Ruben McIntosh, Northfield’s premier early photographer took this shot below what we know as the Nantana dam on the Dog River when the dam powered a furniture factory which can be seen on the right of the photo. The grade school, now known as the Gray Building, can be seen in the background. This photo along with many others will be on display at the Northfield Historical Society during the summer. Photo by Reuben McIntosh, app. 1880, courtesy Northfield Historical Society The Northfield Historical Society’s summer exhibit, entitled “Reuben M. McIntosh : 19th Century Northfield Photographer and His Photographs,” will have its grand opening Thursday, July 15, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Paine House on Main St. The exhibit will run through Oct. 9. Exhibit hours are: Tuesdays, 1:00-4:00 p.m. and Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Weekend times vary and will be posted on the front door of the Paine House and on the web site: http://sites.google.com/site/no rthfieldvthistoricalsociety.

The exhibit is the culmination of the Glass Negatives Project, in honor of Jim Wilson, photographer, printer, and avid Civil War collector.

Jim and his wife, Ingrid, owned the Northfield News for over 20 years, and after they sold it he continued to run a printing business out of the former newspaper offices.

Jim printed the Society’s newsletter, The Dog River Crier, and he served on the Society’s Board of Managers for many years.

He was also the curator during important years when the Society was in transition. Because of his love of photographs and his commitment to the Society, the Society set up a special donation opportunity to honor him after he passed away that would allow the Society to digitize all the glass negatives in the collection. The collection was sent to Macy Lawrence of Photoark, in Woodstock, Vermont, to do the work.

Photographs by 19th century resident photographer Reuben McIntosh (1823-1902) will be on display, as well as family photographs from glass negatives of the Harvey I. and Jennie Moulton Cutting family, which have not been seen before. Also featured will be a glimpse into the recent acquisition of family papers and photos from the Louise Halsted estate, given to the Society by her nieces, Karen and Ann Halsted.

McIntosh was Northfield’s first professional photographer, from about 1853 to sometime in the 1890’s. His studio was located on the south side of the Common where Northfield Travel is today. He took both portraits and landscape photographs, specializing in what was known as stereo views, where a specially created double-image card was placed in a viewer for a 3-D effect. He also created tintypes and Daguerreotype portrait photos. A more detailed McIntosh biography by Lois Cooley can be found in the latest issue of The Dog River Crier, Spring 2010, on sale at the Northfield Pharmacy for $2.00.

During the July 15 opening, local photographer Isabel Weinger Nielsen will take quick digital portraits in our Victorian “portrait corner.” This corner features a painted wall mural by local artist Phyllis Greenway, and re-creates a background scene which was typically found in a 19th century portrait studio. Come in modern dress or in historical attire! A copy of the photo will be printed on site to take home with you. The sitting is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. We hope to have another date later during the exhibit for more portrait sittings. Check our web site for updates.

Another very special event is scheduled for Sunday, August 8. Tim Pinault, from Boston, will be demonstrating the 19th century photographic process known as "wet plate," or collodion photography. The collodion process is an early photographic process, developed around 1850, which utilized glass plates that were hand-coated with a photographic emulsion of silver halides suspended in gelatin. The gelatin had the effect of greatly increasing the speed of the plates enabling shorter exposure times. Dry plates eventually replaced the “wet plate” process, however the “wet plate” process is still in use today by many photographers.

As part of Mr. Pinault’s demonstration, he will take portrait photos using this process on a first come, first serve basis. Come in modern day dress, or in historical attire – your choice! (Suggested donation of $15.00) For both portrait-taking events we will ask participants to sign a release so we can keep a copy of the portrait at the Historical Society, for future generations to view.

For additional information contact the Northfield Historical Society at 485-4792, email nhscurator@ trans-video.net, or visit our web site.