Lanterns are an item that we still use today, though not as often as we once did. Perhaps you’ve used one during a power outage or when camping, and many likely have one hanging in our garage waiting for use. Recently, lantern collecting has become quite the hobby and it’s one that I find that I myself am very interested.
Most lanterns today use kerosene or store-bought lamp oil for fuel, and that has been the case since the mid-1860s. The first kerosene lanterns were beautifully constructed and highly well made, and many of those that have survived over the last century and a half are still in good working order today.
The lantern we are showcasing this month dates to the mid-1930s. This small lantern was made by Embury Manufacturing Company of Warsaw New York. Embury Manufacturing was known for high quality manufacturing standards and a strongly made, very durable lantern.
Specifically, this is a Model 150 Little Supreme Lantern. A smaller lantern with a 5/8th inch wide wick to provide a bright flame and save on fuel usage. These model 150s was very common in the 1930s and 40s and many survive and are still in use to this day.
This specific Model 150 however has a very special feature. On the bottom of the lantern, the letters “WPA” are visible, added with black paint. WPA stands for Works Progress Administration, part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” that was created to help stimulate the economy and create jobs during the Great Depression.
The WPA would engage in projects such as laying new water lines, building bridges, public buildings and in some cases even entire towns. In Greene County, Pennsylvania specifically, the WPA worked to record cemeteries and conducted an archaeological survey.
Though little specific history of this lantern is known, it’s association with the WPA links it to a major part of our national history. Many such lanterns were purchased and used by the WPA during the 1930s, but only a few survived due to very heavy use. What stories could this lantern tell?
Keep an eye out on our website and Facebook page for information on our upcoming events, and for more information on our 2022 season!