On the evening of April 6th, Darcy Kuronen, Curator of Musical Instruments at the MFA, presented a look at the invention and development of the harmonica in the early 1800’s. On hand for demonstration and examination were some rare examples of “mouth organs” by James Wheatstone of London and James Bazin of Canton, Massachusetts. Mr. Kuronen borrowed James Bazin’s early reed creations from the Canton Historical Society for the demonstration. Darcy actually played tunes with these early instruments.

We know Bazin (pronounced Bay-Zahn) continued to develop more intricate and larger reed instruments. In our museum we have several Bazin collectibles including a small harp, 2 organ piano fortes from 1853, couple of reed based lap organs and of course his rare pitch pipe, first harmonica and two trumpet harmonicas. We are told Mr. Bazin played his reed trumpet accompanying the choir at the Unitarian Church in Canton Corner. It is claimed that you could hear his music a mile away! 

Contemporary harmonicas were also discussed and demonstrated by jazz harmonists, Mike Turk. Mike entertained the audience with wonderful tunes from his latest harmonica. 

Learn more about James Bazin, and next time you are at the Histy - ask to hear one of the earliest reed instruments in America. 

​The Canton Historical Society’s Annual Meeting was held Sunday, April 10th. Our guest speaker was Judge Marc Kantrowitz. Marc introduced us to his latest book, Old Whiskey and Young Women: American True Crime Tales of Murder, Sex and Scandal. Marc spoke about some of the famous and titillating cases of early 20th century that you will read about.  A few he mentioned involved Hollywood superstars, Fatty Arbuncle, Errol Flynn, Lana Turner, Jean Howard. In his book we will read of the real Norman Bates of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Psycho. Marc noted that these notorious cases, once so famous, are now totally forgotten. He remembers when the OJ Simpson case captured us all but in another 50-75 years will be forgotten. Marc likes to write about these past exciting, but sometimes repulsive events that people know little about. He likes to show readers that people are generally the same today as they were 100’s of years ago. He said, “Things don’t change, people don’t change, and the media doesn’t change.”
Marc was once the Associate Justice for the Massachusetts Appeals Court and one of the most highly published judges in the Commonwealth. You can read more of Marc’s crime cases that gripped the nation in the 50’s, 60’s or 100 years ago in the monthly column he writes for the  “Patriot Ledger” and “Lawyers Weekly.”