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Phrases from the Jabez Howland House

Howland Views

The weasel would turn forty times and then pop. After seven pops, a skein of yarn would have been measured. Then the children would sing the song "Pop goes the Weasel" as they worked the weasel.

GRIDIRON AND TOASTER

Here we have two items, the one with the bars is called a gridiron, the start of our football fields. The other strange-looking item is a means to toast your bread and would be turned with your toe - hence the toaster (toe stir) come into being

P'S AND Q'S

Old tales from Plymouth tell of an ordinary up on Cole's Hill where the gentlemen congregated in the evening and quaffed some brews! Story has it, that at the end of the evening the barkeep would tally up the P's and Q's, in other words - count the pints and quarts consumed

"CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD"

The great chair was used by the man of the house or other important personage such as the minister. A table was called a board and placed in front of the great chair. Therefore the origin of "Chairman of the Board"

END OF MY ROPE

Here is a cradle with a rope in two grooves. It was placed near the bed and could be reached by mother and she could gently rock the baby back to sleep. After a long night of rocking, she might be "at the end of her rope".

THE FIRST WEDDING GIFT

The first gift to the new bride was an item that would be used many times! A peel, or what looked like a shovel was the first gift to a newly-wed young woman. This would be used to place bread in the oven or remove it.

COURTING MIRROR

When a young gentleman came to ask a young lady to marry him, he would bring a mirror rather than a ring. If she accepted him, she would hang it on the wall, if she refused him, she would place it face down.

He knew what the answer was without a doubt...

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