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Baptismal Font

by | Artifact of the Month, Religion

Baptismal font, Kingston, Presbyterian Church, Kingston, Arkansas, circa 1920s

Donated by Patricia Laird Vaughan

This free-standing wooden font originally included a metal water basin housed underneath the font’s conical lid. Water from the basin was used to perform the rite of baptism using a non-immersion method—by sprinkling, pouring, washing, or dipping.

In the early to mid 1900s, the Madison County town of Kingston was part of an outreach effort in the Appalachians and the Ozarks to improve the religious, social, and cultural life of mountain folk. In 1916, Rev. Elmer J. Bouher came to Arkansas from Indiana, tasked by the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. to revive an abandoned mission in Kingston. Construction of a New England colonial style building for the Kingston Community Church was completed in 1926, a project of the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church and the Brick Presbyterian Church of Rochester, New York.

In its heyday, the Kingston Community Church complex included a school, hospital, and community hall complete with a library, stage, bowling alley, kitchens, locker room, and showers. Interest in the project waned in the late 1930s, and the Board of Missions withdrew financial support in 1943. The owner of the buildings and property, the Brick Presbyterian Church, experienced financial difficulties in 1950. They decided to sell off all their mission holdings and offered the Kingston community the opportunity to purchase the land and buildings. Due to the poor condition of the properties the school board decided to construct a new school instead. The church was torn down soon thereafter.

In 1998, Patricia Laird Vaughan purchased the Kingston Community Church’s baptismal font at the Bunch Grocery Store auction in Kingston. Founded in 1880 by Joel N. Bunch, the store was located on the northwest corner of the Kingston square. It remained in the Bunch family for generations, serving the community as a center of commerce and later, a popular local gathering spot. The last storeowner, Hugh Bunch, died in 1995. At that time the Bunch Store closed; its contents were sold at auction in 1998. The building was purchased by Joel L. Bunch, great-grandson of the store’s founder, Joel N. Bunch.

Artifact of the Month Archive

Christmas Mouse

by | Artifact of the Month, Holidays, Toys

Donated by Ada Lee Shook

Eden Toys musical mouseMade by the New York-based Eden Toys, Inc., this musical mouse spins in a circle while playing “Deck the Halls.” It has a copyright date of 1982 and was sewn in Haiti. According to a 1981 newspaper article in the Millville (New Jersey) Daily, Eden’s board chairman David Miller explained that “the average stuffed toy takes 60 to 90 days to produce . . . because material must be cut, shipped [from Eden’s New Jersey factory] to South America or Haiti for stitching, and returned to the U.S. for finishing.”

A similar Eden Toys musical mouse is seen in a Belk’s Department Store ad in the December 21, 1984, Gaffney (South Carolina) Ledger, retailing for $16. The only difference between that mouse and the mouse pictured here is the outfit. The Belk’s mouse is wearing a striped nightshirt and cap.

Perhaps Eden Toys’ best known plush toy was Paddington Bear, the creation of British author Michael Bond. Other popular Eden toy lines included Beatrix Potter’s animal characters and Jean de Brunhoff’s Babar the Elephant animal characters. Eden Toys sold all its toy licenses in the early 2000s.

Ada Lee Smith Shook (1928–2009) was descended from pioneer families in Washington and Benton counties. Born in Fayetteville, she was the only child of William Carl Smith and Frances Slaughter Smith. Ada Lee graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1945, received a degree in mathematics from the University of Arkansas, and taught school for a time. She married William Eugene Shook in 1953. They raised two children. Ada Lee was an avid genealogist and saver of family heirlooms, many of which she donated to the Shiloh Museum.

Artifact of the Month Archive
Eden Toys musical mouse

Donated by  Ada Lee Shook

Made by the New York-based plush-toy manufacturer Eden Toys, Inc., this musical mouse spins in a circle while playing “Deck the Halls.” It has a copyright date of 1982 and was sewn in Haiti. According to a 1981 newspaper article in the Millville (New Jersey) Daily, Eden’s board chairman David Miller explained that “the average stuffed toy takes 60 to 90 days to produce . . . because material must be cut, shipped [from Eden’s New Jersey factory] to South America or Haiti for stitching, and returned to the U.S. for finishing.”

A similar Eden Toys musical mouse is seen in a Belk’s Department Store ad in the December 21, 1984, Gaffney (South Carolina) Ledger, retailing for $16. The only difference between that mouse and the mouse pictured here is the outfit. The Belk’s mouse is wearing a striped nightshirt and cap.

