in Foreign and Domestic Fruits, Boston, Mass., 1880s

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 03:29:58 +0000

Littlefield & Hosmer

Dealers in foreign and domestic fruits, butter, eggs, beans, &c.

Oranges, lemons, bananas, and apples a specialty.

Country produce sold on commission.

No. 9 North Market Street, Boston.

W. E. Littlefield, Chas. B. Hosmer.

A book about the Leading Manufacturers and Merchants of the City of Boston (1885), p. 203, provides a history of this business, which operated under the name of Littlefield & Hosmer beginning in 1881:

Littlefield & Hosmer, Dealers in Foreign and Domestic Fruits, No. 9 North Market Street. — The business conducted by this firm was established in 1866, and during the nineteen years of its career it has enjoyed a large measure of success. It was founded under the firm style of Littlefield & Enslin, and it was conducted under this title for fifteen years. On the retirement of Mr. Enslin, however, in 1881, he was succeeded by Mr. Charles R. Hosmer, and the style of the house was then changed to its present one of Littlefield & Hosmer. The firm occupy the basement floor, which is 20x40 feet in dimensions, and this is stocked with very choice selections of foreign and domestic fruits of every description. The firm makes a specialty of oranges, lemons, bananas, and apples, the former of which are shipped to them from the most celebrated producing districts of Jamaica, Central America, Florida, etc., and in these classes of fruits they conduct a good trade. They sell on commission all kinds of fruit, and prompt sales and liberal advances are made if required. All foreign fruits and vegetables are procured direct from the ship at their ultimate points of destination. The house enjoys a large city and suburban trade. The individual members of the firm are Mr. W. E. Littlefield and Mr. Charles B. Hosmer, both of whom were born in Maine, the former in 1837 and the latter in 1840.

The Weary Farmer (Up to Date), by Frank W. Swallow

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 21:37:32 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"The Weary Farmer (Up to Date), designed & pub. by Frank W. Swallow, Exeter, N.H."

I'm not sure why Frank W. Swallow of Exeter, New Hampshire, published this early twentieth-century postcard, which ridicules the "Weary Farmer," his family, and the hired help for living a life of luxury. One clue might be the well-off real estate dealer, who's standing in front of his office, where the sign says, "No deserted farms left. Fair farms, $5,000.00 to $50,000.00."

Was there an economic downturn at some point that caused families to abandon their farms? Did Swallow feel that some farmers and real estate agents were profiting from the misfortune of others?

I haven't solved this mystery yet, but in the meantime here's the cast of characters portrayed on the card:

The Farmer is fanning himself while lying on a hammock and sipping sweet cider from a straw.

The Hired Man is sitting beneath a tree as he smokes a cigarette and reads a dime novel (Diamond Dick) with his unused shovel and hoe by his side.

The Son is out on the golf course.

The Real Estate Dealer is wearing expensive clothing, including a diamond ring. An automobile is parked in front of his real estate office, where there's a sign that says, "No deserted farms left. Fair farms, $5,000.00 to $50,000.00."

The Hired Girl is sitting in a rocking chair as she dries the dishes.

The Wife and Daughter are dressed in fine clothes as they sip their tea.

The Cow, however, is toiling away on a treadmill, supplying the power and the raw material--milk--for the butter and cheese machines, which apparently provide enough income to allow everyone else besides the cow to live a life of leisure.

Photos, videos and docs of Alan Mays, with the keywords: "butter"

Littlefield and Hosmer, Dealers in Foreign and Domestic Fruits, Boston, Mass., 1880s

The Weary Farmer (Up to Date), by Frank W. Swallow