We are quickly approaching that day when people around the world celebrate love and friendship – Valentine’s Day.  It can be argued that these are ideals that should be cherished daily; however, it is important to have special days set aside for observance so that it does not get lost in what can be the hum drum of everyday life.  Right about now stores are rapidly selling chocolates, flowers, stuffed bears, and, of course, cards.

The first use of a Valentine card is believed to have been recorded in the diary of Samuel Pepys, an Englishman who recorded domestic life.  On February 14^th, 1667, he wrote that a servant boy brought his wife a pretty Valentine of her name written in gold letters on blue paper.

Before the 1860s, Valentine’s Day greeting cards were handmade from paper with elaborate designs and using different materials such as lace, feathers, ribbon, and chiffon.  The shift to machine-made cards began during the 1860s as lithography (printing with a stone or metal plate) became popular.  Mechanical cards had moving parts, and ‘pull-outs’ could stand themselves up on a table for display.

Here is a selection of Valentine cards from our collection!

(Click on the images to enlarge!)

Pre-1900s Cards

Inside: From me to you, in greeting

Affectionate and true;

To say one heart is beating

That still remembers you.

1910s Postcards:

1909 Postcard

1917 Postcard

1916 Postcard

The following cards were collected in the 1920s.  They are examples of cards children gave to each other in the classroom, as is still done today.

On back: I’m standin’ here, a-waiting’ dear, ‘N truly wishin’ too

You’d up ‘n say without delay: “The girl I want is YOU!”

On back: A heart ahoy!  And say, oh boy!  It’s for a sailor who

-Must I confess, or can you guess – Is you and ONLY YOU!

Whether you’re a lover or a hater, it can’t be denied that Valentine’s Day is the second largest card sending holiday, just behind Christmas.  The Greeting Card Association estimates one billion Valentine cards are sent each year.  Cards purchased from the store today might contain images of cartoons, princesses, and superheroes, but there still is something to be said for the old-fashioned hand-made card.

Winter Lecture Series!! – http://www.midwayvillage.com/event_calendar.cfm

Kings and Queens of Swing – Music of the 1930s & 40s

Speaker: Amber Veigel

Sunday, February 12  2:00 pm

$7 Adults, $5 Students, $4 Members

Miss Helen Keller

Portrayed by: Jessica Michna

Sunday, February 19  2:00 pm

$7 Adults, $5 Students, $4 Members

Slave, Freedman and Free People of Color Genealogy

Speaker: Joyce Higgins

Sunday, February 26  2:00 pm

$7 Adults, $5 Students, $4 Members

Daisy’s Girls: Juliette Low and 100 Years of Girl Scouting

Portrayed by: Betsey Means

Sunday, March 11  2:00 pm

$7 Adults, $5 Students, $4 Members, $3 Girl Scouts

Trigg Monument Works, c. 1880s

Now from here it was not smooth sailing. The monument should have been done within a year, but there were so many delays due to things that ranged from the health of the commission members that stalled meetings, to weather in Andersonville that cracked the foundations of the monument, to the misinterpretation of what the commission wanted the monument to look like.

Because of such delays the monument took years to build, but it was completed in December of 1912, and finally dedicated on the 20th of that month. When completed the  granite pedestal was 20 feet by 24 feet and the monument itself was 18 feet overall. The monument depicts large figures of “Columbia with Youth and Maiden” that are supposed to depict nations to come. Engraved in it are the last clause of Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address and the last clause of his Gettysburg address. There are also two figures on the side of the monument that represent veterans of the Civil War as a sad reminder of what they had to go through in that war.

The dedication of the Illinois Andersonville Monument, December 1912

The men of this commission had many battles of their own during the construction of this monument. It was a long and hard process that required a lot of sacrifice from each member; however, in the end though it was all worth it, because their hard work could finally help generations to remember the sacrifice that the prisoners at Andersonville made, not just at Andersonville, but throughout the whole of the war. The monument they built is there to remind us of the cost of freedom and how it affects even the very place we live.

