A China Teacup From the Belgrade Hotel
Although the Belgrade Hotel burned in 1956, it had been in the hospitality business for close to 60 years. During that time, many souvenirs of the hotel had been produced and sold to visitors as mementos of their vacations spent in Belgrade.
This china cup with a picture of the Belgrade Hotel is a souvenir from the early 20th century. Known as German view china, this type of pictorial porcelain souvenir depicted a wide range of subjects from resort hotels, churches, municipal buildings, to local landmarks, and could be found on plates, pitchers, salt shakers, button boxes, and many other china pieces. Crafted across Germany and Austria, this china was exported by the gross to general stores and gift shops. Salesmen would collect orders from merchants along with photographs or postcards that would be shipped overseas and then artistically transferred to ceramic pieces, which were then shipped back to the United States for distribution. It generally took a year to fulfill orders.
The stamp on the bottom indicates this cup was indeed made in Germany, and an order had been placed by G.A. Smith & Company of Belgrade Lakes, Maine. Through researching old newspapers, I discovered that Guy A. Smith operated a general store in Belgrade Lakes which he sold in 1905 to Harvey Parker. Parker’s store was located next to the Central House. The store was later bought by Ervin Bean (brother of L.L. Bean) and renamed Bean’s Bait and Tackle Shop.
For many years, this lovely cup was the property of Florrie Stuart (1889 – 1970). Florrie was a long-time resident of Belgrade Depot and a member of the first class to graduate from Belgrade High School in 1908. She was employed by the State of Maine Highway Department for 25 years and served as the Belgrade town treasurer for 17 years. She was active in the Belgrade Grange and Ladies Aid Society of the Old South Church.
The cup was passed down to her great niece, Kathy Holbrook of Florida, who is donating it to the Belgrade Historical Society in memory of her great aunts, Florrie Stuart, and Eva McDermott.
Dianne Dowd is vice president of the Belgrade Historical Society.
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