Sunday, November 21, 2010

The Pack Rat

Some of you may have wondered about the items pictured at the top of this page. This collection proves, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I am a pack rat! These items, and many more, made the journey from Sunny California to Friendly Manitoba with yours truly.

The red round-topped trunk belonged to my grandfather, George Reager. I confess to painting it before learning that was a no-no. The family group picture was taken at George and Evaline Reager's 50th anniversary. The little girl in the square frame is my mother, Georgiana Reager Noble. The oval picture of a young boy is Mother's only brother, Marvin, who was killed when he was ten years old. That is another story, possibly the next one to appear in this space. The blue satin robe is part of my mom's trousseau, saved since her marriage in 1935.

The small tan suitcase belonged to my grandmother Ada Almedia Noble St. John. She used it to hold diaries covering 35 years of her life and they are still inside. The tall book next to it is another of her journals kept in 1882 just previous to her marriage to Emery H. Noble.

By now you have realized that being a pack rat is something of a family trait.

The cane bottom rocker belonged to my great-grandmother Mary Jane Downen. Look carefully at this picture, taken over 100 years ago, and you will see she is seated in this same chair.

This picture was taken on Christmas Day, 1901. The following article, describing this occasion, appeared in the local paper:

An incident took place in this city Christmas day which is very seldom heard of in the life of the ordinary American.
S.T. Downen and his wife, M. J. Downen gave a family Christmas dinner last week Wednesday to which all their children with their families were invited and were present.
The family consists of Mrs. Frances A. Norris, William M. Downen, Mrs. Evaline Reager, John L. and Bertha E. Downen.
None of these children were born in California, yet all were present and all reside within a day's drive of the parental roof.
In parents, children and grandchildren there were twenty-three present, all healthful and hearty, and the strangest fact of all is that during the last forty years history of this family not one death has occurred, not one vacant chair was necessary. This is a remarkable fact to be sure.
This is not the first family Christmas dinner enjoyed by the Downen family by any means, but it was the first one at which every member was present and it is safe to say Christmas, 1901, will never be forgotten by any of the members, but all will look back at it as a bright spot in their memories of home scenes, and earnestly hope for many unchanged repetitions of that remarkable Christmas dinner scene.



6 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your history blog with us. These are all important stories that can be lost so quickly. We can learn much about ourselves by consulting our lineage.

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  2. What a great idea for a blog. And what a wealth of family history treasures for your family.

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  3. How blessed you are to have these treasures not only in memory, but also as things to see, touch and hold. Having a photo taken 100 yrs ago is truly something. Look forward to read your other posts too.
    Sulo

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  4. Thanks to all who commented, and to those who have visited and not said a word, or two. It is an encouragement to know others share my interest in history.

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  5. I love the look of your blog as well as your post. I, too, love old things and tend to be a pack rat. Among many other things I have a plate that my grandmother brought back to Canada from England after a visit in 1928 and it was over 100 years old then. There is something about being able to touch something that your ancestors, long gone, once touched - people we have never seen and often know so little about but feel a connection to none the less.

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  6. Great post Lyn...I can fully aprreciate why you cherish these items so much. Just reading how you describe them makes me admire and respect your choice to be a "pack rat". :)

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