Business card of antique dealer James N. Jollotta (1912-1993), "Jim", of Eastport, Maine, with an Abraham Lincoln campaign button pinned to it.
Jim made a point of making friends of everyone he met, from figures in World War II, to politicians and their families, to screen stars, to Eastporters made good and to any interesting man or woman he encountered. Until his death in 1993, he spent every Christmas with Caroll Edwin Spinney (1933-2109), originator and persona of "Big Bird" and "Oscar the Grouch", himself with Eastport connections.
The pin itself is not in the best condition but when I saw it on eBay in 2013, I had to have it for its connection to Jim, who was a friend of the family.
The reverse has a message written in Jim's hand, on October 23, 1963, noting that he was presenting the pin to Rev. Otto L. Palmer (1927-2021). Jim noted that the pin had originally been presented to him by the late Mr. Joannson.
Perhaps Rev. Palmer, a native of Aroostook County, Maine, pastored at Eastport at some point, or he and Jim met each other at a gathering of some kind.
If you have information on James N. Jollotta (1912-1993), "Jim"; or Rev. Otto L. Palmer (1927-2021); or an identity for Mr. Joannson, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.