A close up of the Illinois Andersonville Monument

If you would like to learn more about the Illinois Andersonville Monument Commission the records of the exploits of these men are at the Midway Village in our collections and research department. Also, if you would like to learn more about the Civil War in general, please join us on Saturday, January 21 from 10 am -2:pm for our 10th annual Civil War Symposium.

For more information about the Civil War Symposium, please visit our event page: http://www.midwayvillage.com/event_calendar.cfm?id=1048

Noah Neiber is a Midway Village Museum volunteer. In addition to being a junior interpreter, Noah also works in the Collections Department. He and his mother, Michele, recently catalogued the Illinois Andersonville Monument Commission collection.

The modern tradition of writing letters to Santa began around 1871 when Thomas Nast published a cartoon of Santa Claus in Harper’s Weekly.  The caricature shows Santa at his desk reading letters from children’s parents.  Notice how the pile of letters from naughty children is much taller than those from nice children!

Perhaps to simplify Christmas shopping, catalogues advertised stockings for children that included different toys, such as this page from the 1927 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue.  Parents could choose the stocking’s size and whether it was for a boy or girl.  (Clicking on the picture will show you larger view of all of the goodies in the stockings!)

Here are just a few examples from our collection of what children might have written Santa Claus for in the first half of the twentieth century.  Most of them appeared in catalogues like Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Marshall Fields & Co.  Maybe we’ll give you some gift ideas for the little ones if you still have some shopping left to do!

Late 1800s Stuffed Bear

The stuffed bear is a timeless toy for any child.  Many gifts were handmade by the child’s loved ones.  Stuffed animals continue to be loved and favorited toys by children.

1890s Doll

Another classic toy, dolls have been loved by children since ancient times.  Jointed dolls like this one were advertised in the 1892 Marshall Fields & Co. catalogue.  Her knees and elbows bend, making her more lifelike.  Doll companies endeavored to make the doll that looked most like a live baby.

Early 1900s Velocipede - Tricycle

A velocipede is a human powered land vehicle that has more than one wheel.  Made by the Gendron Wheel Co. of Toledo, Ohio, this tricycle was featured in the 1897 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue.  In 1919, Sears refers to this velocipede as a “girl’s tricycle.”

1910s Schoenhut Piano

This toy piano made by Schoenhut has ten wooden keys.  Albert Schoenhut made a new piano in 1872 that replaced fragile glass sounding bars with steel plates.  Pianos like this were made until 1935, but based on the stencil design of dancers and cherubim, it is believed to be from the 1910s.

1914 Panama Pile Driver

The Panama Pile Driver is a mechanical toy that uses marbles to operate.  Marbles are loaded into the top tray.  When the string is pulled, the marbles drop one at a time into the bucket, driving it down.  To see this toy in action, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNV4t37gQKo

1920s Electric Train Set

Pictured here is an American Flyer O gauge passenger train set.  It was first introduced by the American Flyer Manufacturing Company in 1918.  The wind-up motor of the earlier clockwork trains were replaced with an electric motor.  These electric trains were enjoyed by boys and girls alike during the 1920s.

1927 Skeezix and Pal Dolls

These two dolls, made of imitation leather, are characters in the comic strip Gasoline Alley, created by Frank King in 1918.  Still in publication, the comic is the second-longest running strip.  It is unique in that the characters age in real-time and experience major life events such as marriage and children, as well as growing old.  Skeezix made his appearance in the comic in 1921 as a baby left on the doorstep of bachelor Walt Wallet.  These dolls were featured in the 1927 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue, Skeezix for 39 cents and Pal for 59 cents.

1936 Parker Brothers Fianance and Fortune Board Game

Monopoly’s predecessor, Finance and Fortune was first issued by L.S. Ayers & Co. in 1932 and was later reissued by Parker Brothers.  It is similar to Monopoly in that lots can be purchased and Chance cards are played; however, there are no monopolies, and instead of going to jail, you’ve unfortunately missed the train and must pay $10 to take a rowboat to “Soak’Em Wharf.”  If you look closely at the picture on the game’s box cover, you can see Mr. Monopoly, or maybe his brother.

