Pewter beaker or handleless cup. Part of the Warwick Congregation's (now known as the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) communion service.
Cylinder form flares out slightly at bottom as well as top. Banded at base.
Engraved on the exterior, near top, are the small initials "M.W."
Provenance
The entire communion service remained in use over the years until the congregation decided in 1997 to find a safe place for this valuable communion set. Purchased by the Heritage Center of Lancaster County.
Diameter of bottom is listed. Diameter of top is 2.5".
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2014-08-28
Condition Notes
Overall abrasions, pitting, small dents and staining. Rim has multiple small dents and abrasions. Bottom interior is pitted. Wear underneath with some areas slightly cracked. Dent at base.
Object ID
P.97.08.5
Place of Origin
Hartford, Connecticut
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation and Friends of the Heritage Center Museum, Heritage Center Collection
Hepplewhite blanket chest of walnut with dovetail construction. Hinged lid with centered inlaid eagle in flight and applied molding on three sides. Eagle is heavy in form, without shields, banners or stars. Front and sides undecorated except for hollow corner rectanglular cartouches of string inlay; one on each side and two on front.
Two drawers below the mid-line molding have the same inlay rectangles as well as bail handles and oval lock escutcheons. The left drawer has a "1" on the bottom in red chalk and an illegible pencil inscription. The right drawer has a "2" in the same place and in red chalk. Applied base molding and supported by French feet.
Cannot open chest due to missing key. John Snyder reports that "Fianna Bitzer" is written on the inside of the chest lid. She was born in 1861, the daughter of Martin and Annie Royer Bitzer of Ephrata Twp. Although Bitzer was a later owner, Snyder believes that the chest was originally in the Bitzer or Royer families.
Note: John Snyder states that there is a small group of Lancaster County chests and a desk with eagle inlays like this one. This is the best documented piece of the group.
Northern Lancaster County, likely Ephrata area
Provenance
Chest was purchased by John Snyder from Greg Kramer at the York Antiques Show in May 1993. Kramer had just purchased it at Alderfer Auction Co. May 20, 1993. Snyder then sold it to his mother Evelyn Snyder who donated it to the museum.
Has significant cracks, especially on front side where a midline crack extends entire length of chest. Front has inlay losses; in unstable condition; reglued in Jan. 1996 by Clifford Clayton, as well as repair to damaged feet. Dark stains and marring on lid with molding loss at front right. Water spots and worn finiah across lower section of front and feet. Strong wear overall. Old refinishing. Hardware appears to be replaced. No key for opening chest.
On 10/11, discovered extreme detaching of proper right front foot, partially on front left foot and minimally on back left. Reseated all nails but replaced one short rose-head nail at front section of proper right foot w/ modern box nail. It will not penetrate farther, however, and is not properly seated) Old nail placed in envelope in drawer.
Object ID
G.94.19.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of Evelyn R.G. Snyder, Heritage Center Collection
Two-piece corner cupboard, white pine, painted with brown glaze over yellow (possibly a mid-19th century repainting). Bold cornice over a band of thin reeding in staggered blocks on fascia. Pilasters of thin reeding flank door sections. Upper section has large door with 12 lights (7.5" x 6.5") of old glass, hand-cut tin lock escutcheon and latch with brass pendant ring handle. with; staggered fluting on fascia. The bottom section has bracket feet with below carved sunbursts. Double doors with triple-raised panels and latch with brass pendant ring handle. The interior is painted off-white, and has four shelves furnished with plate moldings along back.
Pencil inscriptions at top inside rail of each bottom door. Left door appears to have "John Rentschler" or similar name, likely an owner. Rentschler name is found in Berks County in mid-19th c.
Lancaster County, possibly Strasburg area
Provenance
Purchased from Park Edwards at a Strasburg, PA sale in April, 1969. It was then purchased from a Walter Himmelreich sale in October, 1971 by Harry Hartman Antiques. Purchased by Museum Sept. 1979.
