Find of the Day

All Things Maine has unearthed an 1870 news clip describing the Fat Men's Convention held that year in Auburn Hall:

The Committee announced that they would proceed to weigh the fattest men and
conduct the contest for the prize. It was agreed that the prize lay between Mr.
Brackett of North Hermon, and Mr. Haven of Chelsea. Those gentlemen were
escorted from the rostrum which trembled under their tread, amid uproars of
applause, and the Committee proceeded to their duty. The scales were Fairbanks',
noted for their accuracy, courteously furnished for the occasion by Messrs. Owen
& Little of this city.

My self-esteem's officially been dampened a little bit, given that my 5'11" 210-pound frame would fit right in with this 19th-century meeting of the bods.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Old Westbrook, By Way of Old Lewiston (February 18, 2010)
Related: Prince of the Poor Man's Media: Or, This Week's Episode in Shameless Self-Promotion (April 6, 2009)