HISTORIC DISPLAYS IN STORE WINDOWS

["Ottawa Herald," 18 May 1937, page 7, column 4]

Out of the attics and cupboards and closets came a host of early day relics and curios of historic significance to decorate the windows of Ottawa merchants in honor of the state G.A.R. encampment last week. Of the undreds of relics, only a few are mentioned.

At Curby's Auto Supply Co., Mrs. A. C. Heigele and Mrs. J. E. Larson placed antique furniture, tables, a couch, a chair, china, glass, silver coffee urn. Mrs. R. A. Thompson a woven grass basket over 100 years old. A chenille shawl was displayed, worn by Mrs. Charlotte Downing, great grandmother of Misses Lucille and Margaret Prunty.

In J. E. Shinn's window, a quaint doll and 5-piece doll set with tea set and doll buggy were displayed, coming from London in 1849. The whale oil lamp and a dress of the 1880's recalled the early days.

In the north window of the Home Savings and Loan Association was to be found a spinning wheel and a hand woven coverlet from Mrs. F. C. Prager and two coverlets of Mrs. K. M. Bucklin.

In the Window of the North American Coffee Shop, Mrs. F. C. Prager had a copper warming pan, and Mrs. Wm. Barnett a brass kettle. Chas. M. Phillips had a muffin pan that is 86 years old.

At Stockmyer's jewelry were to be seen a collection of jewelry loaned by Mrs. J. W. King and glassware by Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Cartzdafner and Mrs. C. W. Harding.

In Litwin's window, besides a collection of antique fans, was a Swiss dress dated 1870, loaned by Mrs. J. E. Forbes.

In the Strand cafe was a collection of Spanish-American war pictures loaned by H. W. Alterman, a veteran of that war.

The J. C. Penny store window had a splendid Civil war collection of documents, photographs, etc., and also a clock 115 years old. Of interest to the women was the double Irish chain quilt made by Don Harbison's great grandmother. It had to be buried to preserve it from raiding parties during the civil war.

Mrs. A. Lambdin's black lace shawl was also there on display.

At Bob's clothes shop, Robert Latimer had placed chairs and tables of an early period and glassware of the 1800 period.

In the window of the Fredeen shoe store was a large collection of china and antique glassware by Mrs. J. E. LArson, outstanding of which were unrs, Bohemian blown glass and five thumb-print tumblers. In Dresden China was a moss rose candle holder that is unique.

In the biederman store was a collection of Confederate money, loaned by W. B. Hedrick.

At Grover Knight's clothing store was Mrs. K. M. Bucklin's pewter and silver collection.

In Burke's book store, Mrs. Ralph Burk and Mrs. Ralph Gill placed many interesting articles, a hand-woven coverlet, books printed from 1825 to 1849 and brought to Kansas territory in the early 50's, a 4-piece set of crystal glassware and other unique relics.

In Blair's elecric shop were waffle irons 151 years old now owned by Irene Slavens which have been in the family since Revolutionary war days. A hand carved butter printer was there, 83 years old, made as a wedding present in the Slavens family. a fluting iron, 100 years old, had been loaned by Mrs. Aldyth Chase.

At Carlson's Sip & Snack a candle mold and a copy of the Vicksburg Daily Citizen, the latter owned by the father of Harry Flemming, J. L. Flemming, 22nd Iowa. It was printed on wall paper after the capture of Vicksburg.

In Newfield's window was early day jewelry of Mrs. H. L. Cartzdafner and Mrs. A. Lambdin. sugar tongs 190 years old, brought to America with William Penn in the family of Mrs. Clara Faden of Richmond, were also on display.

In Elliott's music store was a Crieterion music box of 1880, owned by Mrs. W. E. Gilliland of Ottawa. It was the property of the late Mrs. I. O. Wear of Oberlin, Kas.

In the Madtson jewelry store was an excellent collection of glassware displayed by Mrs. Ellis Williamson.

In the window of Doman's store were figures dressed in old-fashioned dresses and also a display of shawls; two Paisley and one lace shawl. The bonnets and caps were also interesting. This collection was the work of Mrs. Fred M. Harris.

At Howe's was a collection of pitchers from Mrs. Henry Bennett and Mrs. Max Wolf. Of greatest interest were the Hispono-Mores-que lustreware pitcher of 1500, a ministers jug of 1843, and an early Bohemian engraved crystal.

In the foyer of the Plaza theatre were a 3-piece parlor suite 185 years old loaned by Ellis Williamson of a beautiful design.

The large ox yoke owned by H. O. Chandler was placed in the window of the People's National bank.

In the window of the Royal Cleaners were a quilt and coverlet by Mrs. D. C. Whitaker, and a quilt made over 100 years ago by the mother of the late Mrs. F. C. Herr.

In the winow of the Ottawa Herald were copies of early issues of the Western Home Journal. In another window are sundry relics of Louis Stevenson.

At the Hill drug store Fred Taylor had loaned relics for a display of Civil war muskets and sword. An early day side saddle and pack saddle were also of interest.

The Pennant Inn displayed a china teapot that is 145 years old.

At the Hankins drug store, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Brombacher arranged an interesting display including a pewter dish 188 years old, blue and white soup dishes 103 years old, and books dating from 1798. Mrs. W. W. Broyhill also displayed Currier & Ives pictures over 100 years old.

The First National bank displayed cancelled checks dating back to 1870 and 1871 for any who are interested.

