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James Newton Lasbury, Snr.

James Newton Lasbury, Snr.

Male 1877 - 1961  (83 years)

 

James Newton Lasbury's Shaving Mug



THE GRANDPA JIM LASBURY “SHAVING MUG” SAGA

Letter from Barton Marcy. Jr. to the East Windsor Connecticut Historical Society- 2009

Hello; (To Whom it May Concern- East Windsor Historical Society)

To introduce myself, I am Barton Marcy, Jr.  I recently visited the East Windsor Historical Society’s Museum in Scantic as a member of the 1959 East Windsor High School 50th reunion.  My wife, Joan Lang, was class President (I went to Suffield Academy, 1954-58). As part of our tour of Broad Brook by East Windsor School Bus to the Opera House and Trolley Museum, we were shown the old Broad Brook Barber Shop that was moved to the back of the East Windsor Historical Society’s Scantic Museum. This is the subject of my letter.

Briefly, I grew up just down the road from the Museum, just across the Scantic River Bridge and up Old Ellington Road, first house on the hill overlooking the River on the left.  My folks were Barton and Gertrude Marcy and sister, Elaine, who was married at the Scantic Church. Our grandfather was James (Jim) Newton Lasbury whose 120 acre broadleaf tobacco farm (Old Ellington/Norton Road) was just across the street from our house. We spent most of our early youth working on the tobacco farm.

I spent my early years getting a haircut at the (“The Judge’s”) Barber Shop in Broad Brook next to Hall and Muska and Smith’s market (the one moved to the Scantic museum). [Back then, you were either a Grigley’s or a Judge’s person when it came to getting a haircut- not sure why?] It was real nostalgia to see the old Barber Shop restored at the Museum, especially the back shelf’s that held the shaving mugs that I remembered so well. I remember how cool it was while getting a haircut to look over at the back shelves and see my grandfather Jim Lasbury’s mug, which was on display there for years, as he was a regular customer.

Anyway, I talked to the Historical Society’s host  on September 19th and told him that I have my grandfather’s mug and brush and would love to send it to the Museum and have them permanently display it at the back of the Barber Shop with the others.  I noted that there is an empty spot on one shelf to the bottom right there now (see photo below, empty cubby hole).  He chuckled and suggested that I write to the EW Historical Society and ask for permission to send it to an appropriate person at the Museum for display. I also noted that there are other names related to Jim Lasbury on the other mugs, such as Thrall.

I would appreciate any suggestions.  Please respond by letter or you can e-mail me. Send an address to mail the mug and brush, if there is agreement.

Thanks again for wading through the long explanation, but I just wanted to provide historical perspective. …Barton Coles Marcy, Jr., etc.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Call from Marshall Lamenzo, EW Board of the EW Historical Society:

I received a call last night from a Marshall Lamenzo of Manchester, CT. (he once lived across from Danny Ellsworth on Rye Street and was a good friend of Jimmy Lasbury (James III)). He is on the Board of the EW Historical Society and his wife was past Treasurer.  He was a 7th grade teacher in the EW school system and said he had talked to Jimmy Lasbury recently. Joan found him in her 1959 EW High School Yearbook.  He said he also wanted to say hello to Elaine, as he know her and our mom and was sorry to hear of her death.

Anyway, the Board thinks the Lasbury Mug Saga is really cool!  Marshall wanted me to ship it (leaving FEDX today) to his house, where upon it shall forever be placed in its rightful spot (on the empty shelf, bottom right-see photo in attached letter) with the collection of other Broad Brook “customer” shaving mugs at the “Judge’s” old Barber Shop once in downtown Broad Brook, but now restored and relocated to the EW Historical Society Museum in Scantic CT.

How cool is that! Three Cheers for Grandpa Jim’s Mug !

Owner of originalBarton Marcy
Date2009
Linked toJames Newton Lasbury, Snr.
AlbumsBarton Marcy's Album