HoweEnterprise.com
September 7, 2020
Learn about antiques and collectibles with Georgia Caraway
Georgia Caraway
A continuation of “DAYS IN AMERICAN HISTORY” and Antiques and Collectibles that correspond to those dates:
SEPTEMBER 7 1888 Jesse James staged his last hold-up, striking a westbound Chicago & Alton train at Blue Cut, Missouri. There is a connection between Jesse and Frank James and McKinney in Collin County. The “Tuck” (Capt. F. M.) Hill house at 616 W. Virginia Street in McKinney’s Historic District is known for being the hideout of his cousins, the outlaws Frank and Jesse James, who reportedly created a sanctuary in the attic whenever federal posse’s chased them into McKinney from their crime scenes in the Midwest. Tuck Hill was a celebrated Civil War hero who moved to McKinney and married the daughter of one of early McKinney’s founders, Albert G. Graves. He built the house for her more than 140 years ago. Two years ago, when the house was sold, I attended an estate sale and you could just feel the history of the outlaws swirling around you! SEPTEMBER 8 1565 The first European settlement in North America is founded at St. Augustine, Florida. The Medieval Torture Museum, located on St. George Street in downtown St. Augustine, showcases the truly terrible history of medieval torture devices. Not for the faint of heart, this museum of more than 100 pieces was created by historians, curators, sculptors, and scientists. Displays depict a variety of torturous scenes from the perspective of both the tormentor and the tormented. I don’t know any folks who collect torture devices but I am sure their collections must be distressing. The Lightner Museum in St. Augustine is home to one of the finest collections of fine & decorative 19th-century art in the country. What a contrast of museums for the tourist to this lovely old town. SEPTEMBER 9 1850 California is admitted to the United States as the 31st state. Several California pottery manufacturers produced Mid-Century Modern style pieces, including Vernon Kilns, J.A. Bauer Pottery, Metlox Potteries, Pacific Clay Products, and Gladding, McBean & Co., Heidi Schoop, Howard Pierce, Franciscan, Florence Ceramics, Kay Finch, Catalina, Robert Maxwell, Wallace, and Sascha Brastoff. Although not as wellknown as the potteries of Ohio, California pottery is desirable to young folks decorating their midcentury-style homes. SEPTEMBER 10 1846 Elias Howe is granted a patent for the
sewing machine. Several books and a plethora of online sites featuring sewing collectibles are available to those who love this handicraft. I used to collect buttons and now my collection is at Howe Mercantile in the thousands. I also collect needlebooks from the 1930s and 1940s. Most references dated the first needlebook back to the late 1800's with their popularity waning in the 1950's. It seems that most books are dated by the subject matter on the cover, either the business or building or the style of dress. Sometimes you might be lucky enough to have a price tag on the needlebook and that can give you a clue as well. One source said the popular needlebooks sold for 19 cents in the 1950's. They were issued by companies such as insurance, grocery stores, dry goods stores, and fabric shops. Most were made in Japan. SEPTEMBER 11 1850 The Swedish soprano, Jenny Lind, makes her American debut at Castle Gardens in New York City. Her American manager was PT Barnum. Buttons featuring Jenny Lind are highly sought after by button aficionados. They show her face in profile and are usually made of gutta percha material. SEPTEMBER 12. 1944. The US Army crosses the border entering Germany for the first time in World War II. I have a large collection of military tie clips, pins, officer badges and lapel stars, medals, coins, and even one for a woman who served in WWII that will be put online through eBay in the next couple of months. There is even a Congressional Medal of Honor Commemorative Challenge Coin dated October 31, 1972 honoring Vietnam veteran Michael Edwin Thornton. In October 1972, with U.S. combat involvement in Vietnam almost at an end, Petty Officer Michael Thornton heroically rescued a fellow Navy Seal. In doing so he became the first recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. SEPTEMBER 13. 1845. The Knickerbocker Baseball club is founded in NY, the first to play by formal rules. Baseball jerseys, ballcaps, baseballs, bats, photographs, helmets, and trading cards (all especially if they are autographed by their former owners) still bring high prices to sporting goods collectors. Come see us at Howe Mercantile, located in beautiful downtown Howe, Texas. We have two great restaurants right across the street, Abby’s and Gabrielas’, famous for homecooked meals. And the newest addition to our eating establishments, a Chinese restaurant, Hana’s Café and Market, located right behind them. Make a day of it, eating and shopping. Let Us Show You Howe.
The Howe Ex-Students Association met on Saturday morning to discuss the upcoming Howe All-School Reunion which takes place every five years. Due to the pandemic and the uncertainty of availability of school property use, the group decided to cancel the event and move it to homecoming 2021.
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