1930-40s Sled

What would Christmas morning in the Midwest be without fresh powdered snow and a new sled?

1940 Erector Set

The Erector Set that boasted to be “the boy builder” was first produced by A.C. Gilbert in 1911.  A very popular toy throughout the decades, this set can be found in the 1940 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue.  In 1918, the Council of National Defense considered stopping toy production so that those factories could produce materials needed for the war effort.  A.C. Gilbert spoke to the Council and convinced them not to cancel Santa.  The media called Gilbert “the man who saved Christmas.”

1946-49 Nylint "Amazing Car"

This wind-up car was the first toy produced by Rockford’s own Nylint Corporation.  It was called the “Amazing Car” because it could drive forwards, backwards, start, stop, and make turns all on its own.  The box, unique because it pictured the product, gives detailed instructions on how the car operates.  The selector on the bottom of the car determines the path, the wind-up key determines the distance, and the stop prong will stop the car.  It became popular at the 1946 Toy Fair in New York City where 100,000 orders were placed.

1950s Push Down Cat

Evolved from the early pull toys, spring toys like this were introduced in 1895, but did not become popular until WWI.  By pushing down the tail of the cat, it springs forward across the floor or table.  Many toys such as this did not go out of style or change much over the decades aside from modernizing the look of the toy.

Happy Holidays from Midway Village Museum!

The first Thanksgiving in America by the Pilgrims was a celebration of the harvest.  Although they did not have an over-abundant amount of meats and vegetables, sauces and dressings, they gave thanks for their blessings.

1918 Postcard

We continue the tradition of eating turkey on this day because it is the main source of meat the Pilgrims survived on when they arrived in this new world.  Bread crumbs or cornmeal made an adequate dressing or stuffing.  Over the years, people used whatever was locally fresh because refrigeration was limited.  By the late 1800s, cooks stuffed their turkeys with chestnuts and dried cranberries, oysters, sausage, or various fruits with a creative flair.  The meal consisted of lavish dishes to be served over the course of a few hours.

An example of a Thanksgiving menu from a 1921 American Cookery magazine:

1913 Postcard

Three Course Dinner for Small Family in Servantless House

Roast Chicken, stuffed with Chopped Celery and Oysters

Baked Sweet Potatoes

Boiled Onions

Salad(Fine chopped apples and nuts in red apple cups) Cream Dressing

Mince or Squash Pie a la mode

Sweet Cider

Coffee

Larger menu examples can be found here: http://www.vintage-homemaking.info/2008/10/victorian-thanksgiving-menus/

1914 Postcard

1910 Postcard

The first Thanksgiving is believed to have taken place over the course of three days in mid-October.  So why do we celebrate at the end of November?  And who decided Thursday?  During the 1700s, the event was celebrated at different times in different states.  In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the national celebration to take place on the final Thursday in November.  In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared Thanksgiving to be the fourth, and not necessarily the final, Thursday of November.

In this time of economic and political uncertainty, it is important that we take a note from the Pilgrims and gather around our loved ones in thanks for what we have.  From all of us at Midway Village, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving packed with love and tryptophan!

From Ancient Greece to present day, people have been fascinated by the supernatural, and Victorians were no exception.  Mary Shelley’s Frankstein (1818), H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man (1897) and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), and Edgar Allan Poe’s dark and somber poetry (1830s – 1840s) are all examples of the mystics and monsters in literature that Victorians devoured in earnest.  They also practiced fortune telling through palm and tarot readings because of their curiosity of life after death.  They needed to be reassured that their dearly departed were indeed in a better place.

 All Hallows’ Eve refers to the night before All Hallows’ Day (Or All Saints’ Day) on November 1.  Eventually the name was shortened to All Hallow E’en, then Hallowe’en, and then Halloween.

Superstition appears to have dictated certain rituals before and during the early 19^th century.  A fear of evil spirits prompted many to hang a witch ball in their front window.  The witch ball was first used in England during the 18^th century.  Because it was handmade of blown glass, the ball contained a remnant strand or two inside.  It was generally hung in a window to attract evil spirits, negative energy, sickness, and ill fortune.

