Where in Massachusetts Is This 20-Foot-Tall Pair of Eyeglass Frames?
A hint: The is town called “The Eye of the Commonwealth.’’
The Massachusetts town where this 20-foot-tall pair of eyeglass frames resides has a long history of manufacturing optical products. That’s why its nickname is “The Eye of the Commonwealth.’’
This 1-ton statue, named “Spectacular AO,’’ was created by Connecticut artist Michael J. Saari and installed in front of the former headquarters of the American Optical Company in 2010. A nearby plaque reads:
“Spectacular AO’’
Created by Michael J. Saari (2010), Woodstock, CT
Honoring all who made American Optical an Industry Giant
Founded in 1833, the American Optical Company was once one of the largest optical manufacturing companies in the world.
American Optical designed eight mobile optical units that supplied more than 2 million glasses to troops during World War I and then provided gun sights, aviation goggles, and sunglasses to troops during World War II. In 1957, American Optical created what is now recognized around the world as the “Original Pilot Sunglasses.’’ The factory closed in 1984.
Today, the factory is a hotel that bears the same name as the town. The hotel opened in 2002. But the factory is far from forgotten. Long before the 20-foot-statue was erected, the town’s Optical Heritage Museum (located on another street in town) was busy preserving the company’s legacy.
The museum, founded in 1983 by American Optical employee volunteers on the business’s 150th anniversary, offers display cases full of frames, tools of the trade, and more. It also uses social media to reminisce about the American Optical products rolled out over the past century.
This is the Z-Fold Oxford, an American Optical product rolled out in 1935. The lenses folded like a “Z’’ so the lenses did not rub against each other and scratch.
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And this is The Flame, released in 1954, which offered detachable plastic tops in many colors.
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The hotel offers 203 guest rooms and suites and all the comforts of a modern lodging facility, including a fitness center, indoor pool, and sauna. But it has also taken pains to preserve its building’s past.
A box full of memorabilia at the hotel.
Guests walk on an optical-themed carpet beneath optical-inspired light fixtures. They also dine in restaurants named Shades Lounge and Visions. Furthermore, color-themed shadow boxes full of factory artifacts are displayed proudly throughout the hotel’s meeting area.
What town is it in?
Check back with us tomorrow for the answer. And get travel inspiration every Tuesday on Twitter using the hashtag #TravelTuesday.
The answer: Southbridge. The American Optical Company is now the Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center.
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