Share Local History at the Ball & Socket Roadshow

At almost every public event since Ball & Socket Arts was established, someone has approached one of the founders to say they have a trove of stuff from the old factory back home in the attic. Now they are giving people a chance to share these precious items and have them photographed and recorded for posterity.

In partnership with the Cheshire Historical Society, Ball & Socket Arts will host a "roadshow" event on Saturday, June 9, 11:00-1:00, at the Society's home at 42 Church Drive on the town green. Local historian Ron Gagliardi will be on hand to offer context and insight, and the Ball & Socket team will be there to make a record of items presented for their archives.

The "button shop" as it was known locally, began life in 1950 as the Cheshire Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of "the manufacture, selling and dealing in buttons of every description." In 1901, the company merged with the Ball & Socket Fastener Company of New Hampshire and became The Ball & Socket Manufacturing Company. Averaging 2.5 million gross tons per year at its peak, Ball & Socket became one of the world's largest manufacturers of metal buttons. The company even maintained a sales office and stock room at 10 West 32nd Street in the heart of New York City's garment district. For many years, it was the largest employer in Cheshire, its workforce including many women who found their first employment there.

Though metal buttons were Ball & Socket's staple product in later years, the company made its name with fancy glass buttons known as "Cheshire Jewels," which are considered highly collectible today. Uniform buttons made by the company were worn by armed and civilian forces including U.S. forces in the Civil War, and the Free French and Soviet Armies in W.W. II. The company also made an array of other stamped metal products including jingle bells, cardholders, drawer pulls and razor parts.

If you've got a box of old buttons or a folder of photos tucked away somewhere, dig it out and bring it to the Ball & Socket Roadshow, Saturday, June 9. It's an opportunity to share some local history in support of a project that is shaping the future!