Mesmerized by the beautiful and swirling colors of the orb, the spirits would become trapped inside the strands.  It was thought that if one felt ill or depressed, they need only to sit near the witch ball until the negative energy left their body.  The orb also needed to be wiped daily, and by this act, exorcize the spirits trapped inside.

The witch ball is still around today.  They are sold in some specialty stores and gift shops.  They are also commonly displayed in gardens as gazing balls.

After the turn of the 20^th century, Halloween images became less ghoulish and more cutesy.  Greeting cards depicted young women posing with pumpkins, or small, plump children wearing witches hats and carrying black kittens.  Jack-o-lanterns had wide toothy grins.  Even the witch at the top of this entry is shown as young, beautiful, and almost innocent-looking.  Halloween was, as it is today, celebrated by dressing in costume and enjoying a little bit of trickery and the chilling of the spine.

Jack-o-lanterns are thought to have evolved from the early Europeans who carved out turnips to carry as lanterns.  Faces would be carved to ward off evil spirits.  In America, pumpkins work better for us!  These paper-mache jack-o-lanterns are examples of Halloween decorations possibly during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.  Pumpkins like the one seen above could have many different faces with colored tissue paper backing, giving them creepy, fun expressions.  Cats were also popular as these decorations.  They may have been used to keep hold candy or to illuminate a room on a string of lights.  Today, they can make wonderful decorations by placing a battery operated candle inside.

The custom of dressing in costume may have begun out of the superstition that it would confuse the spirits who walked the earth on All Hallows Eve.  Victorians brought this back into fashion because they enjoyed having costumed parties.  Masks were made out of paper-mache.  Some costumes were made simply by pinning paper cutouts of pumpkins, witches, cats, etc. to skirts, vests, and hats.  Children dressed as witches, ghouls, and clowns, as seen in the photo below.

The act of trick-or-treating may have something to do with the Celtic practice of leaving food out for the dead.  Others believe it comes from a time when the poor went door to door begging for food with the promise of a prayer or rhyme in return.  Perhaps it is from this that “trick or treat, smell my feet” was born.

Upcoming Event!!!

All Hallow’s Eve

Saturday, October 22  2pm – 8pm

$5.00 per person

Bring your family to “trick or treat” in safety at our charming Victorian village.  Additional children’s activities and crafts will also be offered throughout the day, including a costume parade led by Rockford’s own dance crew Fatally Unique, as seen on America’s Got Talent.  Village buildings will be decorated and waiting for young trick-or-treaters.  Sponsoring organizations will do the decorating and provide the treats.

Be prepared for surprises as you take a guided tour into our Haunted Woods from 4:30 to 8:00 pm!

For more information, click here to go to the event page: http://www.midwayvillage.com/event_calendar.cfm?id=1011

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Son as a boy and a young sailor

Everett Charles, called “Son” by his family, was born to Everett Alexander and Lauretta Sarver on April 24, 1916.  Starting in 1934, Son and his father ran a livestock trucking business that evolved from work E.A. had done hauling garbage from Camp Grant during World War I.  By 1941, Son took over the business and renamed it E.C. Sarver Livestock Trucking.

One of Son’s livestock trucks

U.S.S. Minotaur

In the spring of 1944, Son was drafted into the war, leaving behind his pregnant wife Ruth and two year old daughter Suzanne.  He served on the U.S.S. Minotaur and participated in the Asiatic-Pacific campaigns.  The Minotaur was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships that contributed to the Okinawa Gunto operation, which resulted in the occupation of the island.

Son was the Captain’s Talker.  Stationed on the bridge, he would repeat the captain’s orders to the engine room and other parts of the ship.   He lost part of his hearing later in life, and he attributed it to the thunderous noise on the bridge when the ship was under Japanese attack.