Scattered losses overall, with chipping and gouges. Evidence of most wear and damage is at cornice, mid-line molding and feet. Existing finish likely a late 19th c. repaint. Strong paint losses on molding at base of upper section. Large area of wood loss in lower left door adjacent to latch. Upper cupboard has wood losses along back edge of right side and reeding at fascia.
Object ID
P.79.101.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Medallion quilt of pieced and appliqued cottons and chintz. Design is a center diamond within a square within a diamond within a square, all within three different borders. Center diamond within a square has 9 large blocks of white cotton, 5 with five large appliqued circles of chintz and 4 with pieced triangles of printed cottons and a floral "Persian embroidery" applique at center. Next is a diamond of chintz., followed by a large square of pieced triangles in same geometric pattern as the center diamond.
The inside 6" wide border uses the same chintz pattern as the diamond. Middle border has a white cotton ground with pieced "overlapping" diamonds of various chintzes. Outside border is same chintz print of inside border.
White cotton backing is brought forward to create narrow binding. Quilt patterns used are waffle, flowers and cable. The chintz pattern used throughout was made in the 1820s, thus suggesting the date for this quilt. Batting is cotton.
Made in the Paradise area by Jane Weakly Leche, with help from Margaret McCausland Sample, mothers of David Harmanus Leche (1825-1862) and his wife Harriet Ann Sample (1828-1896).
Provenance
Maker(s) to son David Harmanus Leche (1825-1862) and his wife Harriet Ann Sample (1828-1896) to Harriet Sample Leche Keller (Mrs. Charles B. Keller, 1858-1951) to daughter Harriet Elizabeth Keller Shand (Mrs. James Shand, 1892-1946) to son and donor James Shand (1926- ).
Quilt had a stitched-on fabric label, now removed, with handwritten statement (c. 1925) by donor's mother, Harriet Elizabeth Keller Shand. Message was transcribed on paper by James Shand in 1991. It states: "Property of Mrs. Keller 85 to 90 years old. Made by Jane Weakly Leche wife of David Leche. Margaret (McCausland) Sample wife of Dr. Nathaniel Sample helped to sew on it."
Fair to good condition due to fabric deterioration, soiling and liquid stains. Losses & deterioration mostly in triangular pieces but also some large blocks of one chintz. Heavy liquid stains scattered overall. Liquid stains very visible on reverse. Generally sound structurally, although there are two significant holes through top and back, an L-shaped tear about 3" in from one quilt edge and a fabric separation hole near point of one center diamond.
Fabric label removed from quilt back and placed in file.
Object ID
G.04.37.01
Notes
Family genealogy in this file includes two pages of family tree offered by donor. See Ellis & Evans, pp. 922, 106, 661 and Biographical Annals, pp. 151, 1210.
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Wrought iron trivet is a heart shape with three legs with small turned feet. Top end of legs pierce heart and are flattened on top like rivets to secure them. Top surface of heart is punch-decorated with dots
Provenance
Card in file has note by donor stating "made by C.B. Zimmerman, R.D.1, East Earl." However, "Made by" is later crossed out, resulting in questionable origns. A Christian B. Zimmerman (1908-1981), a farmer in East Earl and belonging to the Old Order Weaverland Mennonite Church is buried in the Weaverland Menn. Cemetery.
Diminutive hammer has elongated steel head; tapered cylinder end and thin flattened opposite end. Long hardwood handle mortised into head is wide and flat at head end and swelled to a rounded oval shape before tapering to blunt point at terminal.
Provenance
Donor was given hammer mid 1970s by an acquaintance, Frances Geiger, a "maiden lady from Quarryville." Attribution to Gorgas was stated by Ms. Geiger at that time. (Research indicates Frances was a teacher living in Millersville.)
