The Material Legacy

Thread Box

This is the sort of box commonly used in stores which sold spools of thread during the nineteenth century.

This particular box was left by former owners in a ranch house (the Taft house) we moved into when I was about two years old (1915). It was used by me to keep small toys. The ranch was located at Indian Prairie, near Spokane, Washington.

A penciled note on the back of the lower drawer reads: Save this box for Mrs. Taft if empty any time in 11/17/1891.

I removed the old finish, made a new front for the lower drawer of red oak, turned and painted wooden knobs for the lower drawer to match the original black Bakelite knobs on the upper drawer, and applied clear finish.

The box has been used by my wife, Bea, as a jewelry box.

Doll

This doll was given to my mother, Lillie Strahl Cardinal (1877-1948), by her father, Hermann Strahl (1830-1880), for Christmas 1879 when she was two year[s] old. Because her father died one week later on New Year's Day 1880, she treasured the doll all her life. Shortly before she died, Mother asked us to give the doll to our daughter, Phyllis, when she became age two.

The doll's head, hands, and feet are china. The body is stuffed with sawdust. She is a blue eyed, black haired lady fifteen inches tall.

Doll Trunk

The doll trunk was my mother's. I'm not sure of its age, but I think it may be as old as the doll (1879). At any rate, it dates back to Mother's childhood, in the City of Fort Howard.

The trunk is [a] small version of a traveller's trunk with lock, leather handles, rollers, metal fittings, and simulated leather (paper) exterior covering. The inside is complete with tray and paper lining. Dimensions are: 14 inches long, 9 inches high, and 8 inches deep.

Doll Furniture

The doll furniture belonged to my mother when she was a child. She was born June 12, 1877, and live on North Ashland Avenue in the City of Fort Howard until she was thirteen.

Child's Dishes

This set of china is a small tea set for children to play with. There are also two pewter castors.

These items belonged to my mother, Lillie Strahl Cardinal, and date back to her childhood in the 1880's. I do not know exactly how or when she got them, but they were among her prized possessions.

Diary

Gilbert H. Cardinal

Mostly during War with Spain (1898). He served in Porto Rica [sic].)

Field Tools

These tools belonged to my father, Gilbert Cardinal, prior to 1920. Most of them were probably in 1917 when we moved onto a farm at Oneida, Wisconsin.

• Double-bitted axe (handle replaced about 1965)
• Scythe
• Wooden hand hay rake (I turned replacement teeth in 1985)
• Garden spade
• Two three-tined pitch forks
• Corn knife
• Post hole digger
• Buck saw
• Lantern
• Short-handled square shovel (this was discarded by C&NW Ry in 1920's)