Everett Charles "Son" Sarver

Son’s other job on the ship was that of mailman.  Working in the mailroom obviously had its perks.  Son would travel in a small boat from ship to shore to pick up and send the mail.  He was able to purchase souvenirs to send to his wife, among “other illicit things,” according to his daughter.  It is believed that this is how he acquired this Japanese rifle with bayonet.  He was able to send home the rifle piece by piece because of his connections as the ship’s mailman.

Type 30 Japanese Bayonet Sword. The long indentation on the blade is called the 'blood groove.' The blade has a marking of one cannonball stacked on three near its hilt. This marking indicates that it was manufactured by Kokura Rikugen Zoheisho before 1945.

Japanese Gauge 31 Rifle

In early 1945, the Allies planned an offense maneuver to invade Japan.  The plan began with all branches of the military attacking the group of islands off Japan’s coast in a coordinated assault.  These islands were Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Ryukyus Islands.  They would provide air bases and supply depots needed for the massive attack on Japan’s mainland.  The islands were captured in the spring of 1945, but when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that August, Japan’s surrender made invasion no longer necessary.  The Allies continued to occupy the islands for months.

Son was able to travel to the different islands and pick up souvenirs, which he sent home to Ruth.  Among these were silk handkerchiefs seen below.  He sent these trinkets in wooden boxes he fashioned from driftwood that he picked up on Okinawa.  The box’s return address is San Francisco, CA because the actual location of the ship was secret.

Handkerchiefs from Ryukyus Islands and Okinawa

 Son was discharged on February 17, 1946 and returned home to his family where he ran his livestock trucking business until 1969.

Upcoming Event!!!

World War II Days

Saturday, September 24  11 am – 5 pm

Sunday, September 25  11 am – 4 pm

World War II Days includes elaborate and realistic battles complete with tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, and exciting pyrotechnic displays.  It is the largest World War II era re-enactment in the United States with over 900 uniformed re-enactors from 40 states representing soldiers from the United States, Great Britain, France, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Italy and Germany along with 70 to 80 vintage tanks, half tracks and other 1940s era military vehicles!

Saturday the battle shows are featured at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm.  Sunday the battle time is 2:30 pm.  Maps of the event site will be available when visitors arrive showcasing the battlefield and the various encampments and attractions.

A 1940s USO-style dance is set for 7 pm Saturday in the museum’s main building.   The dance is free!

Tickets are $10.00 Adults, $5.00 Children

Adult Two-Day Pass: $18.00

Child Two-Day Pass: $8.00

For more information, visit our event page: http://www.midwayvillage.com/event_calendar.cfm?id=1009

Harlem Park opened in June 1891.  Located on the west bank of the Rock River, the main entrance was on Harlem Boulevard between Harper and Brown Avenues.  Admission was free, and the park hummed with rides, games, and eager visitors from morning to night.  Transportation to the park was either by steamboat up the Rock River or by trolley along the Rockford and Interurban Railway.  The forty-acre park opened with thrilling attractions including the Switchback Railway (roller coaster), Auditorium, Dance Pavilion, bathing houses, steamboat wharf, and Zoological Garden.  By 1905, the Three Way Figure 8 Scenic Railway, Miniature Railroad, Laughing Gallery (fun house), Novelty Parlors with photo gallery, Penny Arcade, Knife Boards, and Electric Carrousel were built.  A swimming pool and the Old Mill, a romantic spot for couples, were added later.  The park was lit up with beautiful electric lights at dusk.  Imagine the wonder and awe felt by visitors, many of whom had no electricity in their own home.

Tickets used at Harlem Park

The two most thrilling rides at the Harlem Park were the electronic circle swing and the Switchback Railway roller coaster.  The circle swing had six cars shaped like boats that could seat four passengers.  The Switchback Railway was called the most exhilarating amusement ride at the park, and cost only a nickel to ride.

Cars ran 1100 feet in 26 seconds and the track contained giant drops to thrill the riders.  Roller coasters were thought to improve one’s health and temperament.  The Chicago Daily Tribune featured a classified ad in 1883 for one of its roller coasters: “Health! Wealth! One hundred dollars’ worth of fun for a nickel. A health resort for ladies nervously affected. Come and be happy once more.”