Handmade sticker on hammer, now removed, had "Circa 1763-1798". These dates relate to Gorgas Sr. rather than Jr. The father appeared on Cocalico tax records by 1763 and died 1798.
Head has some dark tarnish. Handle is smooth and polished with some dark stains. Two small nails driven into handle end as it protrudes at top of head.
Object ID
G.08.19.1
Usage
Gorgas, Jacob, Jr. (b. circa 1763-1828)
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Diminutive hammer has elongated steel or iron head; tapered cylinder end and a tapering, flattened, thin end. Long hardwood handle is square-mortised into head and has a swell near opposite end with a blunt tip.
Provenance
Donor states the hammer was used by clockmaker Martin Shreiner (1769-1866), his great, great, great grandfather. Donor donated a signed statement by Edward D. Glass (1881-1962) that the hammer was purchased by him from the Shreiner estate sale at 136 E. Walnut St. in Lancaster, apparently around 1895 or 1896. (see file) Glass was a paperboy in that district of town and lived with his parents Daniel & Mary at 556 N. Shippen St. He would have been 14 or 15 yrs. old when he bought the hammer.
Head has some considerable corrosion. Moderate wear and soil on handle with some minor loss of wood near terminal. Head is loose on handle and small nail has been driven into handle end as it protrudes at top of head.
Object ID
G.96.31.2
Usage
Shreiner, Martin
Credit
Gift of Paul A. Mueller, Jr., Heritage Center Collection
Fraktur birth certificate for Lydia Glasz / Glass, daughter of Leonard Glass and wife Christina, nee German. Hand drawn and colored on paper. Unusual confronting women with yellow dresses and red parasols flank central textblock within border. Tree of life above textblock; undulating plant w/ flowers sit on shelf at sides. Triple-line outside border.
German text translates to "Lydia Glasz daughter of Leonard Glasz and his wife Christina a born German. Was born 25th day of Jan. in the year of our Lord 1811.
Some buckling of paper overall. Some bleeding of ink, causing brown marks around letters; also in entire upper left corner. Small 1.4" brown streak below the word "Christina" in center panel.
Condition report of 1986 by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Phila. in file. No documented treatment. Matted and framed in 1996 by conservator Brian Howard.
Object ID
P.77.12
Notes
Similar to designs of Plate #61 in Weiser & Heaney, Penna. German Fraktur of The Free Library of Phila., v.1.
Research: Ancestry.com gives the marriage of fraktur recipient Lydia Glass to John Kempfer on 20 Nov. 1828 in Ephrata at the Bethany United Church of Christ. Husband John was born 19 Feb. 1809, died 4 April 1865. Lydia died 24 June 1853. Their daughter Elizabeth Kempfer (1836-1909) married David Rudy Buch (1834-1925) and lived in Lititz.
Ancestry also gives the 1810 Census in Earl, Lancaster Co. that lists Leonard Glase with 4 household members under 16 yrs., 1 at 16-25 yrs., and 2 over 25 yrs. Total of seven in home. Lydia was born the following year in 1811.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Needle cleaner, painted cut velvet and paper, emery sand within. Rectangular box shape; sides slope in to smaller base. Padded top covered with yellow velvet decorated with painted green flowers. Sides and base covered with a glossy tan paper.
Laid paper label pasted onto bottom has handwritten inscription in ink: "Magdelena Andrews (Ressler) received this needel(sic) cleaner in 1825 when three years of age then in 1895 gave it to her granddaughter Clara Aument."
Compare similar needle cleaner 2002.004
Lancaster County, possibly Colerain Twp.
Provenance
Inscription indicates origin as a gift to 3-yr-old Magdalena Andrews (19 Sep 1822 - 24 Nov 1897), daughter of Joseph and Marie (Mary) Andrews. Magdalena married Martin Boehm Ressler, a farmer in Strasburg. Their daughter Annie married H. Elmer Aument and had a daughter Clara P. Aument (1892 - 1974), unmarried & a clerk in Lancaster City. The needle cleaner was given to granddaughter Clara in 1895, two years before Magdalena's death. Finally given to museum by unknown donor.
