beacon7-19

July 2019 THE BEACON Page 11A
By Mary-Alice Helms
When I spotted the blue and
white box, half hidden in the
back of my kitchen “catcheverything”
cupboard, I knew
that the cleaning project was
done for the day. Carefully, I
pulled the small object from
the shelf and held it reverently
in my hands. How could
I have forgotten about the
treasure box of memories
that had been stored away so
unceremoniously?
There is nothing particularly
stunning or eye-catching
about the little box. It is made
of tin, 6 ½“ long, 4” wide by
2 ½” deep, with a tight-fitting
lid. When I was a small child,
I thought that the blue and
white Dutch windmill picture
covering its entire surface
was fascinating. Two small
triangles, one on the front and
one on the back, discreetly
advertised the product that it
once held, “PATRIA quality
biscuits.” It is very old, the
edges of the lid beginning to
show tiny spots of rust. For
as long as I can remember, it
was our grandmother’s button
box.
I can remember begging
Grandmother to let me play
with that fascinating collection
of buttons, and of course,
she always said “yes”. What
I loved most was when she
would tell me stories about
each button when I held it up
for her inspection. A garment
was never discarded without
first having the buttons cut
off and saved. In fact, nothing
which could prove to be
useful was ever thrown away.
Lace collars, belt buckles,
even snap fasteners and hooks
and eyes were carefully stored
away until they could be
repurposed.
I held the box in my hand
and then carefully pulled off
the lid. For a moment I stared
down at the kaleidoscope
of colors which had been
revealed. There were buttons
of every shape and size- tiny
mother of pearl circles, round
glass balls, classic white
shirt buttons, flower shapes
with brightly colored petals,
fabric-covered ovals and even
a brass button here and there.
Wonderful memories of childhood
hours spent with my
grandmother flooded my mind
as I lifted a handful of buttons
and let them drift through my
fingers.
I remembered sitting on the
floor next to Grandmother’s
sewing machine and separating
the buttons by color,
shapes or sizes.
“Tell me about this one,
Grandmother,” I would say,
holding up a small button
The Button Box
covered in white satin and
lace.
“Well,” she would answer
in her soft voice, “That was
from the sleeve of your mother’s
wedding gown. It was so
beautiful! And then, when she
was expecting you, she cut
the dress apart and used it to
make the skirt and ruffles for
your baby bassinet.”
I thought that was a lovely
story.
“What about these?” I held
up a pair of intricately carved
glass roses. Grandmother explained
that those two buttons
were all that was left of the
beautiful peach-colored organdy
dress she had made for
our Aunt Alice, my mother’s
younger sister. It seems that
Aunt Alice preferred wearing
overalls to dresses and somehow
the organdy had met with
a fatal accident. The ruffled
skirt had been torn to shreds
when it became entangled in a
bicycle chain.
“These look military.” I
held up a pair of shiny brass
buttons engraved with some
indistinguishable letters.
“Was Granddaddy in the
army?”
“Land, no, child!” Grandmother
would laugh. “Those
came off of the vest of the
uniform he wore when he
was a conductor on the interurban.
My, but he looked
handsome!” She went on to
explain that the interurban
was a streetcar which ran
between Richmond, Indiana,
and Dayton, Ohio. I didn’t
know that there had ever been
such a thing!
The afternoon would melt
away as Grandmother told
story after story about the
history of the magical buttons.
I wish that I could recapture
one of those days when
I would sit for hours and
listen to my Grandmother’s
voice over the whirring of
her sewing machine. Sometimes
the coal in the heating
stove would shift with a soft
rumble, sending its comforting
warmth throughout the
small house. I can see the
stiffly starched lace curtains
at the windows, with rows of
blooming African violets decorating
the sills. I shall never
again know such moments of
complete contentment.
Reluctantly, I closed the lid
of the blue and white box and
placed it back on the shelf.
A bit battered and well over
one hundred years old, it is
a precious keepsake. I know
that it won’t be long before
I once again take it from the
cupboard, open the lid and
release the memories from
that magical button box.
Huey Helicopter
Veterans Memorial
One Step Closer
Southeastern Indiana
Vietnam Veterans continue
to pursue the acquisition of a
Huey Helicopter to be placed
at Lesko Park in Aurora.
