JASON SETNYK
A new exhibition celebrating history made its debut May 2 at the Cornwall Public Library, drawing visitors into a journey through centuries of artifacts.
The Roving Antique and Relics Exhibition (R.A.R.E.) featured more than 100 historic items in the library’s Hubsher Gallery, including seven inventions tied to Thomas Edison. Organizer Mark Larin described the showcase as both educational and deeply personal.
“This is my venture. My wife asked me what I’m going to do with all these antiques hanging around the house, and I said, ‘that’s a good question, I think I’m going to take the show on the road,'” said Larin.
The exhibition spans centuries, from 1300s glass demijohn vessels used to transport liquids, to early skates from the 1700s, butter churns from the 1800s, and vintage recording technology. Larin said the goal is to spark curiosity and connection.
“Some of this is for nostalgia, and the other part has kind of got a Barnum and Bailey feel to it – things that you have never seen before, but were in existence in your time,” he said.
Among the highlights are early phonographs and recording devices linked to Edison’s work. Larin noted Edison’s influence on sound recording and lighting, while also sharing lesser-known stories about experimentation and collaboration with figures like Alexander Graham Bell.
Fun Fact: Thomas Edison visited Cornwall in 1883 to oversee the installation of his incandescent lighting system at the Canada Cotton Manufacturing Company, marking one of the earliest uses of electric lighting in an industrial setting in Canada.
The idea for the exhibition was inspired by a personal moment with family. “I had a hand crank Victrola, and the look on her face, it looked like she was a child turning this,” Larin said of his mother-in-law. “So that’s why I do this. It kind of evokes nostalgia.”
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