Executioner's hood, or cap, of "black Albert twill serge", was made by John C. Dinan and mentioned twice in the June 29 New Era article "MURDERERS PAY PENALTY." It was worn by Lee Furman, convicted murderer, for his hanging on June 29, 1905.
Hood is form-fitted to a round head shape, with a protrusion at the middle of side (for nose?). Hood narrows at the neck and flares strongly out to shoulders and extends to mid-chest in length. Vertical flap extends from bottom to perhaps jaw line, where there is a small, circular opening, likely to accomodate the rope. Flap is secured by 3 cloth-covered buttons. Expertly sewn, likely by a local seamstress or tailor.
Also included with gift is a postal card postmarked Sept. 9, 1905 from H.S. Eckels & Co. in Philadelphia to Mr. J. Fred. Fisher at 128 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA. message is handwritten in black ink: "Hood use(d) on Lee Furman Hung Thursday June 29, 1905 for the killing of Samuel Ressler "Toll gate Keeper" July 1, 1904." See NOTES on Fisher.
Provenance
Hood was purchased by Mayor Smithgall for $100 from a woman whose father reportedly had acquired it from the mortician. Postal card is unexplained (J. Frederick Fisher was a clerk for the P.R.R. and boarded at 504 N. Queen St. according to the 1890 Directory.
Detached family record pages from an English language Bible; one folded sheet of paper having 4 printed pages for marriages, births and deaths. In succession, pages have been filled in by William Henning, the Francis Blum and finally David C. Hoke (per Josh Reeder, expert).
Holy Matrimony page by William Henning (and/or Francis Blum) records marriage of William W. Brenneman and Mattie L. Mann, in Lancaster City on Nov. 15, 1887.
Births page has births of parents and 5 children. All work by Henning or Blum except for last entry (Viola) by David Hoke.
Copper measure of sheet copper with conical body. Beneath applied handle is a keyed seam. Rolled copper base and lip. Applied strap handle, attached with 2 rivets at top, 1 rivet at bottom. Handle terminates with heart form at bottom and two lobes at top. Interior is tinned.
The name "(E)ICHHOLTZ" is stamped onto top of strap handle. "E" of Eichholtz is hidden where handle is attached at top. Interior is coated with tin.
Jacob Eichholtz worked as a coppersmith/tinsmith with his brother George on East King St. until c. 1815, when he began focusing on portrait painting. 1830 Tax Assessment lists him as a portrait painter.
Research by Pat C. Keller at Historical Society of PA in Jacob Eichholtz's daybook, indicates he made measures, not mugs. Notes in file indicate purchase was contingent on results of an effort to x-ray upper handle for evidence of initial unseen letters of stamped name. No indication this was ever done.
Provenance: Sellers Jackie & Vernon Gunnion purchased measure at Conestoga Auction circa March 1986. Jackie reports Don Fennimore of Winterthur knows only two other signed copper pieces -- by Apple and by Schlosser.
Photos: slides #23-5-1 to 9 and multiple B&W 8x10s
Small to significantly larger dents on sides and bottom Some scratches from general wear. Surface has been polished and lacquered. Some polish residue visible at both the rolled lip and rolled base.
First "H" and "T" of "ichholtz" are very worn. Corrosion and wear to interior tin surface.
Upper terminal of handle has split at left rivet (stable).
Object ID
G.86.03
Notes
See accompanying P86.3 file for research done by Heritage Center Director Pat Keller-Connor to determine authenticity of the touchmark. There was a possibility of the first initial being "J" for Jacob or "G" for George, a brother. On Feb. 17, 1802 Jacob advertised with his brother George as "tin-plate workers". Pat K-C intensively did research to settle the matter before finalizing the purchase of the measure
studied Vol. 1 & 2
See Henry Kauffman, American Copper and Brass, p. 119.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Tankard, lidded barrel form. Copper body with brass handle, shell thumb piece and four bands encircling body. Interior is tinned. Engraved on opposite side from handle, "COMPLIMENTS/ OF/ JOHN G. SCHAUM/ TO/ FRANK J. RIEKER." One of a pair with P00.42.2.
Believed to be a presentation piece given by Schaum in appreciation for all the work he was given in Rieker's brewery. Schaum did copper, tin and sheet iron work and was the son and one-time partner of plumber/ coppersmith John P. Schaum.
Provenance
Collection of J. Harlan Miller sold at Conestoga Auction Oct. 21, 2000.
Tankard, lidded barrel form. Copper body with brass handle, shell thumb piece and four bands encircling body. Interior is tinned. Engraved on opposite side from handle, "COMPLIMENTS/ OF/ JOHN G. SCHAUM/ TO/ JOSEPH HAEFNER." One of a pair with P00.42.3.
Believed to be a presentation piece given by Schaum in appreciation for all the work he was given in Haefner's brewery. Schaum did copper, tin and sheet iron work and was the son and one-time partner of plumber/ coppersmith John P. Schaum.
Provenance
Collection of J. Harlan Miller sold at Conestoga Auction Oct. 21, 2000. Transferred from Heritage Center Dec. 2012.
Heavy tarnish overall. Moderate scratching. Slightly dented in center of and below engraving. Small nicks on rim of lid. Minor corrosion where handle and thumb piece connect to body and on bottom. Some polish residue in crevices.
Yellow earthenware lobe-paneled spittoon decorated with streaked and spattered dark brown manganese under a clear lead glaze. Oval drain hole on side. Underside has impressed maker's name in block letters: "Eagle/ Porcelain Works / Lancaster City, PA / Henry Gast, S.Q. St. "
Paperweight or keepsake of carved white marble has a carved reclining sheep, done in bas relief, is lying on a narrow ledge on an inch-thick slab of marble resembling a curved top tombstone. Incised name in block letters below the sheep: "E. M. Howell." Bottom edge below name is relieved with a carved cupid's bow design.
Attributed to Charles M. Howell (4-24-1814 to 4-10-1903).
Provenance
Donor inherited two carvings from her Aunt Annie and Aunt Kate Willson. They were pupils in Charles M. Howell's Sunday School class at First Presbyterian Church and he passed them out as Christmas gifts. Great grandson Dick Witmer states E.M. Howell is certainly Howell's wife Elizabeth Michael who Charles married in 1841. She died 10-22-1877.
Howell was an important in business and civic affairs. He operated a marble yard on N. Queen St. in Lancaster. Other carvings by Howell's employee,
Augustus Beck, are extant. Dick's brother Bob Witmer removed these large carvings (of lions?) that had been at the corner of a Howell residence at East Chestnut and Cherry Sts. to his home outside the city. Additional small carvings are reportedly owned by Lancaster collector Gene Charles.
Paperweight or keepsake of carved white marble has a 3-D carved reclining sheep reclining on a half-inch-thick rectangular base, secured with a screw on underside. Base has chamfered top edges. Thin sheet of red rubber glued to underside of base.
Attributed to Charles M. Howell (4-24-1814 to 4-10-1903).
Provenance
Donor inherited two carvings from her Aunt Annie and Aunt Kate Willson. They were pupils in Charles M. Howell's Sunday School class at First Presbyterian Church and he passed them out as Christmas gifts.
Howell was an important in business and civic affairs. He operated a marble yard on N. Queen St. in Lancaster. Other carvings by Howell's employee,
Augustus Beck, are extant. Dick's brother Bob Witmer removed these large carvings (of lions?) that had been at the corner of a Howell residence at East Chestnut and Cherry Sts. to his home outside the city. Additional small carvings are reportedly owned by Lancaster collector Gene Charles.
