Knife, Paper

Object Name:

Knife, Paper

Object ID:

2005.017

Date:

1969

Description:

Letter opener. Souvenir of reopening of Farnham's clothing store, Dover, NH, 1969. Plated steel. Rectangular handle with applied white plastic pieces. One side bears green impressed lettering: "1855 - 1969 / FARNHAM'S / 432 CENTRAL AVE. / DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE". Blade stamped "U.S.A." Includes paper folder into which opener was inserted; printing on front of folder: "A Gift for You / FROM / FARNHAM'S"; folder kept in accession file.

Material:

Metal
Plastic

Dimensions:

H-0.75 L-7.85 inches

Provenance:

Farnham's clothing store began in 1855 or 1856 as a business run by Dr. James E. Lothrop in the Lower Square in Dover. It moved to the Morrill Building on Central Ave. in 1870. In 1880, Charles Farnham became the manager, and the firm was incorporated as Lothrops-Farnham Co., Inc. The store was purchased by Nathan and Bessie Issokson of Falmouth, MA, in 1956. The Issoksons passed operation of the store to their daughter, Lorraine, and her husband, Stephen Goren, in 1967. The store was destroyed by fire in May 1968. It reopened on August 8, 1969, when letter openers were presented to customers. Bessie Issokson still owned the store when it closed for good on Jan. 31, 1998.

Credit Line:

Gift of Lorraine and Stephen Goren

People:

Farnham, Charles, Goren, Stephen, Issokson, Bessie, Issokson, Lorraine, Issokson, Nathan, Lothrop, James E. (1826-1907)

Subjects:

Advertisements, Knives, Letter Opener, Paper Knife, Souvenirs