About 25 years ago an unassuming piece of family history migrated into my husband's possession. Probably more by default than by gift. When we married,  we lived in a home that we purchased but had been my husband's  Uncle Harold's. In the basement was a kind of drop top desk with a bevel glass door to a side bookcase. It was in oak, a warm light oak that my husband favored. It had some of it's hardware removed, and seemed to be in the stages of being re-finished by the time we came to have it. He respected it greatly as one would any piece of handicraft of a now deceased relative. His uncle had owned it, but his great grandfather, Ernst, a cabinet maker had made it. He was a cabinet maker in Chicago and built items for the Potter Palmer mansion among other homes. He was a very fine craftsman and this desk was built by him. 

Ernst & Augusta shortly after arriving in America from Mecklenburg Schwerin Germany 1884 

His Uncle Harold was the one who started trying to refinish it. We eventually bought some chemicals and thought of finishing it, but never did. Somehow the piece was beautiful as it was. At first the desk seemed to be empty. After some years my husband discovered a secret drawer. It might not have been a real secret drawer, just something that had stuck perhaps. It was filled with family pictures, some notes and negatives. Some of it seems interesting and important. We were thrilled to see it. Uncle Harold had been corresponding with some relatives and been sharing genealogy information. I never met Harold when he was alive.  

Ernst later in life. The cabinet maker. 

The negatives that were found by us 25 years ago finally got to reveal their story last night. Through the wonder of computer programs and patience, some the negatives were able to be scanned and we were able to create pictures out of them. They revealed some interesting things about the family. The stories from my husband's long deceased father were able to provide a narrative with some of the pictures. 

 Some of the most interesting show a remarkable connection to our lives today. Here are a few of those pictures which represent some of what our family does even today. We do automotive repair and some antique automotive restoration work.

This was Aunt Minnie's husband's new car. 

This was his first car. 

The first car was stolen, wrecked and later recovered. 

These are damage pictures. 

Note the fine garage, lighting, ceiling detail, the car in the back.

We put the damaged car around 1904 - 05. The "new" car was probably in the 1920's. If you can identify any of the cars, send me a message. We thought the earliest was an American LaFrance Company car type. We are not sure, but that seems to be part of the story. We could not read the wheel hub marking clearly, we could make out "American" and possibly "Company". 

Enjoy the secrets of the antique desk. There will more coming....

Copyright 2010 by SheilaTGTG55 Words & Pictures

  Uncle Harold Visits and Other True Tales