The auditorium was built with a 50 x 100 foot stage and had 5,000 seats.  Originally built for concerts and vaudeville shows, it was also used for Chautauqua lectures and events.  The Chautauqua, which first took place in Rockford at Harlem Park in 1902, ran for fifteen days from the end of August to the beginning of September.  People from all over the area came to hear music, play games, and listen to lectures about health, religion, and politics.  Tents could be rented at the park and families camped out for the two week event.  Midway Village reenacts this event every June with a special event: 1900 America Chautauqua.

In the photo gallery, visitors could have their picture taken with different backdrops, just like we do with today’s tourist photo ops.

From right to left: Joel Eastman, unknown, Janet Sheldon, Harry Lamont, unknown, Allen Brantingham

Harlem Park successfully delighted 15,000 visitors a day, which included soldiers from Camp Grant during WWI.  But when the automobile boomed, the steamboats and trolleys lost popularity.  The Chautauqua was no longer being held.  The park found itself losing visitors and money, and it closed its doors in September 1928.  In later years, the park was remembered as a wonderful place to spend the summer.  The only remaining evidence of the park and its history is a pair of streetcar rails crossing Clinton Street at Harper Avenue.

Upcoming Fundraiser Event!!!

A Night In the Museum: Saturday, August 13 @ 7 pm

Enjoy the glory days of Harlem Amusement Park with games, food, and performances of the 1920s carnival.

$45 admission at the door

For more information about this fundraiser, click here: http://www.midwayvillage.com/event_calendar.cfm?id=1067

The steamboat made a huge impact on the growth of the Midwest in early 1800.  It could cut travel time by half through the use of steam-power, rather than man-power and the natural flow of the river.  To travel by wagon from New York City to Rockford took six weeks.  In 1830, it only took three weeks by steamboat.  In 1810, flatboats travelled for three to four months on the Mississippi River from St. Louis to New Orleans.  In 1834, steamboats made the trip in only two weeks.  The shorter travel time and lower cost fueled economic growth and opportunity.

Handwritten Engine Room Signals from the Steamer Transit

In May 1838, the Gipsy became the first steamboat to enter Rockford on the Rock River.  It carried many early settlers, including Dr. George Haskell.  That June, Rockford had a visit from another steamboat: St. Louis’ Lighter.  To make way for other steamboats, a channel was excavated in the river during the fall and winter of 1845, which ultimately ruined the ford for which Rockford is named.  In this way, goods were shipped quickly to cities like St. Louis, New Orleans, and New York City by connecting the Rock River to the Mississippi River.  But when the railroad came to Rockford, these goods were more easily sent to Chicago and other cities, and the steamboats were used for pleasure.

Rockford launched its first steamboat, the Arrow, in 1885.  Unfortunately, it sank in 1900.

The Queen was built in 1891 and owned by Theodore O. Largent.  Its landing was one block north of the State Street Bridge on the east side of the Rock River.  For a quarter you could enjoy a 32 mile ride on the Rock River, which included stops at Harlem and Illinois Parks.  Largent owned a second steamboat in 1896, the May Lee, which he named after his daughter, May, and his son, Lee.  It was cut in two when the steamboat proved too small to keep up with the large demand, and a middle section was added, allowing it to carry up to 400 passengers.

After the Arrow sank, its owners John T. Buker and former mayor Amasa Hutchins had a new steamboat built.  The steamer Illinois quickly became the most locally known and popular steamboat on the Rock River.  Modeled after a Mississippi steamer, it was 125 feet long and 26 feet wide with a maximum speed was 10 mph.  Its baritone whistle was a familiar sound on the river as it travelled from Mulberry Street seven miles up the river.  Able to carry 1,000 passengers at once, it carried a record number of 50,000 passengers per year.  Its top deck could hold an orchestra and was used for dancing.

Concession sales on the steamboats included drinks and snacks.

