Railroads; Railroad construction & maintenance; Cast ironwork
To join train cars together, the cast iron pin was inserted into the removable oblong link and a permanently attached coupler. Switchmen worked between railroad cars to complete the dangerous task of linking them.
Each side of this white square handkerchief is trimmed with a wide border of lace. The undecorated center square has a width of approximately 6.5 inches.
This black sun bonnet has a quilted bill with ruffled edging. A ruffled cap is attached at back of the bill with a gathered ruffle extending at the bottom to cover the neck. Ties are attached to each side of the front of bonnet.
The sadiron is a forged, pointed block of iron with a flat bottom and a thick handle. Used for pressing and ironing fabric, it was the precursor to the electric steam iron. The iron was heated over an open fire or other heat source.
Oval glass lenses are joined by a thin piece of brass with a brass nose piece covered in leather padding. The lenses are inserted into narrow frames and held in place by screws and solder. The glasses are accompanied by a fitted leather case.
The carved bowl of this pipe represents a man and woman embraced in a sitting position with flowers near their feet. The stem and mouth piece are missing from this pipe. The case is shaped to fit the pipe and is labeled Goudron real meerschaum.
This pair of white leather lace-up shoes has pointed toes and low heels. The soles are attached on each heel with seven nails. The shoes are scuffed with brown markings.
Similar to a machete, this cane knife is nearly 27 inches long with a three inch blade. Used to harvest sugarcane, it has a rusted blade and is in worn condition. The hook at the tip of the blade is used to pick up cut cane. Sugarcane was grown...
The oval lenses of these glasses are framed with metal. The nose piece is constructed of metal as well. The ear pieces are thin strands of silver wire.
This is a rocking style metal fluting iron with two parts. The top part, with a handle, is embossed with a horseshoe and the words "Good Luck." The rectangular base has ridges that correspond to those in the top piece. After heating the base of...
The stoneware ginger beer bottle is finished with a glazing process. The reusable, durable pottery bottle could have been closed with a cork to preserve its contents.
Light brown wooden eyeglass frames are painted light brown and joined by a thin metal arched wire. Serations are cut into the each side of the nose piece. The glasses can be stored in the accompanying tooled leather case.
This small sterling silver souvenir spoon has a decorative design in the bowl of the spoon inscribed "Old Stone Fort Erected 1619, Nacogdoches, Tex." along with an engraved image of the stone building.
This dark amber cigar shaped glass bottle is embossed with a tobacco leaf design. The bottom of bottle tapers to a rounded point with a hole in the tip. Bottles such as this were made unique and dramatic in color, texture and shape to warn of...
This is a clear glass Stone Fort Beverage bottle. In producing the bottle, color was applied to the bottle and then fired into the glass. One side of the bottle has a label with a white background and "Stone Fort Beverages" lettered in green with...
