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What on Earth!? Archive
Things we've found that the previous owners left behind. (Its a long story...)June 13, 2003
What on Earth!? (a brief explanation of all this stuff...)
We bought this 1914 bungalow from a woman whose family owned it for 70 years. With all that history and an interest in collecting (plus quite a bit of cash which they didn't spend ON the house), they'd developed quite a houseful of things from around the world. Like this:
As a result, we gave the seller a 30-day rent-back period after the official "closing" to sort through and remove her family possessions (well, we didn't charge her any rent, actually. Just utilities...we felt sympathy for her...there were so many things to sort through). Then, three days before she was to move, we received a letter...
The seller had not removed all of her things and didn't intend to. She also did not clean. She told us that since she was "officially" a renter, not a seller, that she was within her rights to leave the house in any condition she wanted to. Surprise!! We were caught a bit off guard, as you might expect. That night we went through the house and found that 50% of what was originally there still remained. She had hired an auction house to come through and they took most of the furniture. We found books, pottery, glass, paper, trash, kitchenware, rocks (really) and boxes and boxes and more boxes.
After some discussion, we ended up negotiating an agreement. We were rather overwhelmed (we had to rent storage for our own things for an additional month and delay our move into the house) but figured we could rent a dumpster to quickly get to the task of renovating our new home. But then came the second surprise--some of the things in the house were really cool! (There was still a lot of trash and dirt too.) So, yes, it has set back our renovation by months and months. And we are finding many more things to fix in the house as we peel back the layers of grime and "stuff".
We've decide to make lemonade out of these lemons and share the experience. So, we're going to start posting photos of the items we've found. Well, some of the 1000's. We'll just keep plugging away until you have no more patience to peek in here with us.
To see all the photos we've taken so far click here and scroll down. (Just a warning--there are lots of photos to download!!)
Update: We're now offering some of these items for sale via our "Virtual Estate Sale." To see what we're offering click here.
Enjoy!!
June 13, 2003
The First Batch
If you have a particular story or comments about the item, use the 'Comment' link below each entry. (As in" My grandmother had one of these, and she used to make us....)
You can send all correspondence to owners@houseinprogress.net It is so terrific to be able to share all of this, the overwhelming nature of it all, with people who REALLY know what the word "overwhelming" really means.
Item #1--
I thought that this elephant would make a good doorstop, until I noticed the Asian signature on the bottom (see red insert). Any ideas on this one?
Item #2--SOLD
No home should be without a "Beckwith Reed Organ" made in Chicago. Do you know this sweet little thing still works? The 4 middle stops need to be reconditioned. See this in the Estate Sale.
Item #3
A signed copy of the rare book, "The Great Myth", (about American Indians) signed by the author, John C. Wright, with a postcard from the author to the recipient inside. I didn't dwell on this too long, but I know that this was the author who wrote "The Crooked Tree". And that is cool. Wright's grandmother was reportedly the great granddaughter of Pontiac, the revered Ottawa Chief who led the last rebellion against the English at Detroit in 1763.
Item #4--Sorry, these are, um, gone
These are lovely plaster cast foot molds of the PO's mom, who I suspect was having special shoes made. We have two pairs of them. Found in a paper bag.
Item #5
And then there was an unusual children's play book from the late 80's (the, um, 1880's)
Item #6-Adopted
A metal and plastic, never used, in the box, Melodica from Hohner in Germany. The reading material places it around 1950's.
This was an interesting family. We'll find out more about them when we tackle other things in the house and their origins....
June 16, 2003
The Second Batch
Item #1
This is a Buddha from Japan in Bronze. He has an incense burner in his lap. I need to some research on his markings/history.
Thanks to Naomi M., I have more information about this little piece! (look under Comments for this entry...)
Item #2 - Happily Adopted
A Zenith H725 AM/FM "Portable" Radio. Works beautifully.
Item #3 < Adopted
Here is a U.S. Army Standard-issue "Service Set" It was sponsored by Gilette and features: A collapsible razor (non-disposable), a silver box of blades (never used, good as new), and a mirror.
Item #4
This is just one room from the second floor. Yowsa. Eventually all of the historical records and paintings/pictures find their way here too.
Item #5 < See him in the Estate Sale Shop
Mr. Peanut bank. Never used. We blew a lot of dust off of this guy. Found out that this is actually a desirable collectible, especially in mint condition. Who knew?
Item #6
And this is giving you even MORE of an idea of what we've got going on here. Shelves and shelves of glassware, pottery, porcelain, fossils/rocks, lighting, clocks, metal and kitchenware...as well as 20 years of Boy Scout supplies. Did I mention the rocks?
June 17, 2003
The Third Batch
Okay, we knew it had to happen sometime. Get down to some "nitty-gritty", marks on the bottoms of things, and all that. What is this stuff? Is there a market for it? (Albeit a small one) Can we finance our new bathroom tile and kitchen repairs from these things? Or just buy a new tea cozy?
Item #1--Has new home
Part of the "branded" collection. Tarnished silver top and filigree over glass. Between silver exterior "cup" and top is the word "Nestle" in the glass.
Item #2-Has new home
We've adopted this one, but we're still curious. We think it is a "netsuke" from Meiji Japan that used to be used as decoration for traditional Japanese clothing,,,,
Item #3
This looks like a gold painted porcelain ashtray. The mark is difficult to read, but seems to be a fancy "coat of arms" type design with the words "Stouffer Fine China" on the bottom.
Item #4 < Adopted
Salt and pepper shakers. No further explanation needed, eh?
Item #5
Metal Boy Scout Wall emblem? That's all we can think of,
Item #6 < Adopted
A "Rumford" metal measuring cup, greatly in need of a good polish. It says, "Rumford Measuring Cup" and has marks for "Quarters" and "Thirds".
June 18, 2003
The Fourth Batch
Well! I rummaged through the historical papers and postcards and tickets and menus and so on today while waiting for the pest control people.
This family is certainly well-traveled. And at interesting times too.
Picture this...it is well after World War I. A young "L" enters law school at some point...single, attractive and smart. With well-heeled parents who have invested in international stocks and real estate (and I don't know what else) that allow her to "see the world" with a girlfriend DURING THE U.S. DEPRESSION (1929 - 1936). Her future spouse, W, is also traveling the world at this time. I don't know if they knew each other yet or not. But there they are, our globe trotting pair.
Item #1
Someone was in pre-WWII Germany in 1930.
Item #2
And pre-WWII Pearl Harbor in the early to mid 1930's.
Item #3
We know that both made it to the "Orient" sometime during the early 1930's. From shop receipts, I would trace probably L (?) to this cruise with her girlfriend. I know that she focused most on Japan and China.
Item #4
On another trip perhaps, the Japan-China War of 1937 broke out? Or perhaps something smaller beforehand. I believe the President Taft they refer to is "ex"-President Taft and maybe the "current" President Hoover (1929-1933). I do not know who the Baronness is in Tokyo. But there were refugees, and barricades and confusion. Maybe someone more familiar with history here could comment. I believe this card was part of the traveling "presentation" that W & L gave after marriage to small church groups and so forth. The kimonos, tea and sake sets and so on are still here. This would explain the overpopulation of Asian antiquities a LOT though...
Item #5
Someone was also in Cuba, pre-Castro. Fidel did not assume power until 1959. But this seems to be post "Republica" (1900-1930's?) We also have maracas...pretty strong evidence, eh?
Item #6
A cruise to Bermuda in 1934...very relaxing in the midst of all of this global tension!
Item #7 See this in the Estate Sale Shop
And after all of that, I just want to know...WHO began stealing the ashtrays from hotels in Europe??!
June 19, 2003
The Fifth Batch
J's unexpected journey through the linen closet...is a trip back into her grandmother's all-American "kitsch-en".
And yes, make us an offer on those things that haven't been adopted. We have thousands of things in this house. No kidding. And we will be having a garage sale within the next month. But wanted to give bungalow folks and friends a chance to see and perhaps even own a little Americana at garage sale prices.
You can send all correspondence to owners@houseinprogress.net
Well! What have we here?? Our built-in linen closet yields wonders.
Items #1- A lot
Potholders and dishtowels GALORE! (Chrissy and Elaine...are you catching this? Some of these potholders were DEFINITELY in Nanny's kitchen.) I couldn't post them all, just a representative sample. Has anyone absorbed the MAGNITUDE of this yet? (As in, what is with ALL OF THE STUFF?)
Item #2 -- Has new home...it's a long story
And if you are enterprising, you will use a mangle like this one (working with instruction booklet and original light bulb still wrapped in packaging) to iron all of your linens. (And shirts and clothes, etc.)
I am not enterprising in this way. We are looking for a nice home for a super low mileage mangle. A B&B in a neighboring city bought one recently or else...perfect. Ah well, their loss? Your gain?
June 20, 2003
The Sixth Batch
Some Japanese and Chinese Items
Paper Items Sample: We know the owner brought back items from 1931 China and Japan...we just don't know which items are from "when." I believe they went back during the 1950's as well. We have other paperwork from 1931 that places at least the one of the couple before they were married in Japan.
Porcelain Items Sample:
Blue flower piece: Writing says "Nishikawa Japan" with a border above and below. I think there is an artist's signature (?), but I cannot understand it.
Spotted piece: This only has a signature or name. I cannot discern it.
Floral piece: This says "Maple Ware...Made in Japan" with the imprint of a red maple leaf.
Small Cup: The writing on this piece looks like raised white letters on white. The foot and bottom of this piece are not glazed.
Sake jar (?): Again, the writing "Nishikawa Japan" with a border above and below. The cups that go with this piece are very delicate and beautiful...they remind you of the shape of the jar, but their rims are carved into flowers that have cut-outs in the porcelain.
Pottery: The glaze on this piece is rougher...the markings are on labels. The one on the side says "J 7 5 9".
Laquerware: We now have found three sets of these...all with matching lids (not pictured here). I imagine them to be pretty common.
Cup with Characters: The bottom of this cup says "WAKO China Made in Japan"
Bronze, brass and metal items sample:
Item #1
< On hold
Bronze Elephant: I tried to reproduce the signature on the bottom because it does not photograph well. It is in the red square.
Brass (?) Teapot:
Wooden items sample: < Has been adopted
Netsuke (perhaps?): I cannot place this piece. No signature on bottom. Perhaps had a slight red stain on lips at one time. Detail of clothing is exquisite.
Paper arts items sample: < On hold
The first one is from "Collection". The second and third are individual pieces that were once in frames.
Thank you so much to the gotheborg.com discussion group for helping out a very perplexed me. They specialize in interpreting marks from China and some from Japan, as well as helping to identify the age of objects. The site is fantastically educational with lots of great pictures. So check it out if you get the chance.
Look in the comments for a note from "HR" who helped me out with a few items.
June 23, 2003
The Seventh Batch
I am so tired from endless cleaning. You'll have to guess the story of these items and send in your guesses. Are they related? Are they even identifiable?
Items...Random or no?
Boy Scout Bandana!
Note: There's a neat story someone sent about this. Check out the Comment entry from WC...
And...Chicago World's Fair, Fisher Price, a porcelain fish from a Chinese roof, Richard Hudnut, slide projector, lithograph of the London bridge, Hibachi-Ets, Chicago Photographer's badge, retro salt and pepper, black opaque Chevalier de la Nuit by Ciro Parfum...
< New Home
< New Home
< New Home 
< See this in the Estate Sale Shop 
< New Home 
< New Home
< See this in the Estate Sale Shop
Yawn!! Goodnight!
June 25, 2003
The Eighth Batch
More random (or no?) pictures of items from "the house."
Item #1 - Has new home
I am obsessed now. Many people who have come over to gape at the museum which is our house turn over everything they look at. Now they have me doing it too. Like I know what I am looking at?! This dish says "Royal Albert, Bone China, England, Cotswold." I was in Cotswold for a lovely weekend after working outside of London in June of 2000. Other than that, I have no idea what this "mark" means.
Item #2 < Adopted
There was nothing on the bottom of this coffee can. But there are a few different ones in the house and people seem to like them anyway.
Item #3 - Has new home
This is a vase that we dig. It has symbols on the bottom and is from Austria. We don't like it for the bottom though. We just think that it is nice. You can't read the bottom in photos, which is frustrating.
This is better and just cooler looking as a photo. Some people are probably laughing right now, saying, "She doesn't even know that she has a famous Leffenhoffermausten Vase."
And they are right. Which is why I never felt a need for ADT before this point in my life. Now we have ADT from the previous owner AND our dog. And still have no idea why.
Item #4
This is much more funny than vases. It comes with the weight set, too.
Item #5
Headless turkey salt and pepper shakers. Also kind of funny.
