When Things Come Together

The picture below is familiar to many Blythites. Janis and I have had a copy for many years. The picture itself reveals quite a lot about its subject. We can tell that it is a parade related to the Frost & Wood Company. We recognize Blyth's main street. We can tell that it is probably dated before cars were common. But the picture left us with a few questions.


On this very date, February 11, 2010, Janis came across a little 14 line item in an old issue of the Blyth Standard which answers almost all of those questions. Just think! A newspaper published exactly 106 years and 8 months ago today pops up and explains a picture taken the day before the publication, June 11, 1903. From this tiny item in the Blyth Standard we learn the purpose and the date of the event, the route of the parade, the number of wagons in the parade, the name of the photographer, and what happened after this picture was taken.

Here is the article:

- Yesterday was a busy day in Blyth. Mr. W. A. Carter, agent for the Frost & Wood Co. had a delivery of farm implements. There were 85 loaded wagons in the procession, which was formed at the railway station and marched up town to Queen street, where Mr. T. B. McArter took a photo of the group. The implements delivered consisted of binders, mowers, horse rakes, and corn cultivators. All those who took part in the procession were entertained to dinner at the Commercial and Queen's hotels by the Frost & Wood Co.

from The Blyth Standard, June 11, 1903

By way of explanation: the railway station is the one on Dinsley street now the Station House B&B, the Commercial Hotel is now the Blyth Inn, and the Queen's Hotel was located where the Blyth Corner Cafe now stands, torn down about 1920. The photographer was Baxter McArter. We are not sure where the F&W company was located then.

Brock Vodden

February 11, 2010