The Material Legacy

Shop Tools

These tools belonged to my father prior to 1920. Some of them came from my grandfather who died in 1913.

• anvil
• Cold chisels, punch
• Rachet brace
• Ships auger bit
• Small claw hammer
• Carpenter's square (2′)
• Two hand saws (cross cut)
• Oil stone
• Block plane
• Carpenter level (wooden)
• Carpenter chisel (⅜″)

Desk Lamp

Flexible (goose neck) study lamp was purchased for my use when I enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in September 1931. The dark green color was chosen to harmonize with the green stained dormitory furniture. For two school years I lived in Room 202, Tarrant House, Adams Hall on the university campus.

The lamp was used by me during four student years and subsequently in all the various roominghouses until I entered the army in March of 1941. After the war it continued as part of our household, but was not used so much. During the past few years it has served as an auxillary shop light in the basement.

The electrical cord was replaced once.

Bedroom Set

The set – bed, dresser, comode – was new when my parents (Gilbert and Lillie Cardinal) were married in 1901. The bed no longer exists. The set is made of cherry wood. The dresser originally had a mirror in a frame so that the mirror could be tilted. My mother removed the frame and hung the mirror on the wall in the 1920's. The frame is gone, but the mirror was left in attic at 132 S. Oneida St. until Carl Sippel gave it to me in 1985. The bevel-edge mirror has a broken-out section which my mother concealled with picture post cards.

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.

Game Board

This game board measures about 29″ square with mesh pockets at the four corners. It was patented by The Carrom Company, Ludington, Michigan. This is Style E, No. 1 Archarena. It is designed to play Carroms (registered) and checkers on one side and croquinol on the reverse side, as well as many other games. It came with an instruction book (now lost) covering 57 games (I think). Playing pieces are wooden rings in red, green, and clear, black. There are also two wooden cues 26″ long.

The game set was bought in 1918 or 1919 by my father, Gilbert Cardinal, while we lived at Oneida. He particularly enjoyed playing Carroms with my mother and me.

A few of the rings have broken.

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)

Pocket Knife

This knife was given to me by my grandmother, Mary Ann Johnston Cardinal, for Christmas 1920 when I was seven.

One side of the handle is marked Alton Cardinal, Green Bay, Wis. On the other side is a picture of me taken on my seventh birthday, April 10, 1920, at Oneida, Wis. The picture was damaged by me while removing rust with kerosene.

Shop Tools

Acquired by me during high school years (1927-31) or before.

• Work bench (made for me by my father)
• Vise
• Claw hammer (marked Alty on handle)
• Push drill (Mr. Punch)
• Auger bits for brace (6/16″, 8/16″, 10/16″)
• Countersink bit
• Twist bit (¼)
• Brace
• Marking guage
• Try square
• Large screw driver (square shank, wood handle) (bought for me by my Uncle Sam Cardinal)
• Screw driver set (3 in 1)
• Wooden handle containing may tools
• Jack plane
• Carpenter chisels (½″ ¾″)
• Spoke shave
• Hand cranked grinder