Item #6
Some say Michelin Man...some say Stay Puft Marshmellow Man. To us, he's just a little mystery man.
June 26, 2003
The Ninth Batch
It's Ladies Day (or Night) here at "What On Earth?" Or, at least, the stereotypical Ladies persona created by marketers earlier this century.
But I'm digressing into a rant about marketing and feminism. Which would pretty much wreck the lightheartedness of these pages. So, we can talk about that topic on postlacesociety when it is up and running. ("Lace" as in "shoelace" as in a bunch of clog, sandal and Teva wearing pals blogging about modern topics of interest. You know who you are.)
Note: These are all being handled as a seperate kind of sale to be announced later. Some are available online at the Estate Sale
In the interest of time, I've had to take photos of "groups" of these items. Sorry we couldn't linger on each one, but that would take forever!!!
Group 1
These perfume bottles fascinate me. Especially the ones with just a wee bit of perfume left. What was the owner saving it for? What special occasion? Or maybe they just moved on to a new scent. We'll never know.
From left to right:
Sortilege Le Galion
Paris, France
White Rose
(Quadruple Essence)
Geronne
White Rose
(Quadruple Extract)
Crofts & Reed, Chicago
Crab Apple Blossom
Essence de Luxe
A. J. Hilbert & Co.
Milwaukee, USA
Group #2
Then there were these cool refillable containers.
From left to right:
Skylark Power Puff
in marble jar
DeVillbiss Perfume Bottle (S500-119)
etched crystal with 24kt gold plate
Unknown Bottle
crystal
Group #3
Everything in here is interesting. Because now I'm beginning to see bottles sometimes "disguised" as other things. And names of perfumes that suggest unspeakable feelings and acts :)
Far right/front:
Unknown refillable bottle in black silk pouch with faux jewels
Middle row, left to right:
Scandal
J Lanvin
Paris, France
Mon Desir
Ivel Perfumes
New York
Penthouse (Whisper, B, C, N)
Lucien LeLong
France
Back row, left to right
Kaleidescope
Yanky Toilet Water
Richard Hudnut
New York/Paris
Opium
Eau de Toilette
Yves Saint Laurent
Paris, France
Group #4
Tiny "mini-me" bottles. We have quite a few of them. Too many for photos.
From left to right:
Le de Givenchy
Paris
Cabochard de Gres
Paris
Khus-Khus
by La India
Jamaica
Fleurs de Rocaille
Caron
Paris
Parfum "Y"
Yves Saint Laurent
Paris
Group #5
Agh! Now it's like an overload of perfume bottles. And it is late and I am tired.
In this line up:
Tabu (Diana, Paris); Fleurs de Rocaille (Caron, Paris); My Sin (Lanvin, NY), No. 4711 Blue & Gold (Colonia, Germany); Corday; Evening in Paris (Bourjois, NY/Paris); Cologne Aphrodisia (Faberge, Paris/NY)
Group #6
Stop! Stop! I'm overwhelmed!!
In this line up that haven't been mentioned already:
Shocking de Shiaparelli (New York); Quadrille (Balenciaga, France); Blue Grass (Arden, NY); Tweed (Lentheric); Youth Dew (Estee Lauder, NY); Marbert Man--how did this get in here? (West Germany); Illegible Name (___RCHIEF); Cinnabar (Estee Lauder, NY); Shanghai (Lentheric)
Group #7
Belle de Rauch (Madeline de Rauch, Paris); Lilies (Floris: Perfumer to the King, London)
Couterines Doll Lipstick Case (Revlon, NY); Extrait 14 (Hugues Guerlain, Paris)
Facial Powders (Richard Hudnut, NY/Paris); Je Reviens (Worth, Paris, France)
Last Group
Yup. This is me on a motivated evening when not cleaning. Just to compare. What is here? Facial Powder (Clinique, NY/London/Paris), Great Lash Mascara (Maybelline, NY); Perfect Blend Crayon (Cover Girl, Maryland); Carmex (Franklin Wisconsin); and--because I became addicted to it in Anncey, France--Allure (Chanel, Paris).
Thank you to the supporting cast of scents and make-up that were fascinating but not photographed:
Young Hearts (Avon, NY/Pasadena); Nectar Lipstick (Avon, NY), Contina No. 7 (Detroit Michigan), and Hawaii Nei Pikaki Lei of Fragrance (Honolulu, Hawaii)
June 26, 2003
The Tenth Batch
(A's on deck for the page tonight :)
Original Prints
Here are some prints that J photographed today...
And they're signed....
June 29, 2003
The Eleventh Batch
tacky, tacki, adj. 1 : not having or exhibiting good taste: as a : marked by lack of style : DOWDY b : marked by cheap showiness : GAUDY
HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE???!!!
Today we present you with a variety of items. But! Are they "kitsch"? Or "tacky"? (Or neither?!) I'm still a beginner on this topic. "Kitsch" is actually a genre of collectible. And can create some really cute results when displayed the right way. But how does one distinguish between "kitsch" and "tacky"? Can you tell?
We're going to test your knowledge by offering some photos of items left in the house...and you can give us YOUR opinion.
Item #1
A tissue holder made of yarn. Kitsch? Tacky? Neither?
Item #2
Pictures made from the bark of trees. These are unmarked. Could be Mount Fuji in Japan. Could be something in the Western U.S. We're not sure. But they are all about being three-dimensional.
Item #3
A photo of Boris Yeltsin superimposed onto a hanging banner. Very tiny. Maybe 7 inches high.
Item #4
A slightly blurry picture (sorry) of a "faux" ship's wheel clock (unless the ship was 4 feet long...then it isn't faux it might be real!) from Telechron. It's electric and it still works.
Item #5
It's, um, a bedpan. Of white metal edged in blue.
Item #6 < See these on the Estate Sale Site
These are brass candle holders...what do they represent? It's a mystery. But my husband used to live in Nebraska and they are vaguely familiar to him. (UPDATE: No longer a mystery, we found them in a book on ART DECO DESIGN! They were designed by Bruno Matheson. We couldn't believe it. Ystad, Sweden. Crazy. Some folks online were saying 1950's, but, well, there they were in the Art Deco Book. So.)
Item #7
Now these are nifty! If you have a lot of cups, these "...hold six cups in fond embrace, and take up little cupboard space."
Items #8 & 9
I know you want this one on the left. You know you want this. Burlap and yarn has never looked so good. And, confess. Someone gave you one of these (on the right) during your lifetime. Probably in the seventies.
Item #10
It's from Austria. Land of Lion Heads. Painted onto ceramic trash cans.
Item #11
We have two of these. No shades though :( The color blue is super cool. They would be even more vivid if I had time to clean the dust out of the little nooks in the porcelain.
Item #12
More usefulness!! These are bamboo cups from Jamaica. I know this because "Jamaica" is carved on the side of them.
Item #13
Fruit. Chalkware wall hanging fruit. These were featured in the latest issue of "Country Home Living." Strangely, many things that we've found in the house are in there. Wild.
Items #14 & 15
To go with these lovely placemats on the right (and they are in nice condition...they roll up for storage and remind me of mats in Asia. But I think they are from Hawaii or Mexico), are a set of curtains (see photo on left...this is just one of many.) The curtains are from Peru, I believe.
It could be a whole new Tiki look for your breakfast nook. :)
June 30, 2003
The Twelfth Batch
I have a brother-in-law named Mark. And, although he is a pretty cool guy, this game is not about him.
A "mark" according to one of the MANY definitions of the word in the Oxford Dictionary means a "badge, brand, device, emblem, hallmark, label, seal, sign, stamp, standard, symbol, trade mark."
Many things have a mark or label or signature on them. Picasso's signature is a "mark." The words "Coca-Cola" is a "mark." Even "Made in Japan" is a mark. People who watch "The Antique Roadshow" dig marks.
Marks can help you to discover the story behind items, even if that story is as bland as "Hmm. She bought this at Walmart."
Item #1
A mark can be very clear...but its origins can still be pretty mysterious. (The writing on the front of the plate says, "Combined Thresher and Harvester at work near Connell Washington.)"
Item #2
The statue base is wood. I know the statue is not plastic, but what is it? Ivory? Something else? And who is G.R.? And what's with the fish?
Item #3
Why is this elephant doing aerobics?
Item #4
A blurry mark leads to frustration and speculation that you might need new glasses.
Item #5
Some marks are cooler than the actual item (to me, anyway. Though this is a really bad picture of this vase.
The outside is unglazed and therefore shows fingerprints well. Especially dusty ones. The inside is glazed white.
Who was Von Tury de Vegh?)
Item #6
Some marks make you take a second, than a third look. Is this a really good fake? Or does that really mean what it says..."1840 Italy"?
Item #7 < Virtual Estate Sale
Hedi Schoop in Hollywood, CA...glam!
Item #8
This is a brand I do not recognize. But maybe someone out there does? By the way, the "preserves" in these jars are little white tablets. That makes me wonder.
Item #9
No mark on the bottom because no glaze. That seems significant. Is the mark ON the main part of the piece? Argh. I cannot read
Japanese...and I wish that I could!
Item #10
This is Royal Haeger's kidney bean shaped dish. And this reminds me...thanks mom, for never making me eat kidney beans.
Item #11
Now this is a mark!!! No guessing here!
Item #12
In a world before lighters were disposable...there was "Ronson"...I especially liked the "two-handed smoker" twin lighter set.
We really need to start thinking up prizes for these contests...it's bad enough that everyone is nervous about the possibility that I could pick their name in the Christmas name swap this year...
July 1, 2003
The Thirteenth Batch
I'm ready for a loooonnngggg weekend. Which means less babble, more photos for a few days. Still! See if you can "Name that Mark!"
What do these marks tell us about these items?
Item #1
Item #2 < Adopted
Item #3
Item #4
Item #5
Item #6
Item #7
Item #8
Item #9
July 2, 2003
The Fourteenth Batch
Item #2
Item #3 Adopted
Item #4
Item #5
Item #6
Item #7 < 2 out of 3 adopted
Item #8
Item #9
Item #10
Item #11
Item #12
July 6, 2003
Batch #15
It is time for another installment of "What on Earth?!!" Today's what on earth has us trying to sort out items that are very definitely future garage sale from possible private sale or eBay items.
Garage sale items are usually:
a) Too big or WAY too fragile to ship.
b) Just don't warrant eBay charges.
Some things are obviously garage sale, albeit some very COOL garage sale items. And when we get that garage "sale friendly" (i.e., there is room to PUT things in the garage), you're all invited. Camping in the backyard is possible for roadtrippers. Less adventurous roadtrippers could make a weekend of it in one of lovely Chicago B&B's or hotels. You may fulfill your garage sale dreams here. Or you may just enjoy all the bungalow and Frank Lloyd Wright sightseeing that our fair city has to offer. :)
Slidetrays and storage boxes. Four cardboard boxes of them. < Two boxes full of slide trays are adopted
A lovely pleather carry-on bag:
More luggage. A set of "That 70's Show" Samsonite:
More Samsonite. This a little newer...in the box. (Took out for photos) Oh yes. And all baggage has keys for locks. Nifty eh?
This is a set of audiocassette and VHS tape holders that I know you are wanting...NEEDING...sorry. Couldn't find the 8-track tape holder.
Actually, these next three are kind of cool. Just two big for shipping. Both of these bags are from before W and L were married. So, I believe they are pre-1934 or so...
And I just really dig this one because it is an "Amelia Earhart" suitcase. Celebrities were used for brand identity pretty early it seems. My guess, just out of respect, would be that this is from between 1928 and 1937...
And would it be a garage sale without vintage appliances? In this case, we have many typewriters. And adding machines. And lawyer's files, steel file cabinets, wooden file trays and other office items galore. They were lawyers and many of their office things wound up here. Here's just a typewriter (of a few of them):
Next....Batch #16!!
July 8, 2003
Batch #16
Today's game is called...
BUNGALOW...OR NO?
We've found quite a few items around the house, which COULD belong to the bungalow era of this abode. OR they could belong to a more recent era (like the 50's or 60's...). OR they could belong to a different house entirely. (Remember, W was a collector...who knows where this stuff came from. We are still finding windows in the garage that we are fairly sure did NOT come from this style of house.)
YOUR job is to guess BUNGALOW...OR NO? And to also tell the rest of us what the item is.
There are many items that we hold up and play these games with. "Could be a hands-free clamp? An Art Deco cigarette holder? A torture device? Your call...."
Now it gets to be YOUR CALL!
For example, WHAT WAS THIS?
I've lettered the items to make them easier to refer to. You can click on a picture to get a better look. And you can leave your answers in the comments section of the page.
GO TEAM BUNGALOW!
July 9, 2003
More...BUNGALOW...or NO?
