The Hillsboro Women’s Club, in existence since 1923, had what many members called, “it’s most interesting meeting ever” on Sept. 8.
After enjoying a luncheon at the Snow Hill Country Club near New Vienna, members displayed heirlooms and described them in detail. The oldest heirloom was reportedly from the 17th century.
The heirlooms were as varied as they were treasured, ranging from a leather money pouch carried by a Civil War soldier to several pieces of silver jewelry and raw stones from Bolivia. A unique wooden box contained small medicine bottles, while a coin equivalent of two Pieces of Eight, which had survived a shipwreck, was being worn as a pendant by one of the club members.
A small sign on the display table quoted the Webster’s Dictionary definition of an heirloom: “Any chattel which is inherited or has been in the same family for several generations.”
Red roses decorated the tables, but they paled in comparison to the treasures displayed. Club president Mary Todd Hardeman presided at the brief session and announced that the next meeting will be on Oct. 15.
Submitted by Gretchen Huffman, club secretary.
