A small wooden box, covered in black leather and lined with plain fabric, its lid having a metal skrit, a leather handle at center top of lid, and a brass lock (key is missing), stenciled in white paint, "W. B. Fowle, Jr. / PRIVATE." Inside of lid has two leather straps for holding items and a maker's label reading, "Saddlery Establishement. / Trunks, Valises, Ships, Caps, Buckets, Engine Hose, &c. / Manufacturer and for Sale by / Shelton & Cheever, / 25 Court St. / Boston." Box has two brass hinges; a leather stay holds lid in place. Outside bottom of box is covered in a figured paper. William Bentley Fowle, Jr. (1826-1902), lived in Newton. In 1864, Fowle recruited a company of infantry for the 43rd regiment Massachusetts Volunteers and commanded post at Beaufort, S.C. during the winter of 1862-1863 with the rank of Captain. After the war, he founded the Auburndale Watch Company, where he is reported to have been the first American to attempt the dollar watch. He served as Selectman in Newton from 1869-1871, Alderman in 1877, and was elected as the third Mayor of Newton in 1878. He is buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
