American currency has a long and checkered history. The currency issued before the first US central bank was chartered in 1791 was called “continental” currency (named thus because it was issued by the continental congress). They weren’t backed by precious metals, though, and their value eventually plummeted; hence, the old saying “that ain’t worth a continental!” Continue reading
Sometimes I’ll take a chance on a photo. I found this particular photograph at an antique store in Durham, NC, but it is signed by Raleigh photographer J. W. Watson, of 131 Fayetteville St. According to this list of North Carolina photographers, Watson signed his photographs with this particular address from 1885 through 1886. The back of the photograph has the name “John Vann” penciled on it, so let’s see what we can find out about this fellow. Continue reading
Who doesn’t like panoramic photos? Especially ones with the caption “Asheboro Coffin & Casket Company”!
Lieutenant Samuel Smith wasn’t from North Carolina. The civil war military campsite near Warrenton, North Carolina must have felt like a foreign country (partly because it was). It’s almost certain that the August heat would have been worse than anything he experienced in his hometown of Steuben, Maine.
But Samuel Smith wrote a letter to his parents that Friday August the 28th, 2863, and I was lucky to find this letter and its original stamped envelope. The text follows, with my thoughts below.
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