We're back with BUNGALOW...OR NO? Everyone has been so helpful in identifying things that we are starting to sort it out...sorta.
Here's the latest batch (remember to click on the picture to make it bigger):
This is A < Adopted
This is B
This is C
(You were relaxing there for a minute, weren't you? Thinking, "Oh, man! This is too easy!!!" Well...!)
< E is adopted
< Adopted
Whew! It's been a day. I've got to go to bed. 'night!
July 11, 2003
Batch #18
Overloaded "to do" list...no sleep. Quick random batch for all you "what on earth?!" fans out there. (And yes, there are things on this page that we have not figured out. Though we know the last one is...an antique toaster. No joke.)
July 11, 2003
Staring at the ceiling at 4 am...
I don't know why I can't sleep. But, man. Birds get up EARLY! They started their little morning bird songs at 4 AM! I wish I didn't know that.
But the "What On Earth?!" fans are excited because that means I'm going to try to go to bed early. So it's pictures of stuff, stuff and more stuff. (There's an especially exciting flashback for you North Park University fans.) And remember! Click on something to make it larger.
From vintage Japanese Comic books to Coca-Cola....
< See this on the Estate Sale Site
Cufflinks, Mardi Gras, Huggie, "Pit" The Game!, barware....
< Adopted
< Adopted
< Adopted
July 12, 2003
Bungalow Context
I am starting to realize why I am as fascinated with the history of this house as I am with fixing it....I need context. The big picture. The story.
I mean, who slept in the room I'm sleeping in for all of those years? What did they think as THEY stared at the ceiling not able to get to sleep at 4 am?
I've been corresponding with a very nice person who I found by doing a search on the last name of the oldest deed we have on the house...Kjeldsen. I found her daughter's email address and, like a big geek, wrote her daughter about my research project. That day, the daughter's mom answered me...she is a first rate researcher and great geneaologist! I'll share more of what we found in the next installment.
Tonight, though, I need some bungalow context...
Like, this thing?
This needs a context.
Many times when I pass the shelves downstairs, I sigh, wondering about these things...like "What are they?" or "Why are they here?"
I decided that what I was lacking was context.
So here's a little exercise dedicated to Jane Powell and Linda Svendsen (Bungalow Kitchens--excellent book)
Here is a picture from page 111 of Bungalow Kitchens (remember to click on it to make it larger...and check out the book if you want to see some cool bungalow kitchens!):
And here is a photo taken at our house, hastily, at 3:30 am, from things on the shelves and in the basement.
Not an exact match. But a much more fun way to sort things off the shelves!
July 14, 2003
Random Stuff
I was just yanking stuff out of boxes today and taking pictures of it. For awhile, I tried to have a system. Now...whatever. But our garage sale this Fall is going to be a BLAST!!!
Part of going through things is wondering about how it ended up here. What was it originally intended for? And where did it come from? And when?
When I pulled this out of the pile, all I could think of was "Hmmm. Brainwashing little kids...1947-style...." (Click on the picture to make it bigger)
But when I opened up the record jacket (it folds open), I SERIOUSLY freaked out.
Whoa! That is a SCARY WALL! Besides, if this woman had actually LISTENED to her big sister's record (the woman who sold us the house...she's in her late 50's or so), the walls might have actually been BRIGHTY-BRIGHT! But, they were pretty yucky-yuck, actually.
And then there is Bach (conducted by Pablo Casals...who is cool), filed on the shelf next to...
COOLEST! And just in case we thought that the whole "War Protest" incident downtown back in March was a new thing for law enforcement here...
The inside of the record album cover demonstrates that perhaps there's been a teensy issue there for awhile...
There are SO many things wrong with this picture, I can't even begin. But. Gene Autry's version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is also in this slipcover. And that makes me feel better. He's a trustworthy guy.
Would you trust this santa doll with your mommy? Would you??!! All that white velvet...
This is the reel-to-reel version of this recording (no lie). Makes the phrase "Get comfortable...I'll just put some music on..." safe for many a wide-eyed maiden. Going nowhere fast...
I found this too close to the santa doll.
< Adopted
No! No! NOOOOOOOO!!!!! I DID NOT LIKE having my picture taken when I was a kid...especially around Christmas time. I don't know why. I was sure I couldn't look or sound that geeky in real life, else I was DOOMED. And Christmas involved:
a) the wearing of some kind of pajama,
b) the showing of visual expressions of appreciation, and
c) waving/smiling and looking otherwise "Christmas-y".
As a dark, brooding 14 year old, "visual appreciation" was a look I had yet to learn...I was better at "sullen" or "cranky".br>
Did anything ever scare you or make you cranky about Christmas? (I mean, I like it NOW. Just back then...)
July 16, 2003
Playtime with Batch #21
Oh BOY!!! Look what we found in an old wooden chest!
Do any of these bring back memories for anyone? Or do you wish they did? :)
Item #1
Item #2
(Cut glass bowl not included...but we had to put the marbles in something close by...those are Peltier Banana marbles)
Item #3--Gone to loving home :)
Item #4
Item #5
Item #6 < See this on the Estate Sale Site
Item #7 < See this on the Estate Sale Site
Item #8
Item #9
Item #10
Item #11 < Adopted
Item #12
Item #13
Item #14 < Adopted
Item #15 < Adopted
Item #16--Adopted :)
The tag says "American Character Doll" and its about 2 ft high---but no one ever played with this doll.
Item #17--Wooden furniture has been adopted
This wooden dollhouse furniture is so reminiscent of the bathroom and kitchen fixtures that are supposed to be IN the house...Sigh. The baby doesn't seem happy either.
July 18, 2003
Batch #22
Just a box full of stuff.
< Some of these on the Estate Sale Site
Whoa! How did this get into such a classy box of stuff? And where is the mood ring?
A carving in ivory and bone...
< See this on the Estate Sale Site
And the Inuit artist with his hometown...
These things look like either something to do with female grooming in the 1940's or implements of torture...
July 20, 2003
Stockperson at "Someone Else's Life Mart"
It's like I've opened up the door to a big closet and all of the contents have fallen on me.
Some days there is wonder and other days (especially hot, sticky ones) it easy to feel like a lowly stock person at "Someone Else's Life Mart".
July 22, 2003
Our Next Play Along Game...WHERE on earth...
are these things from?
2 points if you guess the correct continent
10 points if you get the country
100 points if you get the city and can prove it (because sometimes I don't even know THAT!)
Just fill in your answers in the comment form below. You can use a "nom-de-plume" if you want to take a chance but don't want that advertised in our forum!!
p.s. I threw in 1-2 "ringers" so be careful....
GOOD LUCK TO ALL! Oh, and click on the picture to make it larger.
Item #1 < Adopted!
Item #2
Item #3
Item #4 < Adopted
Item #5
Item #6
Item #7 < all adopted
Item #8 < adopted
Item #9 < Adopted
Item #10
Item #11
Item #12 =Adopted!
Item #13
Item #14
Item #15
July 23, 2003
Flotsam & jetsam
It's amazing, how much there is to learn about things.
What do my things say about me when I've left them behind? The sweater on the little train in the Swiss Alps. My wallet in...many, many places like that field where we went on the Apple Holler hayride in Wisconsin. My car keys..um, also many places.
I guess these things say--"she's not paying attention to the details, is she?"
More flotsam and jetsam from the upstairs tonight...
You know, I don't think I ever appreciated their musical versatility until I heard the Sons of the Pioneers sing "Tumbling Tumbleweed" AND "Tiny Bubbles" on the SAME audiocassette.
If you don't recognize these items above, then you have never been a grade school teacher at any point in the last two decades.
The logical result of all of those empty cookie tins, obviously. The first aid would come in when she can't get any of her food to fit through the big red circle slash thingy... (click on photo to make larger).
Holds 72 PRECIOUS FAMILY PHOTOS!!!
Are "Leatherlines" related to "pleather", do ya' think?
Eusi Schwiz!! NO WAY!!! Party tape. Easily. Because when you get Eusi together with Toni Schlumpf Schattorf (or "The Schlumpf" as we in the biz say), then, it's like wild...
To be listened to "AT LEISURE". Got that? Not while working or driving heavy machinery...AT LEISURE ONLY!!!
Yup, yup. This is gonna be one heck of a garage sale all righty...
July 25, 2003
Lights, Cameras, Action!
Someone I met today heard our story and wondered if the PO left behind any cameras. Boy, do we have cameras!
< Adopted 
And that's just for starters...
< Adopted 
< Both Adopted < Both adopted!
< Adopted 
=Kodak 35mm Adopted
< Adopted 
But wait. Would they really have had all these cameras without alot of cool accesories, too? Of course not...!
< Adopted 
< Adopted
July 29, 2003
Hmmm. Where to research these?
Sometimes, it is easy to figure what something is and where it is from.
And then, sometimes it is not.
No mark, but we don't care. It's perfect bungalow style and color. Picture doesn't do it justice.
< Adopted
We like the "crazy stork"...but he has no mark either. What is his story?
< Adopted
Aha! Something we recognize! Watts Bowls, #'s 6, 7 & 8...Single Apple Pattern. Phew! Somthing familiar. =Adopted
No such luck here...no mark.
Ok, yup! Uncle Mistletoe...and he says so right there on his, er, bottom. :)
< See this on the Estate Sale Site
Augh. The flash went off--not doing much for the color of this sweet Art Deco (?) leaf lamp. And no mark. But it's green/blue glaze is very pretty.
These fun carafes from Inland Steel's "Aluminum Club" series (c. 1951) are platinum-banded glass...and perfect for the serious coffeee host or hostess :) Boxes make research easy...
4 miniature "personal" carafes...all in their box. It's a caffeine buzz for four.
July 30, 2003
Um. What is this?
Okay. We give up.
What is it?
Here is the top of what we saw when we opened the box...(and yes, those cogs and wheels were just lying there.) (Remember to click to make it larger.)
Here's what we saw when we took it out of the box and turned it over...
=Adopted
We don't even have a good guess. Uses a handle? Gears? And something that looks like it might be a motor that gets wound when you crank the handle? Or do none of these parts go together?
Oh, dear departed W. Please explain the mysteries of this box!!! We beseech you!
August 4, 2003
New Game...Trash or Treasure??
Tonight, in honor of my sister Elaine's birthday, we bring you....
le garage. And an edition of...
TRASH OR TREASURE????!!!! (Click on photo to make it larger.)
(Elaine IS a treasure...just wanting to clarify. She is the younger, smarter, cooler sister...and she is very TALL. And can easily clobber me.)
YOU get to choose...trash or treasure?? And this is a game everyone can play, 'cause frankly, we don't know the answer yet either. But we're working on it! And we'll let you know when we know...
Item #1 < Adopted
Item #2
Item #3
Item #4
Item #5
Items #6-8
Item #9
Item #10
Item #11
Item #12
Item #13
Item #14
Item #15
Item #16
So, submit your answers in the feedback form below. You do NOT have to put a real name OR your email address.
But let us hear from you!! It cheers us up. And good luck!!!
August 6, 2003
What is value?
Has something ever caught your eye and made you wonder...hmm? What IS it with that? It looks quite ordinary and yet...maybe not?
That's pretty much how we spend our days here at Chez Stuff. And 99 times out of 100, the article in question is quite, quite ordinary. Taking-up- too-much-floor-space ordinary. Hard-to-vacuum-around ordinary.
And then, there was this wooden bowl...which popped up (of course) at 3:00 in the morning when I couldn't sleep... (click to make the picture larger)
After I dusted it off, I noticed that it was quite pretty actually. The sides were so thin and delicate...like porcelain. I went ahead to research the mark on the Internet:
Hmm. James Prestini:
Zoiinnnkkkss! Argh. This is going to blow the whole estate/garage sale. Which will only work if we have garage sale prices. This bowl can't be an estate sale item. More research work turned up turned-wooden bowls and a very old hand carved bowl:
So, in a bit of nervousness, I abandoned researching wood for another day. We did something much more straightforward over the evening that required less time. I would pick up the book, call out the characteristics to A who would then look it up on the book sales sites. We'd look for the same book in the same condition, write down the price and then set OUR price for a third of that. It would be nice to sell this all online, but this parallel life is all out of whack.
So, here were the books that had the strangest titles (to me!)
This book could explain a LOT about this house. We expect it was W's. And we are almost afraid to read it because it might ruin the suspense.
And the alternative would be....?
Groan. Collectible cookbooks...we start running into trouble again on a few.
Okay. Time for bed. Anytime an advertising pamphlet about Americanized Mexican food veers into "not for garage sale" territory price-wise, I'm outta here. I do not understand collectibles obviously! I have a collectibles-blind-spot. Oh drat.
