Trunks 2013

The definition of “trunks according to my Webster’s (and it’s an old one) is “a box or chest for storing clothes or other material, esp. of a traveler.”  I wonder what a new dictionary would give as the definition – I doubt it would mention the traveler part.

Following my mother’s death, unfortunately there was a new wife who cleaned out the trunks and  did away with what was in there.  I did manage to get two empty trunks; however, they no longer have trays.  The trunks have been refinished and I put new wallpaper inside to freshen them up a bit.  Needless to say they are full of quilts.

Each trunk we own I’m sure would have a story all its own to tell and wouldn’t I like to hear them.  What treasures do you suppose they have held? Love letters, maybe. One of the trunks was bought by my mother when she was a telephone operator, living in Chattanooga in the early 1900’s.  She and her two brothers lived there together and oh how I wish I had asked more questions while she was still here. She was 34 when she married and had lived not only in Chattanooga, but Tucson, Arizona.  It seems some members of her large family suffered from lung problems and several of them went to the West.  Another thing I wish I had asked about was women’s suffrage.  She married in 1919 and it was about then that women were allowed to vote.  I wonder if she might have been one of the women marching in favor of such.  Her family was Republican and my dad was a staunch Democrat which generated some lively conversation in this house – more times than one.

The camel-back trunk belonged to Mother’s old-maid sister, who lived with and worked for families in Beverly Hills.  It was always a thrill to get a package from her when I was little – it had outgrown clothes from Beverly Hills children for me to wear.

When John’s parents’ house was being cleaned out, of course, we were there.  As we were going home John said, “There’s an old trunk in that backroom closet but it’s in pieces and I just left it.” “Whoa – let’s go back”, was my reply.  He put the little trunk together and it’s precious even with the rat hole gnawed in a front corner.  At present it holds a myriad of things, including knitted Christmas stockings and some special yarn just in case I want to make another.  A well used, but special, baby blanket is there as well and even a few quilt blocks.

Another trunk is one our daughter bought at an action her church had a few years ago.  It has had extensive work done on it, but it has a tray.  This trunk holds yarn and a large number of knitting needles of various sizes and shapes, stitch holders, counters, etc.  Some years ago a niece of John’s died and I was the only family member who knitted.  She was an RN, wanted for nothing, had no children and had recently moved to Montana.  Needless to say I got quite a collection of “stuff” including weaving materials.

Antiques – one of the best parts of country living.