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Coach Unloading Costumed Passengers
(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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The 1913 Deerfield, Massachusetts, Pageant was documented by the Allen Sisters, who photographed the key moments of the event. This scene was a part of an elaborate "Tory Tea Party" created to illustrate a moment during the Tea Crisis of the 1770s, when opponents to British policy toward the colonies decided to avoid the purchase or consumption of tea. Deerfield had a reputation of being loyal to the crown and its policies, and this episode was staged during the pageant to illustrate that. Here, guests arrived in anticipation of a tea party held by Parson Jonathan Ashley in defiance of the ban. Although this looks like a painting, in fact this was a photograph that was heavily over-painted. The Allens often altered their photographs, both during the development process and after. In doing that, they were typical of all photographers.
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