August 7, 2003
Modern Design? or Mod Squad?
Because, well, I have no clue.
So here is a random offering of items that could be Modern Design...or Mod Squad...or neither. (Remember to click on the image to make it larger...)
< Going to experts
< Adopted 
< Adopted 
< Adopted 
< Adopted 
So...what do you think? Some folks have mentioned "Russel Wright" or "Chase" or "Schlumbohm". Don't forget to look at other "what on earth?" entries (especially the garage)...this stuff is everywhere. Everything is mixed up.
If you want to test your knowledge, this site is a good place to start!
August 12, 2003
Chicago, My Kind of Town: Part 1
Going through the historical paper and books in this house is like peeling back an onion. Layer by layer, we learn more about the previous owners. And it's just as FUN to share the wacky stuff as it is to share the "finds".
These are things we found from "Chicago". (Remember to click on pictures to make them larger.) If you were doing the bungalow archaeology in this case, what would they tell YOU about the previous occupants? :)
< Adopted 
=Adopted 
< Adopted
And how about these? What do they say about this family?
< Adopted 
< One adopted 
=Adopted
Hmm. And then there are these things...
< One Adopted
More layers...
What was the Girl Scout Congress excited about in 1959? New stewardess-like uniforms!!
And what about this coin that I found under the workbench? (It's blurry...I can't focus the camera on something that small.) One side says "Paper Doll Cocktail Lounge 1001 N. Clark Street.
= Adopted Unfortunately, the Paper Doll is no longer. Now it is a "respectable set" of doctor's offices.
ut the OTHER side of the coin is more cryptic. It says "5 cents, good for free drinks". That's right--plural--more than one. How much did a cocktail cost in the 1930's anyway??
Too many Chicago things for one night! Tomorrow: University of Chicago, spam--30's style, the Medinah Temple, maps, souvenirs, news and books.
Especially the U of C stuff should raise some eyebrows.
Note: University of Chicago Alumni, tune in tomrrow!!
August 13, 2003
Chicago, My Kind of Town: Part II
And not that I'm saying anything...but I'll let this 1959 issue of the U of C magazine speak for itself:
And, just for the record (off-topic), I think Al Franken is hilarious.
And this was their class show in the 1930's. I think Prohibition in the United States ended in 1933.
This loyalty extended all the way back to Bloom Township High School, apparently.
=Going home to Bloom perhaps? This tells me...um...they got lost quite often, decided to make the best of it if all the way out in the suburbs (?), finally quit driving and just hoofed it?
Ended up liking to read about Chicago...A LOT!!
They had "mail spam" and "chotchkes"...just like we do now. Except our spam is via email...
And they had this "thing" about matchbooks too...it wasn't only ashtrays. I think a few of these places are still around...
August 17, 2003
The Tuba Mouthpiece of Michael Lind
So, as we are leaving church this morning, C, a friend and neighbor who had come over in the first days of the house debacle, stopped us in the narthex.
We had found three mouthpieces in the house that C had investigated. If you are a professional musician, a mouthpiece is incredibly important and also can be very expensive (on a musician's pay!) Each individual musician has a mouthpiece that works best for them.
There were two that were given to another pal from the church who plays tuba and also has a neat band, Red Vinegar.
The third mouthpiece was a Vincent Bach-New York mouthpiece.
Above is a photo of a regular modern Vincent Bach mouthpiece. We hadn't taken a photo of the one in the house because we weren't that far along when C came over.
Well, it turns out that his friend, Michael Lind of the Stockholm Philharmonic (or Stockholm Filharmonikerna), has been looking for this specific mouthpiece! The vintage ones were made in New York...so HE is getting the mouthpiece! How cool! (Click on the far right hand box of the Kungliga Filharmonikerna website for a lovely recording of their music.)
And if you thought tubas were all about oompa bands...you've never heard an amazing tuba player. Check out some of the track samples on Michael Lind's album with Christer Torgé for some lovely music. Christer Torgé & Michael Lind
August 18, 2003
Is there such a thing as synchronicity?
As I was typing in our website address to blog a new entry tonight, I had to laugh. Unconciously, I had typed "houseOFprogress" at a time I think that we are SO FAR AWAY from progress right now. A is much more positive. He thinks that we have made tremendous progress in our planning. I am more morose. I keep seeing the dust on every surface and wondering, "How will we ever be clean again?"
However, in exploring items and meeting people regarding the house, I am more curious about Jung's concept of synchronicity, that principle which explains "meaningful coincidences" such as a beetle flying into his room while a patient was describing a dream about a scarab...an acausal principle that links events having a similar meaning by their coincidence in time rather than sequentially. He claimed that there is a synchrony between the mind and the phenomenal world of perception. *
Do I believe in the theory of the collective unconcious? I don't know. I don't NOT believe in it. Do I believe that Michael Lind's mouthpiece found him through us and C somehow? Or that an item here will finally find its "owner of purpose"...at least for the time being. Or that a house was meant for someone?
I don't know. I wish I had as much faith in those things as I do in my other kinds of faith :) Maybe I wouldn't notice the dust so much.
Tonight is a random collection as we sort out some plans and get back to you with those stories. I did not choose a theme for these, unless you are wishing it so of me from our collective unconcious.
This book from 1900 is fascinating for so many reasons. It documents the Palestine of the Ottoman Empire in photographs and gorgeous maps.
-Adopted!
And of course I wonder, where will all this stuff be a year from now? (Hopefully not still in my house!)
< Adopted! 
John Freyer really explored this in depth two years ago with his fascinating and groundbreaking site, ALL MY LIFE FOR SALE (the web address is now owned by the Museum of Art, University of Iowa). He sold everything he owned, then spent a year going to visit it. :)
He wrote about his exploits in a book, which looks fascinating to me.
I don't think I'll have time to visit the stuff. Plus, we are wading through other people's lives most of whom are no longer on the planet. And a book is NOT in my future plans. But it is cool to think about all of the connections we will have made with people through this site...
* Quotation is from The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions
August 23, 2003
what on earth?? random mix.
OK. It's late and we just got back from JG's B-Day bash. Happy Birthday, big guy. You don't look a day over....40 :)
So, I'll make this one fast. Plus, I have a lot of very VERY cool news about possibly finding the relatives of the Niels Kjeldsen, the first owners of the house that we know of!!! (And maybe even the builder!) Or, they found us. We are so excited. We'll fill you in tomorrow.
Meantime, here are some randomly-chosen "what on earth" items to amuse and entertain...
Circa 1973, reproduction of the 1920's tray
< Adopted
These are original though :) "My Better Half" mugs, making sure your spouse doesn't forget to bring you coffee
Very ornate candleholder of brass
A gen-u-ine Fuller Brush crumb sweeper, in the box, circa 1940's-50's. These were usually handed out as samples from "The Fuller Brush Man." Seems W or L were targets for traveling salespeople, we also have a water treatment system from Amway
Kind of cool bottle from France which we don't recognize-- On hold
< Adopted
The buds at Breaktime know what this is, probably some Bungalow buds do too!
1930's-40's Valentine :) We have hundreds of valentines from as far back as the late 1800's. And Christmas cards, Easter cards, postcards, sigh. That's a winter project.
Oh YEAH. Who DIDN'T love Jello!
An advertising card from a radio repair shop in Chicago. Even cooler because it lists the programs for the week of Feb. 1, 1935...like "Amos & Andy", "Little Orphan Annie", "Walter Winchell", "Crime Clues", "Death Valley Days", "Jack Benny", "Burns & Allen" "True Strory" and "Barn Dance"
August 25, 2003
What lasts?
Too hot to do work in most of the house today. Our windows will be (hopefully!) fixed soon and we will have some ventilation. Until then, we hunker down next to the A/C and keep taking inventory.
I have been nervous about handling the historical paper. The house's dirt and dust have discouraged me...I don't want to ruin anything. Even the word for some of these paper items--ephemera--means "something that doesn't last, something that is transitory in time." But I don't want to be responsible for rushing it to an earlier demise! On the other hand, I've wanted to look around for ideas for Rubber Trouble at Slumberland.
Vintage advertising is fun for this. Art Deco, Art Nouveau...a lot of designs might look good as stamps! (Wendi would know more about what makes a good candidate...) A short stack of Harper's Bazaar magazines from the 20's and 30's looked like a good place to start.
-- Adopted
Sorry about the flash on the photo. Taking pictures in the wee hours of the night doesn't leave you with many options.
I noticed that these early covers are attributed to an artist...in fact, even the covers of travel brochures name the artist. Erte, Benigni and Barbier, all of whom are famous for Art Deco fashion drawings.
Here are some other very pretty covers. I'm looking at these in a new light now...as frame-worthy art.
-- All Adopted
And then, there is the, um, not so "art"...like this decoupage.
Or this "fake painting" on cardboard that, I think, used to be in my orthodontist's office in the 1970's.
< Adopted
The most poignant moment of the day, though, came when I went to look up "Mount Lowe, California" where all of these postcards came from:
I found out that Mount Lowe's Lodge and other attractions have been in ruins since the 1930's.
Which makes me wonder. If ephemera describes "something that is transitory in time", what if the paper outlasts...us?
Sorry for the melancholy sentiment. It's late and the windchime next door is blowing and I need to go to bed...
August 28, 2003
Preparing for the backyard BBQ with friends weekend
In other years, on other holidays, we've had to scrape around for things to use for gatherings with family and friends outside.
This year, WE ARE SET!!! Kinda.
We have the "Beef...It's Whats for Dinner" thing...scary enough to make vegetarians dive into the bushes. (Click on picture to resize)
This is a SERIOUS steer. If I could only remember which ex-Bull player he looks like...help me out guys!
We have all of this stuff...
Wow. It's a Boy Scouts of America axe.
< Adopted
Things for cooking and grilling out...relaxin'.
In case we want to make SHOES!
Or need to beat a path through the garden to the GARAGE!
< Adopted
I have no idea what these are, but I'm SURE we'll need them. (KJ! Help! What are these, Alaska-girl?)
August 30, 2003
Life hasn't changed much, has it?
I took Wendi's suggestion (at Rubber Trouble) and scanned some of our old magazines for advertising. And do you know what I found?
Same stuff, different decade. Clothes, liquor, cigarettes, jewelry, furniture, perfume, lingerie, cars. Except everything was from the 1920's and 1930's. And most of the things were line drawings instead of photographs.
And there were fewer "truth-in-advertising" laws back then. Obviously. (click to make picture larger)
OUCH! The chin...THE CHIN!
Why, even your doctor says that these cigarettes are "less irritating**..."
**...then sticking a burning twig in your mouth.
Okay. I happen to know that this issue was published during the Great Depression...the first one. So, who is their target market?
Aha! The target market is "lazy, scantily clad people."
Who, um, wear furs. (This is SO pre-Austin Powers. I hope.)
September 5, 2003
Remnants & Bridges
Remnants: a small part or portion that remains after the main part no longer exists
What will be the remnants of me?
It is hard not to think of these philosophical questions as we poke and prod on through these things.
Someone must have loved Alma Sutton very much to have made her this box for Christmas.
But...who was she?
Who's schoolbook?
Who kept this money clip in their pocket for so many years?
< Adopted
We've found so many letters. So many cards. This one from Fanny? Jenny? Chase-Jones.
We always think about the subject of the photo. Who was behind the camera that took this photograph?
And then there are bridges to the past. This plate is from the collection of dinnerware that the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church in Boonville, Missouri purchased (according to the folks who responded to my note, probably in the 20's or 30's.) This winter, when we have more time, we are happily reuniting the plate with the church. And we were also delighted to chat via email with L & J who ALSO purchased a bungalow home. The world is much too small, yes?
September 6, 2003
Freak out factor
You know, this house has a very high freak out factor.
So, we're researching and tagging last night with the full intention of still having an estate sale. Some of the items will only be sold through the website because we don't have time to go through them now (like most of the ephemera).
Today, we also found out the making the bathroom work will most likely cost more than we had planned for in our budget. So we were kind of down. Whatever leaked up there back in the 1950's seriously damaged the floor and ceiling below, possibly got between the walls and pushed out the wood lathe. Which can't be reused if that is the case. Some days, I want to weep for this house. It deserved better.
We squared our shoulders and kept tagging. But certain items kept drawing me back to them. Like this plaster or chalkware "sculpture" (?):
I think it is very pretty. And the writing scratched into the back? I never thought to plug it into the computer. It is signed:
Enrique Alferez
6016 Ellis Avenue
1927
I thought, how sweet! Maybe a very talented local person who took up a craft.
And then Google spit these out at me:
So not only was this guy an Art Deco sculptor and amazing, he served in PANCHO VILLA'S army in Mexico!
