Old Things

Trail's End bookends
	category household family_branch Cardinal_Alton_Beatrice provenance thought to be a gift to Alton and Beatrice Cardinal around 1947, household of Alton and Beatrice Cardinal prior to 1955, then household of Peter Cardinal maker_mark paper tags on the bottom read "Fashioned by RONSON" and "RONSON ALL METAL ART WARES" with the stamped number 11478 condition excellent disposition currently owned as of January 2014

Glass serving dish
	category household family_branch Cardinal_Alton_Beatrice provenance unknown, household of Alton and Beatrice Cardinal condition excellent disposition given to Carol Anne Grady 2005

Korean fabric wall hangings
	category household family_branch Cardinal_Alton_Beatrice provenance gift of Un Hi Lee Kang to Beatrice Cardinal, later household of Peter Cardinal disposition currently owned as of January 2014 provenance gift of Un Hi Lee Kang to Beatrice Cardinal, later household of Peter Cardinal note "New Year's Celebration" and "Traditional Wedding Ceremony" disposition currently owned as of January 2014

Blanket chest or trunk
	category household family_branch Cardinal_Gilbert provenance unknown, see notebook text notebook_reference OldThings.html#chest Blanket Chest This chest was the property of my great grandfather, Samuel S. Johnston (1806-1886), and was given to me by his daughter Mary Ann Johnston Cardinal (1842-1935) who was my grandmother. Blanket Chest Brought to USA (?) from Ireland by S. S. Johnston (later sergeant in regular U.S. Army including Mexican and Civil wars) Original color appears to be dark blue. [Perhaps it was a U.S. Army chest.] Note: Secret drawer I am not sure of the origin of the chest. It may have come with S.S. Johnston when he emigrated to the United States from Ireland. Or, it may have been an army chest acquired when he served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War and Civil War. The chest was made of only six boards: one each for bottom, sides, ends, and lid. When I received it (about 1923), the chest was in sound condition except for the split lid. Also, the molding along the front edge of the lid was gone, one hinge missing, one handle missing, lock inoperative, the lid and lock of the inside compartment missing, and the exterior scarred from handling. The original dark blue paint was intact, but scratched. The damaged lid had been reinforced, using cut nails. See the secret drawer under the inside compartment. Recognizing its value as a family heirloom, my mother and father fixed it up for use in the house. The missing molding was replaced on the lid front edge, casters added, a strap (made from my father's old pants suspenders) installed to hold the cover, and the entire chest covered with a coat of varnish-stain. I undertook restoration over a period of time ending in 1983. I removed the varnish- stain, retaining the original paint, strengthened the cover with dowels and screws, and applied two coats of paint of a color maatched to the original by the proprietor of Monte's Paint & Decorating. To preserve the wood, I painted the previously unpainted bottom exterior and applied a colorless spray finish to the entire inside. In the process, I had a hinge made by a blacksmith at Heidgen Co. (115 S. Broadway, Green Bay) to match as well as possible the original. The original is on the left and the copy on the right. Leather handles for both ends were made for me by a shoe repair shop; the original brass plates are on the right end, those on the left I made from a piece of new brass plate, screws are new. note dovetail joinery disposition currently owned as of January 2014

Billfold
(no photo)	category household family_branch Cardinal_Gilbert notebook_reference OldThings.html#billfold Billfold and $1 Bill Owned by Gilbert H. Cardinal. [Large size bill; 1923 silver certificate.] disposition unknown

Blanket Chest

This chest was the property of my great grandfather, Samuel S. Johnston (1806-1886), and was given to me by his daughter Mary Ann Johnston Cardinal (1842-1935) who was my grandmother.

Blanket Chest

Brought to USA (?) from Ireland by S. S. Johnston (later sergeant in regular U.S. Army including Mexican and Civil wars)

Original color appears to be dark blue. [Perhaps it was a U.S. Army chest.]

Note: Secret drawer

I am not sure of the origin of the chest. It may have come with S.S. Johnston when he emigrated to the United States from Ireland. Or, it may have been an army chest acquired when he served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War and Civil War.

The chest was made of only six boards: one each for bottom, sides, ends, and lid. When I received it (about 1923), the chest was in sound condition except for the split lid. Also, the molding along the front edge of the lid was gone, one hinge missing, one handle missing, lock inoperative, the lid and lock of the inside compartment missing, and the exterior scarred from handling. The original dark blue paint was intact, but scratched. The damaged lid had been reinforced, using cut nails. See the secret drawer under the inside compartment.

Recognizing its value as a family heirloom, my mother and father fixed it up for use in the house. The missing molding was replaced on the lid front edge, casters added, a strap (made from my father's old pants suspenders) installed to hold the cover, and the entire chest covered with a coat of varnish-stain.

I undertook restoration over a period of time ending in 1983. I removed the varnish- stain, retaining the original paint, strengthened the cover with dowels and screws, and applied two coats of paint of a color maatched to the original by the proprietor of Monte's Paint & Decorating. To preserve the wood, I painted the previously unpainted bottom exterior and applied a colorless spray finish to the entire inside. In the process, I had a hinge made by a blacksmith at Heidgen Co. (115 S. Broadway, Green Bay) to match as well as possible the original. The original is on the left and the copy on the right. Leather handles for both ends were made for me by a shoe repair shop; the original brass plates are on the right end, those on the left I made from a piece of new brass plate, screws are new.

The Material Legacy

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Billfold and $1 Bill

Categories Available For Display

Family Branches Available For Display

Links