Feature of the Month - The B. Paige Collection 🏆

April 2025 Registry Feature

This month's featured Registry Set Collection is the Vermont & New Hampshire-themed B. Paige Collection. This collection celebrates the unique and captivating scenes of the White Mountains region—moments in time captured by a stereoscopic camera.

The first stereoview we will examine in The B. Paige Registry Set Collection is an 1880s view of photographer C.E. Goodrich at his home in Plainfield, Vermont. This stereoview is exceptionally rare because, in most cases, the photographer would be behind the camera rather than in front of it. In this image, we see a bearded Mr. Goodrich standing near his wife. On either side of them are two young women and two young men, quite likely their children. One of the boys appears to be holding a bait bucket with a newspaper tucked neatly under his arm.

[Registry #1115 - The B. Paige Collection]

By examining the age of the trees in the landscape, it is safe to conclude that the home in front of which they are proudly standing is newly built—most likely the Goodrich estate. It was common for photographers like C.E. Goodrich to take commissioned photos of people's homes and estates. Often, they would use stereoscopic photographs of their own estates to promote the idea of having customers' houses photographed. These 'self-portrait' stereoviews are exceptionally rare, especially for small-town photographers with limited product catalogs.

The second piece in the B. Paige Collection that we will examine is truly fascinating and exceptional. Registry item #1874 is an illustration of two men in a New Hampshire forest making maple syrup. There is much happening in this scene, telling an engaging and timeless story.

The first detail to note is the pair of snowshoes leaning against the large maple tree in the foreground. The White Mountains are notorious for heavy winter storms that blanket the region in deep snow. These men likely traveled a long distance to reach their sugar shack, much of it over deep snow. Their snowshoes would have been an essential piece of equipment for navigating the mountain forests.

[Registry #1874 - The B. Paige Collection]

Upon closer inspection, we can see two shoulder yokes in the foreground of the photo—one leaning against the large maple tree and the other against the wooden barrel. These shoulder yokes played a crucial role in sap collection. The men would attach a bucket of sap to each end of the yoke and carry the pails of sticky liquid to the large wooden holding vat in the foreground. They would then use ladles to scoop the sap from the barrel into a large reduction pan.

Shoulder yokes are rarely seen today, but they were once a common tool in farm life, often used by milkmaids on dairy farms. In the foreground, there is a small pile of crudely stacked wood, which would have been used to keep the 'stove fires burning' so the maple sap could be reduced to sugar. For anyone living in the Northeast, this scene is familiar and may evoke childhood memories of trips to the sugar bush.

The third stereoview we will examine in the B. Paige Collection is registry item #2006. This fascinating image captures a golden retriever on the Mount Washington summit receiving platform.

Famed collector William Culp Darrah was determined to identify the dog after noticing him in several Mount Washington stereoviews. It was eventually discovered that the dog's name was Redford. Both Darrah and Thurman Kelso Treadwell were known to write his name on the back of these views.

[Registry #2006 - The B. Paige Collection]

During the 1880s, members of the adjacent Signal Service building were believed to have kept a golden retriever named Redford for companionship. The dog was so friendly that he would rush out to the summit station platform to greet passengers as the train arrived.

Redford became a beloved celebrity among passengers and workers alike, frequently posing for photographs with them. In the above view, dated circa 1885, the cheerful dog is seen greeting a woman and her children as they disembark from the train.

Perhaps the most fascinating part of this story is William Culp Darrah’s deep interest in identifying Redford. Through his dedication and passion, many stereoviews and photographers have been correctly attributed. His work has provided a rich and invaluable source of information for future generations of collectors, archivists, investors, and historians.

The final piece from the collection that we will cover is a rare view of the Mount Washington Cog Railway during its construction. This early image dates back to the 1860s and shows two workers standing atop a small boiler engine, with an empty cargo car trailing behind.

The men likely used this engine to haul timber, tools, and iron rails up the mountain from the lower depot. A small engine like this would not have been capable of carrying heavy loads, so the workers had to be mindful of its weight limits. A runaway train speeding down the tracks from the summit would have been a disaster!

[Registry #2131 - The B. Paige Collection]

This stereoview is most likely an early Benjamin W. Kilburn view, published and distributed by Bates.

The Mount Washington Railroad was a major attraction from the 1870s to the 1890s, drawing a significant number of tourists. During this era, the cog railway and the nearby hotels were among the premier tourist destinations. Some of the earliest known stereoviews from the New Hampshire and Vermont regions were taken in the White Mountains.

Congratulations to the B. Paige Collection for achieving Collection of the Month!  This is a huge accomplishment!  Check your mailbox, your award should arrive soon.  To view the rest of the B. Paige Collection, please visit the WHS Stereoview registry page.