Lantern from Steamboat Illinois

An accident on July 19, 1908 caused the Illinois to partially sink into the river.  The accident may have been caused by an excess of passengers.  In 1917, it was purchased by the Excursion Amusement Co., given a make-over, and renamed the City of Rockford.  It continued to make two trips a day with music, dancing, and “high-class amusements.”  Sadly, as automobiles grew in popularity, the steamboat was forgotten.  For years, it was tied up south of the Whitman Street Bridge, only to be visited by ruffian kids and drunkards.  The steamboat caught fire in March 1924.  There was no want or need to salvage it, so it was dragged up the river to the site of the current YMCA and sunk.  There it remained, forgotten.  In 1976, work on the Fordam Dam lowered the river to record shallowness and the rotted planks and cast iron pipes of the steamboat’s hull resurfaced.  Some parts of the boat were removed, but most of the hull still rests in the Rock River.

Steamboat City of Rockford

Just like the people of Rockford took trips to Harlem Park on a warm summer’s evening, you too can enjoy the park’s festivities here at Midway Village Museum at our annual fundraiser A Night in the Museum. 

Saturday, August 13 @ 7 pm  $40 advance tickets, $45 at the door

Click here for more information: http://www.midwayvillage.com/event_calendar.cfm?id=1067

To learn more about early Rockford, visit our Queen City of the Prairies exhibit!

Click here for hours and admission: http://www.midwayvillage.com/visit_hours.cfm

If you own a garden, you are most likely already enjoying the fruits (or vegetables) of your labor, and you continually tend to it by watering, weeding, and fending off unwanted critters.  Rockford has been home to many seed companies that supplied gardeners with fruit, vegetable, and flower seeds.  The R.H. Shumway Seed Company, for example, is still in business, although it is now located in Randolph, WI.  The name Shumway may sound familiar if you often cross the State Street Bridge.  The Shumway Market is located across from the Faust Hotel and next to the old Midway Theater.  It is a public lot that has seen decades of farmers selling their produce.

Roland Hallet Shumway was born on July 26, 1842 in Kishwaukee, southwest of what is now the Greater Rockford Airport.  He, like many local young men, served in the Civil War by enlisting in the Illinois Infantry in 1862.  He married Emma Davis in January 1864 and was discharged from service July 1865.  He and Emma had four sons and two daughters.

In 1870, Roland founded the R.H. Shumway Seed Company in south Rockford.  Residents received a catalogue in the mail from which they could order all different kinds of seeds.  In 1872, the company was moved to East State and Third Streets.  When the company expanded in 1881, it was moved to South First Street.  The Shumway Seed Company was very successful.  In 1905, Roland was so wealthy that he paid more taxes on personal property than anyone in Rockford.  In 1926, the company was reportedly the world’s largest seed company with 200,000 catalogues mailed every spring.

Catalogues would be printed using large print blocks showcasing the different types of fruits, vegetables, or flowers that could be grown by purchasing their seeds.  Here are a few examples of the print blocks.  The images have been reversed for easy viewing.

Shumway’s Giant Musk-Melon

Turnip

New Brazilian Flour Corn

Carrots

Danvers Half Long, French Forcing, Ox Heart, Scarlet Horn,

Chantenay, Improved Long Orange

Onions

New Crop Choice Onion Seed

White Portugal, Large Red Wethersfield, Early Red Globe, Round Yellow

 Danver, Large Red Globe, Yellow Globe Danvers, White Globe Picking Onion

The company also mailed a pamphlet called Shumway’s Handy Culture Book and Canning Recipes.  The pamphlet contained gardening tips on lawn care, sprays, and different types of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs, along with how-tos such as how to prune, pickle, freeze, and store for winter.  Many editions were printed over the years.

