Jody's Jewelry Revival

  Yesterday was spent solving the mystery of the two ‘coin pendants’ found in Mom’s jewelry collection. After a lot of Google searches, I found examples of them. Atocha shipwreck treasure gold coin pendant and 1788 Carol III Spanish Coin pendant. The coin design in use during the Atocha time period, referred to as shield type, incorporated the Spanish coat of arms or shield on the obverse side and a cross representing the union of Church and State.  Gold coin pendant. Atocha Coin Jewelry (website). The Atocha was a treasure-laden ship that set sail from Havana in September 1622, carrying a vast cargo of silver, gold, and precious jewels that were meant to finance Spain’s ongoing wars in Europe. However, the ship was caught in a hurricane and sank off the coast of Florida, taking with it its precious cargo and almost 300 people.    For more than three centuries, the wreck of the Atocha remained undiscovered, until it was finally located by a team of treasure hunt...

  Solving the mystery of who purchased the pendants. The logical conclusion is that Joanne Gray (my mother) purchased them in 1990 when she was in Florida for the wedding of Judy Sams. Background: Hester (Joanne’s mother) married Lawrence Sams (Joanne’s stepfather), one of his brothers was Chet (Charles) Sams. Judy was the daughter of Chet and Amy Sams. Lawrence’s family lived in Sac City, Iowa. I remember Mom’s story about attending Judy’s first marriage, she spent the night in Judy’s bedroom. Judy’s cat snagglepuss was used to sleeping with Judy. Mom didn’t want that so she shut him out. She heard him thumping down the hallway, he hit the door with the full force of his body, the door flew open, he jumped up on the bed and glared at her… At some point, Judy moved to Florida. In 1984 Judy and her first husband divorced, the address listed is Pasco, Florida. In 1990 Judy remarried, the address listed is Pinellas, Florida (Chet and Amy moved there after Chet retired). I remember Mom...

  Coro Antique Brushed Gold Tone Choker. The textured clusters resemble flower heads. I found it on ebay listed at $48.00. In 1901, Emanuel Cohn and Carl Rosenberger established the accessories boutique Cohn and Rosenberger in New York City , which was later shortened to Coro. In 1929, Coro purchased a manufacturing facility in Providence, Rhode Island, which would later become the world's largest costume jewelry facility . The company went out of business in 1979. A piece has to be at least a hundred years old in order to be considered an antique. I don’t know the year it was manufactured or whether my great-grandmother, Linda Merkley, or my grandmother, Hester Sams, owned this. Chokers like this are my favorite necklace. I love this one.

 Annual Mother's Day at the Hubbell House in Mantorville, MN. Mom (Joanne Gray), Me (Jody Gray), my daughter Angie Hoffmann (now, Edge). Mom is wearing an outfit by her favorite QVC designer, Susan Graver. The necklace she's wearing was purchased at the Owatonna Art Center annual pre-holiday event featuring artist-made items: pottery, glass, furniture, jewelry. The pendant is dichroic glass created by the artist; she chose to pair it with black beads and lavender mother-of-pearl teardrops. It was our first Mother's Day without my oldest daughter, JoAnn Knudson (later, Reckinger) Artisan Dichroic Glass Pendant. Faceted Black Glass Beads and Lavender Mother of  Pearl Necklace. 17" Value $60. My Price $30. Artisan Dichroic Glass Pendant. Faceted Black Glass Beads and Lavender Mother of  Pearl Necklace. 17" Value $60. My Price $30.  Artisan Dichroic Glass  Earrings. Value $30. My Price $15.

 Five Generations. 2012. (L-R) Angie (Hoffmann) Edge, Jody (Gray) Hoffmann, Audrianna Maznio holding her son Eli, Joanne Gray. Joanne is wearing an outfit from her favorite QVC designer, Susan Graver, a choker from her favorite HSN designer, Jay King. This style jacket became one of her favorites, she had several in different colors, two in purple.   Pictures of the Jay King reversible choker, one side inlaid turquoise, one side hammered brass. I found the necklace on-line (pre-owned) for $250.00. 

 Hester Sams wearing a white pantsuit with a red shell, one of her classic looks. This photo is from a Sam's Family Reunion. She wore coordinated pantsuits, preferring black, white, red and yellow. She had shoes and purses that matched. She wore bright red lipstick. She liked several AVON fragrances; her favorite department store fragrance was Tweed, which she purchased at Dayton's in downtown Rochester, MN. 

