Leaving for Maine next Wednesday, should be in Union on Friday or Saturday. Most of these type of houses are still standing in the area. They have a fairly good historical society that I have a call into. I also e-mailed a prominent real estate agent to see if they might know of the house. I'm trying guys!

Rawn

Found it!!!!!!!!!!!!!# 3
The Rural House, pictured circa 1875 - A stage stop on the Union Common, originally called the Gilmore (Gillmor) Hotel. then the Cobb Hotel. This building is located on the north side of the Common, now a private residence.

The Rawn - Shawn - Union
 

Digging and detective work at it's best.

Proud of you guys.

Keep it up, and let it happen.

This is happening before our very eyes. :)

Yeah
 

Those SABR geeks have nothing on us Net 54 guys.

And if you did not try the veal -- we have chicken as well, and it may even taste like chicken :p

Rich

I stop in to read some threads from time to time, as I enjoy reading and learning about most facets of card collecting. However, I specialize in HOF signed rookie cards, so most of the threads on here I could add very little value to. Plus, I don't take constructive criticism too well, and from what I've witnessed in several threads, there is no shortage of that if someone makes a mistake or has a different opinion then the majority of the group.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading and lurking, just don't enjoy becoming part of the fray for the most part.


Mike

Rawn,

Nice work! Now we just need to find out about the baseball team that is pictured.

I emailed a guy I found online that collects, buys & sells stereoviews. He resides in Maine and has several that were made by Henry Allen. He said that he lives one town away from Union and is going to see if he can find the "rural house". Below is his response to my email.

Shawn,

"J. Henry Allen photographed Union Maine a lot. I quite certain that is where that is. I may know where that house is. I'll look when I go down there. Union is one town away and I shop at a market there frequently.

Here is some info:

Allen, J.H. Union & South Thomaston, ME 7-8 [J. Henry Allen] "Photographer"; "Union Scenery", views of So. Thomaston, Knox County, Maine, ÷71; Maine State prison, local scy, quarry, villages, harbor, B/L; $2.00/dozen.

I think the chance of that being anywhere but Union is very low. If I see the house I will photograph it. Get back to me in a while and I may have a pic for you. Union is a real pretty town. I don't know where you live but if it is nearby you might want to check it out. Lots of panoramic views around."

David

Digging at its best .....
 

These detectives are real, and it's happening now.

This is better than Sherlock Holmes, or Columbo. :)

Time limitation is my excuse... I really appreciate the time many of the regular posters take to carefully review and respond to each and every topic. I read as many of them as I can, even the controversial ones (like bees to a honey! :p). Although a lot of the topics are unpleasant (bad deals, auction shilling, intentional card doctoring for profit, etc) we can't just turn a blind eye to it and say it doesn't affect me, because we are all a part of this hobby and we need to give back by disseminating information to promote the fun in all of this and at the same time expose and discourage the bad practices. I always mention this board as a great example to not just people who enjoy collecting baseball cards, but for those others who want to start other hobby forums.

Ricky Y

Mission to Union, Me.
 

Count me in as one of those that's patiently awaiting the outcome of this trip.

Will they find the old Rural House?

Is there a connection between the Rural House and the team?

Did it belong to a league?

Which league, and are there any town records of it?

Rawn, and Shawn, I think you've started something.

Keep us posted on your Mission to Union, Me.

I did find the Rural house, I added the picture of it to my previous post. I have looked at the aerial view of it on google. I'll be going up there in the next week to try and get a picture in the same angle and will have a copy of the original baseball photo to give to the current residents. As far as the team, I'm not really sure that is going to be as easy to find out further info.

Rawn

Unions of Morrisania "New York"
 

Not a match.... But wouldn't be interesting if this is the same team!

I wanted to point out also that it appears that in the "Rural House" pic the bat on the far right (as you are looking at the photo) has some writing on it?

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ions-1867-.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...TEAM222222.jpg

An interesting comparison .....
 

It's not a match, but it's an interesting comparison.

Like I mentioned previously, during the Civil War, and after, the Union name was a very popular name in the North.

The first thing I noticed when I first saw that great image of the Union's from Union, or (Rural House???) ... were their caps.
They were slightly different from the caps that we're use to seeing.
For example, check out the caps on the Morrisannia Union team.
A slightly more mature team, from a few years earliar.
A great picture of a Championship team, but it lacks the confidence of that pitcher on the Rural House team, with crossed arms, and a baseball in his hand.

