Do you own a piece of history? Please share your items & accounts

[River City John]

(I tried to resist, Roger, I really did . . .)

One of the more interesting family pieces that came down to me is this quilt sewn in the Log Cabin pattern. It has sewn into the reverse documentation it won a blue ribbon in 1865, and another ribbon awarded in 1934. What intrigues me most is it is a time capsule showing the riot of colorful fabric remnants culled from scraps and older garments saved over the years prior to 1865.
We are so accustomed to black and white images from the 19th century, but our ancestors loved and wore color in their clothing.

The quilt was sewn by my Great-Great-Grandmother, Jane Ann Bostwick. My mother, Jane Ann Tucker, was named after her.

[Tame Bill]

This is image re-discovered and acquired by Stuart Barber aka Tame Bill of James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok. Hickok is seated next to Aaron Schuyler, head clerk of the "Hale House" hotel in Junction City, KS. Hickok's attire looks rather bulky and he appears to be holding opera glasses.
I am certain this image was made in Junction City between February 1867 and July 1867. Schuyler had visited his home in Ann Arbor three times in 1867 before his death in July from the cholera outbreak. Hickok and Schuyler were well aquainted and I believe that after Harpers published the Nichol's interview in January 1867, making Bill a national figure, Aaron requested this "selfie" to show the folks back home.  - Written by Tony Cairns.

[Johnny McCrae]

(I tried to resist, Roger, I really did . . .)

I also found it hard to resist....
Attached is my parent's old Philco radio. In the 1940's, I used to listen to the Lone Ranger, Amos & Andy and the Shadow on it with my father. Wish I had a picture of our first television set. It had an 8" screen.

[Major 2]

No worries...this is golden, keep them coming 

[River City John]

My Great-Grandparents on my Dad's side took a cruise back to the old country(Denmark), via England, in January, 1908. Fortunately my Grandmother saved their letters sent back home.
Their cruise ship was the R.M.S. Lusitania. Interesting as the liner's maiden voyage was in September of 1907, as commemorated in their postcard sent home. The Cunard Line were still selling postcards of that maiden voyage event onboard in January 1908.

[River City John]

I hope others will post their treasures and heirlooms, or oddball items from history.

Everything saved and cherished has a story to tell. Let's hear about yours.

[RRio]

An old gunfighting buddy from Billings, MT gave this to me many, many moons ago. Always hanging in my office.

[Froogal]

Mt grandfather passed away when my father was just 5 or 6 years old, and DAD ended up with Grandpas pocket watch. Dad passed it on to me about 20 years ago, and I have since passed it on to my son so I can't get a picture.

Nothing special or collectible about the watch, but it still worked.

[Russ T Chambers]

The top photo is of an article in the Racine Journal Times.  According to the date someone wrote in the margin I was all of 7 months old at the time, so I would have been one of the 23 great-grandchildren.
The lower photo shows the old tarpaper shack they lived in they're entire married life.  No matter how many times the family tried to get them into better housing they refused and stayed there until they finally passed.
I am glad they lived long enough for me to have memories of the two of them sitting in rocking chairs on either side of a big potbellied stove in the front porch. 
I still remember him as Great-Grampa with a mustache.

[Major 2]

NOW we are rolling!     

[River City John]

Mt grandfather passed away when my father was just 5 or 6 years old, and DAD ended up with Grandpas pocket watch. Dad passed it on to me about 20 years ago, and I have since passed it on to my son so I can't get a picture.

Nothing special or collectible about the watch, but it still worked.

Froogal,
a venerable timepiece indeed.
And the memories it carries.
It has helped regulate the lives of multiple generations, and continues.

[Coal Creek Griff]

I don't have any true relics of history, but here are a few family items.

My family on my father's side are mountain climbers.  Here is my grandmother's (born in 1899) pack frame and alpenstock.  I'm including a photo that isn't my grandmother (found on the internet), but showing ladies of a slightly earlier period with their alpenstocks.

The leather cuffs are my grandfather's (born in 1900) on my mother's side.  His family was a farming/ranching family first in Kansas, then in Colorado.

