What was found inside?

...Nothing, nothing but Trunk.

This wonderful trunk donated so many years ago sat locked, but admired by those who saw it these past months inside our Ticket Office’s exhibit on the 25th Anniversary of Historic Heritage Square. As an interactive part of the exhibit, the public was asked to give their input as to what might be found inside the trunk - some 95 written guesses were submitted in all (see below). Playing a “key” role in this locked situation, historian and collector Charlie Hartwell came to the rescue with a ring of keys that might work. One of those keys did indeed fit and unlocked the trunk to the amazement of volunteers and several board members. Just what was inside you might ask? Well, actually nothing but the wonderful trunk’s interior crating and compartments all in beautiful condition. While searching for information, we did find out that the Manhattan company who made this trunk manufactured wardrobe trunks from the early 1900s. According to one website, the bulge on top was to keep the trunks from being stacked. In 1929, Time magazine stated that the Innovation Trunk Co. was soon to be making its way into the chain store business to market its products. Thanks to Charlie, mystery solved and an interesting time was had by all. ...Stay tuned for the next Ticket Office exhibit featuring turn of the 20th century etiquette.

A snapshot of trunk content guesses by our visitors...

Clothes (Autumn, Cody Arbec, Leisl Vickrey, Evelyn Zafft & others) • Ladies Clothing (Linda Barral) • Necklaces and Jewelry • Old Army Uniforms & Guns (Ted Zaplatosch) • Treasure (Chris Barral, Giordi & others) • Handmade Quilts (Bryan Ginter) • Books • Military Med. Book/Catalog (Jack Marcinko) • Teddy Bear • Dinnerware - Dishes etc. (Pat Smith) • Hats (Gay Kinman, Dave Zafft & Liz Zveglich) • Empty - It’s empty (Barbara) • ”I thek that ther are shoes” (Talia, 8 yrs. old) • Globes • Underwear & hats • ladies hats & evening accessories (Sylvia & Patch Rose) • Dresses and Masks • “a dead cat or nothing” (Rebecca Washenfelder) • a lady’s special hat (Tony Patino) • a small Eiffel Tower (Haley Custis) • a French Horn • Hat Collection (Eric Schulze) • Pictures/Important Papers (Virginia Charette) • Very Old Things (Teddy Hillian) • Photography equipment (Leslie Burton) • Clothes & Shoes or Blankets for the buggy ride (Leslie Burton) • Old cloths (Kathryn Donohue) • a Shoe (SA) • “Love letters? hats? 1 of Winnie Ruth Judd’s relatives?” • clothes & dishes (Madison Manna) • Clothes, hats, accessories (Susan Jameson) • “A 110 year old family treasure” • Graphophone & records (Karen Wirtz) • a Winter coat • Gold coins (Beulah Matthews) • Photographs (Sylvia Husted & others) • a skull • Table Linens and Flatware (Jenny Ramsey) • Travel Hat Box (Vivian Van Orden) • rope • “Old stuff, clothes, and very unique stuff” • a Wardrobe - traveling circus (Jake May) • Money (Megan Showell and Ashlie) • China plates & utensils (Derek Arbec) • Wedding Dress (R. Osterman) • a wig box (Kerri Kelly), Nothing (Abby Jones) • Rags • a Toy • “Jimmy Hoffa...?” • Dolls (Jason Krouse, Russell & others) • Gold (Josh Player & others) • 2 Woman’s dresses, slips and pantaloons (Eleanor Anderson-Miles) • “A Bunch of stoff animals” (Lauren, Alta Vista) • Passport / tourist items (Raymond Wong) • “Rotten Eggs!!!!!” • Women’s hats (Sharon Gee) • Important papers (Val Strandlund) • Personal effects: blanket, old brushes, maybe handheld mirror, hat, shawl. (Rose Andrade) • Clothes, stationery, ink wells • Old Clothes (Arthur) • Phonograph (Audrey/Arthur’s Grandma) • Old Family Album and other personal things that hold sentimental value to the family or owner (Jennifer Maczynski) • Ladies Bustle (Del Bass) • “It’s a hope chest - It has different household items (linens, kitchenware & other) that a new wife would need. There might also be some accessories for the young wife. A barrett perhaps or brush. Or the belongings of a deceased family member. Kept as memorabilia.” (Jessica Webster) • a Lamp Shade • and a personal favorite that someone submitted.... “Pandora Box don’t open”

Special thanks to our visitors for being a part of our 25th Anniversary exhibit by submitting their mystery trunk guesses.