May 21, 2008

The Deposit Rotary Club was treated to an especially interesting program at our lunch meeting on Wednesday, May 14.  Our very own Rotarian Richard "Smitty" Axtell presented pieces of antique glass to the club and we were happy to be joined by his wife, Sandra, for lunch.  I found the day particularly enjoyable since I know both Smitty and Sandy well from the Deposit Historical Society Board of Directors, of which Smitty is the President and Sandy is the Treasurer.  Both are wonderful people with absolutely incredible knowledge of antiques and their historical contexts.

 

Smitty took the opportunity to announce that the Dr. Oliver T. Bundy House will be opened to the public on May 25 and the historical society is very excited about it.  The house, directly adjacent to the society's museum on Second Street, is now owned by the society and will house not only the society's curatorial and genealogical offices, but a recreated turn-of-the-century doctor's office.  If you're interested in history and, specifically, the rich history of Deposit, you won't want to miss the opening of the Bundy House on May 25.  

 

Smitty brought with him several pieces of cut glass and talked about the history of glass-making and –cutting both in general and in Deposit.  As you may know, Deposit was well-known for its famed glass created at the Kelly & Steinman glass factory, once located on the site of the current Deposit High School.  He spoke about cut glass from the "brilliant" period, which lasted from 1893-1921 and elaborated on the technique and artistry of cutting glass.  If you are interested in seeing pieces of Deposit glass as well as other objects of local history in the society's vast collections, come check out our local museum this summer!