 Mother-Daughter. Joanne Gray and Hester Sams. Christmas Eve. (I don't know the year but it had to be in the 70's). They were both having their hair done weekly at the same beauty salon in Dodge Center. Over the years, Joanne followed the trends in her hair style and glasses. Hester found her perfect hairstyle and it never changed. After I began working as a beautician in 1970, she came to me. When I opened a clothing store in Dodge Center, MN in 1978 she purchased all her Christmas presents from my store (I also carried stuffed animals so all the kids got stuffed animals that year). 

 Gray family portrait (church publication). 1969. (L-R) Back: Jim, George, Mark. Front: Mary (Vanderhoff) holding son Doug, Joanne, Jody, Mark, Jeff. All these gals sold AVON; Hester Sams sold AVON, which is why there are so many AVON pieces in the jewelry collection - they usually bought samples for each campaign to show to their clients. 

George and Joanne Gray hosted a New Year's Eve party, the grandparents attended. (L-R) Lucille Gray (George's mother), Loren Merkley (Joanne's grandfather), Hester Sams (Joanne's mother). I love the tiny red fireman hats. Hester is wearing  a cocktail brooch with her tweed suit, she appears to have consumed too much holiday cheer.  I came across the Rhinestone Martini Pin that Grama (Hester) is wearing - the stem broke off and it's missing from Mom's Jewelry Collection. 

 Joanne and George Gray hosted a New Years Eve party for the neighbors. It was a dress-up occasion. Mom (far left) is wearing a silver/gold lame dress. George took the picture. Far right, George's brother Don and wife Ruby.

Women in the kitchen preparing to serve Sunday dinner. Wilma Campbell's kitchen, Sac City, Iowa. Before 1945. (L-R) Linda Merkley, Hester Sams, Wilma Campbell. In 1945 Loren and Linda Merkley bought a farm homestead in Dodge County, Minnesota (about 5 miles from the village of Claremont). Over the next two years Loren convinced his girls to join them. Hester and Lawrence Sams rented a house on the outskirts of Claremont, Wilma and Robert Campbell rented a house in town and purchased a gas station, repair shop, later adding a variety store which Wilma managed. 

 Hester Sams, glamour shot. About 1942.

Hester married Lawrence Sams. April 27, 1942. Story goes that shortly after they met, he found out she wasn't able to have her daughter with her and told her he wanted to marry her and take care of them. 

Hester with her daughter, Joanne. About 1938. She was divorced from Myron Adams (Joanne's father), working in a hotel restaurant, as part of her wages she received a room and meals. Joanne lived with her grandparents, Loren and Linda Merkley. Hester looks like a fashion model. 

Teenage Hester creates her own photo shoot. About 1928, age 15. As soon as she was able to earn some money she began to purchase her own clothing and accessories. From then on she kept up with the trends but she was always classy. 

 Linda and Loren Merkley. Linda loved hats! This "top-hat" style makes me laugh but she looks like she feels very dignified in it. Loren wore this hat whenever he dressed up. Otherwise, it was stripped bibbed overalls and matching train engineer-style cap. In our family picture collection there are several pictures of children playing dress-up with Linda's hats.

Linda Merkley with her daughter, Hester Marie Zach. 1916. The locket she's wearing is in the "Collection", likely given to her by her husband, Loren; possibly a wedding gift, they were recently married. Obviously much loved and much worn. I am new at using my phone to take pictures. None of them show the true color of the antique gold. Looks like I need to order one of those "photo boxes".  Stylized Engraved "L" for Linda.

  Linda Zach married Loren Merkley. March 29, 1916. My Great-grandparents.

 Linda Clara Zach. 8th grade graduation portrait. 1906. She was 14. 

After my mother fractured her hip, she had to go to Nursing Care. Her dementia made it impossible for her to return to her assisted living apartment; we (her four children) gave them notice, rented a storage room and began the process of removing her things. I ended up with all her jewelry at my house and after sorting through her dresser jewelry box I invited family to come over and see if they could find a few pieces that they would like to have. Then, I began to sort through the rest and organize it according to type. My mother is the last of her family so she ended up with everybody's jewelry: her grandmother's, Linda Merkley; her mother's, Hester Sams; her aunt's, Wilma Campbell; her niece's, Lind Campbell. Grandma Sams and Mom both sold Avon. They usually purchased demos for each campaign to show to their clients, which explains why there are so many AVON. I purchased a book, "Identifying Avon Jewelry" by Sandra Sturdivant. I found all but a few ...