Treasure Chest Thursday - Birthday Wishes

My mother's scrapbook from 1944

Birthday wishes and a box of candy for my mother from her best friend, Brookie.  They nicknamed each other "Wit" during their years at Pearl River College in Poplarville, Mississippi.

Treasure Chest Thursday - Cross Stitched by Granny Bynum

The above photograph is one of Flora Jane McIver Bynum's cross stitch projects.  It was framed and hung on her living room wall.  

Flora Jane McIver Bynum was my maternal grandmother.

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ Holy Land Cross

This cross was brought back from the Holy Land in the Spring of 1977 by Rev. W. B. Pigotte of the Prentiss Methodist Church in Prentiss, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi.  

It was given to my maternal grandmother, Flora Jane McIver Bynum who was a member of the Prentiss Baptist Church.

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ A Son Remembers

This small creamer belonged to my paternal grandmother, Mary Allye Steele Edmonds.  She was known to have many such 'what-nots' displayed on shelves throughout her home.

The dating of this creamer is unknown at this time.  However, my father, who was born in 1927, remembered seeing it when he was a very young child.  He remembered being quite fascinated with the scene on the front of the creamer.

When his mother passed away in 1969, the little creamer found its new home on a shelf in the Old Steele House where I grew up.

This treasure once again has a new home.  Today, it sits on the fireplace mantle in my home.  It serves as a reminder of my father's childhood fascination.  A fascination which I now share.

Treasure Chest Thursday - Confederate Money

Front of Confederate Ten Dollar Bill

Date:  February 17, 1864

Richmond, Virginia

Serial Letter "F" in left and right corners

Two Years After Ratification of a Treaty of Peace (left)

The Confederate States and the United States of America (right)

Back of Confederate Ten Dollar Bill

Treasure Chest Thursday - WWII Ration Books

War Ration Book No. 3

The system of rationing was created by the Office of Price Administration and began in May of 1942, five months after the United States had entered WWII.  The purpose of the system was to ensure people were able to purchase items that were scarce while keeping the prices of the items low. 

Ration Book No. 3 (pictured above) was issued in the fall of 1943.  It included brown stamps that were required to purchase sugar, coffee, dairy, meat, fish and other household items.  Stamps were lettered A through Z to designate the specific time they could be used.

Note the handwritten "Book 4" in the lower right hand corner.  It is my understanding that the numbered ration books had different stamps for purchasing particular items during a specific time frame.  This seems to suggest that local boards had the authority to deviate from the guidelines set forth by the Office of Price Administration.  On the other hand, overlap may have been allowed.

War Ration Book No. 4

War Ration Book No. 4 Stamps

War Ration Book No. 4 Stamps

Ration Book No. 4 was issued in late 1943 and included the following stamps:

Red - meat, fish and dairy
Blue & Green - processed and canned foods
Sugar
Coffee
Spare - miscellaneous 

The numbers on the stamps represented the points the stamps were worth.  The letters represented the rationing period.  Points were based on the scarcity of the items and were changed when needed.

Back cover of War Ration Book No. 4

Treasure Chest Thursday - Not Your Typical Pestle

This extremely large, solid wood pestle normally sits on the hearth of my fireplace.  It had been in the attic of my parents' home for several years.

How this primitive tool came into the possession of my family is unknown.  It may have belonged to my father's grandparents, great grandparents, or possibly earlier ancestors.

This pestle measures 36 inches tall, and weighs approximately 5 pounds.  The handle section is very smooth to the touch.

The circumference of the bottom section measures 6 inches; the top and smallest part is one and one-half inches.

The use of pestles to grind and crush grains and herbs continues to be popular.  Today's mortars and pestles appear to be mostly made of marble or granite and are much, much smaller than the pestle photographed above.

Treasure Chest Thursday - College Memories

When my mother moved to Louisiana from Mississippi to begin teaching in Sicily Island in the late 1940s, she left her college scrapbook at her parents' home.

After the death of my grandparents, the scrapbook made its way to Louisiana and remained with my mother until her passing last year.

A glimpse inside the college memories of Mildred Bynum...

Treasure Chest Thursday - Made Especially for You

Granny Bynum loved crafts.  Whether it was sewing, ceramics, or decoupaging, she enjoyed them all.  The photograph above is of a purse she made for my mother back in 1970.  Inside the lid is a special message from Granny Bynum to my mother.