Out with the new, in with the Old? Relating to historic technology
MHA Publick Occurrences -- November 19, 2019 Out with the New, In with the Old
What objects do you own that represent technology before the era of only flipping a switch, before plastic, electricity, and gasoline? You may have the object itself, or you may have an image from a catalog or other document. We want to know what it is and how it fits your collecting interest. Was it made in your town? Was it used by a local resident? Is it part of a special collection that you own? Please tell us the story.
This blog post starts what we hope will be an on-going occasional series of posts relating to older technology — technology that does not depend on modern sources of energy. Please submit photographs of artifacts or scans of illustrations in your collections along with a max 300-word description of its use. Feel free to include suggestions for its future use!
People of a certain age may remember the backyard garbage receptacle. It seems that every backyard in Dorchester had a metal receptacle set into the ground to contain household food waste until collection day.
When plastic bags became ubiquitous, there was no longer a need for these receptacles. Many of them were dug up and disposed of. We know of one that was dug up only about 10 years ago; there are probably many still in the ground that were simply covered over.
The introduction of the receptacle must have been greeted enthusiastically. The receptacle, which could hold about 20 gallons had a cover that could be flipped open by stepping on a projecting handle. Garbage was dropped in. After garbage collection day, the homeowner could take out the inner pail for cleaning.
The Harvard Garbage Receptacle Co. was located at 116 Harvard Street, Dorchester. A quick internet search shows that the Harvard Garbage Receptacle Co. appeared in the New England Business Directory for 1922 and the Boston Register and Business Directory for 1921. Since many directories are not available online, we don’t know how long the company was in business.
The statement on the flyer refers to receptacles replacing the old swill house, which “contributes disease to your household and melody to wakeful slumberers by feeding the prowling beasts of the night and the rats and mice for your garret gives birth to millions of germ carrying flies. Our underground system protects the home from disease, beautifies the surroundings.”
Earl Taylor, Dorchester Historical Society