Every museum has a category called “found in collection.” This is the artifact on the back shelf, the item in the bottom box, the photo that was loose in a drawer. It’s not listed on the accession list, it’s not labeled in any way, nobody remembers who donated it or when, and sometimes nobody can figure out what it is! Hence the name “history mystery.” |
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Here’s our biggest “history mystery.” Since a large part of our focus is the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which formerly went through New Woodstock, and we own the Depot, we suspect these items might be railroad-related. However, none of our railroad buffs can identify these. Can you?
These are two pieces of iron, which look related. They both have what appears to be a handle – two parallel shanks with two holes through them, as if to attach to a wooden handle or metal bar. Both pieces have the same logo – a stylized tree.The “business end” of one piece is shaped like an oversized horseshoe, with a ledge around the inner rim, and two short “feet” on one side. The “handle” is 5.0” long, and the ”horseshoe” is 5.0” long and 6.5” wide. Overall, it is 2.0” deep. The number “1881” appears in raised numerals on the top of the “handle” near where it attaches to the “horseshoe,” and the stylized “tree” logo appears on the top of the handle between the two holes.The second piece has a “handle” identical to the first piece, also 5.0” long and 2.0” deep, with two holes in it. However, it extends straight in a tapering “T” shape, with the top of the “handle” also being the top of the “T”, and the base of the “T” (rather like the keel of a boat) extending downward to connect with the lower shank of the handle. There is a trapezoidal arch attached to the top of the “T”. The inner surfaces form a six-sided hole, but the sides are not equal in length. The stylized “tree” logo appears on the “keel” part of the business end, under one leg of this trapezoidal arch. The “business end” of this item is 4.5” long. There is also a logo of a box with an ”M” in it, and the numbers 5493A. |
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Railroad Street, New Woodstock, NY 13122Mailing Address: PO Box 45, New Woodstock, NY 13122Contacts: Phone (315) 662 3849 |
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History Mystery???
