Wood walking stick or cane with silver tip and cap. Four panels with text alternate with four panels decorated with ornate leaves. 1.5 in metal band nailed on at the botton. One nail missing.
cap is engraved: "By the Union Fire Co. / No. 1 Lancaster PA / Presented to Rev. A. H. Shertz / Feb. 25th, 1865 "
Large iron box lock from Conestoga Cotton Mill #3 gate. Very long rectangular box has four screw holes for securing to gate and two very small butt hinges attached with screws to back edge. A projecting hollow key escutcheon is riveted to front of box about 5" from one end. Key would be inserted into lock through escutcheon.
In addition, there is an iron latch plate with L-shaped projection mounted onto face of plate, for receiving a lift latch bar. It has five screw holes for mounting on gate.
Depth or thickness is box lock only. Overall thickness including projecting handle holder is 3".
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2014-10-07
Condition Notes
Expected strong weathering, resulting in surface pitting, rust, white paint residue and 3 significant cracks branching out from one screw hole near latch holder. Latch plate is extremely worn with apparent missing sections. L-shaped projection has lost its original surface due to grinding. Interior of box lock also ground away in sections.
Silver pitcher with applied handle and spout and repoussee foliate ornament, engraved, "Presented by Royal Arch Chapter no. 43 Lancaster, PA / To Companion / Charles A. Heinitsh / Treasurer / as a Token of Appreciation for his valued services to the / Chapter / December 15, 1898"
Hallmarks on bottom - lion passant, anchor, Letter G in old English font, also, "Sterling A90" and, "2 3/4 Pint"
Sourvenir / memento is five hanks of curly brown hair of varying thickness and length, each tied, one with thread, one with red ribbon, one with light string and two with heavy string. Several small coils are loose.
Note on small scrap of ruled paper states: "Curls cut from Mary W. Rettew / when about 8 years of age." Mary was born Nov 17, 1866. See Notes
Longest hank is about 21" and the shortest is about 15".
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2015-03-17
Object ID
2015.999.5
Notes
1880 Census lists Mary W. Rettew, age 13, a niece of the head of home Mary A. Wilson, age 63, of Lancaster. Death certificate for Mary Rettew states she was born Nov. 17, 1866 in Marrietta and died iNov. 4, 1934 in Lancaster. Unmarried, she was living at 1043 Buchanan Ave. in Lancaster. She was buried at Woodward Hill (not found in FindaGrave). Her father was Amos Rettew, born in Chester County.
The 1860 Census lists a possible candidate for father living in Maytown: Amos R. Rettew, age 26, married to Elizabeth (Graybill?) age 23 and one child, George, age 1.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
