FARMINGTON — The Farmington Historical Society has received on loan Chester Greenwood’s roll-top desk, his office typewriter, adding machine and check writer. The Greenwood collection also includes many earmuffs and handmuffs that were samples to choose colors and advertisements.
All items are on loan to the society from grandson George Greenwood and his children. When delivered by the family, the items came with stories told by George the youngest grandchild of Chester and Isabel Greenwood. His childhood memories involve living in Farmington after his father, Clinton Greenwood, returned to help with the businesses Chester started.
Earmuffs are not the only thing that Chester Greenwood perfected.
George Greenwood said his grandfather used the same metal for the connection piece between the earmuffs, as he did in his metal rake’s tines. In 1936, Greenwood patented the metal rake.
This was one of the many stories told to Farmington Historical Society members Claudia Bell and Jane Woodman when they were visited at the Titcomb House by Mr. and Mrs. George Greenwood and Sandy Greenwood Thomas. George, as a child, lived on Hill Street in the Greenwood home. Sandy is the great-granddaughter, who has been the holder of many of Chester’s earmuff manufacturing items.
The Greenwoods delivered items to be placed on Chester’s roll-top desk. Besides the typewriter, adding machine and check writer, other items included earmuff and matching hand muff in different colors, boxes that were used to send earmuff parts to in-home assemblers, also a payroll time book, which includes names of people who worked in the manufacturing process.
All items will be part of new exhibit to open at the Fiddlehead Festival on Saturday, May 5. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Titcomb House, 118 Academy St., located just across the street from the festival. The exhibit is free, but donations are welcome.
Earmuffs are not the only thing that Chester Greenwood perfected. Greenwood patented the metal rake, using the same metal on the tines as he did on the ear muff connector. Farmington Historical Society will display Greenwood’s work May 5.
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