Wear, soil and fading overall. Small losses of velvet. Paper is cracked, soiled and worn.
Object ID
G.87.08
Notes
Andrews family were early settlers in Colerain Twp., including a Joseph Andrews - see Ellis & Evans pp. 728, 732, 733. Census 1810-1850 show a Joseph Andrews in Colerain Twp. The 1850 Census shows Joseph & Mary in Strasburg, living next to daughter Magdalena family (Martin Ressler).
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Framed theorem of stencil-painted fruit on light brown cotton velvet. Painting is a still life of variously colored fruits: melons, peaches, apricots, a half-eaten pear, grapes with leaves, plums and a pomegranate. Composed on a blue-colored base or table. An insect is depicted near bottom center below grapes.
There is no border signature or date. Frame is a flat-profiles with walnut veneer facing.
Provenance
Found in the Slaymaker attic among other framed objects, in very dirty conditions. Unknown maker, but possibly done at a Moravian school such as the one at Lititz. See Slaymakers at Linden Hall on page 147 of Slaymaker history.
Taken to Dottie McCoach for conservation June 1, 1998. Returned Sept. 17, 1998. See report in this file. After treatment the piece is still dark, stained and moisture damaged along the bottom.
Cane or walking stick of wood. The handle end is carved with the bust of a man.
Carving is the likeness of General Lafayette (1757-1834) who, according to family tradition, presented this cane to Amos Slaymaker when Lafayette visited White Chimneys and dined at the Slaymaker's tavern/hotel "The Pennsylvania Arms" during his grand U.S. tour in 1825. Carved gentleman wears a coat, jabot and high collar and is highly detailed. Executed in light toned hardwood, hair has light brown stain and pedestal portion is stained dark. Band of copper alloy below pedestal. Shaft of cane tapers to an end and is stained brown. Two-piece copper alloy tip, secured with two small nails.
Provenance
Passed from Amos Slaymaker through 5 generations of Slaymaker family and donated by Mrs. Samuel R. Slaymaker II.
Multiple minor nicks in carving and shaft with some loss of finish, esp. near bottom tip. Superficial checking/splitting in wood. Copper alloy tip is discolored with minor corrosion and band at top has multiple small dents. Cane tip not worn, thus not used.
Object ID
G.98.12.8
Notes
See page 30 of History of the Slaymaker family.
Place of Origin
France
Credit
Gift of Mrs. S.R. Slaymaker II, Heritage Center Collection
Birth & baptismal certificate on laid paper. Printed form with central textblock in German within a multiple line border. Infilled and decorated around textblock by Speyer; cross-legged angel at top, pelicans feeding young at sides and flowers at sides and bottom. Watercolors are red, blue, yellow, green and brown.
Infilled for Johannes, son of Valiendein (Valentine) and Eliesabetha (Elisabetha) Bohmer of Brecknock Township in Lancaster Co., born Dec. 13, 1788.
Georg Friederich Speyer (active 1774-1801) used this printed form produced c. 1789 by Barton & Johnson of Reading. See Notes.
General wear with numerous creases and wrinkles; one pronounced vertical centerline crease. Repaired tears, esp at left edge. All edges are ragged and uneven, esp. at right.
Conserved by CCAHA in 1989 (see report in file). Hinged into window mat & back mat. Relaced in its original frame using UF-3 Plexiglas and acid-free cardboard on reverse with a taped mylar dust shield.
Object ID
G.77.50.1
Notes
Printed form by Reading printers Thomas Barton and Benjamin Johnson, circa 1789 (see Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth & Baptismal Certificates of the Pa. Germans, v. 4, p. 84). Speyer used this printed form for Johannes Bohmer who was born the previous year in1788.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
Pictorial sampler by Elizabeth Martin, dated 1825, depicting Rock Ford plantation house. Silk embroidery on linen is 3 shades of blue, dark green, light green, white, black, grey, and at least 4 shades of brown (including tan). Original frame is likely walnut with reeded molding and corner blocks; lapped corner joints.
