Buffalo Bill comes to Boston.

Buffalo Bill and his wild west show visited Boston on Thursday, 24th September 1903. Large crowds greeted him at Mr. Ryan's field on Sleaford Road and excursions came from all parts of the district.
Writing of the afternoon performance a representative of the Boston Guardian said there was,
".................... a blare of an unusual kind of music, the cowboy band was playing 'The Star-spangled Banner,' the very name of which, apart from the music, marked the Americanism of the show. Then came the Grand Review in which Buffalo Bill introduced his Rough Riders of the World. To a lively fanfare and a roll of the drums there galloped in, dashed round and filed up between 150 and 200 riders, each mounted on a splendid steed. First and foremost came the Indians and then followed in turn the wild looking Russian Cossacks, the South American Gauchos, the Mexicans, the Cowboys, United States Cavalrymen and British Cavalrymen.

All this to the accompaniment of guttural cries from the Indians, shrill calls from the Mexicans, ooo-ees from the cowboys and yells from the whole company varied with cheers from the public around the arena. What a medley of sounds there was. And then, when the company had assembled in the square along three sides of which the sightseers sat, came the renowned Buffalo hunter, scout, guide and showman Buffalo Bill, on a magnificent charger, bowing, hat in hand, and smiling with stately courtesy, acknowledging the enthusiastic plaudits of the thousands of spectators, mingled as they were with the wild cries of his wonderful company."
Other features of the show included a demonstration of muzzle loading methods, a prairie emigrant train crossing the plains and then came an attack by marauding Indians who were repulsed by cowboys.
Colonel Cody himself now became the centre of attention. Riding in, he was accompanied by an attendant who through up glass balls, which were nearly all brought down by the veteran with unerring aim, while his steed went full speed around the enclosure.
There then followed The Pony Express, the rescuing of the shipwrecked by a U.S. Life Saving Corps., Cossack horsemanship, Johnny Baker giving a display of firearms skills, a group of Mexicans on the use of the lasso, the mounting and riding of the bucking broncos, Indian tribal war dancing, Arab horsemanship, attacks on a mail coach and a settlers cabin by Indians, military exercises by English and U.S. cavalry and a mock-up of the Battle of San Juan Hill. They closed with a salute by the entire cast and in a few minutes the immense crowd of spectators were on the roadway for home, only to meet the fringe of another crowd en route for the evening performance.
There were crowds in the vicinity of the showground, along the roadway to the station, and in the vicinity of the goods station to see the departure of the big show. In an incredibly short space of time the "tents" were struck and the showground deserted. Heavy rumbling waggons and a long line of riders were seen passing through the streets, and soon four trains passed out into the dark, and Buffalo Bill continued his great tour.

Fisher Clark.

Throughout its history Fisher Clark has survived through its ability to move with the times. The shape of the familiar tag, with its cut corners, owes its design to Mr John Fisher, a tailor who settled in Boston in 1850. They were made of small rectangles of calico or buckram, folded over at two corners at one end, with the other end then folded over these for strength, and the whole secured by a metal eyelet forming the characteristic label shape of the original John Fisher patent.

 

John Fisher's Label factory, Sleaford Road, 1857.

Before long demand for these new labels outstripped that for suits, and Mr Fisher took George Clark, a son of a London bookbinder, into the business with him.
The early tags were used primarily for luggage and hamper labelling, and were quick to catch on. Such was the company’s success that Queen Victoria and the future Edward VII eventually became clients.
Mr Clark bought out the Fisher interest in 1876, but two years later, he died, leaving a widow and eight children – four of them sons. The eldest, George, then aged only 17, decided to carry on with their father’s business. He became the driving force that made Fisher Clark a major 20th century label manufacturer and remained actively involved in the business until his death in 1957.
The first purpose-built factory was opened in 1902, employing a lady clerk and 25 operatives. In 1921 Fisher Clark became a limited company. By 1938, and 21 extension later, the workforce had increased to 350. This site, which has been continuously developed and changes, is still one of two Norprint occupy in Boston.

 

One of the old Fisher Clark factories.

 

Fisher Clark joined the Norcros Group in 1960, merging with Tickopress in 1968 to form the nucleus of the current labelling giant Norprint International, which has an annual turnover of £50m. Within that structure Fisher Clark now operates as an independent Strategic Business Unit, Having proved its continuing relevance.

Below : Modern labels.

 

 

Windmills

According to the book "The History and Antiquities of Boston" there was a windmill in Wormgate, Boston as far back as 1591.

By the early 1800’s there were about a dozen windmills in and around Boston, many of them on sites that had been used for centuries. Pictured below are a few of these mills.

Above and Below: The Gallows Mills which were demolished when Boston dock was built. Skirbeck Church can be seen in both sketches.

The following three pictures show the "Good Intent" mill that stood down Sleaford Road. The first was drawn by W. Brand in 1796.

Below, the Good Intent in 1888.

Below, the Good Intent in 1967 when it was demolished.

Below can be seen Tuxford's Mill which was near Mount Bridge. There were eight sails on the mill and when it was demolished they were taken and put on the mill at Heckington where they are to this day.

Below: Thompson's Mill which stood down Spilsby Road.

And finally (below) the only one remaining in Boston, the Maud Foster mill.