Russell's Butchers Bike
The old butcher's bike which was parked outside the Joint in Cass Street is still around. Bill Shatwell of the Joint and the then landlord Tony Gilbert donated it to the Russell Museum. Laurie Coates, of Tapeka, has cleaned and restored the bike (he used to have a cycle shop in Auckland, and was a keen cyclist). All it lacks now is a basket and the museum hopes to find an original or have a replacement made. Laurie says the bike is an Hercules dating from the 1930s.
This photo is of David Woodcock, who had a grocer store in York St, riding the bike, doing deliveries, in 1944. He sold the bike to Duncan Hawkins, the butcher, for $50 and the bike stayed with the butchery under subsequent owners.
The museum hopes the bike will be able to be out and about for community events.
Research
Russell Museum is ideally placed to undertake research on Russell / Kororareka and the Eastern Bay of Islands peninsula. We hold a large number of records and use the Vernon: Collection Management Software for Museums. This data-base enables us to list the artifacts, books, photos and family papers that we hold.
We are able to undertake research of behalf of others seeking to find out information about people or places from the area. For a quotation to cover the cost of our time, please email us.
We also welcome additional information for our archives so that we may share this knowledge with others. Again, please contact us.