Strawberry vine border. Alphabet top is centered over 1825 date and flanked by 8-pointed star each side. Beneath date is brick residence, showing front and gable end, believed to be Rock Ford plantation house. The 3-bay dwelling has 2 arched doorways, 8 windows, and two chimneys. House is flanked by a near-symmetrical arrangement of 2 large flowering tree motifs at each side; outer one surmounted by a large bird. Small crown at each side next to border.
Three verses below house; main verse at center states: "Elizabeth Martin is my name / Lampeter is my Station / heaven is my dwelling Place / and christ is my salvation / When i am dead and in my Grave / and all my bones are rotton / When this you see remember me / Least i should be forgotton." Flanked by verse of wisdom at left and religious verse at right, each framed by a flowering vine. Under verses is a horizontal row of 9 sets of initials all ending in the letter "M", certainly indicating Martin family members.
Bottom third of sampler is a large, central flowering plant flanked on either side by confronting female figures, each holding a bird on raised hand toward the central floral motif. Each woman is standing in front of a large satin-stitch embroidered haystack(?), with a large bird atop each.
See NOTES.
Photos: Negative is "Samplers" #43c. Slides are 45-3-1 to 45-3-6 and 45-9-3 to 45-9-8
Provenance
Inherited by Winona Ressler, then passed on to sister Elizabeth Ressler (Findley) upon Winona's death. Maker was the great, great, great grandmother of donor's wife Elizabeth Ressler Findley (born July 31, 1918) and her sister Winona. Descent in family through their maternal grandmother. Family history states sampler was made when Elizabeth Martin was 10-12 years old.
Research: Parents of Ressler sisters were Jacob and Emma K. Mowrer Ressler. Maternal grandmother was likely Mrs. Mowrer?
Age darkened linen. Dark around edge to upper left, across top, above house and around upper right edge area. Slight fraying in some areas around edge.
Stain around stem of right flower in bottoom central flowering design motif. Two dark stains above the word "my" in right phrase, a 3rd stain to right at base of flowering plant.
Conserved and remounted in original frame by Dora Shotzberger of Winterthur in 1986.
Object ID
P.85.05
Notes
Sampler is possibly influenced by the Leah Galligher school of Lancaster Borough. See Betty Ring, "Girlhood Embroidery" Vol. II pp. 410 ff.
Place of Origin
Lampeter Twp.
Credit
Heritage Center Collection through the generosity of James Hale Steinman Foundation
Birth & Baptismal Certificate for Maria "Temi" (Demmy) printed in German language by "Johann Ritter und Comp." of Reading. Darkened golden oak frame.
Central text within boilerplate border; a putto above, angels standing on clouds at top sides and birds on branches at lower sides. Text infilled by unknown hand states Maria was born Oct. 26, 1806 in Manheim Twp. to Christoph Temi and his wife Catarina, nee Etienne. Maria was baptized May 10, 1807 by Rev. August Miehlenberg and the witnesses were Mathis Wolff and his wife Maria. Infill in printed fraktur hand includes interesting line extensions drawn to fill in gaps
Heavily watercolored with dense reds, blue and green on all images and borders. This version of Ritter's print is one of many variations printed in the early 1820s (see Klaus Stopp, pp. 182-186).
Inscribed "Mary" twice at top of reverse side; once in pencil and once in brown ink with decorative scrolling line surrounding name.
Note: See hand towel (P.04.26.1) done by "Maria Macdallna Damy" in 1836 (Younger sister of Maria). Another nearly identical towel (Plate 14 in This is the Way I Pass My Time) was done by sister Elizabeth Damy in the same year. Both sisters married the following year in 1837, Maria to Henry Fenstermacher, whose initials are on her towel in a central heart. Also included on towel are parents' names "Christopher and Catharine Damy."
