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Other Surprises

 SURPRISE,  SURPRISE,  SURPRISE.  On August 22, 2009 Susan Hunter was helping the Black River Action Team in its annual clean up of the Black River.  Susan was working around the rivers edge where the mill used to be in the hollow and discovered a rusted and fused mass of hooks, eyes, and buttons.  Definitely from the Slack Shoddy Mill. 

 After the carbonizing process to recover the wool,  what remained behind were  the carbonized waste; which was composed of carbonized cotton and vegetable matter as well as buttons, clasps, hooks, eyes  etc.  This carbonized waste was then discarded into the river.  There it remained until now.  Here are three photos of it.  I would date this to be anywhere from 60 to 90 years old.  What a great find .  Great work Susan

 

Sometime during the late 1960's Don Gurney; of Gurney Brothers Construction Co. was contracted to demolish the old Police station building.  Before this building was the Police Station it was the offices of the John T. Slack Corp.  While in the process of demolition of the building a book was discovered inside the walls of this building.  Don removed the book kept it for many years.  While giving my lecture on the Slack Shoddy Mills Don had presented this book to me.  The book was a ledger book of the mill the Slack Brothers had purchased in Holyoke, Massachusetts.  This ledger book contains many entries of people,  vendors and customers from that era. 

This ledger book was dated  1904-1905.  Here are two photos of it.  The first photo of the book closed and the second photo the book open showing one of the entry pages.

What a surprise.  Great work Don.

Did the John T. Slack Corporation ever issue employee ID badges?  Here are two badges that are ID badges from the Slack Corporation.  The round badges is 1 3/4" in diameter.  The rectangular badge is 1 1/2" x 1 1/4" in size.  I have never known of any employee badges being issued.  Anyone have any comments or knowledge on employee ID badges?  Please send me an email.