Rick's store window had a display by W. C. Briles of early chinaware used for 150 years in the Briles family; a camphor bottle used for more than 100 years, and a silver key-wind watch. A pitcher of Mrs. A. Lambdin shows Gen. Kearney's headquarters at Fort Scott.

In the Union Public Service company a window ware house hold relics of Miss Grace and Walter A. Rose. there were coverlets and blankets, a writing desk, chairs, a table, a butter bowl and many interesting things of the long ago. A small, but malicious turnkey for pulling teeth was to be found, which added to misery of our forefathers before forceps were invented.

In the window of the Kramer drug store were documents and letters dating from the Civil war by Frank Welch's relatives. Early silverware and glass ware and an ornate table scarf by Mrs. Carl Anderson were on display.

The Ottawa Hardware Co. showed a fine display of muzzle loading rifles and shotguns, part of a collection of Harold H. Shomber of Pomona, together with reloading tools and a bullet mold. As a peaceful background were fence posts of the style of 1860 and an ox yoke of 1856 of Claude Dunlap.

the foote coffee shop displayed a carder and spinning wheel of Fred Taylor and Captain E. Boltwood's sword.

An interesting book display at the Keen store, belonging to B. M. and Ellen Ottaway revealed familiar names: McGuffey, Barnes, Osgood, etc., bearing dates from 1866 to 1887.

The window of the Smith shoe store was given over to the United Spanish War veterans for a display of war and Philippine relics, chiefly from the collections of G. L. Bolton and C. E. Steele. A boot tree, shoe last and peg cup, used by W. L. Delano, in the first shoe-shop in Franklin Co. in 1858-62 were also seen here, property of the daughter, Mrs. Mae Dunlap.

At the Woolworth store was a display jointly by C. A. Washburn and R. W. Stookey showing many relics gleaned from the battlefields by Geo. P. Washburn, Confederate money and papers of the Civil war period from Vicksburg, Philadelphia and New York revealing the feeling of the times.

The Townsend store displayed an early sewing machine and spinning wheel from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Ross. Mrs. K. M. Bucklin contributed a Civil war musket, canteen and sword to the display. A dress, gloves and slippers of Mrs. S. P. Lee, aunt of Mrs. Mary Fiske Stine was also shown.

At Kaiser's No. 1 store, a fine display of pictures of Geo. H. Thomas post and local pictures were shown with many Civil war relics. Mrs. John G. Kaiser had many types of rare and frosted glassware. A powder horn was shown, which was carried in the Revoluntionary war in the family of the present owner, C. A. Smith of Richmond.

Pool's Dry Goods Co. windows were decorated by Mrs. R. A. Harris and presented a treasure-house of rare old things, including dresses, pictures, furniture, glassware, and many other things from many families of Ottawa.

The Dalton window presented an attractive display oby Fred Taylor of war relics ranging from the Revolutionary war to the Philippine insurrection.

The Manley shoe store has many historic objects, chiefly contributed by Elmer D. Manley and Verna Shoemaker.

The window of Dr. T. Berglund was decorated by Miss Ann Melluish, and was filled with rare old books, many over 200 years old, as well as articles from England and Colonial America.

The central place of honor in the Lucas pharmacy window was given to a framed captain's commission issued to Richard Yates, father of Mrs. O. E. Dick, with his hat, shoulder bars, and sash. Mrs. Dick also furnished newspapers of Civil war days. Other articles were contributed by H. P. Wilson, Mrs. J. R. Murphy, Mrs. J. P. Blunk and W. L. Blair.

An interesting clock was to be seen on the wall of the Martha Washington bakery, called "Columbus Clock" from Mrs. J. H. Snyder. It has wooden works and the year 1492, is carved on the face of the clock.

The Saunders Music company presented instruments of a bygone day. A piano from England in 1827; a Concertina, also from England, was displayed by Miss Anna Melluish; a melodeon of Mrs. C. W. Leatherry was shown together with an accordion over 100 years old of Miss Bernie Lusk, and two music boxes, one belonging to L. W. Seright.

The Quin Furniture Co. showed a large four-poster cord springs bed owned by Mrs. A. Lambdin, and many fine articles from the collection of Miss Grace Meeker, and a butter-fly table of Mrs. H. L. Kennedy.

At Fairmount ice cream store was an ox yoke owned by A. J. McClay which was brought to Kansas by J. H. Walton in 1858.

A. P. Elder had a display of silver spoons and a historic "Gen. Kearney" plate in the window of the Security Loan and Investment Co.

The Dutchmaid ice cream shop displayed a collection of old books and bBibles dating from 1768. The oldest is owned by Mrs. Clara Faden, a bible brought to William Penn's colony by members of her family. Frank Welch contributed a Webster speller and an Ostrander arithmetic, while a McGuffey's speller was furnished by Mrs. J. T. Lawson of Pomona.

At Kaiser's No. 2 store Miss Clara Kaiser decorated the window from her collection of glassware, furniture, prints, samplers and a shawl 125 years old.

The Kansas City Power and Light Co. window display was donated by Mrs. H. F. Ellis with articles from a lost city. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis were merchants at Prairie City, west of the present town of Baldwin, and many articles were shown that were brought to the town that has long since disappeared. Another lost town was revealed in a map of Minneola, proudly bearing a picture of the building of the capitol of Kansas in one corner of the map.

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