This frog doorstop serves as an iconic symbol of James Buchanan's attachment to his favorite spring at his Wheatland farm, and was donated because it was an appropriate piece.
Long, thin length of octagonal bar with striking head at one end and other end with four-fluted, slightly enlarged tip. Known for making holes in masonry by hand.
Marked "BALTIMORE 3/?". along side.
Provenance
Maker to daughter Ruth Eppley Ganse and spouse Robert N. Ganse to son
Long, thin length of octagonal bar with striking head at one end and other end with four-fluted, slightly enlarged tip. Known for making holes in masonry by hand.
Marked "BALTIMORE 3/?". along side.
Provenance
Maker to daughter Ruth Eppley Ganse and spouse Robert N. Ganse to son
Dogtags reading, "Ripple, Paul / 13202280 / Harold Ripple / 152 Wilson Dr / Lancaster, PA"
Metal chain (formerly gold in color , now fading) with small decorated plate: above the possible medical corps insignia (caduceus underneath a large letter A) the plate reads "2nd Lt. PH Ripple" and below, "MA-AUS"
Badge. Blue trim, golden underlay, a blue oillamp[?] crossed by blue and gold sword.
Badge. Blue and white with blue three-pointed symbol in center.
Badges. Similar V-shaped badges. One with black trim, olive green center, more frayed (perhaps older). The other has a navy blue faded trim with a beige center and is in excellent condition.
Birth certificate done in German for "Anna Schenkin" (Schenk), born in "Connostoge Taunschip Langster County", November 20, 1783. Hand drawn, colored and lettered on laid paper with iron gall ink. No baptism indicates a Mennonite family.
The text is enclosed within a heart, surrounded by various vining flowers and four birds, two above and two below. The design conforms with artist's normal pattern of having the vines emanate from a hole at the top center of the heart. This artist made fraktur for mostly Lancaster County Mennonite families. He was almost certainly a schoolmaster. There are about 15 of his fraktur that are documented.
"Johannes Schopf/Schopp Artist" (active c. 1774-1800)
Note written on frame's dust cover by Smith states this fraktur was exhibited in two shows: Allentown Folk Art Show (Nov. 1974) and William Penn Memorial Museum, F/A Show (Jan. 1975).
Slide #27-2-4 in Archives West.
Provenance
Purchased by Richard Flanders Smith at a public sale along Route 222, north of Willow Street. Given to the Lancaster County Historical Society with the understanding that it would become part of the Heritage Center collection with the establishment of that institution.
Foxing or brown spotting over much of surface. Some tears along the edges. Moisture or adhesive stain at bottom center.
A condition report and treatment proposal was done by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia in 1986. Matted and framed by conservator Brian Howard of Carlisle in 1996.
Object ID
G.77.50.11
Place of Origin
Conestoga Twp.
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
