When I was a child, I always saw this tea chest on a corner shelf at my Grandmother’s house. I can see the what-not shelf now, with its dark mahogany spindles. It was just something that was always there. As I grew older, my grandmother told me it had been in her parents’ farmhouse in Canada. Whether it was always theirs or passed down to them, I am unsure. I recently asked my Mom about it and she can’t remember either. I do remember my Grandma saying that it had been handmade by someone. Each of the interior lids has a small shell as the handle.
Tea was a valuable commodity and tea chests came with a lock and key. By the time I came to know this piece, its use as a tea chest had long since passed. I must have peeked in it at one time or other. I do know that I loved it and always hoped to have it one day. My Mother had it in her home for many years after my Grandmother died, and eventually gave it to me.
When I looked inside, I found many things – lots of pennies, a blue glass dish, a pick for my grandfather’s autoharp, a note written by my mother (as a young teen) to my Grandmother, a copy of the contents of my Great-Grandfather’s estate. But the most heartbreaking and precious of the treasures found inside were the cards trimmed in black that were given out at the funerals of my great-aunts, my Grandmother’s sisters. During the flu epidemic in 1918, my Grandmother, who was a nurse, returned back home to nurse her family. She had to watch as she lost one sister and then another. Maggie was in her 20’s, and Rhoda, my Grandmother’s adored youngest sister, was but a teenager. Both of them died within days of each other. I can’t imagine the grief my family felt. It is incomprehensible.
Grandma never got over their deaths. And her adored Rhoda? There is a lock of her hair along with the death notice that makes it all the more poignant. Grandma talked often about Rhoda and how wonderful she was. She loved Maggie, too, but Rhoda was the youngest of the 5 children – the baby.
I am fortunate enough to have a pack of letters that Rhoda wrote to Grandma while Gram was in Nursing School in Barrie, Ontario. You have only to read one of them to see how delightful, joyful and lovely that girl was. Her joy in living leaps off every page. I find myself reading them occasionally and thinking that she had only a few years left as she wrote them.
I’ve kept the contents as I found them – even the pennies. I sense that it was Grandma’s private hiding place for a few precious things. I am honored to have it in my possession, along with the letters and Rhoda’s copy of Alice in Wonderland.
What a gorgeous time capsule, I love that you’re keeping it all the way you found it. Such a sad story of loss, I’ve heard my Grandmother tell of entire families wiped out by epidemics. And what is it with the pennies? We must find out, there’s something we don’t know, because when my Grandmother passed away, my mother and I found piles and piles of pennies stuffed here and there all about the house in little stashes. Hmmm. now you have me thinking.
♥ Teresa
Claudia, what a special remembrance not only of your Grandmother, but of your whole family. It’s memories like this that keep us grounded in the knowledge that we ‘belong’.
The chest is just wonderful . . . how fortunate it is that it survived and can tell stories of the past.
Blessings!
Oh you are so lucky and what a sad, but all too common family story of babies and you children dying. I have seen the tiny headstones in my own family plot. And so fortunate this precious keepsake came to you for safekeeping. Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for the lovely comment.
How very cool!and it was your grandmothers! My mother bought me one in the 80’s but it was new then from Coloinal Williamsburg, My room at the time was decorated from there too bad I couldn’t appreciate it! I still have my tea box though! Even if it’s not a family one!
What a treasure. I love that you have kept all the contents intact. What a great piece of history.
My grandmother’s mother died in the 1918 flu epidemic. And my husband’s family has stories of loss too.
I bet lots of those pennies are what my grandmother called ‘wheat’ pennies. They certainly are hard to come by these days.
Thanks for sharing your tea chest.
Hi Claudia,
What a heart wrenching post. I would have kept all the contents the same as well. What memories these cherished objects must have given your grandmother. I want to write so much as this really touched my heart tonight. I remember conversations with my great grandparents and stories passed on about long lost relatives. Thank you for sharing this with us about the Tea Chest and Rhoda. You do not hear that name often, it is also my mother’s name.
Beautiful post.
~Tracie
Are all the pennies the same year? My grandfather used to collect pennies for all us grandkids for our birth year to make it special for each one of us.
Oh Claudia, what a beautiful and touching post. You sound just like me with my family. Treasure your memories sweetie! Wishing you a truly lovely day….
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)
What a treasure & a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
Nerissa
Oh Claudia, everytime i get to read pieces passed down from generations to generations I get overwhelmed. There’s that something that i can’t just explain – something really special. And the best part about your post is that this chest holds lots of memories. I especially love the letters and though I’m just a mere reader of your posts, I am so touched by your grandma and her sisters’ stories.
Thank you for sharing this special something to us.
Li
I remember that chest. I haven’t thought about it in a long time. Gram loved Rhoda so much. I have her Doll Dina and I think I will write a post about her someday. She is so beautiful and regal.
In a lighter tone, remember Mom wanted us to name one of our daughters Rhoda!!!
How wonderful that you ended up with the tea chest and its treasures, Claudia, as it’s clear how much they mean to you… Donna @ An Enchanted Cottage