jan 1, 1898 - U.S.S. Maine commemorative spoon

Description:

The first image shows the bowl of a spoon recovered at the Yeaton-Walsh excavation. The engraving commemorates the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Cuba's Havana Harbor. It includes a cornucopia and a soaring eagle. "Feb. 15, 1898" surrounds the ship, with "Maine" below it. This event led the United States to enter the Spanish-American War on April 25, 1898 over the occupation and independence of Cuba.

The handle was not found in the dig but identified based on the bowl. It has a banner inscribed "50,000,000 for defense" and shows Uncle Sam. This is a unique spoon, not as common as many of the others with reliefs of Captain Sigsbee or bowls declaring "the destruction of the Battleship Maine."

Upon arriving in the United States, many famine generation Irish immigrants faced nativist, religious, and employment discrimination. Cultivating an 'American' material culture in the home was one way to construct a place of belonging and combat anti-Irish sentiment. Spoons such as these were incredibly popular ways to show one's support for the war. Many department stores, including J.R. Libby in Portland, theaters, and even grocery stores would include free U.S.S. Maine spoons in purchases. The ad is from the Bellows Falls Times, March 30, 1898.

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