Category Archives: eBay Finds

eBay Finds

New EBay Find: Painting of Calais Docks, c1910

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Calais Dry Docks, c1910
William Paxton, Artist

This little gem came up on EBay at a very inexpensive price and I knew I had to have it. It’s an 8 x 10 painting of the Calais, Maine dry docks  in the early years of the 20th century.

Because my 2X great grandfather, Calvin Segee Adams, was a Calais boat builder, as was his own father Daniel Adams, this little painting appealed to me.

Here are a couple of postcards depicting the harbor from the same time period:


Postcards in my personal collection

My new painting looks very much like Calais Harbor in these postcard photos and I can imagine Calvin Adams working on a new project.


Calvin Adams, right

It seems like I don’t find as many treasures coming up for sale on EBay as I did in the past, or perhaps it’s just that I’ve purchased so many out of a very limited group in existence.

However, I still check regularly and I’m glad I did. Otherwise, Mr. Paxton’s artwork wouldn’t be sitting on a table in my den. 🙂

If you don’t make it a habit to check online auctions for genealogy items, you are missing out on a great opportunity!

eBay Finds

New eBay Find: Calais Soldiers’ Monument Postcard

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Periodically, I check eBay in the hope that a new treasure might appear and, from time to time, I find one. Here is my latest purchase:


Calais, Maine Soldiers Monument

This might not look like the most exciting find, but it has special meaning to me. The Soldiers Monument is in Memorial Park on Main Street in Calais and I’ve been there and seen it. However, that’s not why it is special. The maker of this monument was the Red Beach Granite Company, which was owned (with a partner) by my 3X great grandfather, George Rogers Tarbox.


George Rogers Tarbox

The statue was dedicated to Civil War soldiers on 30 May 1893. The base of the monument contains this inscription:

In Grateful Remembrance Of/The Men Of Calais/Who Upon Land And Sea Sacrificed Their/Lives That The Nation Might Be Preserved/And That Government Of The People/By The People And For The People Should/Not Perish From The Earth/1861-1865

The monument cost $3,000, which was  raised by the Ladies’ Memorial Society of Calais, which was a hefty sum of money back then.

Be sure to search eBay periodically for names and places of interest in your own family history. Interesting unique items can often be found.

 

Calais, eBay Finds

New Genealogy Finds on eBay

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I check eBay often for potential family finds.

This was a terrific find!

I purchased an 1893 Commencement Exercises program for Calais High School. As I mentioned, this one isn’t technically “my” family because 1893 was the wrong time period for any of my relatives to be graduating. I do recognize many of these surnames, though, and this program will be going back home to Calais, as a donation to its history.

This program is tiny, only about 2 inches by three inches and aside from a bit of foxing, it is in excellent condition.

Calais High School 1893
Front and Back Cover

Graduation Exercises Calais High School 1893
Title Page

Calais High Programme 1893
“Programme”

Calais High Programme 1893 - B
1893 Graduating Class

This is a fabulous slice of Calais history.

Be sure to check eBay regularly for possible family finds. I have more success with places or more unique surnames.