Uncle John Whitby’s working papers from 1908.  At age 14, he was ready to work.  signed by Chief Inspector of Factories Harrisburg and a Justice of the Peace named Charles Howell of Montgomery County.  Signed by both Sarah and John Whitby.  nice raised stamp from the JOP.

My grandmother Miss E. Gertrude Whitby purchases a 1924 Ford Coupe for $485 plus $ for the bumper.  After taxes, license, and title it comes to $503.  Purchased from M. Mosheim a dealer in Pottstown (eventually Ludwick Motors–where I bought my first car!).

So cool!

Freshman and Sophomore Report Cards 1913-1915

Phoenixville High School cards for Gertrude Whitby (eventually Showalter).  Signed by Principal J Walter Gapp and by her father William Whitby on the reverse.

One of the oldest documents in the collection–May 1826.

Chester County Sheriff Dept. document about some legal wrangling with Daniel Showalter and a plaintiff Stephen Clark.  Daniel was the original owner of Showalter Homestead from 1800.  Very fine cursive writing makes it difficult to read.  Details will follow

.

Awesome find in a box of family collectibles!  1934 Commonwealth of PA Certificate of Title for a DIVCO Truck for Showalter’s Dairy.  It is accompanied by a letter from the Continental-Divco Company in Detroit, Michigan.

Recently purchased on eBay.  Not a huge find, but this one is rare.  The red, white, and blue colors pop.  This one cost about $2.00.

Found on eBay is this sheet of stamps from Indonesia of Nobel Prize winners from 1901-2001.  This 6-stamp sheet includes our famous cousin Philip Showalter Hench who won the 1950 Nobel Prize for Medicine (development of cortisone).  The stamp in the lower left corner features a drawing of Hench (not the best representation!) and his basic information.  These unused stamps are part of a collector’s sheet that measures 7″ X 5″.  It is numbered 6707 out of 10,000.

Another great find in our house clean out was this postcard of a Showalter’s Dairies Delivery Truck.  This picture postcard is a true gem and is the first we have seen of this image.  There is no writing on the back (see below).  The only writing on the postcard is a penciled four digit number on the bottom front under the rear tire–2228.  Those of you who have a Showalter’s milk bottle or cap or most paper products will recognize that number as the phone number of Showalter’s Dairy!

During a recent house clean out in Pottstown, we came across a picture of “Uncle James Showalter.”  This was quite a find!  James is a key to our family tree and shows up in a lot of documents, receipts, and letters.  This picture was found in a pile of “old” photos include some of Joan Whitby, Louise S. Hughes, Grace Schafer, Gertrude Showalter and others.

This is not an easy post to write because this is much like a fish story.  It is the one that got away.

I saw this sign on eBay and knew that it was one-of-a-kind.  The price went higher than I was willing to shell out (I’m sure it was over $250).  Looking back, I’m still torn on what I should have bid.  It is a one and only sign that hung outside the Showalter Dairy Bar.  It looks worn and aged but would probably clean up nicely.  It is easily over five feet long and a couple of feet high.  The lettering and colors are consistent with other signage that I have or have seen with regards to Showalter’s Dairy.  But it got away…maybe it’ll come around again..

.