How do you...what do you....okay. So, where do we go from here?
September 13, 2003
Okay. Does EVERY home come equipped with a blowgun?
One of the stranger items we found while dilgently digging out the basement this weekend.
Hey K! You're gonna put somebody's eye out with that thing!!
JS easily looks like the Amazonian warrioress with the spear of DEATH!
Wait!!! That's the side you blow into, you're right!
As A and JS laugh at them from safely BEHIND the camera, J and K have fun playing with the blowgun, the quiver with the poison arrows and the little jawbone thing, and the spear.
And now some helpful information from the Organization for Responsible Blowgun Ownership (ORBO):
Every blowgun owner should carefully consider the reasons for having a blowgun. If there is no compelling need to own a blowgun, remove it from your home. A blowgun increases, not decreases, the danger to your family.
If you own blowguns or spears or poison darts, carefully consider where to keep them. Hall closets, nightstands, drawers by the outside doors of your home and other traditional places are often where criminals, and curious children, look first.
Store blowguns unloaded and locked up. Consider a lock box for poison darts and clubs. Store poison darts separately - and locked up.
If you are a family member and are experiencing high levels of anger, fear or depression, remove blowguns from your home. It is during these times a blowgun is often used against a loved one or against ones self.
Never handle a blowgun when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Never leave a blowgun in your vehicle. Blowguns are often stolen from cars.
Teach children never to touch a blowgun or spear without supervision, and to immediately tell an adult if they find a blowgun.
Know where your blowguns and spears are at all times. You are accountable for them, and you are responsible for your blowgun not being used against a family member.
All blowgun owners should receive training in the safe handling and care of their blowguns and poison darts.
**Jawbone accessory not always included. More instructions needed for safe jawbone handling. (See link below)
September 14, 2003
Makin' Bacon
The 70s was a wonderful era. Bell bottoms. Great rock and roll. Cooking bacon vertically...
Wait, cooking bacon vertically!?
Yes, now you too can cook bacon using authentic 1970s methods with the original "Bacon Maker and Meat Rack" by Nupac!!!
Why cook bacon vertically, you may ask? Well...
Easy to clean and dishwasher safe!!!
How much would you expect to pay for this in stores? $99.99!? Nope. $79.99! Nope, still lower...
Through this special offer, you can have this amazing tool for just $9.99! That's right, just $9.99. What are you waiting for!?
Plus, act now and we'll throw in this
Milwaukee 6509-22 10 Amp Sawzall Reciprocating Saw
Act now!!!
Note: Additional restrictions may apply. Milwaukee Sawzall not included. Item may or may not actually be shipped upon receipt of payment. Do not use for unapproved purposes.
September 16, 2003
different stuff different day
sometimes it is enough to wander through the house and point the camera...*CLICK!*
You see Bambi-- Adopted
And a 12 foot long bamboo fly fishing rod
You see Catalina
And "Come Into Our Kitchen" 1939 -- Adopted
You can hear the foxtrot
Captain Kangaroo with Buster Brown< See this at the Estate Sale
And a Mattel Musical Map of Disneyland
You can see Smokey the Bear's Game < See this at the Estate Sale
A Stagecoach Glass from the 1950's
And a Swedish Dalla horse or two -- Adopted
And piles of fruit crates....no fruit included.
< Some adopted
September 18, 2003
Bungalow Sleuth Award :)
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be Nancy Drew.
Honest! Barbie? Bo-o-o-ring. She was so INTO herself. But Nancy? She had ALL of the fun. Always chasing bad guys and using flashlights and solving mysteries. THAT sounded like the best time to me!!
So, when we got the house, I went into FULL TILT Nancy Drew Sleuth mode. I still am. I want the stories...where is this stuff from? Why is that door missing? Who ripped out the bookcases from either side of the fireplace in the front room?
Okay. We actually know the answer to that last question.
I still get a thrill each time I hunt down an important clue. And still feel frustrated each time I get stuck.
You can imagine how this big box of KEYS makes me feel.
If you guessed "nutty", you guessed correctly. The big box of keys makes me nutty. WHERE ARE ALL OF THE LOCKS???
Another thing I can't stop thinking about is this set of plates.
They were made by a company named "Gefle". The only lead I've had is that "Gefle" is Swedish. I have 11 plates and 2 big bowls with this cool pearlescent glaze. There are Gefle marks on the bowls and initials carved into the bottom of each plate. They are fuzzy initials because it looks like they were carved before the piece was glazed and fired. Perhaps the first one is "J"? I cannot tell.
But last night, at approximately midnight, alert HouseInProgress reader, Charlotta S., sent me an email that set my heart aflutter!
do you mean Gefle ceramics/porcelain?
If so, check out http://www.antikviteter.net/utsigten/butik/gefle.htm
-C
Any Nancy Drew fan knows that these notes are CRUCIAL! Whether they come by email or whether you find them in the OLD CLOCK! (Inside joke for ND Fans here)
So, with Carlotta's link to guide me and NO knowledge of Swedish, I got a little bit farther in my quest.
ONLY TWO MORE THINGS and I am HOME FREE!
A very fast knowledge of how to read Swedish. And deciphering the artist's initials on the plates.
AND THAT IS WHY...CHARLOTTA wins the Nancy Drew Sleuth Award! For thinking like a real detective. Way to go, Bungalow Sleuth Charlotta!!! And many thanks...
September 19, 2003
Lost the manual?!
Not these owners! Not only did they buy and keep everything they saw, they were serious about manuals.
Of course, there's more...
How do I grow sprouts indoors again? Oh yeah...
How was that thingy supposed help me take better photos?
I'm having trouble parking my car. What can I do?
September 22, 2003
Buried Treasure Mateys...Argh!
Many more times than we have thought possible, we get a variation on the following comment when people hear about this house: "Man! You lucky ducks! All of that treasure!!! I wish it had happened to me!"
Um.
See, there's this thing about "treasure". It has a limit. When you stumble across a, say, really cool coin on the beach. Or a great bargain at a garage sale. THAT is fun! Because you can go home, put it on a shelf, look at it when you want to.
Then there is this.
Stumbling over a stack of 12 apple bushel baskets on your way to investigate a noise in the basement. As you thread your way through boxes full of tin buckets and 4 large spools of macrame rope, you wonder when it will all be gone.
Because the electrician and plumber can't start work around this stuff. No one can turn around quickly in the basement or something invariably crashes to the floor in shards. So you are constantly running interference..."No! Not that! NOT THERE!" And you can't ever get anything CLEAN because you would have to clean around everything single last thing in the place.
That is the downside of treasure. The line between treasure and "junque" suddenly becomes very, very thin. And then you find out that you weren't able to fully inspect the plumbing because you could not get behind this "treasure" and now most water supply lines have to be fixed or replaced. Which is going to blow your budget. NOW the treasure must "pay off" or you are financially wrecked...or without a bathroom.
Suddenly a plain Jane house with no "treasure" sounds very, very VERY good to you.
If you go LOOKING for treasure, that is a WHOLE OTHER STORY! And some people do and it can be very exciting. If you don't have to sleep with it in your room :) Like these folks from "Lost Treasure"...or the folks from iVillage's "Great Finds" discussion board. They find treasure as one should...little batches at a time. :)
Oh, yeah. And for those of us who missed "Talk Like a Pirate Day" (What was I thinking???!!), you can still get your official Pirate Name here.
You can all now call me the Cap'n Jenny FLINT! Arghhhhhh....
"Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr"
September 25, 2003
Hurray! Two people dear to us...
...announced their engagement and I am digging through the basement for ideas about what to get them...(wink, wink)
(double-click to make the pictures larger)
This seems too anti-"equal rights"...
Hmmm...we probably can't afford to send them here...though that would be nice...
Um. A California Art Pottery Clam Dish? Just not quite "them."
I think we should hold off on the fertility statue...
Recognition that their impending nuptials will be nothing less than "royal"...? Seems a little over the top. 
(On Hold--the item not wedding!)
I think we should wait for the official registry...
p.s. Congratulations KJ & Joe!
September 27, 2003
Amazing connections
This house is full of amazing, wonderful and just unusual connections. Sometimes it is finding something that you remember from your childhood or from a movie set. Sometimes it is getting to witness someone else's memories (which moves my heart).
Sometimes you find things that make you wonder, "I wonder if this place still exists?" or "What was happening in the world when they bought this pocket watch?" And sometimes things seem driven by divine intervention.
Last night and this morning, I "met" a jazz musician from Portugal through his father, Mr. Lincoln T. Beauchamp, Sr., Attorney at Law.
Apart from being an incredible musician, Lincoln T. Beauchamp, Jr. is also an accomplished writer and has a new baby girl, nine weeks old. I found his father's photo in a John Marshall Law School of Chicago yearbook from 1932. We both marveled at his father's wise and wonderful choice of words as a quote for his yearbook photo.
It was another late night for me (maybe 2:00 am) when I found the book and I was idly wondering who I could send this book back to. Mr. Beauchamp's quote captured my imagination
..."No man is born into the world whose work,
Is not born with him."
I wondered about him and his life which seemed destined for greatness from those very words, typed in the name, and Google pointed the way towards the article referenced above. Two emails later and this slim volume will be on its way to Portugal for a new generation of Beauchamps to enjoy.
We've found many unusual law books in the house, and books on theology, military history, world affairs, psychology and other interesting topics. Someone was a voracious reader.
We suspect that person was W. Many books are inscribed to him personally...like these books from John L. Strohm--Editor, Publisher, Foreign correspondent and Founder of the National Wildlife Magazine. W and Strohm were both members of the Pan American Council, we believe. Strohm also wrote the book, "I Lived With Latin Americans" in 1944.
He gives thanks for W who "Gave me a shove around the world..." which is highly likely. W loved to travel around Chicago and give presentations of his travels to other countries and cultures.
We found an inscription to Peter Weil in a book from the infamous jazz baby, Sophie Tucker. We're not quite sure how that ended up in the house...or which Peter Weil this might be?
< See this at the Estate Sale
Another interesting book is about Elbert Hubbard, who was significant in the Arts and Crafts movement with his founding of the Roycroft School .
*Adopted*
Other connections fall out of schoolbooks like this one (we seem to have every schoolbook from three generations of students!)
It is from "Mrs. Jones" (who we suspect is Mary Ganning, 809 South Oak Park Avenue, sometime before 1920) who writes: Dear Madam, Will you please come to my tea this after-noon [sic]. Your new friend, Mrs. Jones"
We found the note in a copy of "Jed, the Poorhouse Boy" from 1899. But the book was owned earlier by Frank B. Hodek, Jr., Dec. 8, 1903 "From Hubert"--Mary went and doodled through his name before claiming the book in a large, loping script :)
Finally, this book by Winifred Boynton contained a letter to W, thanking him for the gift of a belt he made for her. The Boyntons built their own interpretation of a Norwegian chapel, BY HAND, on their estate in Door County, Wisconsin. Winifred is an almost intimidating inspiration for OUR house with her energy, faith and enthusiasm.
Which reminds me...we have to work on this place for a couple of days!!! So our entries will be short and to the point.
Bear with us as we kick off the "reclaiming" of the wood windows and begin work making space for the plumber, tile craftsman and electrician. Things are starting to roll here...plus midterms are almost upon us. Teachers (like myself) are frantic to get things done by midterms. We will try to keep posting something everyday though!
October 3, 2003
Foundry Design, or...the Die is Cast ;)
What on earth is in the basement today?
Stuff made out of metal. Specifically, stuff that I think was made in a "casting process." What do I know about this process? Practically nothing. But my dad knows a lot.
I know this is a flower frog. You put it in the bottom of a vase or bowl and it helps your flowers stay arranged. I know that.
But all I know about metals and metal casting is that I usually can spot something that has been cast. Because, well, I've hung out with my dad all my life. And, if this were a sixth grade paper, I would describe his job as "my dad designs systems to make castings." How do I know this? Because he told me.
One of my early memories of my dad at work is visiting a foundry in Ohio with him when I was 6 or 7.
Not this foundry.
They were pouring molten metal that day and everything was HUGE and there was fire and sparks. It was pretty cool.
In the wintertime, after work, I used to drive home past A. Finkl & Sons in Chicago because you could see in the open doors...fire, sparks, molten metal...the whole thing. Still cool 25+ years later.
Here are some bells made in the casting process:
The first two look like sand castings. The third...could be a wax cast or a sand cast with the edges filed off and buffed for smoothness. I know those bells of Sarna were taken from fraternity to fraternity to secure buyers in the 1920's. India was still a mystery to the U.S. then. And the casting process, goes back to 4000-3000 B.C. It you look closely, the dust on the bell in the second picture probably also dates to that era.