Keep digging guys, I've got a good feeling about all this. :)

Joe

Just to let you know I am checking with others in the His. Soc. to try to fidn out about this team. Thanks for your patience, Suzanne Shaub, curator UHS
Allen was a photographer who did early stereoviews of the area. More later, Sue

an email that I received today from the Union Maine Historical Society.

Rawn

Now we know .....
 

Why they call him: Rawn "No stone unturned" Hill.

I have stitched the two photos of the "Rural House" together and pasted the image below. I noticed that the "Rural House" sign is on two sides of the building. I also noticed that there seems to be a tree missing in the photo that Rawn found (delineated by RED arrows) that is shown in the baseball picture. The photo the Rawn found stated that it was 1875ish, so I am thinking that the baseball pic was taken earlier... I guess though, the tree could have been cut down right after the baseball pic was taken:)

I put two TINY red arrows on the photo that Rawn found showing where I thought the tree should be, but you guys may see something different altogether? You can also use the four wooden posts running along the side of the building in both pics for comparison...

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ball/paint.jpg

I am fairly new to this site, but have posted here several times. I have also made some friends that have helped me add to my collection. This is a great place for knowledge, and feel that it is the only place where you don't have to worry about being ripped off by scam artists. I try to purchase my cards from here because I trust most everyone here. I can't say the same about ebay.

I can agree with what these lurkers are mentioning...
 

I mainly lurk becuase you fellow members have a much higher knowledge of prewar vintage cards/players than I do. I have learned a lot on here just from browsing the various threads.

I would imagine I am one of the younger members on here [19 years of age], so I don't have the largest budget for cards. I like to pickup a nice vintage Red Sox card or two as often as I can. Seeing all of the amazing cards posted on here I am a bit hesitant sharing my pickups because who would want to see what I got when others have just picked up a high end Cobb, Mathewson, Wagner, Jackson, etc,etc. :o

One thing I do love about the site is the BST section. A lot of great cards to be found there and it is a fantastic alternative to eBay.


Seems like a lot of great members on here so maybe I will start posting a bit more now..

Hello Scotty ... Welcome aboard .....
 

*

Scotty, forget about the age thing.
Your 19, and I'm 78.
I started with vintage when I was about 51, in 1982.
You're discovering it at the age of 19.
Collect what you like, and makes you happy ... and if it makes you happy, show it off.
Whether they're Red Sox, or whatever, those are your babies, and you march by the beat of your drum.

Being older, doesn't mean that you're rich ... I'm now living off my 101K. :D

Believe it, or not, If you have the patience. and you do some research, there are reasonable vintage cards out there.
T206's are always changing hands.
Leave the upper grades to the flippers, the lower grades have more character anyway. ..... later on in life, If you want to upgrade _ upgrade.

Let the vintage T's & E's happen.
With all my sets, I never planned them ... they all mysteriously Happened.

Lots of luck to you Scotty.
Go by the beat of your drum, and let it all Happen. :)

Joe P.

Great post Joe, thanks! :D Best of luck to you and your collecting goals!


I am very happy with what I collect, and love the hobby. I am also like you and seem to just start sets out of nowhere but I can not focus long enough to finish them hah. Although, I will test my own patience to see if I will ever end up completing the M116 Red Sox team set...now that's a long term goal.;)


It's just jaw dropping seeing the volume of quality cards in members collections here. Those mothly pickup threads sure are fun to browse!




Maybe soon I will show off my newly completed 1910 Red Sox team set.

Please Do! And hats off to a fellow Red Sox collector :)

Shawn
 

Look behhind the arrow that you put on in the original picture, you can see where it says Rural House on the side of the building also.

Rawn

The Union Twins .....
 

*

Rawn, I noticed that also in the original photo.

You guys certainly have your eyes on the ball. :)

Keep taking your cuts.

Hi Rawn,

I think that I was not clear in my post...(Sorry about that) What I was trying to point out is that "Rural House" is probably on two sides of the building in both pictures. The reason for pointing this out is that some people comparing the two photos may not realize that the pictures were taken from two different angles of which show the "Rural House" sign, but it is not the same "Rural House" sign. Confusing, I know... Its me and I confuse myself!

lurking
 

You'd be surprised how much you can learn and how little you give away by "lurking"

and
 

and how little you give back.....

Looking forward towards .....
 

