In 1865 Jonas Spaulding of Townsend, purchased the present building known as the Spaulding Cooperage. The building actually dates back to around 1760, where it was originally used as a wool mill and for several years, as a planning and turning shop.

    After being vacant for over a decade, Jonas Spaulding purchased the building and turned it into a cooperage. The main industry in this building was to produce Wood Barrels. The building was ideal for this as it had a six-sided fireplace for "setting up" barrel staves. Six barrels could be set up at once and heat from the stoves would loosen the wood fibers so that the staves could be bent. The shop employed 25 men from the area. It was a great location, as the railroad tracks were behind the building and they could be loaded on the trains and shipped to Boston to local merchants and shipped from there to other places in the states.

    The men who made these barrels where called coopers, hence the name Spaulding Cooperage.

    The business was quite successful for over ten years and was one of the main industries in the town at that time. Barrels were made in various sizes, from whole barrels to half barrels, and used to hold fish, butter, flour, molasses, mustard and salt.

    When the business ended, the building remained in the Spaulding family for 100 years until it was donated to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities to be used as a Coopering Industry museum. It was eventually sold to the Townsend Historical Society in 1981 and through the society, has been leased to several antique and gift shops over the years.

    This past summer, Laura Bradley, a lifetime resident of Lunenburg started her own business there, the Spalding Cooperage Antique Co-op of Townsend Harbor. Before starting at the Cooperage, Laura, a very talented floral designer and antique dealer, was involved in the antique co-ops in New Hampshire.

    This past summer, traveling home from work, she decided to take a back road home through Townsend Harbor. To her surprise she noticed that the Cooperage building was vacant.

    She met with Jeannie Bartovics, the Site Administrator of the Historical Society and found out it was a Spaulding that had owned the building at one time. Laura's reaction was "gee, I am related to the Spauldings" and so with the help of Jeannie and some research it was found out that Laura's great grandmother, Sarah Spaulding of Townsend, was a cousin to Jonas Spaulding.

    Whether it was by chance or the spirit of Jonas Spaulding that made her inquire about the building, she knew right then that she needed to lease this building and reopen the Spaulding Cooperage, as a Antique Co-Op.   

                 Within months she secured the necessary papers and the weekend after Thanksgiving she opened her shop.

        At the present time, the Spaulding Co-op houses five antique dealers and, of course, herself. She has room for several more dealers and hopes to spruce up the outside this spring with a selection of plants for sale and next Christmas offer wreaths, greens, and many of her beautiful floral holiday arrangements.

                She is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The six-sided fireplace still remains in the middle of the building and one of the actual stoves houses a wood stove, which is used for her heat.

        So if you are out and about this weekend stop in and see the great collection of antiques on hand, perhaps you may even find that rare Christmas present you were looking for. As you open the latched door you will be greeted by the aromas of the scents of Christmas and the warm and happy smile of Laura.

    I'm sure Jonas Spaulding would be very pleased to know that his building is now occupied once again by family and who knows, perhaps his spirit does live once again in the old Spaulding Cooperage.

    In closing for this year, I would just like to thank all my great clients for their support of The Lunenburg Ledger and wish them a Happy Holiday Season.

    ‘Til next time,
                 ROB