Sometimes one acquisition for the Saco Museum collections leads to another and in the process, informs us about a part of the past of which we are only mildly aware and rarely include in our interpretive exhibitions. This happy coincidence took place earlier this year beginning with a typical weekend perusal of a website belonging to an antiques dealer in England who specializes primarily in English pottery.

Moderation in the use of ardent spirits was advocated, not total abstinence. The latter would become a powerful force under the leadership of a young man, Neal Dow, who formed the Portland Young Men’s Temperance Society in 1833, promoting total abstinence from hard liquor.

Fast forward to 1850 when Dow, after unceasing efforts, introduced a bill in the legislature banning the manufacture and sale of alcohol except for medicinal and mechanical use. The bill failed but passed in June 1851 and became known as the Maine Liquor Law or “Maine Law”. As well as prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcohol except for medicinal and mechanical use, a local agent was to be appointed in each town to oversee the sale and storage of liquors for these purposes, and violation of the law was punishable by a fine and jail time for repeat offences.  

time, to whom, the town where they lived if other than Saco, and in what amount, as required by law.

Acquiring the pitcher then made even more sense because, combined with the ledger, it would help to tell the story of an important part of Maine history that lasted until the repeal of National Prohibition in 1934. The pitcher was still available in England and we were able to purchase it. Manufactured by Beech, Hancock & Co. Burslem, England, the pitcher was made specifically for the American market about 1855. After the “Maine Law” was enacted, neighboring states used the law as a model and passed similar reforms. The movement which began in Maine garnered regional, national, and international attention. British manufacturers took notice and made items promoting what was referred to as the “Maine Law,” even as it was enacted in other states.

Tools and equipment for museum work were also on exhibition. Examples of photographic equipment and a slide projector represented the best the late 20th century had to offer in the pre-digital age while a typewriter was essential before the advent of desktop computers. In spite of the technological developments, current staff still depend on magnifying glasses, ultraviolet lamps, needle and thread, brushes and pens, tape measures, and gloves to do their everyday work.

The clothing items that end up in museum collections are rarely representative of the range of garments  worn in the past. Most people tend to save special occasion attire or other items that they have some sort of sentimental attachment to, such as wedding dresses or children’s clothing, while seldom making a point to save their more mundane everyday clothes. People also are much less likely to save men’s clothing of any sort, which is why we are fortunate to have a number of examples of everyday men’s clothing from the 19th and 20th centuries in our collection. Below are a few examples; you can see more at https://hub.catalogit.app/saco-museum/folder/clothing-and-accessories. While we don’t know who originally wore the leather breeches, the other items all were owned by local men.