A Piece of History: Eisenhower Campaign Button

For my fifth post on heirlooms, I would like to tell you about a 1952 Eisenhower campaign button.

But first, a bit of history:

 

1789 George Washington Inaugural Button  



Campaign buttons, also called inaugural buttons, have been in use since the beginning of our nation. Although George Washington was the first to use them, they weren't mass produced until William McKinley's campaigns in 1897.

 

The original version was made of brass or other metals and lithographed with "Long Live the President" and the contestant's initials. But this was eventually replaced with a photographic button, Abraham Lincoln being the first to do so. Then in 1897 with the McKinley/Bryan election, the first "celluloid" buttons were used. These comprised a metal disc and pin at the back, a piece of paper printed with a message or photo, and a clear plastic covering. These became the most popular and are sometimes still used today!

 

1952 Eisenhower Campaign Button

 

 

 

 

This "I Like Ike" button belonged to my maternal      grandmother, Carol Lee Blair (nee Clark). She wore it in 1952 when working for the Eisenhower campaign through the Young Republicans club. While she worked for the Bakersfield, CA, branch of the club, she made calls urging people in the area to vote Republican. The Young Republicans were active since the 1850s but not nationally recognized until much later. At the urging of Herbert Hoover, George M. Olmsted officially founded the Young Republican National Federation, called Young Republicans for short.







Approximately 3/4 inch in diameter, the button was made by Allied Printing & Trades Council, which is known for producing campaign buttons as early as 1897.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although it may be worn with age and deemed "worthless" because its original purpose is now over, I will always treasure it as a piece of family history, as well as American history.

 

 

 

 

Love,

 

Ava Katherine<3

 

A Piece of History: Tent Trailer

For my next post in this series, I would like to write about one of my favorite heirlooms of all, our 1940s tent trailer! :)

 

Exterior of the trailer.

 

It was built by my maternal great-great uncle and aunt, Bud and Dorothy Gilbert.

 

 

Bud and Dorothy Gilbert, Oakhurst, 1979.

It was modified from a plan in a 1940s magazine, either Popular Science or Popular Mechanics.

Once completed in 1949, it was taken on many fishing and camping trips.

 

Dorothy, my grandmother Carol Lee Blair, and Bud on a fishing trip in 1959.

 

The trailer was handed down to my maternal grandparents, Nolan and Carol Lee Blair in the early 1960s, and they camped every year with their three sons and my mom until their children were mostly grown.

 

 

Camping at Big Sur, 1962.

 

 

 In the early 2000s it was handed down to my parents, and I have camped in it since before I can remember.



Me in the tent trailer, 2004. :)



So now that you have a bit of history on it, here is some more information.

 

The canvas is held on by many snap grommets that were WWII surplus. 

On the inside there is a sink, a two-burner stove, and an ice-box with outdoor access.

 The trailer comfortably sleeps four, but you can fit a few more in if they sleep on the floor. :)

 

Here are some photos of the inside:

 

 

The canvas is supported by an aluminum frame, shown in the photo below.

 

 

Here is a photo of the trailer when it is folded up for travel.

 

My grandmother and three uncles, Mount Lassen, 1966. My grandmother is pregnant with my mom. :)

 

 

I am the fourth generation to have camped in this tent trailer, and I hope that it will be camped in by many generations after me.

 

Love,

 

Ava Katherine<3

 

 

A Piece of History: Wedding Handkerchief

For my third post on heirlooms, I will tell you about a special handkerchief.

 

This handkerchief belonged to my maternal great-great-grandmother, Bertha Kitch, who was my grandfather Nolan B. Blair's grandmother. It was made by one of her daughters, although we do not know which one. :)

 

On her wedding day, my maternal grandmother, Carol Lee Blair (nee Clark) carried the handkerchief along with a small white Bible and her bouquet as she walked down the aisle.

 



My grandparents Nolan and Carol Lee Blair on their wedding day, July 23, 1954.



 

 

Thirty-five years later, my mother was planning to also carry the handkerchief on her wedding day, when her florist recommended that she turn the handkerchief into a rose.

 

 

And so it was; my mother held her wedding bouquet with the handkerchief rose embedded amongst the other flowers.

 



My parents on their wedding day, June 24, 1989



The top of the handkerchief rose.

 

 

And so, to continue the tradition, I hope this handkerchief rose will make it down the aisle once more, as I, God willing, carry it on my wedding day.

 

 

 

Love,

 

Ava Katherine<3

 

A Piece of History: Service Pistol

 

As you can most likely tell by my posts, I enjoy family heirlooms and learning about them. ;) For this post I will tell you about a service pistol.

 

Terrill Barnett Blair



This pistol belonged to my maternal great-grandfather, Terrill Barnett Blair, in the 1940s, from when he worked as a Taft, CA, police officer. The gun is a Colt Officer's .38 Special. It weighs 2 pounds and 6 ounces and was made in 1917. This was the standard equipment for police officers all over the country at that time.

 

At some point, Terrill replaced the standard pistol grips with ivory or bone, which is etched with small flowers and has a raised thumb rest.

 

The gun's holster was called "The Speed Holster" and was made by Jewett Safety Holster Company in Bakersfield, CA. Terrill referred to it as a "clamshell." Instead of drawing the gun up and out, the shooter would press a button alarmingly close to the trigger. The holster would spring open, allowing the gun to be brought straight forward. This being the situation, it would be very easy to fire the gun by mistake. (Maybe that's why Barney Fife always misfired his gun! :D ;)

 

If you look closely at the picture above, you can see the row of bullets on the belt to which the holster was attached.

 

A close-up of the holster.

My Uncle Russ still fires the pistol regularly, and it shoots flawlessly!

 

So you now know another one of my favorite heirlooms... :)

 

 

Love,

 

Ava Katherine <3 

 

A Piece of History: Sleigh Bells

I have always loved heirlooms and hearing the story behind them; so I thought I would share my interest with you by telling you about a set of sleigh bells. :)



These sleigh bells belonged to Verne Lunn, my maternal great-great-grandfather, in the late 1800s-turn-of-the-century. His only mode of transportation was a wagon or sleigh, which he also used to take out Vella Haas, my great-great-grandmother, when they were courting. His horse knew the way to her house, and he didn't even have to guide her. :) One day, when Verne was taking out another young lady, he was not paying attention to driving the sleigh. When the horse came to a stop, he was in front of Vella's house! :D

                                                                                                                             

So now that you have a bit of a background story, I researched the bells, and here are the facts I found:



The particular bells my great-great-grandfather used were Swedish style bells, which were the largest kind used. The two larger bells are 9 inches around, while the two smaller bells are 7 inches around; the whole strip  is 20 1/2 inches long and weighs 3 pounds!

                                                                                                                                 

 

My great-great-grandfather's (Verne Lunn's) sleigh bells

 

 
Sleigh bells (Sometimes called horse bells) were most popular in the mid to late 1800s through the turn of the century. They had a practical use as well as a decorative one; they warned pedestrians and other drivers of the oncoming vehicle and alerted customers that street vendors of delivery wagons were in the neighborhood.

 

                                                                                                                                                                  

       American Gentleman's Newspaper sleigh bell advertisement, 1881

 

The leather strip on which the four bells are fastened is known as a "rump strap" or "hip strap" because it lies across the horse's back or rump and under the back strap of the horse's harness. A small "keeper" is riveted to the middle of the rump strap and buckles over the back strap to keep the bells from falling off. 


So now that you know one of my favorite heirlooms...What are your favorite family heirlooms?? :)







Love,

Ava Katherine <3