Leone Adele Gift Shop
The items offered here are more than antiques and collectibles—they are tangible pieces of Pelham’s heritage. Each object carries a connection to the families, farms, and traditions that shaped our community.
If you have an appreciation for local history and would like to own a genuine piece of Pelham’s past, I invite you to explore the collection and become part of the continuing story.
The history of a town is often told through its people, and few families were more closely connected to Pelham’s story than that of Leone Adele Daboll (née Jones) (June 14, 1899 –November 13, 1983).
Leone was a descendant of one of Pelham’s earliest settler families. She was the daughter of John W. Jones and Mary Jane Hansler, granddaughter of Pelham’s first magistrate, George W. Hansler and Mary Overholt, and a direct descendant of some of the pioneers who helped shape this community. Educated at Moulton Ladies’ College, she possessed an extraordinary memory for dates, people, and local history. More importantly, she understood the value of preserving the past.
For generations, the family home remained in the hands of the same family, becoming a repository of Pelham’s history. Leone saved everything—not because she was unwilling to part with it, but because she recognized that everyday objects often become tomorrow’s historical artifacts. When she married my grandfather, the contents of his neighbouring farm were added to the collection, creating an unparalleled snapshot of rural life in Pelham.
Over decades, the home quietly became a local time capsule. More than 1,000 photographs documented families, farms, businesses, and community events. Victorian clothing, antique household goods, crocks, collectibles, and countless other items preserved a way of life that has largely disappeared from the modern landscape. Together, these objects tell the story of the people who built and lived in this town.