Every
year since my now thirty-something daughter was about twelve years old, she and
I and an assortment of friends have spent the Friday before Father’s Day in
Walnut, Iowa, at the annual flea market there. We do our best to get there as
soon as vendors are open to do business, and we stay until they begin to fold
up their tents (almost literally, sometimes). I’ve never worn a pedometer, but
my aching knees and feet are testimony to the fact that the day includes a few
miles of walking, punctuated by a pause to eat lunch at the Methodist Church
lunch tent—and pie. Gooseberry, if I’m lucky.
Then, on the drive home, we stop for a meal
and share “war stories” from the day of haggling and treasure-hunting. And of
course we have a grown-up version of “show and tell.” Over the years, I’ve brought home quilts, quilt blocks, feed
sacks, silver charms, stereoscope cards (I love to find ones of places in
Europe I’ve visited), and my personal favorite—characters for my novels in the
guise of those old sepia toned photographs.
The
silver charms were a passion of my daughter’s childhood. Other phases have
included windows from old houses, architectural finials and corbels, and …
vintage suit cases. Books are a perennial favorite. This year I changed my mind
on a beautiful volume titled The Life and
Times of D.L. Moody. The reason I didn’t buy it was that it was $2 until I
handed over the money … and then the dealer showed me the “real” price … $50. I
don’t mind a mark-up, but that seemed a bit much. And I gotta admit I was
disappointed that the dealer hadn’t bothered to erase her purchase price before
indicating her own price on another page. Sigh. I’ll read about Moody another
way.
I
think that one of the reasons I love “old stuff,” though, is the connection it
provides to women from the past. And this year I made a connection that I’ll
treasure for many years to come. I bought a weed. Sewing machine. I was
attracted to the machine—at the back of a vendor’s spot on the street—because
of the simplicity of the design. When I got closer, I realized that once it was
“put away,” the machine would look like an end table. The cabinet is lovely,
the foot pedals intricately formed. And it works.
But
the best thing about the machine was the fragments of 19th century
calico in the tool bin … the attachments … the “1871” pressed into the cabinet
… and the fact that the dealer had the original manual. It’s a “Family
Favorite” model. The manual was copyrighted in 1875, and some of the parts have
patent dates as early as 1856. I’m fascinated. I’ve already ‘sprung’ for a page
from an 1868 NY City Directory advertising this machine. And a trade card. Both
for sale on ebay. I’ve talked to treadle machine enthusiasts and learned that
my “weed” was made in Hartford, Connecticut.
The
machine works. And now it’s sitting to the left of my desk where I can wonder
about all the women who’ve made work shirts and dresses and aprons and … maybe
… quilts seated at this machine. And I’m already looking forward to next year’s
caravan to 2013 edition of the Walnut, Iowa, flea market.
Memories
for sale … and memories made. Fun time with my girls. Priceless.
---Stephanie
What a treasure! The stories is could tell...
ReplyDeleteDon't we just WISH some of these artifacts could speak to us. That's what got me "into" old quilts. Wondering about "her." And now ... I wonder about "her" sitting at this machine. She probably knew Civil War veterans. She may have lived through the war herself. Oh, my ...
ReplyDeleteThis conversation and your post have really got my mind whirring wondering about all the different people that have used it, the houses it has moved to, the changing of time, etc... this would make a great book :)
DeleteThank you so much for stopping by and taking the time out to leave a comment as I really appreciate it as I've never had the actual author stop by before. I'm glad you appreciate my opinion as I do know that this was your first long story but remember you can't please everyone.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a story about the machine and the women who have used it. HHHMMMMM......
ReplyDelete