Any updates from the Rural House Twins ..... :)

And that could very well be the reason there are so many "lurkers"

lurker
 

i appreciate that your response to Leon's valid point was not defensive, not ad hominem.
welcome aboard!

best,
barry

Lurker mystery solved .....
 

Leon see what happens when a child is told not to go to school because of fear of Presidential Communist influence. :D

I hope that he didn't watch the disastrous school speach on TV.

Thanks
 

Thank you and Leon, I will contribute when I have something meaningful to say.

Rick

Rural house
 

I found another shot of the house.

Rawn

And yet, another interesting view of Rural House
 

Thanks Rawn,

Would you have any idea of the time slot.

It makes you wonder more ... if the team was a house team, town team or what?

That center tree is a constant companion. :)

I'm in touch with the historical society, they have been a great help and have read this thread. One way or another, I will find out as much as possible about this team and their history. I have one ace in the hole and that is a former member of the Augusta Millionaires that is very interested in this thread. A thanks goes out to Suzy and Dave Shaub for all of their help.

Rawn

Indeed, a team effort .....
 

*

Rawn, I've not had the pleasure of formerly meeting you, Shawn, Suzy and Dave Shaub, but I would like to thank all of you for the collaboration and teamwork being done.

Think about it.
A union of strangers.
Brought together by a Union team from Union, Maine.
The team, and the Rural House, is alive and well in 2009.

All because of a Union team in 2009. :)

I have decided to quit posting at this time because:

A. I continue to be chastised because I was having trouble posting in the proper forum. It seems so trivial but "big brother is watching".

B. I read a comment a while back on here about people who are discouraged at card shows when they approach a dealer table and he can't be bothered because he is either on the phone or cramming a sandwich in his mouth. I feel that is the case here, to many talkers and eaters. They don't want to be bothered with someone who has "meaningless" cards to them. They may have it in their inventory but don't want to bother looking because it won't make them the big $$$.

C. I thought this would be the "forum to end all forums", and I could possibly get some answers on the cards I am looking for. On the plus side, there have been a handfull(literally), of good people who have taken the time to write with information, but on the whole, everything else has been ignored.

D. I am not, "in the loop".

You or anyone else who is having trouble using the forum software should feel free to contact me and I'll be glad to help.

Another one chased away by Rob D. It's a damn shame.

Joe
 

The thanks go to others as I just sit on the computer and love to do research.........hint hint, I'm looking for a new job. This quest has been a lot of fun so far, but we really need to find out more on the team.

Rawn

As my old pappy used to say
 

Son, if you want to learn.

"Sit still - Be quiet - Listen to the teachers"

I've been lurking for three years now. Next year I graduate!

Thanks very much guys. It's been great!

Rawn?
 

Rawn,

Just curious... Have you contacted the Thomaston Historical Society? Just wondering, because J. Henry Allens studio was located there and I thought maybe they would have other photos taken by him and perhaps more baseball pics??? I would have contacted them, but thought you probably have already gone that route...

I have been trying to research the heck out of this thing, but have come up empty handed. One interesting thing is that I did read an article about the manager or a player (I cannot remember) of the Union team out of Pennsylvania (I think). Rather tragic, But he apparently went to the coast of Maine (not to far from Union, Maine) on vacation and the article stated that while his family and friends were watching him swimming in the ocean he went under a wave and never came back up.

I bring this up, because I am wondering if there is a chance that team in the stereoview is not from Union, Maine but is a "Union Base Ball Team" that coincidentally visited said place?

Potomac Yank,

I appreciate your support with this and would certainly like to meet up with you and other fellow members! Its nice to find people who are into the same things you enjoy. For me, The hunt for the story behind something is most enjoyable. Ironically sometimes I almost wish I didn't solve the mystery to something because then I feel like I am lost or had a kid leave home.:)
But there is always another mystery just waiting... somewhere!

I kinda feel out of my league, to be honest. I'm just here to learn some of the history and see what's out there. Don't really have the ultra-deep pockets or the experience to jump into most discussions.

Furthermore, while I've come across many pleasant and helpful posters here, there are some folks who constantly remind me of all the bad in this hobby. :(

Where have you gone cat stevens?

Where to now?
 

*

Shawn, I've known that feeling, I guess we all go though that. :)

That's when we all become Don Quijote de la Mancha.
We get on our frail looking horse.
Call out to Sancho for your lance.
He joins you.
You look staight ahead.
Point with your lance, and say .....
Let's go see what's over the next hill!

The hunt is always the prize. :)