Mrs. Powell and Miss Smith trade places

L. Lee McIntyre, my professional friend of two years, and I agreed it was an obvious trade: her "Powell" for my "Smith".

Lee writes about the long and talented career of Lowell's Costillia Smith (1829-1905). I write about the long and talented career of Lowell’s Annie Powell (1859-1952). Lee owned a Powell from about 1903 and I owned a Smith from about 1885. A few days ago we exchanged. We ordered tracking numbers, wrote “DO NOT BEND” and put our faith in the mail.

Costillia and Annie, 30 years and one mile apart, would have been friends and rivals. We know that on July, 31, 1903, Costillia won the competition to sell photos of a tragic gunpowder explosion on the Concord River. She received “Photo by Smith” credit in a Boston newspaper. Annie’s photos were published with credit to an enterprising horse and wagon driver.

I’d like to imagine Annie and Costillia reunited briefly in a US Postal sorting facility between Massachusetts and Connecticut, before arriving at their new, happy homes.

Bernie Zelitch