2005 Year in Review

From Rat Traps to Tea Leaf

A portion of Daryl Drennen's animal traps.

Jean Cain poses with her "Tea Leaf" display.

Wagon seat from W. H. Barrett & Sons, Proprietors.

Whiteside County Courthouse juror's chair.

"Vitalaire" ice box with wooden exterior.

Morrison’s Heritage Museum has two varied installations on display that we hope will appeal to the public.

Collector’s Corner is reserved for adult “friends of the museum” to showcase their special collections on a short-term basis.

Daryl Drennen of Prophetstown created a display of several mouse and rat traps manufactured locally by the former Morrison Specialty Company. It also includes fur traps, as well as stretchers for mink and muskrat pelts. Original literature accompanies many of the items.

Morrison’s Jean Cain is noted for her extensive “Tea Leaf” English ironstone collection, which numbers over 800 pieces. Each item is white with hand-painted copper trim. Cain chose one pattern of dinnerware and bath set from numerous variations: Bamboo style. “Tea Leaf” ironstone was shipped to the American Colonies and used as ballast.

You may share your collectibles with the public. Call Jackie Tilton at 772-2731 to select a time period for your exhibit from August through October. We will work with a time frame that is most comfortable for you. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the museum!

Four recent acquisitions are of special interest. Lawrence Farthing brought us a seat from the delivery wagon of the former Barrett’s Market, a butcher shop. Its painted back clearly states, “W. H. Barrett, Morrison,” and each side lists the address: “125 E. Main Str.” Advertisements indicate he was in business with his sons.

A beautifully-carved juror’s chair once resided in the earlier Whiteside County Courthouse. It has a comfortable, caramel-colored leather seat, and it both swivels and reclines. It was donated by Jean Hamilton Anderson, whose father was a former Whiteside County sheriff.

Tucked between two metal iceboxes is an unusual wooden “Vitalaire” icebox, manufactured by Ice Cooling Appliance Corporation of Morrison.

Soon to be displayed is an oil painting of Annan’s Mill, painted in 1946 by Ida Panther. She titled it “Down by the Old Millstream” and gave it to Harriet and Claus Schaver that same year.

Stop in to see these new exhibits and artifacts or bring in a temporary display for the Collector’s Corner. Morrison’s Heritage Museum is open Wednesday and Thursday through Sunday, from 1-4:00.

by Stephanie A. Vavra, Guest Columnist
August 15, 2005