Want to buy a museum? Norman Rockwell's models reminisce is a lovely story in The Saratogian. Rockwell lived in Arlington, Vt., from 1939-53. The artist paid each model $5 -- "In the 1940s, a person could fill his car with gas and have enough left over for a Coke and a sandwich.":

On July 16 from 1 to 4 p.m., the Rockwell Exhibit will host a reunion of local people who posed for the artist. Today, there's a danger that Rockwell's legacy will be lost in Arlington, because Hinrichsen(Joy Hinrichsen, whose husband, Henry, founded the Rockwell Exhibit in 1982) wants to retire and spend more time with her grandchildren.

The Rockwell Exhibit is housed in a former Roman Catholic church, built in 1875, whose sacred paintings still adorn the ceilings. About 15,000 people per year visit the site from all over the world.

"It's such a peaceful place to be every day, in a church surrounded by his work," Hinrichsen said...
She's already turned down offers from two prospective buyers, because they wanted to use the building for other purposes.

"I'm looking for someone who will keep it as it is," she said. "Hopefully someone will keep the Rockwell name going here in Arlington. I hope the right one comes along."

The Norman Rockwell Exhibit on Route 7A in Arlington, Vt., is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For information, call (802) 375-6423.

Man in the street: Providence blogger Woneffe posts more than a dozen photos of the fire that destroyed Downcity Food & Cocktails on Weybosset Street. The fire was started by a brisket gone wild.

6 years old: Tom von Alten of Fort Boise:

Dang it, missed my blogiversary

I was thinking it was today or tomorrow, but I see it was in fact 6 years ago last Sunday that I started this blog. It was iris time then, same as now, as the seasons they go 'round and 'round.

Here's his first post, May 14, 2000: "This is what those thousands of years of evolution were all about: being able to share our thoughts with a million other humans."

On my 4-year blogiversary March 21, the indefatigable Hanan Levin made this blog Grow-A-Brain's Blog of the Day.

I don't have such a formal structure, but here's to your longevity out here, Fort Boise.

Way to go:
Environmentally Friendly Wicker Willow Coffins
by The Somerset Willow Company Limited.
via BoingBoing.