April 18, 2024
Shaw Local
Readers Choice | Best of the FoxLocal EventsDealsNewsletter | Best of the Fox

Accidental find reveals the history of Oswego museum’s artifact

By BEST OF THE FOX

Additional information on the history of this black walnut washstand on exhibit at Oswego’s Little White School Museum was recently found. Donated by Mary Shiffer in 1982, it was purchased for 25 cents, unfinished, in 1893 from the William Parker & Son Furniture Factory in Oswego by Mrs. Shiffer’s parents. (Photo provided)

Since the Little White School Museum’s gallery opened on April 10, 1983, a washstand manufactured from native black walnut at the Parker & Son Furniture Factory in Oswego has been on exhibit. Now, thanks to a chance find, the museum knows a lot more about the washstand’s history.

“I was cleaning out some old records and came across the record of the washstand’s donation,” museum Director Roger Matile said.

The washstand, which originally held a large pitcher and bowl behind two double doors and soap, towels and other items in a full-width drawer, was donated to the museum in 1982 by Mary Shiffer. It originally had been purchased by her parents when they were married in 1893. Sold unfinished by the Parker factory, her parents paid 25 cents for it. The washstand was handed down to their daughter Mary, who kept it until the museum began accepting artifact donations. She donated it to the museum, along with $10 to cover the cost of its refinishing, the year before the museum opened. As part of the effort to get local artifacts on exhibit when the museum opened, Oswego resident Sandy Young refinished the washstand in preparation for putting it on exhibit.

Nathaniel Matile, who has an interest in furniture from that era, said it has a couple unique features.

“The Roman arch patterns that decorate the doors and the side panels are very unusual,” he said.

He also noted the utility drawer bottom is not made from a cheaper wood as was usually done, but was manufactured from walnut, as well. In addition, the top of the washstand is a solid walnut board and is not made of narrower pieces glued together, as is the norm today.

“That’s one solid piece of old-growth black walnut,” he said.

The Parker factory and its adjacent sawmill processed local black walnut and other hardwood trees into a variety of furniture types, from washstands and chests of drawers to tables to chairs.

The Little White School Museum and its gallery contain dozens of exhibits that tell the story of the Oswego area’s history and heritage. The museum currently is open by reservation. It is closed to all visitors on Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is free.

For information or to make an appointment to visit, call 630-554-4494, email cheidrich@littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org or visit the museum website, littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org.