Button Recycling

Our ancestors truly knew the value of a dollar.  Today we talk about being "green" and have trendy recycle and reuse sayings but they didn't think of it as being green, they thought of it as being thrifty, economical and saw the potential to reuse items when possible.

This tinbox, which was surely a magnificent thing in its day, was used to store buttons.  And not just the occasional button that popped off and needed to be sewn back on.

When clothing wore out they removed the eyelets, hooks, buttons, collars, cuffs, lace and anything else that could be reused on another piece of clothing.  And then they used the remaining clothing to stuff mattresses, pillows or used them as cleaning rags.

Here's what we found inside this particular tinbox.  A truly unique collection of buttons, clasps, hooks and beads.

The House Where Time Stood Still

We spent the better part of today in Moran Place rescuing items from the past to be preserved for the future.  I realize even more the daunting task before us of trying to preserve what we have, catalogue it, and share it with those who have an interest in West Tennessee history.

Stained Glass in the formal dining room.