Perhaps Eden Toys’ best known plush toy was Paddington Bear, the creation of British author Michael Bond. Other popular Eden toy lines included Beatrix Potter’s animal characters and Jean de Brunhoff’s Babar the Elephant animal characters. Eden Toys sold all its toy licenses in the early 2000s.

Ada Lee Smith Shook (1928–2009) was descended from pioneer families in Washington and Benton counties. Born in Fayetteville, she was the only child of William Carl Smith and Frances Slaughter Smith. Ada Lee graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1945, received a degree in mathematics from the University of Arkansas, and taught school for a time. She married William Eugene Shook in 1953. They raised two children. Ada Lee was an avid genealogist and saver of family heirlooms, many of which she donated to the Shiloh Museum.

Artifact of the Month Archive

“U.S. Presidents” Volvelle

by | Artifact of the Month, Education, Politics and Government, Technology

US Presidents volvelle, circa 1931Donated by  Bill Stamper

As Emily Marinker of the New York Academy of Medicine writes, “[A volvelle is] a (brilliantly) simple paper construction of moving parts; layers of rotating discs with information on them.”

This “Biographies of U.S. Presidents” volvelle was produced by Arthur Sichel of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has a copyright date of 1931. Information for each president includes birthplace, religion, ancestry, years in office, inauguration year, the order in which he served, party affiliation, profession before becoming president, final resting place, and the vice president who served with him. The religions listed on the volvelle include Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, Society of Friends (Quaker), Methodist, No Claim, Presbyterian, Reformed Dutch, and Unitarian. Five ancestries are listed: Dutch, English, Scotch, Scotch-Irish, and Welsh. Below each president’s image is his name, birth date, and death date. 

A German immigrant, Arthur Sichel (1887–1955) arrived in America in 1903, settled in Pennsylvania, became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in 1927, and married Kamma Riegelsen from Denmark in 1932.  In the 1930 census, Arthur Sichel listed his occupation as  “advertising salesman.”

The volvelle was found by the donor when he bought the former home of the John A. and Margaret Long Phillips family of Huntsville (Madison County). John Phillips served as Madison County’s sheriff from 1926 until he was shot and killed by 80-year-old county resident Jason Matlock on December 22, 1930. Sheriff Phillips less than ten days left in office; Arkansas Governor Henry Parnell appointed Margaret Phillips to finish out her husband’s term. According to the Madison County Record (December 30, 1930), as she “assisted [Sheriff Phillips] all the time with the clerical duties of the office and is better qualified than anyone else to wind up the affairs in the office. She will appoint deputies to look after any work outside needing attention.”

Artifact of the Month Archive
U. S. Presidents volvelle, 1931

Donated by  Bill Stamper

As Emily Marinker of the New York Academy of Medicine writes, “[A volvelle is] a (brilliantly) simple paper construction of moving parts; layers of rotating discs with information on them.”

This “Biographies of U.S. Presidents” volvelle was produced by Arthur Sichel of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has a copyright date of 1931. Information for each president includes birthplace, religion, ancestry, years in office, inauguration year, the order in which he served, party affiliation, profession before becoming president, final resting place, and the vice president who served with him. The religions listed on the volvelle include Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, Society of Friends (Quaker), Methodist, No Claim, Presbyterian, Reformed Dutch, and Unitarian. Five ancestries are listed: Dutch, English, Scotch, Scotch-Irish, and Welsh. Below each president’s image is his name, birth date, and death date. 

A German immigrant, Arthur Sichel (1887–1955) arrived in America in 1903, settled in Pennsylvania, became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in 1927, and married Kamma Riegelsen from Denmark in 1932.  In the 1930 census, Arthur Sichel listed his occupation as  “advertising salesman.”

The volvelle was found by the donor when he bought the former home of the John A. and Margaret Long Phillips family of Huntsville (Madison County). John Phillips served as Madison County’s sheriff from 1926 until he was shot and killed by 80-year-old county resident Jason Matlock on December 22, 1930. Sheriff Phillips less than ten days left in office; Arkansas Governor Henry Parnell appointed Margaret Phillips to finish out her husband’s term. According to the Madison County Record (December 30, 1930), as she “assisted [Sheriff Phillips] all the time with the clerical duties of the office and is better qualified than anyone else to wind up the affairs in the office. She will appoint deputies to look after any work outside needing attention.”

