Weighing Thanksgiving gifts, No. 2 Chestnut Street, Salem, Mass., ca. 1915

Bridgman, L. J. (Lewis Jesse), 1857-1931 · 1910–1920

Butter and sugar were weighed the day before Thanksgiving to give to poor families in the town. Beam scales were used by laying a window bar across the backs of Windsor chairs. The artist drew the image under the direction of Mr. John Robinson who remembered it from his youth. The painting was half done from a photograph of the original sketch done for "Old time New England," January, 1923.