In my collection of Showalter Dairy items, I have a lot of variation.  I have milk bottles, Buttermilk Cones, caps, ice cream boxes, advertising flyers, Green Spot metal signs, unused old stock stationary and order pads, flyswatters, drinking straws and various paper ephemera.  Some of my favorite items are the one-of-a-kind paper items that go back to the 1800’s.

 

Here’s a brief collection of one-of-a-kind paper items:

  This is a certificate from the Phoenixville Chamber of Commerce in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.  It is from 1945 and is issued to Showalter’s Dairy to signify membership in the Chamber of commerce.  It is signed by Jon Boyd (Gen. Sec.) and Francis bishop (President) and dated January, 1945.  It is in the original frame and was brought from Russell Showalter’s office (or in the storage space above it) in the 1990’s.  Since this was removed in the ’90’s, you can tell that my grandfather may not have even known it was there.  My grandfather stowed away a lot of bits of paper here and there in his desk.

Check these out:

  This is a Pennsylvania Tax document from 1937.  It is for my great uncle Frank Davis Showalter and states that he was paid $325 in the 2nd quarter of 1937.  His full-time weekly wage was $25.

Here is another:

 This letter is dated August 25th, 1884.  It is on the stationary of Charles H. Pennypacker Attorney at Law in West Chester, PA.  It is addressed to James Showalter –my grandafather’s grandfather.  James was born in 1825 and died in 1901.  He was a successful landowner in Phoenixville.  I have several bank slips with his name on it–some for as little as a few dollars and some for as much has $1000.  I surmise that he loaned money out to other residents–because this letter is about a man named John Detwiler.  Pennypacker warns James Showalter that he should get his notes in order and that they may pursue a debt that is due to James.  The letter and envelope hold a prominent spot in my collection (as does the 2 cent stamp).    It is a succinct little remembrance of the past that fits nicely in a pocket or desk drawer.

 

Here’s another:

 This is from Chester County and is dated March 9, 1882.  It is an announcement that James Showalter was elected Supervisor of Schuylkill Township in February of 1882.  It has the seal (rasied) of the Court of Quarter Sessions.  I found it neatly folded in a box of like documents in an old slant top desk.

 

A final one for this post:

 This typed letter is about a settlement made by Frank D. Showalter (b. 1870, d. 1940).  Frank purchased a piece of property in South Coventry Township.  Never mind the figures–I like it because it is signed by Frank.  Frank was my great-grandfather.  I never met him, but I feel like I’m one step closer to knowing him by holding a document like this.