Printed by Johann Ritter in Reading, PA; Lancaster County infill by unknown scrivener.
Age darkening & soil overall w/ darkest staining/soiling in upper area. Several small breaks; holes caused by green paint (branch at lower right, upper cornucopia and stalks opposite cornucopia).
Dressing table w/ mirror has Sheraton and Empire features, is made of solid mahogany and veneers with secondary woods of poplar and pine. This is a rare form.
Top has veneered half-column mirror frame supported by turned stiles which are set into top with a double tenon set at a backward cant. Mirror corners are blocks with turned bulls-eyes. Inner cove-molded fillet has vestiges of gilding.
Oblong table top comprised of solid 3/8" thick mahogany laminated onto 1/2" thick poplar, and secured to carcase with screws. A rounded molding is applied to front and ends.
Veneered carcase contains five dovetailed drawers faced with mahogany veneers: one long flanked by two short, over two long. The top drawers have a rounded profile while the two bottom drawers are cockbeaded. All drawers have replacement pulls of hollow, rounded brass knobs with a pierced floliate design. The two bottom drawers are fitted with locks; keyholes have brass insets but dark ghosting indicates missing escutcheons.
Baluster-turned legs extend from table top to floor. They support a low shelf 11 1/2" from floor. Shelf is shaped with recessed cutouts at front and ends.
Inscription: Interior of top central drawer has "J.F. MARKLEY/ CABINET MAKER/ Locust St./ COLUMBIA." stamped within an oval laurel wreath.
Also in collections is a J. F. Markley Empire chest of drawers (P77.02).
Provenance
Provenance: This dressing table was previously owned by an acquaintance of John J. Snyder, Michael Stinchcomb of ???, who recently changed his mind about using this piece in his bathroom when he realized the veneers would suffer. He consequently consigned it to sale at Pook and Pook.
Cracking in veneer on mirror. Numerous spots of corrosion on mirror. Moderate cracking in veneer on front and sides. Minor chips and scratches overall. Top has two cracks, one is 2" long at left and one is 6 1/2" long at right side. Bottom shelf has 6 1/2" crack at right side. Nails have been added to secure top to carcase; back of top is not secure due to stripped screws. Top left drawer has significant wood removed with rasp at front of sides.
Within a twisted foliate border is a central block depicting Adam & Eve flanking a tree with a serpent wound around the trunk offering Eve an apple. This is an engraving executed by Gabriel Miesse of Reading; his name appears at lower right followed by "sc" for "sculpsit", indicating the engraver. Two columns of verse flank the central block, telling the story of "the Fall" in conversational form. At top of broadside is the title in German: "Adam und Eva im Paradies." A subtitle reads: "Mel. Herzlich thut mich Verlangen, etc."
At bottom is: "Gedruckt in der Druckerey des Adlers von H.W. Villee, Lancaster, Pa. allwo alle Sorten Bilder, Bucher,/ Schriebmaterialien und Arzneyen zu haben find." This indicates the broadside was printed in the Lancaster Eagle's printshop (a newspaper started by Villee and Jacob Baab on Oct. 26, 1826). Villee was also selling pictures, books, stationery and even medicines out of his shop on N. Queen St.
See biographical info about Villee from Klaus Stopp's book in this file. He was born in France, served as a captain under Napolean, had to leave France in 1815 and ended up in America in 1820. Villee entered the printing business by working at "the Eagle," a newspaper in Reading. Villee was not successful as a printer in Lancaster, and he left sometime in 1832 or soon after, going to places like Lewisburg, Sunbury and Milton. After moving to Northumberland Co. and becoming a teacher, he finally died in 1842.
The Earnests note that Adam & Eve were popular fraktur subjects, especially among German-language printers of SE PA. They note that there are only about a half dozen Adam & Eve broadsides by Villee known.