Griff

[Major 2]

Thank you Griff, great items 

[River City John]

Coal Creek Griff,
about how much does the packframe weigh?
And the length of the alpenstock?

I applaud anyone, regardless of gender, who can walk up and down mountains encumbered with that gear. And for women to do it in skirts . . .

[Coal Creek Griff]

Coal Creek Griff,
about how much does the packframe weigh?
And the length of the alpenstock?

I applaud anyone, regardless of gender, who can walk up and down mountains encumbered with that gear. And for women to do it in skirts . . .

Good questions! I had to break out the kitchen scale. The pack frame weighs 1 1/2 pounds. There would have been a canvas pack bag that would have gone with it.

The alpenstock is 5'3" long. Grandma was maybe 5'5", so it was nearly as tall as her. I'm proud of our climbing background. It started with my grandma and has continued through my parents, me and my siblings and on to my son.

Griff

[Major 2]

I'd like to offer as my next entry, two prehistoric pieces in my possession.

1. is my Clovis point, I found on the W, Nueses River near Brackettville, (Kinney Co.) TX.
   it would be between 13,000 & 15.000 years old. I found it on day trip excursion on my day off while filming "Alamo the Price of Freedom"  1987
Sadly the point is not whole and is as I found it.

2. is a stone axe found by my grandmother near Highlands NC, about 1923.
It's been handed down in the family for a hundred years.
Estimated age according to Appalachian Geology Society , 400- 500 years old.

[River City John]

Receipt for the amount of $800.00 for a "Negro Slave named John", made out to Doct. Thomas S. Garnett, dated Richmond, VA - May 18th, 1858.

Thomas Stuart GARNETT--- a graduate in medicine from the University of
Virginia in 1843--- became a first Lieutenant and adjutant in the First
Virginia Regiment. He volunteered for duty in the war with Mexico and
following that conflict he practised medicine in his native county until the
Civil War commenced in 1861. Although he was a physician by profession, Thomas
Stuart GARNETT chose to enter the army of the Confederacy as a line officer
rather than as a part of the medical brigade.

During the War the Governor of Virginia appointed him Lieutenant Colonel of
the 48th Virginia Infantry. He served with distinction in West Virginia and
was severely wounded while leading his regiment as Commander in the battle of
Cedar Mountain near Culpeper, County in 1862. He later served in Stonewall
Jackson's corps taking part in all the distinguished engagements of that
corps.

He was several times honourably mentioned in dispatches and general orders for
"gallant and meritorious conduct". He commanded a brigade that took part in
the Fredericksburg campaign and as a result of this engagement he was
subsequently promoted to Brigadier General.

Tragically, Thomas Stuart GARNETT was killed in the Battle of Chancellorsville
on May 4, 1863 just a few hours before his new commission as Brigadier General
had reached him. He was only 38 years and 15 days old and died of wounds
received on the previous day while in command of the 2nd Brigade of the
Stonewall Division of Confederate Army under General Robert E. Lee.

His body was laid in state in the capitol at Richmond and "every honor a
loving people could bestow was paid him".

Thomas Stuart GARNETT is mentioned in Walker's Memorial Volume of the Virginia
Military Institute, and his name is on the bronze tablet on the Rotunda
Building of the University of Virginia. His picture, dressed in the uniform
of a brigadier general of the Confederate Army, is displayed on the wall of
the courtroom of Montross, Westmorland County, Virginia.

[Major 2]

Many thanks to those that have contributed to this thread. 
History is a passion of mine and I have additional items to add.

One direction might be vintage military compasses (see what I did there?)

[Delmonico]

Need to take some pictures because I have lots. 

A gift from River City John several years ago, the coolest biscuit cutter ever, mostly cast brass, two pieces both copper riveted together and silver soldered together.  The steel cutting blade is silver soldered into a grove, with an oak handle.  No marks on it but guessing it is English made, an English historical cooking friend has seen similar. 

[Delmonico]

My restored cabbage cutter.