“We looked at everything,” she said. “We had a wonderful tour. Just to see how people lived back then — the beautiful jewelry, the clothing, the furniture — everything, was very interesting.”
After touring the house she stopped again at the
jewelry display to take a closer look.
The collection belongs to a member of the historical society, Colette Chuey. The pieces are from the early 1900s to the 1950s.
Also on display was silver flatware George Lotze made in the Lotze jewelry shop that was located in Girard and a tiny bib pin from the 1902 Sears Roebuck catalog. The pin was found on the grounds of the house.
Traci Cochran of Niles said the
jewelry display was a nice addition to the tour.
“That’s where our daughters mainly stopped, what their main focus was,” she said.
“It was cool,” said Mikayla Cochran, 12.
Raegan Cochran, 8, liked a pillow on display with the jewelry. Mikayla agreed that was her favorite part of the display.
Raegan also liked the necklaces, particularly the rhinestone pieces that sparkled.
Vicky Palipchak of Niles was excited to see a Stringer
in the display case. She has one just like it. Her wedding rings were purchased at the Girard store in 1969.
“I really liked seeing the
, she said. “I was like, ‘I’ve got one just like that at home.’”
Her interest in the house went beyond the
jewelry display, however. She lived in the Barnhisel House for five years from the late 1960s to the early ‘ 70s.
“It’s very nice to see all of it now,” she said. The pink walls in the kitchen are gone, she noted, and one of the two staircases has been removed.
The Barnhisel House, built around 1840, was the home of Henry and Susan Barnhisel. Later, the family of Joseph W. Smith lived in it. It is one of the oldest remaining structures in Girard.
Paper Boxes
Jewelry Trunk