I don't know if this will work, but here is a newsclip from the 1930's-40's (?) illustrating the importance of foundries. You should have Windows Media Player.
Okay, we're back to researching and tagging soon :( Groan. I need this stage to end finally!
October 4, 2003
If it's breakable...it is SO outta here.
"What on Earth" fans will appreciate the next few weeks as we frantically try to catch up on the majority of your research and tagging. We live in the basement now...though that makes things awkward because Dave the Cat escaped twice today. He's been doing that lately.
Here he is looking all "What? Who? Me?"
Do not fall for his, "Oh, I am so tired!" act. This cat opens doors. With no opposable thumbs. That we know of. (If you look closely, you'll notice he really never sleeps...that eye on OUR right? Slightly open and incredibly alert.)
Today we had to learn the fine art of photographing glass. Since I am dogged in my pursuit of photographing what I can (it won't be everything) especially when it helps to do research.
Here is what we have found so far.
A 
B 
C 
D E 
F 
G 
H 
I 
J 
K 
This is by no means all of it. And we are almost finished tagging 1500+ books.
This is the bottomless basement.
A 1948 Martini Shaker set -Whoops! Now someone wrote that it's Deco.--Adopted
B 1 Anchor Hocking bowl - Manhattan (Thanks K!)
C Working on it
D Working on it
E Chrome Top Dripcut Syrup Pourer =Adopted!
F Collection of 4 Retro Swag Glasses = Adopted
G Working on it
H Working on it
I 6 Elegant Glass plates - Imperial or Morgantown?
J 10 Crystal wineglasses by Capri - Italy - Adopted
K 5 Bands & Punties Cut #3001 (Elegant - Anchor Hocking)
October 6, 2003
Fraternal connections :)
It was a pleasure conversing today (via email) with KW of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at the University of New Mexico.
These connections are taking us all over the place.
It started with this:
And then I found this:
"The Beta Delta Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha is not only the first fraternity on the University of New Mexico campus; it is also the first in the entire state. What began as a social club called the Yum Yum Boys before the turn of the century evolved into the Alpha Alpha Alpha Fraternity. It was the Tri-Alpha Fraternity, in conjunction with then-university president William G. Tight that designed and built the historic landmark known around campus and the world as the Estufa. On May 22, 1915, Tri-Alpha was Absorbed into the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and into the history books. The Beta Delta Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha is the only chapter of any fraternity in the world that has its chapter building separated from the rest of the house."
Okay. So I sent them a note. And they sent one back. And that's a little bit of their history going home.
Somehow might there be a connection between a young W heading out to San Diego via New Mexico and picking up a print in New Mexico which we also found in the house...? I'm stretching on this one. It's a mystery.
October 9, 2003
The "Do Not Call...or send sharp knives...list"
What ever happened to GOOD swag? Swag is the business person's term for "stuff given out by advertisers--promotional products" and is probably an acronym. I have no idea what it stands for.
Now, you get a phone call. And thus, the Do Not Call list.
GOOD swag used to include pen knives--those seemed quite popular. As in this folding knife from Swift & Company, meatpacker in Chicago who helped inspire Carl Sandburg...and a lot of labor organizers :)
(Click on a picture to make it larger)
But Swift & Company is no more! Still, its swag lives on...in our basement.
Let's see...other swag in our basement:
Amelia's Beauty Salon on Diversey gave out key chains...
But the building she was in doesn't seem to exist anymore. The address was between these two buildings. (FYI...I did not drive around to get these pictures. It's Internet magic...I'll explain it at another time.)
K&D Liquors was also fond of pen knives...
They also seem to have moved on...
The Bowmanville Bank at Lincoln, Lawrence & Western Avenues would accept this coin on deposit (worth 50 cents) for opening up a savings account of $5.00 or more. They will also pay 3% compound interest on your savings! Which sounds like a great deal today! I wish they were still offering that.
All we know about the bank is that it was chartered as Bowmanville National Bank of Chicago in 1923...no idea when it closed. Or was bought up by a hungry, larger bank.
The Medinah Temple is still around, even though the building was sold by the Shriners more recently...
Outside of Chicago (in Dayton, Ohio), there is this swag "thing" (?) from L.M. Berry & Co....
But hey! They are still around!
Some stories end happily. Some don't.
Like this story about the Society of the Divine Savior in Wisconsin.
Or our memories of the Beloved New Hampshire Old Man of the Mountain.
So swag outlasts us too. Wow.
A surprised me with some funny swag that he had doodled up one night on the computer. This site allows you to create your very own swag.
He bought me a mouse pad to make me laugh. Silliness. Someday, someone may find it in a drawer and ask...."Who were these nutcases?"
Well, they were nutcases trying to bring a house back to life and not lose their sense of humor in the process.
October 10, 2003
The Adoption Process
Our new friends and neighbors, S & T, are NEAT people. They teach art in Chicago's schools.
They also bought a bungalow in need of some repair. Maybe not as much...they have excellent taste!
T is interested in vintage cameras, so we were happy to invite them over (they are two doors down) to look at the "stuff". Here we see S happily looking for treasure...
Finally, they gather up their treasure of vintage cameras and accessories. T is SO excited. Some will be for "show" and she hopes to use some in her work. Go T!
The adoption process has turned out well for everyone! S and T with their new box of vintage things! Vintage things who have found owners who will care for them!
*sniff* It's beautiful.
Our last good bye is a close-up on the little "dude". Bye little camera. Make your new mom proud.
October 12, 2003
The things that lurk in the basement
Just some more things from the basement. In no particular order.
Fire King Fruit & German Christmas china...
< Adopted 
= Adopted
Nursery Rhyme glasses, Bombo Glass (Paramount in 1939), gauze table runner from Mexico, a pewter ink sander, an ink sander jug, a Safe-Lok Media table, Depression Glass salt dips, Anchor Hocking toothpick holder, Trailbreaker sled, Ve Po Ad calculator, Angel Dish from Italy, Nodder Band from Germany (pre-WWII), Nodder (Bobble?) Horse, Retro Enamel Ashtray...
< See this at the Estate Sale 
= Adopted! 
< See this at the Estate Sale 
Insane, isn't it?
But then, so is living with a bathroom where you can see into the basement, I guess. Or a kitchen with appliances that don't work.
Sigh.
October 14, 2003
Vintage Fashion
You are getting two in one today :) At 5:00 am, my mind works overtime.
Did you ever wonder what they were wearing in the bungalows of yesteryear?
Wonder no longer. It was all in our upstairs bedroom or tucked into our linen closet.
We have pre-June Cleaver even! More vintage aprons than you can possibly imagine.
< See this at the Estate Sale 
= Adopted 
< See this at the Estate Sale
< Adopted 
< See this at the Estate Sale 
< See this at the Estate Sale 
< See this at the Estate Sale 
< Adopted 
= Adopted 
< See this at the Estate Sale
And a little something for someone at the BBQ...circa 1970's...(one of the few post 50's items in the house!)
But what about when you're leaving the kitchen behind and are going out for a night on the town? Well, a gorgeous vintage COAT!
Soft smokey grey cashmere outside and Persian lamb (?) inside...
Black lamb outside with a warm mink collar...
< Adopted
Pink and grey wool, black cashmere...
< Adopted 
< Adopted
And, my fave, FAUX fur! (All the warmth and fun of the real thing ;)
< Adopted
The perfect attire for standing around and wondering how to fix the furnace in the dead of winter...or for fun wear while directing a hair dryer at frozen pipes. Oh yeah. Home renovation can be fashionable...
And this, um, "box of fur"? (No, I am not kidding.)
I see teddy bears in this furs' future.
p.s. Recycle used furs when you can! Or go FAUX! Thanks!
October 15, 2003
Um, honey? There's a flea market in our basement
How? How did it all fit in here originally? How?
These were pictures taken right before we went to bed on SUNDAY. With only 50% of the things we have in here brought down to the basement and garage. I couldn't photograph everything...so I did a corner. That's only 12% of what is in this place. (And we hadn't brought down some very good stuff at this point, because we nervous about fitting it all in!)
So, let's see, as I take a look around the ENTIRE basement, that's...
-7 grab boxes of assorted craft and art supplies...check.
-3 boxes of assorted vintage Christmas stuff...check.
-1 whole room of camping, sports, BSA and other type equipment...check.
-5 or 6 shelving UNITS of art pottery, Depression glass, bottles and breakables...check.
-2 shelving units of woodenware, boxes, tins and so on....check.
-1 wall full of shelves and hooks with vintage barnyard tin, silver, pewter, copper and other metals...check.
-1 huge table and 3 chests full of vintage kitchen supplies, all sorts, from 1800's - 1950's...check.
-3 shelving units of audio visual and camera supplies...check.
-6-7 shelving units of books and some videos...approximately 1000+ of them...check.
-One half wall length of vintage vanity stuff (clothes, purses, etc.)....check.
-Stuff from many other countries scattered everywhere...check.
-Stuff I am not remembering because my brain is too full...check.
This does not include what is in the garage. Nor does it include vintage paper (a winter project). While we have only a few pieces of furniture...we do have three coal buckets. Hmmm. Boxes (be they leather, wood, lacquer, cigar or otherwise?)...we have about 25 of them. So, there is definitely an OVERabundance of some categories while there is an UNDERabundance of others. Very few things here are larger than a breadbox. Which we have. One. Lithographed tin. From the 30's or 40's.
After the past few months, I strive for this look someday. Maybe two decades from now...
My dad is already striving for it. He made two lamps out of things from the house...(he did buy new shades). Those are 2 vases and a beautifully cut and painted base. He got more mileage out of four vases that way. He is SO GOOD! He recycles.
October 18, 2003
The Collectors!
You know, you pick up a whatchamacallit, and turn it over in your hands, and think...hmmm. And wonder, "can this be the only one?"
Well, no. Not actually. Because there are little niche groups of people out there...enchanted with...and maybe a little obsessed with, certain items.
Like....
**
We kid you not. (** This image is from Steve's website, and I posted it here because I REALLY want you to visit his site. And, unless you saw an example of the incredible stuff there, you might not click the link. So visit Steve and, if you love his museum, click to donate so these important artifacts can be saved...)
They are happy when they are sitting next to a Airline Safety Card Collector! (No in-flight turf wars...)
I've actually been fond of airline safety cards myself. A co-worker and I (Mr. J Brown!) kept ourselves awake and choking with laughter re-labeling our airline safety card on a late flight for a business trip. The original was funnier...plus, you had to be there, but it looked kinda like this...
Like I said...you had to be there.
Across the globe, there is never a shortage of PERFUME COLLECTORS!
There is the...
Antique Hose Nozzle Collectors need NEVER feel alone!
Those who wish to make a spectacle of themselves are welcome to do so here.
Vintage Coleman Lantern collectors ALWAYS get invited on camping trips.
And movie cameras? Sure...
< Adopted
And, rest assured, that items like calculators, slide rules, adding machines and typewriters will always have homes as well...
It's nice to be appreciated!
October 22, 2003
What is all of the fuss about?
I have to admit. Flying home on Chautauqua Airlines, I slipped the Safety Card out of the "seat pocket in front of me" and studied it closely.
All apologies to those who collect them, I still can't see the excitement. But maybe it wasn't a very exciting card. They do seem to be getting more generic these days.
It got me thinking about everyone who asks me about the stuff in the house. And my own surprise when I happen to get curious about something, plug it into the computer and find out that it is worth very little or something more. Sometimes the dollar value doesn't quite sync up with the worth that I would place upon it.
But that really doesn't matter in the world of collectibles.
< Adopted
< Adopted
Often, the price of a "collectible" will depend upon its rarity and the desire of people to collect it. I never really thought about "rarity" before in the whole value equation. To me, something is valuable if it evokes a memory, if I think it is attractive or useful AND attractive (double bonus)!
But rarity can depend upon so many things: When was it made? How many were made? How hard was it to keep in one piece? Did many people get them? Did they pass them down? Sometimes, things that I think are UNattractive ARE rare and, well, that does make sense. If everyone LOVED them and thought they were gorgeous and had them, they are probably not rare. Even though they might be very attractive.
And "attractive". That designation is completely subjective. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and all that.
< Adopted 
So, how do you learn what is valuable and what is not? If you want my opinion, you focus on something that you feel interested in and you get to know it INTIMATELY. Because I can tell you from experience, when faced with a mountain of thousands of different types of items, there is NO WAY to know what is valuable and what isn't all of the time. Unless you have a lot of storage, a lot of time and a whole lot of patience. Otherwise, if you are like me, you approach the whole thing as a curiousity, pick up certain things and write about them. The rest of it, you just let go of.