Exhibited in Fraktur Exhibit in Masonic Lodge circa 2004 through 2007 (removed spring 2008).
See also P.01.60.1 and P04.48 for examples of a Heaven & Hell broadside by Villee.
North Queen St., Lancaster (printer); Reading, PA (engraver). Villee, Herman W., printer; Gabriel Miesse, engraver; unknown colorist
Paper darkened and soiled overall, wrinkled with fold lines and rough-edged with minor tears and folds. Stains scattered over surface with darkest stains within right text above center. Small hole at center of top foliate border.
Frame is homemade of stained and varnished tiger maple. Acidic cardboard backboard replaced with acid free matboard.
Object ID
P.04.48.1
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of Irene N. Walsh, Heritage Center Collection
Butler's desk with bookcase, cherry, Federal style. Secondary wood is poplar. Bookcase section is 54.5" high, has restrained cornice over frieze over two large double-panelled doors. Doors rails are through-tendoned into stiles. Interior bolt at bottom of left drawer missing. Stamped eagle lock escutcheon likely a replacement. Interior side dadoes support four original shelves w/ molded front edge; A fifth shallower shelf is a later addition.
Desk section is 43 1/2" high. Butler-type top drawer over three lower graduated drawers w/ diagonally striped veneer facings and cockbeaded edges that have been planed flat. Stamped oval brasses replace original round pulls (marks visible underneath). Lock escutcheons are brass insets. Large butler's desk drawer hinges down to reveal interior w/ center bank of pigeon holes under a single long center drawer, all flanked by vertical manuscript drawers which are in turn flanked by four stacked, graduated drawers at each side. Most drawers are numbered on bottom and most fitted with tiny brass pulls. Reeded quarter columns at front and back corners. Applied strips of reeding at front and side edges of top. Four turned feet with reeded cuffs.
Inscriptions: inside central drawer above cubby holes are pencilled names in modern cursive: Barbara Fisher/ Ellie McMellen, Sadie McMellen/ ( ? ) McMellen."
Maker unknown.
Provenance
According to John J. Snyder, Jr., secretary was owned by James Buchanan's physician, Dr. Henry Carpenter. Original owner was likely either father-in-law John Mathiot (elected sheriff of Lancaster Co. in 1818 and Mayor of Lancaster City in 1831) or his father Henry Carpenter (1773-1835), a surveyor and merchant. Passed down within Carpenter family until 1977 when Snyder, Jr. purchased it at public auction. Donated to Buchanan Foundation May 6, 1988 in memory of Snyder's spaniel Sukey. Transferred to HCLC due to lack of space at Wheatland.
Carpenter, born in 1819, was one of the community's leading physicians. He was founder of the Lancaster County Medical Society in 1844. Dr. Carpenter lived in a brick house on the west side of the first block of South Queen Street.
Sound;refinished. Several wide horizontal cracks at sides of desk. Scars overall; deep dent to top front edge of chest, just right of center; large burn mark at left as well as dark stains. Bottom of top drawer repaired and patched along lower edge, especially at left. Drawer hardware replaced, inside bolt on left door missing; several small interior drawer pulls missing with some large holes.
Object ID
G.04.28.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Usage
Carpenter family
Credit
Gift of James Buchanan Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Bunch of grapes, carved wood, gessoed and painted dark purple/blue with green leaves. Iron hanging ring attached at top; cluster hangs from a reproduction decorative hanger (see notes).
This bunch of grapes was said to have hung at the Grape Tavern (Sign of the Grapes) at 32-34 North Queen Street, Lancaster, most likely on the interior. This fragile object would not have stood up to outside weather. (Ellis & Evans, writing in 1883, state, "The wrought iron bunch of grapes now hanging in front of the hotel was made for, and used by, Adam Reigart.")
