I spent 30 years in the textile business and I thought I new a lot about textiles. I do. I did know that recycled plastic soda and water bottles were chopped up, cleaned and born anew as polyester fleece type garments and other textile products. Check it out at this link.
Do you know what dollar bills are made from? 75% cotton and 25% linen. The funny thing is that until just a short while ago the 75% cotton came from the cutting scraps of the process to make denim jeans. The company that makes the paper for US currency (Crane & Co.in Dalton, MA) has to stop using the cuttings because of another miricle of the textile industry, SPANDEX! Now would'nt you think our governement would want a dollar bill that could be stretched in new ways? I guess not. Check it out at the following link. Scroll down to "Currency Production"
One of the most special events of the year at the American Textile History Museum took place Friday evening March 28th at the Museum's Gazebo Cafe, the 2008 President's Dinner.
The evening was a celebration to honor those special supporters of the Museum who give so much because they deeply believe in the importance of textile history and what ATHM represents.
These caring people unselfishly give their time, their money and their spirit to perpetuate what began more than 200 years ago with revolutionary Americans.
They are in many respects the hearts and the souls of textiles.
The Museum would not exist without them.
We thank them and celebrate them.
Bill Gannett, Karl Spilhaus and Les Regenbogen
Sue Bunker, Fred Ward and Jane Dumais
Chris Rogers and Mary Stevens
Peggy Regenbogen and Connie Spilhaus
David Kroneberg, Bill Gannett and Craig Huff
John and Catherine Goodwin
Patrick & Kathleen Connerty
Nancy & Mike Oldershaw with Ruth Ward
Barbara Thun and Larry Ardito
Kim and Ted Anderson
Marisa Fagan Tescione, Linda Carpenter and Karen Herbaugh
Peg Coleman, Sue Bunker and Franki Kelly
Jim Coleman and Leonard Smith share a story
Michael & Anne Putziger
Win and Pauline Duke
Ed and Andy Stevens
Richard and Jane Dumais
Ann Huff and Nancy Gannett
David and Barbara Thun
Jim Coleman a lighter moment
Sam Rogers receives the Presidents Award for his long and unwavering support to the Museum
Nina Rogers, Sam Rogers, Chris Rogers and Jim Coleman celebrate Sam's award
THANK YOU SAM FOR YOUR MORE THAN 39 YEARS OF ENTHUSIASM, LEADERSHIP AND GENEROSITY.
Thank you for letting us see what our boys are working at on the Lowell end of your project. It all makes it easier for us to understand the work they are doing for you. Hopefully, next year we can visit the Carolina spot. Good luck!! Hass & bette Ramsey
HARRIE SCHOOTS Monday, March 24, 2008, 03:54 PM
Great Jim! This blog is the missing link, just what we need to follow along in the Museum's progress to the future. I'll be sure to share it with my contact list...Good Luck!
Best Regards,
Harrie
JOHN S Friday, March 21, 2008, 11:20 AM
I was glad to read that you guys are not closing down but will open up renewed this summer. I was there for a couple of shows and though they were great, especially Dianas dresses. I went through the main exhibit a couple of times and while it was nice I didn't feel any need to go back as it was the same. It sounds llike things will be different when you open again. What's going to happen with the Gazebo?I liked that too.
Ah spring, now fully one week into spring and as we look out our window here in Lowell at the Swamp Locks
we see that Old Man Winter isn't quite ready to give up yet. That's not really a problem as we move from our wonderfully heated houses into our warm cars to our comfortable offices but to try to imagine what it was like back in the days when the canal system was built. A very different story. A remarkable achievement!
The canal system evolved from its beginnings in 1821, when the Boston Associates purchased the old Pawtucket transportation canal in what was then East Chelmsford. They initially used the Pawtucket as a feeder canal to channel water into new power canals. Just above Swamp Locks, the Merrimack, Western, and Hamilton canals branched off, taking water to the Merrimack, Lowell, Tremont, Suffolk, Lawrence, Hamilton, and Appleton mills. That's exactly where our Museum sits just above the Swamp Locks looking at the merging of those 3 canals.
