We’re a day late for Andy Warhol’s 85th birthday, but we thought we’d share a long read about his most famous superstar: Edie Sedgwick, a scion of the Massachusetts Sedgwick family. She came to our attention as one of six essays about It Girls curated by Longreads. Written in 2006 by Katherine Stewart, it recounts “the tumultuous life of Santa Barbara heiress and ‘60s It Girl Edie Sedgwick, whose glamorous 15 minutes ended in tragedy.” And yes, she’s a cousin of actress Kyra Sedgwick.
Speaking of birthdays, the Magna Carta will be 800 years old in 2015. For those too young to remember, it was forced on a king of England (John) by the feudal barons in an effort to limit his powers. It will be taking a trip to the United States, and in late 2014 (we’re not sure exactly when) it will stop at the Clark Museum in Williamstown, Mass. Stay tuned for details.
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“Summer Colony” is a documentary that tells the story of Northeast Harbor, Maine, a wealthy summer community on Mt. Desert Island. The Mount Desert Island Historical Society has been posting short snippets of the video, including a 30s-era home movie of the view from Cadillac Mountain and the Main Street fires. Producer Jeremy Lunt is now raising money through Kickstarter to complete the project. The promotion tells us “Told with never-before-seen home movie footage and dozens of vintage photographs, this documentary provides a truly unique look at the village and its inhabitants, both summer and year-round, as they share their memories of the past and their thoughts on the future.”
Today’s Flashback Photo shows the Horace Dodd Store at 130 Milk St., Boston, sometime around 1900. The photo, courtesy of the City of Boston Archives, shows the interior of the fur wholesaling operation founded by Timothy Dodd, who worked at his business for most of adult life. The Warehouseman and Drapers Trader Journal, February 19, 1876, carried his obituary: The New York Clothier records the death of Mr. Timothy Dodd at his residence, Salem Street, Boston, on January 1, at the age 95 years and four months. He had been ill only three days. Mr. Dodd came to Boston in 1793, and settled there permanently in 1795, when he was apprenticed to John Hancock whose store was on Long Wharf. When a boy, he had a great desire to be launched on the frigate Constitution, but being refused by the officials, he jumped aboard just as she began to move, and thus accomplished his purpose. He did an extensive West India business from some years and subsequently went into the wholesale fur business, and for the past forty years he occupied the store numbered 130 on Milk Street. He was probably the oldest merchant in the United States in active service, for he was accustomed to be at his store every day until A few days before his death. He leaves an only son, Mr. George D. Dodd, who was associated in business with him.
Today’s Flashback Photo
Dodd Fur Wholesalers, 130 Milk St., Boston, Mass. (City of Boston Archives)