Roland died on December 30, 1925 after complications from being struck by a car three days prior.  His son Myron took over the business until his death in 1933.  The company was sold to J.W. Jung Seed Company, which kept Shumway’s name and image.  In 1970, Condon Bros., another early prominent seed company in Rockford, consolidated with Shumway Seed Company.  The company is still in business, sending out catalogues and mailing seeds to customers; however, it no longer has the same connection with Rockford.  Check out their website: http://www.rhshumway.com/

Shumway Market entrance, East State Street, 1911

Shumway Market was established in 1905.  It was a place for farmers to gather and sell their fruits, vegetables, and flowers to local residents.  In an interview with the Register Republic newspaper in 1928, Market Master J.A. Carslon explained that the sellers came from all over the area, even Wisconsin.  The cost to sell your produce was only 25 cents per day.  An average day would bring 200 sellers and 2,000 customers.  The single rule was that the vendor must sell only what he grows.  In the 1940s, the market took place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and twice on Saturdays.

Bustling Shumway Market, East State Street, 1911

Hess Brothers Department Store and State Street Baptist Church are across the street.

To learn more about Victorian and heirloom gardening, visit us at our upcoming event!!!

Heritage Garden Days: Sat. and Sun. July 30 and 31, 11 am – 4pm

Enjoy our unique heritage gardens and prairies, presentations, demonstrations, crafts, heirloom plant sales, and more!

Cost: $8 Adults, $5 Children (3-17)

Members are always free!

For more details, see our event page here: http://www.midwayvillage.com/event_calendar.cfm?id=1028

(Tobacco farm, 1890s)

Imagine that you are a farmer living in Rockford one hundred years ago.  You, your spouse, and your several children are starting another day on the farm.  Everyone does their part to help with the harvest, which means there is no one left in the house to watch over your 3 month old infant.  What do you do?

You take little Johnny with you in the field cradle, of course!

This hickory bentwood cradle was used by farmers to carry their infants with them into the fields while they worked.  It could be pulled along behind them by its curved handle.  The wood slats curve down and create a flat bottom.  The cradle is suspended with two rings that hook on each end.  It sways back and forth to keep baby calm and happy while mom and dad work in the field.

The cradle has original red paint with gold stenciling.  It was manufactured by Ford Johnson & Company in Michigan City, Indiana, and was patented by Abner Woodward on October 17, 1876.  The patent can be viewed here: http://www.google.com/patents?id=Y1xeAAAAEBAJ&printsec =abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Cradles similar to this may have been used by slave women as they worked on the plantation.  Many online sellers of these cradles claim that their 1870s cradle was used by slaves; however, this is not true due to the 8^th Amendment declaring slavery to be unconstitutional in 1865.  Rockford was lucky in that it squelched slavery within the first few years of its inhabitance.  In 1834, Germanicus Kent brought with him his slave Lewis, a boy of seventeen, who he purchased in Alabama for $400.  Kent told Lewis that he could purchase his freedom for $800.  In 1839, Lewis earned his freedom and took on the surname of Lemon.  While Kent eventually left Rockford, Lewis stayed in Rockford growing and selling vegetables.  He died a free and respected man in 1877.  The field cradles were never used by slaves in Rockford.

This cradle was donated to the museum in 1975 by four grandchildren of George W. Marsh, the same family that built and lived in one of the houses that is located in our historic village.  George W.’s grandparents Russell and Abigail Marsh were pioneers of Rockford who arrived in the winter of 1838.  Their son George purchased land near them at North Alpine Road.  When he passed in 1888, his nephew George W. purchased the land.  It is believed that the house was built in the 1860s by one of the two men.  The house is on display in the village, although at this time it is not open to the public.

In its early days, Rockford farms grew wheat which were milled into flour and packed in barrels to be sold at market.  By 1870, Rockford was growing into a city with a population of 11,049.  Within the decade, Rockford’s courthouse was built, the first library opened, and the knitting and furniture industries boomed.  Between 1870 and 1900, area farmland doubled as wheat production tapered off and farmers began growing corn and oats, as well as raising livestock.

(1890 farm)

Being outside and working hard was a part of daily life.  As a member of the family, everyone pitched in to keep the farm running and to put food on the table.  In cradles like this one, farm kids were in the fields before they could even walk.

Many thanks to Keith and Roxann Hardy for their assistance with the research on this item!