Treasure Chest Thursday

I recently came across a little box that was rather discreet. However, it held inside a very nice treasure that I was not expecting to find!

Inside was an engraved watch. This watch, from further examination, had my great grandmother's name engraved on the back. It read "Lydia Roehm." There was a little note inside the box that exclaimed it was given by her father on her wedding, on Christmas day, 1914.

I didn't have my camera on me that day to take photos of it, but part of me was jumping inside with glee to have come across such a delicate and personal piece of family history. When I came over the following weekend, with my camera in tow, I took the camera out and captured it.

On further examination, you could tell this watch was well loved. It has little nicks here and there, some discoloration inside the mechanics, and some of the gold plate looks to be folding away. The watch was made by Elgen National Watch Company, which was a very popular, 100 year old company when it closed it's doors in 1968.

Lydia received quite a few nice gifts from her father on her wedding day - a mantle clock, an engraved wrist watch, a dining set - all, I presume, were items he purchased from the family mercantile store that he owned with his brothers (and took over after his father's death in 1916). I think Lydia was very well loved as a daughter. She was a hard worker, earned her keep, was well respected as a friend and confidant, and for all of those reasons, I think is why her father returned the favor to his first born daughter on her wedding day; granting her many wedding treasures.

A Christmas Wedding - 1914 - The union between George Roehm and Lydia Herr

I can't help but think of the beautiful costumes featured in the show, "Downton Abbey" and not help but imagine what my great grandparents wedding must have felt like, which happened on Christmas Day, 1914. Downton Abbey's costumes during the time that Lady Mary Crawley and Matthew Crawley fell in love and married later on.

I have only heard bits and pieces from my Grandmother, who said it was a large event with many guests. She said it lasted for several days.

Here is a photo of them on their wedding day. My great grandfather was much taller than my great grandmother, so she was actually standing on a wooden crate to make it look less dramatic of a difference. I believe he stood between 6'1'' or 6'2''. She only stood 4'11''. Notice the detail in her dress, the clasped metal wrapping around her upper arm; the wreath around her veil - all trademark designs from wedding dresses during that time. She was known to be a great seamstress and very likely made this wedding dress herself. Her father owned a large mercantile store in town and so she may have had access to all the newest fabrics. I can just picture her laboring over her beautiful wedding day gown.

They were both very young here. She was just shy of turning 19 (she'd be 19 on March 20th 1915), and George had just turned 22 (born October 16th 1893). However, it was young love that brought them together. Their union lasted until George's death in 1948; a 33 year marriage that brought them 7 children and many more grandchildren and great grandchildren and now, great great grandchildren. 

See examples below of similar fashion styles from 1914 for wedding gowns: 

Note: Also on her wedding day, Lydia received this lovely clock from her father that is still in our family. It will be 100 years old this next Christmas 1914. I spotted a similar one at Disneyland, of all places, inside their Penny Arcade.