There are some things that we are asked about over and over again...children's books, toys and furniture. Things that people tend to overlook? Technical books, glassware, small kitchen appliances and cookbooks. The fastest moving discussion groups I've ever seen are the ones on Pottery and Glass. These things are fragile, therefore they are rare. Whole sets don't often survive. This makes others LOVE them.
< Adopted 
Other things that get overlooked? Things that are destined for a creative second life. Things that can be framed (brochures, magazine covers, ads, sheet music, aprons, doilies...anything flat). Things that can hold other things...coalbuckets holding firewood, pails holding flowers, Depression Glass bowls holding guest soaps. It's the Martha Stewart syndrome. Before the trading scandal. Things that can be used as furniture...stacked suitcases, fruit crates, wooden sleds and wooden boxes.
Let's take this case in point. A DripCut, red bakelite handled syrup pourer.
< Adopted
Which could still be used for syrup. OR for granulated sugar. Or for dishsoap at the sink. (This specific one has been adopted by a couple of friends of ours. And will be living its second life soon.)
The fun of this stuff is what other people make of it. And the stories they tell us. And the surprises. Otherwise, this would be very overwhelming.
October 24, 2003
"The Boy Scout Room"
We have this one room in our basement that we call "the Boy Scout room." It isn't actually full of Boy Scout stuff (anymore), but the previous owner was a Troop Leader for 20 years who was well respected in the community. This room is full of all the camping and outdoor equipment that he used with his troops. Many of the things are from his days in WWII. So you see a lot of Army issue, and Coleman, and signal flags, and camp chairs and cooking stuff and, well, more things than we can really catalog.
I never would have though that one day I'd have a Boy Scout room...
October 25, 2003
Virtual Estate Sale
Ever since we've moved in to "the house with all of its stuff", we've received many, many (MANY) suggestions for dealing with the contents. Everything from "Garage Sale" to "Dealers" to "eBay".
However, there wasn't a "one-size-fits-all" solution for our need to liquidate and move on.
The range of items is too diverse for appraisers and dealers...plus we really wanted to experience the fun of interacting directly with the folks who wanted a specific item for nostalgic or other reasons. There are too many items to do everything online. There are some fragile items that were suited to an "in person" inspection and not the shipping process. Some items would be handled too roughly in an estate or garage sale. Fixed price was better for some things that don't have lots of buyers looking the same week. Auction was better for more popular or well known items.
So, at some point or another, we will be sampling most varieties of "stuff" sales. And then stop. Because this isn't our priority...the house is. We want to combine efficiency, fun, ease and a fair return.
In some ways, it is a humbling experience. I don't think I have ever HAD to sell anything to afford something basic...like bathroom tile. Or fixing a ceiling before it falls on us in our sleep. But in our situation with this house, if we can reach our goals within 8 years instead of 15 and the stuff helps, then...so be it. It is life. Most days it is lemons. So lemonade must be made.
A has created a new "Shop" link at the top of this page or you can read on for his description about the details...
We've been getting so many questions and requests for items we've decided to put some of them online. That way everyone will have a chance to participate as we distribute the interesting and unexpected array of items we've uncovered. Unfortunately, we won't be able to offer up everything online. Some things are just too difficult to ship. In other cases we just can't afford the time.
So, think of our virtual estate sale as the unique and collectible "top shelf" of a very, very large collection that we need to distribute as painlessly as possible while learning something in the process and maybe having a little fun too.
We'll add things to the shop for as long as we are digging through boxes and find things that wouldn't be appropriate for an in-person sale. Like some of the books. We haven't even looked at most of the ephemera--hopefully, long winter nights will give us some time. And other items that are unusual.
Browse around. A larger "bulk" of items will be offered in a public estate sale on an undecided date.
October 29, 2003
Holidays in a HOUSE! Oh boy!
I had this HUGE realization last night...Halloween is coming and we're living in a HOUSE. A house! With a front door and door bell? Get it???
No?
After years of living in multi-unit buildings, I realized that holidays would always make me feel wistful. No trick-or-treaters. No carolers. Sometimes I wanted to hike to a street with houses and just enjoy watching the kids goof around. But if you do that these days, people get the wrong idea. Which is sad. What is more fun to watch than a bunch of little kids hopped up on sugar with goofy costumes running around like crazy people?! Especially if you don't have to deal with the dentist bills.
But this year....Halloween! Candy! Dishing it out! Whoo hooo!
Couldn't find any Halloween stuff to show you. The drains were enough of a horror. But Christmas stuff? Since it is already on display at the local Target (say that with a French accent please..."Tar-jzay"), I hauled some out for your nostalgic pleasure.
Last year at Christmastime, we were in Alaska visiting A's sister. It is pretty beautiful up there but very, very dark this time of year. A lot of folks went caroling while we lagged behind and just tried to stay warm. And it made me remember that caroling AT people was always more fun than being caroled TO. I have no idea why I believe that.
Maybe the whole "being caroled at" thing has to do with someone singing to me. I never did like that. When I was a babe in arms, my mother sang lullabies to me and I cried until she stopped. (I really did. She told me.) Her intentions were good. I was always a better producer than audience member, even back then. Sorry Mom.
< Adopted 
< See this at the Estate Sale
< Adopted
It was kind of cool finding the silver snowflake placemats in the Wieboldt's box. How could someone have these things and NEVER USE THEM?????
*If you click on the Wieboldt's link, you can hear Lou Boudreau flub a live Wieboldt's spot at a long ago Cubs game at the bottom of the article. Ah, memories.
October 30, 2003
Christmas on State Street
One more "What on Earth?" this week and then it is work, work, work for a couple of days.
I'm going to finish up the Christmas box and, in so doing, will salute that great street--STATE STREET--in Chicago. There is nothing like State Street in Chicago at the holidays.
First, Marshall Fields. My FAVORITE department store. Which is saying something. Because I'm not a shopper by nature. Fields has been around since 1852 and is pretty much the symbol of great stores in Chicago. There's nothing like tearing into a Marshall Fields box. :)
< See this at the Estate Sale
< Adopted
They actually put up a 45 foot high tree (I know, I know...Rockefeller Center. But, this is INSIDE) with 1,200 themed ornaments and 25,000 lights in the Walnut Room. There are the 13 animated windows and the decorations hung in the 10-story atrium (the glass above? Made by Tiffany.) It's pretty amazing.
They also invented
< You can see him at the Estate Sale
They are also celebrating Christmas on State Street
< Adopted
< Estate Sale
These little trinkets look SO familiar to me...though I don't know if we had these. Maybe my grandmother did? The Tavern Candle on the end is not familiar but it has a funny story. It was distributed by the Socony Vacuum Oil Company...the ancestor of Exxon Mobil. The company taken all the way to the Supreme Court in 1940 on Anti-Trust charges. THOSE were the days :)
Okay, wow. I am getting overwhelmed by this one box. Candles, candles, candles. A zillion of 'em. Enough for a bunch of Santa Lucia's...which I missed, by the way, because I married a Swede but didn't grow up as one. So, plan a holiday in Chicago...there's tons to do and see. We love our city.
p.s. Tully Monster asked in the last entry if we found any angel mobile's and we didn't. But we did find this mobile from Occupied Japan in the Christmas box!
< Adopted
November 3, 2003
What is this thing?
Can you guess what this is? (We found it in the basement. Yes, we are still finding things.)
We think we finally figured it out. Do YOU know? It says "Ultrasonic #2400 Radionic Industries, Chicago 10, Illinois" A good quiz for a Tuesday. (If you are a family member and already talked about this with us, hold back for now and see if someone new knows :)
November 4, 2003
Loudspeaker...Blues Brothers Style :)
Those were great answers everyone! To our surprise, Tully actually had the real answer! It's the thing from on top of Elwood Blue's car!
Well, actually, "anonymous" actually got closer to the real answer. It is a portable megaphone, probably used in Boy Scouts or in the military or both. W was in WWII and then was a troup leader for a couple of decades. I don't know if this one is as old as WWII or not (there is no date, only a patent number) but, from the design of it...
Coco' s microphone is SHARP!!! It comes tucked INSIDE of a compartment in the box, along with 4 9-volt batteries. The microphone plugs in on the outside, you hang it on a special hook on the front of the box while carrying it by the leather strap. (If you are new to the site, click on any picture to make it larger.)
Or, you COULD conceivably strap it onto your small foreign import to get that Blues Brother's feeling :) Though for the best results, you might want to get a battered Chevy Caprice...
November 7, 2003
Things you might see on a bar
Now it feels like we are playing "Password" here on "What On Earth?"...everything starts to look like it belongs in a category. Such as these things...
Did this really inspire the movie "Alien"? If you go to uncork the bottle, is it meant to scare you away from whatever is IN the bottle forever?
Hmm...this seems to be a pretty fancy place.
Some vintage Galiano from the top shelf behind the bar...
A classy retro enamel ashtray from Bovano...
Whoops! The bartender is a green horn...
Now I'll never get my Shirley Temple cocktail! I bet he doesn't know the right ratio of maraschino cherry juice to 7-Up....
November 10, 2003
Chicago Mysteries that require Nancy Drew...
This house, as I've said before, brings out the "Nancy Drew" in me...
Here's why...
The box says "Chamber Music" (most likely from our church way back when) but there are many more audio reels in there...
What did W record with the "Mobile Recording Studios"? What will we hear on this custom record?
Who are in these photos of people practicing their music? It looks like a symphony...
Did Mrs. O'Leary's cow really do the deed? Or was she a victim of "wrong place, wrong time"?
November 13, 2003
Many lands...one big drawer
Not everything is sorted out in our little house o' stuff. Often, we will find things that are from different countries and different decades sharing the same drawer or box.
It is a big puzzle we are unraveling.
On a different note, we get many emails on different topics or about certain items that we post here. This evening, I fell over as I discovered that my email "box"...valiently trying to sort out the volume of mail I receive from different sources...stashed a bunch of your notes in a place that I didn't expect. So I just found them. A lot of them. Which means that many of you think that I am unspeakably rude for not replying to you before now. This happened to me once before about 6 months ago and I am still unraveling that "glitch". It is what I get for relying upon technology to organize me. Friends, I'm slowly winding my way through your notes. Dear guests, if you have questions about certain items in the house o' stuff for sale, keep an eye on our Estate Sale page where we post things as often as we can. If you want to know when we have updated our pages there, try out Bloglines to notify you...it's free and very nifty.
Here is a "drawer" full of things from near and far for you to poke around in...
These are mostly from "South of the Border", I think...I know they had traveled to Mexico, Peru, Columbia, Patagonia and other countries...
The pink pottery bowl is Swedish "Gefle", an "antik" as they say :)
Pierced tongue as letter opener is really too awesome. Especially with the mother-of-pearl eyes...
This is either Italy or Occupied Japan paste porcelain. The porcelain decorative candles slip out so that you can substitute real ones on occasion...
Leather camel, woven donkey and rider. Mmmmhmmm.
November 17, 2003
Chicago, Part Trois
We still find things. Last week, I grabbed a yardstick out of the pile we have and used it to measure something. Then, I read it.
Hm. "Leadership Beyond Measure." "Daley 1967." Wasn't that the same year that....yep. And right before...? Yep.
The Bell Telephone Hour!
The Chicago Sun...sells....life insurance?
But who trumps the Chicago Sun? The TRIBUNE, of course. :)
And it was important to INVEST IN PROPERTY in, uh, our neighborhood actually. But a long, long time ago...
Something tells me this tin sign we found in the garage isn't referring to the vacuum cleaner...
Hoover? For President.
November 20, 2003
The Crazy Wall
This is a bedroom wall in our house.
Yes, really. No, I'm not kidding. Yes, you're right, there are small notes on the maps...we're assuming its places they visited. I don't know...I guess they just were ok with letting their son decorate it the way he wanted to.
We are thinking we will change this part of the house.
November 22, 2003
More of the Crazy Wall
Due to popular demand, more pictures of the bedroom "I like football and maps!" wall...
We don't know why the Green Bay Packers are up here. If you are from Chicago, don't blame us :)
When we looked really closely at these maps, we saw that some of them had been written on...locations were marked, notes were made.
As in "7-24-71...Harold, LRH and WWH"
They also had written a lot on a map of New England, including the words "Old House" in Quincy, Massachusetts (but information I've found on the family puts them one side in Chicago Heights at the turn of the century and the other side in Texas...?) And a big circle around Newport with the words, "Vanderbilt's House" sketched in. Well, of course.
So, A's grandpa, Keith, decided to join the fun during a visit. Now we think that we'll encourage all of our guests to draw on the walls until this room is done. And since it will be one of the last rooms on our list...
You know, I've always wanted a good reason to draw on the walls.