While their achievements were remarkable we believe our will be too. The core of our design team (the germs) marches on to our design finish line and soon it will be hammers, nails, lights, cameras and action. Here we are (top to bottom right side first) Director of Interpretation Diane Fagan Affleck, Textile Curator Karen Herbaugh, Director of Education Sue Bunker, Museum teacher Kathy Hirbour, yours truly Museum Director/President Jim Coleman, Museum Design Architect Doug Mund and Development Director Linda Carpenter. The discussion taking place at this time centered on special sections around the Museum with interactives geared for 3 to 8 year olds.
Just after the meeting we all checked out the conservation work being carried out by conservator Deborah Bede
While Doug Mund and Karen Herbaugh took a close up look at one of the garments under preparation for the renovated exhibit
While the garments are being prepared for the exhibit they will be specially displayed this evening during our Presidents Dinner which honors our most steadfast supporters. A close up look at some of these garments shows a very dapper waistcoat/vest from the early 19th century
A green & black ribbed silk dress from about 1910
and a snappy looking exercise suit from about 1920. I bet you can just picture yourself working out in it. Remember there was no Lycra/Spandex back then!
To show that it's not all work and no play the gang had a surprise shower for Stephanie Hebert who will leave us in not so long a time to have her first child. Stephanie has been working on a variety of textile projects in her time here and plans to rejoin us in a few months as our part time registrar.
Finally to show that while we do have fun we do work very hard for this Museum and the things it represents, Diane Fagan Affleck collapses after another long day working to see that the Museum does reach its goals.
Progress: : a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal)
Yes that's what is taking place here at ATHM. We have our objective in sight and we are moving forward to it. Some examples:
Last fall we opened up this long covered warehouse door in the back of the building.
It was hidden behind the false wall of an exhibit on fashion from the 1880's. It located right next to the "office" pictured below. More on the office later.
Outside the boys were laying a concrete pad in order that trucks & forklifts could access the new door as with build the new exhibit.
Here is a shot of the 10 year resting place of the 1926 Ford "Fordor" that was part of the old exhibit. The Fordor was sold to Al Cadrette and Lenny Smith, avid antique car collectors from Townsend, MA
A wall that used to separate TIA's main exhibit from the weave shed was demolished and the car had to be twisted & slid off of its exhibit perch before it could be rolled through the second floor offices of the Lowell Sun
once on the freight elevator it was down a half a flight and is shown here making its final departure from ATHM. That's Lenny driving and Al trying to apply some breaking i guess.
Ramsey Mechanical riggers Ross Ramsey (facing away) Gary Piniero (rear left) and Rob Ramsey (right) work on removing the Whitin Machine Company roving frame that was located in the "mirror" room along with a Woonsocket Machine Company spinning frame. Both machines were carefully relocated to Franklinville, NC along with other equipment removed from the exhibit. The space previously occupied by the "mirror" room will house a section of the small changing gallery located on the second floor as well as some of the modern textiles planned for the exhibit.
Here is one of the 23 bells known to exist that was cast by Revere & Sons during Paul Revere's personal involvement at the foundry. Revere cast his first bell in 1792, for his own church, the Second Church of Boston. He cast his last bell in 1811 when at age 76 when he ended his active partnership in the family firm. This bell was cast in 206 years ago in 1802 and first resided at a church in Castine, ME. In 1831 the bell was moved from Castine to the tower of the Steven's Mill in North Andover, MA where it stayed until 1961 at which time it was given to the Museum. The bell will find a new home in the renovated exhibit where Museum patrons will be able to touch it perhaps rubbing off some good luck.
The space below was previously known as the 1870's room. While it has not formally been renamed it is currently been dubbed the technology room. The plan for this room is to locate many different types of textile machinery and make them operable. Staff will give an operational demonstration of each machine. Also planned are animations of the fast working parts of the machines so patrons can get a clear idea of what makes them tick. A new feature of the room will be the ability to walk in and get a much closer view. You can see the silver duct tape on the floor which marks out part of this new walk in feature.
Keep your eyes on the website and blog as we soon will launch into full construction mode.
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