VISIT: Liberty Tool Co.
We go on field trips now!
A month or so back, a pal recommended that I check out a place called Amesbury Hardware in Massachusetts. “You’ll love it; very Treehouse,” he said. It got me thinking about paying a visit to some of these places, reporting back to you folks. Last year, I dragged Jesse to very-many hardware stores in Athens, Greece and my Instagram has never been more lit up! I suppose if I love it, perhaps you’ll love it.
Earlier today, I went up to Liberty, Maine to visit Liberty Tool Co. (Incidentally, across the street from true icon of 90s era nature t-shirts, Liberty Graphics.) This place had first entered my consciousness while I was a part of an Artist’s Way reading group two winter’s ago—a suggestion for one of our weekly required “artist dates.” Apparently, there were exceptional postcards. (There are.) Then, last week, another friend was showing me a book about the moon, harvested from some dusty corner at Liberty Tool. It seemed like it was finally time to go.
I asked my stepdad if he wanted to join me for the trip. I’ve been intentionally opaque and dancing around the subject, but he is quite sick. Sort of thoughtlessly autonomous, I normally would’ve just gone up myself, snapped some pictures, and come back to the computer to show you. But now, it seemed like an opportunity to drive, hang, and indulge our shared love of digging around dusty old tools and ephemera. Just to see what’s around.
So, that’s what we did. Liberty is about as sweet of an east-of-central Maine town as you can get. Tool shop, t-shirt shop, library, post office, and car mechanic with ceasefire posters in the window. The Tool Company lives in a pretty classically “Maine general store” building: three stories and a covered porch. The first floor has all the tools and there are—this feels like an understatement—a lot of them. I should mention, too, in case it’s not evident from the photos: Everything here is used or at least old, if it’s in original packaging. The second floor is when things get sort of spicy: Antiques, I suppose we could call them, so many books and pictures and postcards; a little overwhelming, frankly. The top floor, up in the eaves, is larger furniture. Because let’s put the biggest stuff up two flights of narrow, steep stairs, right?
Liberty Tool Company | A hard recommend if you’re in Maine and looking for somewhere to traipse, a pretty and windy ride by farms and lakes. With three stories, jammed to the gills with stuff, I’d come with a list or a specific something you’re looking for. 57 Main St, Liberty ME, 04949
Hammock chair in Maryland. “Extremely comfortable, even if it looks weird.” (LINK)
Great opportunity to recreate a Barbie-inspired retro-y bathroom at yours. (LINK)
This suburban Floridian zome has 🥰 a matching dog house. 🥰 (LINK)
For all you New Hampshire-based MCM fans out there. (LINK)
what a fine time we had! Let's do it again... And that's a great shot of some old geezer bent double, Put that one right on the cover