They recently traveled to
Shelbyville to the National
Guard facility where they
were met by Colonel Matthew
Handy, the Director
of Aviation, Ryan Jarmula,
Deputy Chief of Staff for
Congressman Greg Pence, and
Regional Director for Senator
Mike Braun, John Moton. Mr.
Moton said he wanted to attend
to actually see the Huey.
Colonel Handy and his crew
Back: Colonel Matthew Handy, Purple Heart Recipient,
Mike Lafollette, Purple Heart Recipient, Nick Ullrich,
Alonzo Caswell, Ron Spurlock and Ryan Jarmula. Front:
PG Gentrup and John Moton.
at Shelbyville have been a tremendous
help with this project.
To date, paperwork has
been submitted to Washington
D.C. requesting the transfer of
ownership of the Huey to the
City of Aurora.
The timing for the project
has been driven by the desire
to have the Huey prominently
displayed at Aurora’s Lesko
park for the arrival of the LST
ship in Aurora Sept. 12-15.
Events for the bicentennial
celebration of Aurora will
culminate at that time.
SE Indiana F.A.R.M. Club’s
June 27-28-29, 2019
Ripley Co. Fairgrounds, Osgood, IN
Feature for 2019:
Economy Engines &
The ”Massey Family of Tractors”
What you will see at our Club’s 23rd Show: Hit-n-miss Engines, Oilfield Engines, Blacksmith,
Vintage Tractors of All Makes, Models & Years, Threshing, Hay Press, Sawmill in operation,
Antique-Craft-Flea Market Vendors, Farm Toy Vendors, Homemaker Exhibits, Quilt Show,
Friday 4-6 PM “Clearfork Bluegrass Band from Happy Valley” & Sat. Noon-4 PM “The Diamondback Band”
Special Event: Square Dancing - Saturday at 7PM by “The Indiana Dancers Association”
New this year! 3 Day Community Yard Sale! Indoor & Outdoor Spaces - only $10 for a 10’x10’ spot!
We have great food available including - “Uncle Bill’s Cabin” - serving F.A.R.M. Club’s World Famous Bean Soup & Cornbread.
We offer easy walking, level grounds and our very popular “Tradin’ Post” Consignment Barn
Show Hours: Thurs, Fri, Sat, 9:AM–DARK, “Sunday 9AM–2PM Limited Activities, Clean-Up Day"
2 Big Evenings of Grandstand Events! Fun for All Ages!
Fri. 7pm - Destruction Motorsports - Demolition Derby
Sat. 7pm - HD Motorsports Racing - Truck Dirt Drags
We invite you to bring the family & share the memories at the 2019 F.A.R.M. Club Show
Vendors Hours – Thurs, Fri, & Sat 9:AM – 9:PM
General Show Admission to the Show - $3 per person, under 12 yrs. Free
Community Yard Sale – Set-up cost $10 for a 10’x10’ spot for all 3 days!
Tom Tepe Kids Pedal Pull - 70 LB Limit - Fri & Sat 6:00 PM
Ripley Co. 4H - Tractor Operators Contest - Sat 8:00 AM
Parade of Power - Saturday at 1:00 PM
Church Service - Sunday 8:00 AM
Exhibitors Always Welcome, Any Make or Model!
2020 Feature - IH - National IH Collectors Chapter 7 Show
2021 Feature - CO-OP - Hoosier CO-OP Collectors Jamboree
Our Show is always the Last Full Weekend in June!
www.farmclubonline.com
Info: Chuck & Sherri Heck 812-926-3654
email: McCormick.Deering@yahoo.com
Friday & Saturday Grandstand Event Info:
Facebook - Destruction Motorsports & HD Motorsports
Admission charged - Pit & Grandstand
Camping: Joe Arnold at 765-265-7912
Electric & water $25 night, Primitive $10 night, 3 night minimum.
Please: No overnight camping in display areas.
Tradin’ Post Info: Chris at 812-654-3949
Golf Cart Registration Fee - $5
F.A.R.M. Club Membership - $5
Facebook: FARM Club of Southeastern Indiana
SHOP LOCAL and tell our advertisers you saw their ads in The BEACON!