Small Notebook Given Out by J. & A. Murray of Calais, Maine; Dress Goods

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

Small notebook given out as a favor by J. & A. Murray of Calais, Maine.  Importers of Cloaks, Dress Goods, Shawls and Fancy Goods; Umbrellas Re-covered and Repaired.

J. and A. Murray operated from about 1886 to 1925. The Murray brothers were natives of Glasgow, Scotland, who came to St. Stephen, New Brunswick, across the St. Croix River from Calais, Maine.  They were:

• James Murray (1855-1924)
• Alexander Purdie Murray (1858-1941)

The name Edna appears on the first page of handwriting. The item came with others from eastern Washington County, Maine, including some items that belonged to Edna Davis of Robbinston, Maine - but there's no guarantee that this notebook belonged to Edna's family.

Other possible names include: 

• Will Nash - interestingly, there was a William I. Nash (1849-1921) in nearby Robbinston, Maine
• ? Johnson - possibly Malk Johnson - who may have been Malcolm Johnson (1841-1918) of Calais, Maine
• W? Holland - Winny, Wm., ?
• E? Gove - Earn, Ern, Em?

If you can tease out other possibilities for any of these names or if you have information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.