Ca. 1890s milk container that was used to carry milk from the Windham farm to the Boston store
William Stickney Lamson was born in Lowell, MA in 1845. In 1881, around the time he married Mary Anna Campbell of Windham, Lamson patented the earliest commercially produced cash carrier system. His system was known as a "cash railway" and rather than using the pneumatic tubes that gained popularity decades later, his system was comprised of a wooden ball that ran along sloping rails. The cash would be sent from the sales desk to the cash office inside of the ball. In 1882 Lamson incorporated the Lamson Cash Carrier Company in Boston and became an early leader in the cash carrier market. That same year he purchased the John Carr farm in Windham with the intention of using it as a summer residence. However, he quickly made it an operational farm that produced dairy products, as well as meat, for his Boston store.
Close up of the horseshoe shaped tag on the container, identifying it as belonging to W S Lamson Farm
Lamson Farm Store was located on School Street in Boston, MA. Like his cash carrier business, the store was a success and had even grown large enough to be divided into multiple departments. There is an incident recorded where the store's manager, J Ernest Hammond, was involved in an incident with a runaway carriage while on a business trip in Lowell, MA. Hammond was struck by the carriage and his head was caught, carrying him some distance before he broke free. He was ultimately brought to Lowell Hospital after being found unconscious in the street. Hammond arrived at the hospital with, "his face torn and mangled, one bone broken, and an injury to to the back of his neck which came near
the 'breaking' point, this last injury having proved a permanent and troublesome factor". There is no word on if he returned to Lamson Farm Stores after the incident. William Stickney Lamson died in 1884, shortly after he saw both of his businesses rise to success.
the 'breaking' point, this last injury having proved a permanent and troublesome factor". There is no word on if he returned to Lamson Farm Stores after the incident. William Stickney Lamson died in 1884, shortly after he saw both of his businesses rise to success.
Ca. 1890s advertising trade card for Lamson Farm Store in Boston