bend wyatt one crop

bend wyatt one crop

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

A little history and a mystery

Wyatt's mom here...
This last weekend there was an antique show at the Expo Center in Portland, Or.
I usually try to stay away, because I just end up buying stuff that I don't really need.
But an old friend was going to be there and so it goes...
So, I'm wandering the booths and I see this Airedale walking stick.
I pick it up and make a big fuss...stupid move if you want to negotiate the price, I'm a bad haggler.

I tell the dealer that I have Airedales. He smiles and tells me about some estate sale and pulls this old scrapbook out of a box.
It's full of Airedale pictures, magazine and newspaper clipping and letters.

Dating from 1910- ish through 1960.
It's a bit rough, some of the pictures were glued in the book, so it's a little warbly.

But it is SO cool and SO fascinating! One of the more interesting things are these letters between Harold Ober and John McGough. Harold Ober was a New York literary agent who represented authors Jack London, HG Wells, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Agatha Christie and Dane Coolidge. Harold owned champion Airedale "Bingley Blossom" and the two had a busy winning streak from 1913-1915. John McGough was a respected dog show judge. They critique the various dogs at show and some questionable judging.....
It would appear that politics in dog shows is nothing new!

"Laddie Boy" being presented to President Harding.

1910


Now, I have to figure out who owned this book. The antique dealer does not know or he's keeping secrets. He did say that it was obtained around Sequim, Wa. in an estate sale.

Off to do some more sleuthing.
I feel like Nancy Drew....this is FUN!

Wyatt's Mom

30 comments:

  1. What a cool scrap book. I hope you got a great deal even though you were so excited to find it.

    Cindy

    P.S. That is the kind of thing you want to take to the Antiques Road Show if it comes to town.

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  2. This is really neat! Sounds like you were meant to find that scrapbook - can't wait to hear what you discover!

    Your pal, Pip

    P.S.: My mom has to avoid antique sales, too. She can't be trusted with these kinds of things

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  3. How fun! Can't wait to hear the rest of the story!

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  4. Oh! I'd be in heaven! That sounds like such a cool find! Have fun going through it and solving the mystery!

    Bunny's mom

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  5. great pictures Wyatt...those were good finds
    Benny & Lily

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  6. What a treasure! You were meant to go there and get that book. Amazing!

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  7. Don't see where not needed fits. Anything with Airedales is necessary to you, isn't it?

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

    Fascinating book and walking stick.

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  8. What a find! We look forward to reading more.

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  9. What a cool book! My mom would have snagged that too! We recognize the walking stick made by Miss Faye McLeod.

    Love ya lots,
    Mitch

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  10. How fascinating and what a find. Look forward to reading about the investigations.

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  11. My mum would be so on dat likes a fly on a dead squirrel...her thinks dis is da coolest thing evers.
    So awesome to finds history furs your breed.

    Puddles

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  12. What a great find! Such great pictures - and those letters - wow that is really interesting. Hope you can find out more - Leigh (Magic's Mum)

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  13. What an amazing find! Those airedales in the family shot are gorgeous. Hope you can find out more - very interesting.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning nd Mom

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  14. What an amazing find! I love old stuff where you can trace it's history!

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  15. Wow....what a terrific thing to find. Maybe you and Stanzie have some relatives in that scrapbook that you don't nose about!

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  16. Hey! We nominated your blog for an award: http://lifewitharie.com/2012/03/05/thanks-everyone-awards-from-our-favorite-blogging-fellows/

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  17. We love Antique Fairs - D brings us all the time - and we think you have a great find there! Hope you find out who owned it - happy hunting...

    Licks
    Sally, Paddy and Klaus

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  18. What a great find! And now the fun begins.

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  19. OH BOY... It is like Blogville's OWN Antiques Road Show thingy. THIS is soooooooo exciting. Can NOT wait to see and hear MORE!

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  20. We like Mitch also immediately recognised the walking stick as the work of Faye Mcleod.
    Faye has a blog http://houseofairedales.blogspot.

    What a brilliant find with all the photos.
    Big Nose Pokes
    The Thuglets

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  21. Wowza, what a great find. Bet you're glad you went now. Did you get the walking stick? Can't wait to hear if you find any more info on the book. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

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  22. WOW that's our Mom Walking Stick. My grandpaw Kodiak told me all about them. What a wonderful find after all these years. Mom is going to post on Face Book to see if there are any others have a Walking Stick.

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  23. Those are such cool pictures. You certainly did find a treasure!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  24. What interesting finds! Love the walking stick!!

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  25. You are an old fashioned doggie!!!!! Love that walking stick...just don't bury it in the toy garden!

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  26. What fascinating finds! It would be great to have the background stories! Get out you spyglass and go!

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  27. Wow, that would keep my mom person fascinated for hours. Fantastic find!

    Nubbin wiggles,
    Oskar

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  28. That is some interesting stuff there. My father got his first Wire Haired Fox Terrier in 1950. Love those old photos!
    Did you buy the walking stick?

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  29. I remember reading this post. I thought I had left a comment. Reading the post probably sent my off searching something on Ancestry.com. in 2012 I was doing a lot of research.
    Thanks for the help with the vase.
    Sweet William The Scot

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