Bill Barrows interviews

Bill Barrows is a professional antiques dealer. He was born and raised in Portland, CT, where he resides today. He is a fourth generation Portlander. Bill’s father started the antiques business, Thomas Barrows & Son. Bill lives in a historic house on Main Street, Middletown with his wife Ann. This recording captures the stories of a longstanding Portland resident. Bill describes his antiques business, his childhood, his relationship to the quarries, his family history, and Middletown and Portland in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Note: Bill’s natural storytelling abilities, his sense of humor, the sounds of his home, his detailed description of household treasures, his love for American material culture. We took an informal approach to interviewing, preferring to have a conversation in lieu of a formalized script.