George Close Candy E94.......

[Leon]

Recently I received a very nice email from someone surfing the net for their grandfather's name (obviously). They happened to pick up on a letter I have concerning the George Close Candy letter I have in my collection. The gentleman sent along this message...It does give a personal touch to our collecting...

"Leon--
I happened across your collection of memorabilia and to my amazement I found you had a letter signed by my grandfather George Herbert Bunton of the George Close Company. I have scanned a memorial notice for the man and have attached it to this email...just something to add the human side to an otherwise unknown name. Sadly, he passed away before I was born."

He sent along this memorial notice, at very bottom, too.....



and here is the letter that instigated the email....(shown before but relevent for this thread)

[barrysloate]

That is really amazing...kind of eerie, don't you think?

[rc4157]

Another example of how the internet allows us to make connections with people so much easier today. It's especially amazing for those of us in the
50+ age group that grew up in a world without computers and instant access.

Thanks for sharing Leon.

RC

[rman444]

Very cool. When I was more actively buying items related to the Crofts and Allen company and the Montague company I was constantly bidding against a decendent of one of the owners. Scott Mosely, who was also very active in purchasing similar items, was in contact with someone who I believe was a great grand-daughter of the owner.

[Peter W Thomas]

Leon, that address 249 Broadway was just down the street from my apartment at 269 Broadway of 2 years while I was at MIT. Walked by the building twice a day for 2 years. Four of us lived in a 4 bedroom triple-decker that rented for $75 a month - $18.75 each - the good old days - should have been looking for E94's then.

[rhettyeakley]

Here is a piece I recently picked up, it kinda goes with the rest of this thread...

-Rhett

[jimonym]

Here are some pictures of the factory building (now apartments) I took earlier this year.

[Leon]

The gentleman sent me a follow up note after I showed him the thread....


"Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. My mother said that the George Close Company had been purchased by Necco during the depression. I can't find that on Necco's site which is fairly detailed in its history. It's probably likely that it had become insolvent and its assets purchased through bankruptcy by them if there's any truth to it at all. Finding the letter of yours inspired me to do a little searching into the family tree. Seems that George Herbert Bunton had married Bertha M. Close in April of 1905, she was a daughter of George C. Close...the George Close.

My mother (Caroline Close Bunton) was always glowing when she'd speak of her father but rarely spoke of her mother. Whether she'd ever recounted the family history that far back I don't remember. It's a shame but understandable...the depression had taken her family's affluence and it was painful for her. But she did leave me with a fondness for Necco Wafers!"

[rman444]

A few other items