November 25, 2003
Prepping for work over the holiday
My students took their last quiz today and it's less than 4 weeks before I have to write the final. And the media project we are still working on is STILL giving us problems on the hard drive. And then there is work at my other job and A's full time job.
And then there is the house.
So, Thanksgiving is coming up and we are giving thanks that we even have jobs and a house and it has electricity. Not the plumbing we need but electricity and heat. Those are good things. So, I am going to throw some random "What On Earth?" stuff up here for you to gander at and then try to get some sleep.
Like this random pile of purses. (Just click on something to look at it more closely. Or don't if you would rather avoid the dust and details.)
Purses to...um...Poker!
And poker...to....POSTCARDS! (Of Albany, NY)
And postcards to...er...a PAINTED wooden dish (whew!)
And painted wooden dish (from Scandanavia) to a pamphlet (from the Chicago Public School System...)
Phew...I'm tired. Let's finish the alphabet game another evening...
December 1, 2003
Restoring a house? Get Nervine!
Today was the official last day of fall for me. I'm a little behind. So, I spent the morning of my day off stuffing leaves into the "Blue Bags" the City of Chicago uses for recycling "lawnstuffs".
I also tend to listen to Public Radio a lot when I am home during the day. I love Public Radio, but I am TOO emotional--really--to listen to it all of the time. Current events have me a little, um, tense. On top of everything else. (You might want to click on these pictures to make them a little larger.)
So I ESPECIALLY got a good laugh when I came across this old booklet that tells the story of "OUR PRESIDENTS"...
...sponsored by...
NERVINE "Take it when you're cranky, fidgety, sleepless, nervous, anxious, irritable, depressed...I guess just about any time you are restoring an old house..."
Now, about our presidents...
Oh, yes! Back to our regularly scheduled....ADVERTISING! For MORE NERVINE! Take it when you've been ROBBED! (Take it by the bottle full...it says that....right there.)
And byAlka Seltzer! Interesting that the Alka-Seltzer ad is superimposed over a picture of the White House.
I don't make this stuff up. I just report on it. Honest.
:)
But it's super funny.
P.S. This is for Anna from Little Red Boat
Anna--I feel the record is the least I could do...but I wish it could be this other request you had: "a proper global commitment to fair trade, the AIDS crisis and the Kyoto treaty." (We'll both wish for that together.) However, if you change your mind about the handbags or shoes, we have some posh (for, um, 1942) ones in the attic. All the best from ATP, J
December 5, 2003
Something new that needs detective work
So, we are still finding things in the house. The place where this was stored led to its being damaged and that is so sad. It is still beautiful, even with the damage. Rolled onto cylinders of dark wood, it is a painted rice paper scroll which is as long as our dining table (about 5'6")
(Click on the pictures to make them larger)
The detail of the figures makes me curious as to who they represent.
Also sadly, the artist's signature is rolled onto the end of the scroll and too difficult to photograph. You have to turn the end of the scroll to read the figures. However, there were paper tags on the ends.
So, does this tag mean something auspicious like "wisdom"?
Or is it a price tag? ;) And what was the value of 3.50 in this denomination in 1931 in Asia?
Grin.
December 9, 2003
Ouch! And...Girl Scouts.
Those two topics in the title only go together because:
a) I have a WHOMPIN' viral infection that makes typing this entry feel like my fingers will fall off. That is how much my body hurts right now.
b) I am going to post some things in a booklet I found to get out of a lot of typing.
Circa 1952 (click on the pictures to make them larger):
I was a Girl Scout. In 197_something, something. And I remember feeling badly because all of the COOLEST badges were going on with the Boy Scouts. Archery. And canoeing. And killing bears.
Okay, maybe not the bears.
So, to soothe our souls, my friend Vicki and I set out to assemble the BIGGEST, BADDEST collections of badges EVER. Cooking and sewing and domesticating our little hearts out with some feminist "environmental recycling" thrown in.
But, I still wanted that Kayaking Badge.
I had no idea of the legacy that had been left to me. How far the Girl Scouts had come at that point. (And how far they are today...)
But, now I know where Martha Stewart gets her "know-how" anyway. She was probably an overambitious badge collector too. Except that she turned it into a media empire and I lost interest in favor of POWER TOOLS!
Nice stealth marketing on behalf of Stanley Home Products, by the way.
I look better with a SawZall in my hand than a mop, thank you very much.
(I'm off to take more Tylenol now...ouch. Ouch!)
December 12, 2003
Another Random Batch (while we recover)
Some tiny things. Doll-sized things. Itty bitty stuff. Some of it, anyway.
(You can make these things LARGER by clicking on them :)
Like tiny garden tools for little kids. So they can have their own tiny co-op. (There is a tiny snow shovel, broom and dustpan around here too. Somewhere.)
Teeny Tea Cup with a parrot handle!
Tiny pottery birds.
Tiny Marshall Field box...
...with tiny doll UMBRELLAS!!!
Now, if my tiny respiratory infection would get TINIER...that would be most excellent :)
December 17, 2003
Ode to Stuff
I wish that I would never see...
(Although some are as cute as cute can be...)
As many vintage coffee cans...
Or wood and bakelite camera stands...
Maybe not so many silver spoons...
And definitely less antique cartoons...
Fewer books would be quite nice*...
And fewer racquets paradise!
It would be nice to make some more room...
And get my bathroom back from storeroom. :(
* Though this one is quite beautiful and old and covers more fonts than Textism! That is saying quite a bit.
December 19, 2003
Paper Bells and other wall oddities
We found this in the ceiling, in between the 2nd and 1st floor, when we took the bathroom ceiling down.
It was next to the place where the old electrical box was. It's about as large as my hand (but my hands are small).
Is it related to that? Perhaps a symbol for the folks who built the house out of parts that were milled elsewhere? (We think our house was one of a pattern that made 5 houses on this block...and which were assembled by the first person to live here.)
Is it an old Christmas decoration that slipped between the floors somehow? By how? And why only one?
Other things we've found in the walls:
The marbles were especially interesting. I'm trying to classify them.
This Breakfast Cocoa Lid is adorable. It is from Walter Baker & Co Ltd of Massachusetts...
Finally, this ghostly image on this negative. Early 20th century? The clothes look that way. It is hard to reproduce here on the site. The figures are gathered in a circle of chairs...
They are so mysterious. I wish I knew who they were.
December 21, 2003
Tiki Tissue Holder
This thing is NOT in our house.
But someone searching for it found our website and we mentioned it in yesterday's entry.
Diligent reader KIM let us know where the real thing can be found. You can follow her link in the comments section of yesterday's entry.
This has to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen for sale during a holiday season.
December 25, 2003
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas from House In Progress.
And Laurelle Guild from Kensington Aluminum (Art Deco, 1930's).
January 1, 2004
What did YOU get for Christmas?
I got some spare time to hunt around the attic. Because we really haven't discovered everything in this house yet.
Like a whole tissue wrapped box of embroidered and printed handkerchiefs. I am so not kidding. And here is one of them that has me completely puzzled.
Old Mother Hubbard,
She went to the cupboard:
To get her poor dog a bone,
When she got there
The cupboard was bare:
And so the poor doggie got none.
I didn't remember the rest of the rhyme on the handkerchief!
Dear Foxy Grand Pa
With the boys and a hamper:
Heard it by wireless phone.
With a new hat for the old lady,
They dined where it was shady
And the dog he got fat on the bone.
Foxy Grand Pa? Wireless phone? I don't get it. From the markings on the box and the wrapping, these handkerchiefs are from the late 1800's through the 1940's, maybe early 1950's (but that is a stretch). What was a wireless phone back then?
Maybe it was some sort of radio? Or "walkie talkie"? That was invented in 1938.
Hmm.
January 8, 2004
(Little) Folks in Uniform
We haven't had a "what on earth" entry for awhile because we've been doing (oh my gosh!) REAL WORK on the house.
So it's the best time to do another What on Earth? Tonight's theme: little folks in uniform.
One of the previous owners was in WWII and he was a Boy Scout Leader for 20 years. And his wife was a Girl Scout leader for about 10+ years. Which makes things SUPER interesting. I mean, BIG merit badge flashbacks for me all of the time.
We've posted a few things already and I can't post the rest of EVERYTHING tonight, but here are a few new things:
Thin Mint Wrappers...no cookies
Mug from camp...
An issue of "Speideren", a Norwegian magazine from 1930. This one IS pretty unusual considering Scouting was banned from Norway by the Nazi Partyin 1940 and everything related to scouting was burned. Very few things exist from there today that weren't mailed out of the country before that time (such as postcards).
Join the Boy Scouts!
Small world! A used to live in Colorado Springs!
And finally, because I found the pictures, Ryan models the tent backpack that he was picked up from us this fall. Looking good, RJ!
And yes, ladies, he's single :)
January 12, 2004
What on earth miscellaneous
So tired. Busy weekend and week. Dave the Cat is missing somewhere in the house (probably in the walls) and we cannot find him which makes me sad and frustrated.
So here is what I have for "What on earth?" It doesn't have much of a theme or make any sense that I can see. Maybe a kind and gentle reader can link together the meaning of these objects sharing the same spece.
The Vintage handkerchief "Found Alphabet" game
Put it together and WHAT DOES IT SPELL!?! Um, farg? That's pretty much summed up the last week for me.
Wacky, silly girl scouts back then!
And the Swiss?! With that RiColA joke? So funny.
You know, if I had the talent for it, these handkerchiefs (there are about 100 or so of them) would make a great duvet cover. Sigh.
January 18, 2004
Living with History
Just found out recently that The Palmolive Building in Chicago was renovated from offices to condominiums.
The Palmolive Building's elevator friezes were designed and sculpted by Enrique Alferez...we had found a signed piece of Alferez's work (2 years before the Palmolive) in the house early on. He did the work for the Palmolive in 1929 while he was still a student of Lorado Taft.
And the council who re-designed the building had the good sense to preserve the best Art Deco elements...like the elevator friezes (which we are dying to see). The condominiums are breathtaking. Too fancy for us. But gorgeous.
Enrique Alferez lived at 6016 Ellis Avenue in 1927. Now, a building at that address no longer exists. Next door and across the street, the buildings of the University of Chicago campus have taken over the area.
And Molly Marine, Alferez's statue for the women of the Marine Corps, was just rebronzed and moved to Quantico.
Two more things: the Palmolive Building used to house the Playboy Offices and Club (news to us!) and it's beacon was turned on by Herbert Hoover in 1930 via a telegraph button from the White House. Called the Lindbergh beacon, after Lucky Lindbergh.
We have items in the house linking all of these. Together or separately, it still is pretty awe-inspiring to live among all of this history. Even if you still need a shower that works correctly.
January 22, 2004
Solving a few mysteries
Late at night, when I cannot sleep, I look up the information I am finding in the stacks of postcards that we have found in the attic.
This one (click to enlarge):
was mailed from the town of Brillion, Wisconsin in 1921 by pastor's wife, Hulda Moor. It shows the M.E. Church and Parsonage.
It's a lovely little town in Wisconsin and, strangely, they also struggle with the mysteries of their origin!
I contacted the very helpful H.Zander from Brillion who sent me photos of a few current Brillion churches to see if there was a match between the church in the postcard and the church today.
Hmmm. What do you think? Do we have a match? Or do we need to keep investigating?
It's possible that there were changes to the M.E. Church...or that it no longer exists. But it would be terrific if it does still exist....and to visit it. Someday.
January 28, 2004
The Mystery is Solved!
Community Development Director, Heather Zander, of the city of Brillion, Wisconsin has been quite brilliANT when it has come to tracking down information related to our most recent mystery....(see previous story)
The "M.E." church on the 1921 postcard in our attic is....the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brillion! (Click to enlarge)
I'll let Heather tell you the rest of the story:
Here’s the information I received from a parishioner of the Church.
The church over the years was added on because of the growing congregation. The parsonage, unfortunately was razed in 1963 due to a sagging foundation. I have attached some pictures of the site as it stands now, and also a picture of the pipe organ inside the church. You have a gem of a photo. Thanks for sharing!
It is an INCREDIBLE pipe organ...quite beautiful.
I'm sure this is a cozy modern parsonage....sigh...though the older one was much more romantic looking.
Our next mystery involves the church on THIS postcard...a 1920's M.E. Church from Battleground, Indiana...
January 31, 2004
Old books about babies
I love old books.
I have more right now than I can keep....ever....anywhere. But I do love old books.
Came across this one the other night. And thought that it was very quaint for its day...
It is so funny to me that, in 1938, Dr. Aldrich (from Northwestern University Medical School) and his wife felt it IMPERATIVE that someone recognize the fact...yes, babies ARE human beings.
Until I realized that the book was a follow-up to an earlier failed study in 1928.
