Shillelagh-bought in 1977

This is a modern version of a shillelagh, which in times past were used as a weapon. Originally made from blackthorn they had very strong thorns and in battle it be pushed through and enemies legs and pulled very roughtly through the private parts. This particular cane was bought in Ireland in 1977 and then used for several years by Fred.

Alice Mary Doherty Downs chest-

I remember this from childhood and as I recall Mom saying she had brought it with her when she came to Canada so she had it before 1919. Inside are still some of her old brooches. It used to have my Dad's WWI medals and my brother Henry's WWII & Korea medals but I gave them to Henry's son Albert Downs, Jr.

Irish Belleek

This is about 150 years old and is identified by the black logo on the bottom. This was given to me by my Grand Aunt Alice Maud Hope Byrne. My Aunt meant a great deal to our family and was the only family relative my mother had in this country. Alice Maud worked and supported herself as a cook and housekeeper for the Jackson family in Portland, Oregon. They were the owners and publishers of The Oregonian newspaper. She worked through her 84th year and then because of ill health she came to live with Fred and I. She became a little confused but one of happiest moments were when Fred came home from work, he would carry her into the front room and play Irish records for her. In her mind he had become her brother Freddie who had died at sea on his way back to Ireland from New South Wales, Australia. My parents were also living with us at this time,as they had given up farming in Montana, so my mother was able to spend time with her and felt she was repaying Aunt Alice for the many kindnesses she had given to our family, for example our first refrigerator was given to us by Aunt Alice.

Marble vase

This is made from Connamara marble and is only 2 1/2 inches tall.This marble is scarce now.
Again this is a gift from my Grand Aunt Alice, and she said it was one of her wedding presents received in 1904. She married George Bryne of County Wicklow. They met in Dublin, Ireland where they were in service to the Strickland family. (Fred and I got to visit with the people now living in this nice home on our first trip to Ireland). George became seriously ill during the great flu epedemic in 1911. Alice wanting to save her son, nine years of age from the flu, sent him to relatives of his fathers in County Wicklow. He fell from a wagon and was killed Very shortly after that Georger died from the flu. Alice never remarried.

Wedding cake decoration

My uncle, Fred, aka, Duke Downs worked for the Golden Rule Bakery and he supplied my cake and as Fred was in the U. S. Navy, he felt this was apropriate. They look a little worn out but what can you expect sixty three years later.

Bead Necklace and Cross

This is one of my most prized possessions. So far, we have been unable to determine what material the beads are made of. This necklace and cross wore worn by my maternal great grand mother on her wedding day, 26 Sep 1871. Hannah Jolly married Alfred Hope that day in St. George Hanover Square in London, England. Alfred was an ostler and coachman for the
Baroness Annie Heneker and Hannah was a ladies maid. They had seven children and called them the Seven Little Hopefuls. Unfortunately, Alfred was an alcoholic and they were sent to the Irish property of their employers. Hannah became ill and died of dysentery at age 37, Alfred took off and we have been unable to find out what happened to him. The two oldest girls, thirteen and ten, were put out to service and the other children sent to the orphanage. Three of the children, little girls, died there. Aunt Alice had looked for them for several years and found one of the girls an hour before she died. I have the wedding picture of Hannah and Alfred showing her wearing the necklace.

Little shamrock pots

These little pots are souveniers from Port Rush, Ireland and again these wer left to me by my Grand Aunt Alice. I don't have a for sure age for them, but Aunt Alice said she had visited Port Rush as a young girl. She brought them with her when she immigrated to the United States about 1921