posted 08-19-2008 08:29 PM            

A typical New England coin spoon on the front, it wasn't until I turned it over that it became interesting. I didn't know the maker's mark, but I was intrigued puzzled by the second mark-see below-which reads "Oppo. Old South".

At first, I wondered if it was some sort of Civil War related message (opposed to the Old South? In opposition to the Old South?). However, once I got home and looked up the maker, William Stillman Willis of Boston, the bell went off (pardon the pun): the Old South Church! However, when I went to look up information on the Old South Church on Boylston, it indicated that the church had been built in the 1870's, too late for Mr. Willis. Further perusal, however, found that the congregation at the Old South Church had been in existence in Boston since 1669, and had met in the 1700's and early 1800's at the Old South Meeting House, located on the corner of Washington and Milk.

Finally, thanks to wev's wonderful site, I learned that Mr. Willis and his uncle had a shop at 54 1/2 Cornhill in Boston. Although no longer a street, Cornhill was a section of road now known as either Washington Street or Market Street, and located "opposite Old South Meeting House". Early advertising!

posted 08-21-2008 10:40 PM            

This one has to be the most "local" address I have seen. I wonder if anyone has others like it?

posted 07-07-2009 04:24 PM            

Any insite that perhaps their shop was located near the original poster's shop/