Fearless Females: What I treasure!

Lisa Alzo at The Accidental Genealogist launched a series of 31 blogging prompts for celebrating and honoring the "fearless females" in our family trees in March, 2010. This year the series is being revisited in honor of National Women’s History Month and the purpose is to focus on the women in our lives and to make sure their stories are told.

Today’s prompt is from March 6: Describe an heirloom you may have inherited from a female ancestor (wedding ring or other jewelry, china, clothing, etc.) If you don’t have any, then write about a specific object you remember from your mother or grandmother, or aunt (a scarf, a hat, cooking utensil, furniture, etc.)



This is one of my most treasured items – the bracelet from my great grandmother, Bertha “Birdie” Schwartz.  Engraved on the bracelet is B S Graduated June, 1890 so this was a gift she received upon her high school graduation in 1890. 

Another item I treasure is the silver tea set that belonged to my grandmother, Loraine Gunzendorfer.  I remember when she passed away – we were going through her things and this tea set was shoved off into a corner since, apparently, no one cared about it or wanted it.  I asked about it and was told “take it – it doesn’t even match”.  So I did and I love it!



And who could forget the famous spoons that Grandma Loraine had.  These double as a spoon and a straw as the handle part is hollow so you could sip out of the spoon.



I’m sure these were intended for iced tea, but Grandma wouldn’t think of serving iced tea to two little girls.  So what did she serve to us?  Milkshakes!  We’d arrive at her house and the first thing she’d do is mix ice cream and milk for us and served the shakes with these spoons.  Of course, the concoction was way too thick to fit through the straw part but we’d try our best to get it out.  Finally we just gave up and used it as a spoon!   I’m sure my sister and I were the only ones with any memories of these spoons so we were happy to be able to share them after she passed away.

I have so many things from my ancestors that I love but these are items I’ve treasured and had in my home for 30 years.  I hope my kids and grandkids will treasure them, too.