Contributed by Skowhegan History House
- Item 36016
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Description
"About 1873 Dr. Samuel F. Conant, born in Topsham, October 5, 1827, built a photographic studio on this lot. He had previously traveled in about every state of the union selling his oil photographic process and hair crimpers, both being among several of his ingenious inventions. He was very successful in these enterprises and very much so as a photographer.
"In the late 70's he developed the system of disease elimination by Vapor Baths. This business grew so rapidly that he gave his entire attention to it. In 1881 his first photographic building was enlarged to the structure showing in the picture. Patients came from far and near, and those who could not be cared for here were quartered in the Quinnebasett Hotel at Norridgewock, which he leased for the purpose.
"Dr. Conant was an extensive advertiser and his bath cabinets and supplies were shipped all over America and to some extent through foreign countries. Among his notable customers was the Shah of Persia and in the Doctor's collection of letters and other mementos is a picture of the Shah and his personal secretary, sent by instruction of that oriental monarch.
"After Dr. Conant's death the business was continued by his son-in-law, C. Milton Lambert, and is now going on at the Pleasant Street home of his granddaughter, Mrs. Arthur R. Jewett, under the management of his lady and her husband.
"The building subsequently became the Somerset Hospital, and is now a lodging house, know as the Kenmore."
~ Roland T. Patten, Custodian of Historical Views, 1929
About This Item
- Title: Anidrosis Sanitarium, Skowhegan, ca. 1880
- Creator: Independent Reporter
- Creation Date: circa 1880
- Subject Date: circa 1880
- Location: Skowhegan, Somerset County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 18 cm x 13.5 cm
- Local Code: 155_146_5anadrsis1
- Collection: Henry A. Wyman Collection
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Medical facilities--Maine--Skowhegan
- Patent medicines
- Buildings--Maine--Skowhegan
- Sanatoriums--Maine--Skowhegan
- Photographic studios--Maine--Skowhegan
- Physicians--Maine--Skowhegan
- Kennebec River (Me.)
People
Other Keywords
- America
- bath cabinets
- foreign countries
- hair crimpers
- Kenmore
- lodging house
- Norridgewock
- oil photographic process
- oriental monarch
- photographer
- photographic studio
- Pleasant Street
- Quinnebasett Hotel
- Shah of Persia
- Somerset hospital
- supplies
- Topsham
- Vapor Baths
For more information about this item, contact:
Skowhegan History House66 Elm Street, PO Box 832, Skowhegan, ME 04976
(207) 474-6632
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