The Grape tavern was built in 1741 by John Harris, then sold at sherrif's sale to Adam Reigart, Sr. in 1769. He ran it from 1769 to March 3, 1794, when John Michael took over ownership. During his ownership, the tavern began its most opulent elegance as well as being called by various names including The Grape, Conestoga Waggon (sic) and Michael's Hotel. He ran it until May 5, 1821, when it was purchased by his son John Michael, Jr. who kept it until 1839, restoring the original name. According to Ellis & Evans, John Michael, Jr. moved the tavern, with the "old familiar sign" to the adjoining lot in 1839. It was then known by the original name as well as Michael House.
Provenance
Once owned by W.U. Hensel (1851-1911) who lived at the historic "Bleak House" near Kinzer, where it hung on the porch. He had a collection of early Lancaster signs.
Pictured on frontispiece of booklet of Hensel's address in 1912 on "Jacob Eichholtz, Painter." The grape sign was sold at the estate sale (March 1947?) of Hensel's daughter Elizabeth Hensel Nauman and purchased for $320 by William Lebzelter of Lancaster City, whose family owned the American House which was successor to the Grape Tavern (Groff and Wolf Dept. Store at time of sale).
No record in file later than this other than the name of seller, Marian L. Schaffner. She was the wife of physician Meade D. Schaffner, on Columbia Ave.
Paint chipping in some spots; some wood loss at tips of some individual grapes. Iron hanging ring has minor rust spots. Minor losses of gesso repaired, gesso loss between grapes at bottom. Nail repairs. Repainted at some date prior to 1984; painted at least once before. Wood at top shows deterioration.
Object ID
P.77.72
Notes
Ellis & Evans, pp. 363, 394 1/2 and 395.
Multiple references in this file including newspaper articles.
Booklet entitled "Jacob Eichholtz, Painter", an address given by W.U. Hensel Nov. 22, 1912 (eve of portrait exhibit at Woolworth's)
Hanger is a reproduction scrolling wrought iron bar with eight small swirls along the top, and is attached to a heart-shaped iron mounting plate. Made by Thomas C. Moore of Glen Rock in January 1978, based on a drawing and painting by David McNeely Stauffer (P77.31.57 and P77.31.22).
Maker is unknown.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Usage
Grape Tavern
Credit
Gift of James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collecti
Upholstered wingback commode chair has four turned Sheraton legs. Has replacement of original soiled handsewn homespun linen (remnants in this file), now an orange fabric with potted and vining flower design. Solid pinewood seat under cushion has center hole with fitted removable wooden disc.
This chair was from the Pownall home at Gap, where it was used by Dickinson Gorsuch, Maryland slaveholder, during his recovery from wounds sustained during the Christiana Riot of Sept. 11, 1851. His father and two others were killed during the skirmish at the home of freedman William Parker, and Dickinson was transported to the Pownall home for recovery. William Parker later published his story in the "Atlantic Monthly" in 1866, making it highly publicized.
This incident "is an important example of the struggle over the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the escalating tension between the North and the South. This act gave slave owners broad powers to recapture runaway slaves". (ExplorePAhistory.com)
Polaroid photos of chair before re-upholstery, in file.
Likely Lancaster or Chester Co.
Provenance
Provenance: Chair owned by the Pownall family & given in 1973 to the Lancaster County Historical Society by Mrs. Levi Pownall of Lancashire Hall (569-7279).
It was initially loaned to the Heritage Center (# L.77.9 and # 161.64.80) but soon donated to HCLC. Board minutes of Dec. 8, 1975 include Richard F. Smith's Museum Committee report noting a donation of a "Sheraton armed wing chair commode, used by the Pownall home in nursing Dickinson Gorsuch following Christiana Riot in 1851." Later unsigned note (Bruce Shoemaker?) states John Aungst of LCHS was consulted & chair was removed 11/9/84 from list on LCHS loan form, settling an apparent question of ownership.