Artifact of the Month Archive

KBRS Bumper Sticker

by | Artifact of the Month, Business and Occupations, Entertainment

Donated by Sharon McGuire

Springdale’s first radio station, KBRS AM 1340, began broadcasting In September 1949. The station was brought to Springdale by Donald W. Reynolds, founder, president, and chief executive officer of the Donrey Media Group. The last three call letters of KBRS were chosen for Bentonville, Rogers, and Springdale, towns in Northwest Arkansas that did not have a radio station. Through the years, KBRS was active participant in the community and sponsored many fundraisers, including a “Pie Auction of the Air” to benefit projects organized by the Springdale Fire Department and local civil defense organizations. KBRS ceased operations in Springdale sometime in the 1990s.

Perhaps “Big Bopper” on the sticker refers to Jiles Perry “J. P.” Richardson Jr., the singer known as the “Big Bopper.” Richardson was best known for his songs “Chantilly Lace” and “White Lightning.” He was also a disc jockey. Shortly after midnight on February 3, 1959, Richardson, along with fellow performers Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly, boarded a charter plane in Clear Lake, Iowa, bound for the next stop on their “Winter Dance Party” tour. Around 12:55 a.m. pilot Roger Peterson received clearance from the tower and took off, only to crash about five miles outside of Mason City, Iowa, killing everyone on board. The tragedy has become known as “The Day the Music Died,” following a reference in Don McLean’s 1971 hit song, “American Pie.”

It is also possible that the bumper sticker is a nod to 1960s KBRS disc jockey Dale Forbes, who was also known as the “Round Mound of Sound” and the “Watermelon Man.” Forbes went on to work for both the Springdale and Fayetteville police departments. He also played bass guitar and trumpet for The Rogues, a local rock-and-roll band.

Artifact of the Month Archive

“Cathedral Window” Quilt

by | Artifact of the Month, Textiles

Quilt detail

Donated by Mary Jo Myers

This circa 1970 “Cathedral Window” quilt was made by Charlotte Shepard (1890–1977) of Fayetteville.

“Cathedral Window” became a popular quilt pattern in the mid-1900s. A Library of Congress article on Virginia quilter Ila Patton notes, “Unlike typical quilts in which the top is constructed and then joined with two other layers to form the finished quilt, the “Cathedral Window” is formed by folding and sewing squares of fabric together. Contrasting squares of fabric are inserted across the seams, producing an interlocking curved design. A “Cathedral Window” does not require quilting, which is considered an advantage by many quilters, particularly those with poor eyesight or limited mobility.” From Blue Ridge Quilters: Ila Patton

Artifact of the Month Archive

Donated by Mary Jo Myers

This circa 1970 “Cathedral Window” quilt was made by Charlotte Shepard (1890–1977) of Fayetteville.

Cathedral Window became a popular quilt pattern in the mid-1900s. A Library of Congress article on Virginia quilter Ila Patton notes, “Unlike typical quilts in which the top is constructed and then joined with two other layers to form the finished quilt, the “Cathedral Window” is formed by folding and sewing squares of fabric together. Contrasting squares of fabric are inserted across the seams, producing an interlocking curved design. A “Cathedral Window” does not require quilting, which is considered an advantage by many quilters, particularly those with poor eyesight or limited mobility.” From Blue Ridge Quilters: Ila Patton

Quilt detail

Artifact of the Month Archive

Pocket Watch

by | Artifact of the Month

Waltham pocket watchDonated by Opal Jones

This 1897 pocket watch made by the American Waltham Watch Company. When A. L. “Lee” Gregg asked Elizabeth “Betty” Jones to marry him in the late 1890s, she asked for a pocket watch instead of a wedding ring. The couple, both from Springdale, married on November 30, 1897.

Betty Jones Gregg was aunt to Harvey Jones (founder of Springdale-based Jones Truck Lines) and his sister, Opal.

Artifact of the Month Archive
Waltham pocket watch

Donated by Opal Jones

This 1897 pocket watch made by the American Waltham Watch Company. When A. L. “Lee” Gregg asked Elizabeth “Betty” Jones to marry him in the late 1890s, she asked for a pocket watch instead of a wedding ring. The couple, both from Springdale, married on November 30, 1897.

Betty Jones Gregg was aunt to Harvey Jones (founder of Springdale-based Jones Truck Lines) and his sister, Opal.

Artifact of the Month Archive