stoneonstone
Old Crystal Rug - Kensinger (Herr)
The Herr Rug
Lois Herr resides on Lancaster Avenue. From examining and doing research on her rug, I believe it is considered an “Old Crystal” style rug. This style was developed by the trader, J. B. Moore, shortly after he purchased rights to the Crystal Trading Post in 1896. Moore quickly identified weakness in area weavings and had the weavers bring him raw wool which he then sent to eastern mills for machine cleaning. When returned, the processed wool could be spun and woven more evenly. In 1903 and again in 1911, Moore published mail-ordered catalogs outlining grades of wool, classes of rugs and prices. Moore’s greatest achievement was perhaps the Persian type designs and elements he had his weavers make. His distinctive styles included a bordered rug with natural wool tones of black, brown, and white, coupled with carded blends of gray, tan, and beige. These were used in combinations with commercial dyes of red and blue. He credits himself with developing the “Storm Pattern Rug” and his basic patterns led to the regional style rug called the “Two Grey Hills”.
On a 2018 trip to the Southwest, Vicki and I stopped in Gallup, New Mexico. There I consulted with Billy Malone, trader and owner of . Billy concurred this rug is indeed an “Old Crystal” style rug, probably woven around 1920.
An author of several books on various topics, including her family’s history, Lois provided, first detailed information regarding her Navajo rug and then entries from the mother’s period diary.
“In 1923, Kathryn Nisley (my mother) and Rebecca Hassler (her grandmother) took off on a train trip across the country. On the way east, their train stopped for meals at Fred Harvey Houses in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. These locations also served at the time as prime locations for travelers to see and buy Indian jewelry, rugs, and other native works.
Family lore is that Rebecca bought a Navaho rug and along the way back shipped it home. The rug went from their farm to my grandmother’s home in Progress when her parents left the farm and moved in with her. That’s where I first saw the rug. Eventually the rug would move with me to Mt. Gretna. Ultimately it landed in the hands of Don Kensinger in exchange for his artwork – the Stone Trees that adorn my cottage property.”
What follows are several entries from Lois’ mother’s 1923 diary describing days on the train and meals at the Harvey Houses.”
“Wed, Aug 1
We had to get off the train for breakfast at Seligman, Arizona. We know now what a Fred Harvey dining room is like. After we were on the way again, a doctor from Winslow, Arizona, who had the berth opposed to ours, asked me to play my violin. If his girl would have lived, she would have been a violinist, too. So, I played almost all the selections I had along. We changed trains at Williams for the Grand Canyon at noon. Arrived at the canyon at 4 something. Arranged ourselves in a little white frame cottage in the Bright Angel Campground for $2.50, then took the Rim Ride. Grandma was disgusted because the driver went so fast. We were given a cold drink and tea cakes at the Hermit’s Rest and stopped at interesting points along the edge of the canyon on the way back. After dinner, we visited the Hopi House and the El Tovar Hotel, where we heard a fine illustrated lecture about the Grand Canyon and had an elegant afternoon tea. Found out the Grand Canyon became a National Park three years ago.
THURS, AUG 2
I was too sleepy this morning to get up for the sunrise. How can I travel so far and then miss it? After breakfast we walked to the station. I had to carry both suitcases because the boy had already gone. So, Grandma was “riled” again. We changed cars at Williams and are now on the way to Kansas City. It is 6:11. We will stop at 7 in Gallup, New Mexico for dinner. We had lunch with us, so we’re going to get only ice cream and coffee. This ride has been hot, but it’s getting cooler now.
Will be good to see Joe and Florence Stober again. We’ve covered a lot of miles since we were with them. This is such a big country.
FRI, AUG 3
What a shock – The conductor came through giving the news that President Harding died last evening at 7:30. That is the main subject of conversation today. Apparently, there’s some speculation about what caused his death. He had been on a cross-country trip too – his “Voyage of Understanding.” Our trip is a voyage of understanding for me – understanding my family, relationships, and the sheer size of our country.
We stopped at Clovis, New Mexico, for breakfast. I couldn’t do anything but sleep the rest of the morning until we got off for lunch in Amarillo, Texas. The remainder of the day we tasted dust and felt heat.
In Missouri Grandma plans to see all the Stobers. Doesn’t talk much about her family normally. I gather from what she said today that she was very close to her mother, being the oldest child. When her mother Elizabeth died and her father married Susanna Yeager, the young housekeeper, Grandma left home in a huff and lived with her Aunt Rose Hocker until she married Grandpa years later. Some of the Stobers we’ll see are her brothers and sisters, but some are the children of her father’s second wife. I’m making her tell me the names and writing them down at dinner.
We had a fine dinner at a Fred Harvey place again and Grandma set out for me the people we’ll see in Missouri. Her brothers George, Joe, and her youngest sister Jennie came out west with their father and his second wife’s children Will, Harry, and Cora. Grandma had never yet met Harry, and she looked forward to seeing him. Will died young and Cora married and moved to Nevada. We’ll be spending time with George, Joe, Jennie and Harry and their families.
SAT, AUG 4
Was awake in time to see the sun rise – and would have seen it if the train hadn’t turned directly towards it. Put on the last clean piece (almost) of clothing. Reached Kansas City at 7:30. Red Cap escorted us to the Missouri Pacific Sedalia train at once. That jerky train that stopped at every fence corner. Grandma can thank me for the newspaper she had to read. Pages and pages about Harding and Coolidge. Grandma always paid attention to politics and so have others in the family. Uncle Doc was on the Harrisburg City Council and even ran for Mayor. Every year Grandma goes out registering voters, especially women now that we won the right to vote.
Lois’s rug measures and has a weft count of per inch. The black, white, gray, and tan colors are from natural dyes, while the red is aniline dyed. The hooks or frets, commonly found in Oriental and Persian rugs, were elements that J. B. Moore encouraged his weavers incorporate in their rugs, as he thought such features were appealing to Anglo customers.
For a rug reported to be 100 years old it is in good condition with minimal damage and fading. An “old Crystal rug” is a desirable weaving in any collection. The account shared by Lois and the additional provenance of the purchaser’s diary entries increases the rugs significance and value
Old Crystal Rug - Kensinger (Herr)
The Herr Rug
Lois Herr resides on Lancaster Avenue. From examining and doing research on her rug, I believe it is considered an “Old Crystal” style rug. This style was developed by the trader, J. B. Moore, shortly after he purchased rights to the Crystal Trading Post in 1896. Moore quickly identified weakness in area weavings and had the weavers bring him raw wool which he then sent to eastern mills for machine cleaning. When returned, the processed wool could be spun and woven more evenly. In 1903 and again in 1911, Moore published mail-ordered catalogs outlining grades of wool, classes of rugs and prices. Moore’s greatest achievement was perhaps the Persian type designs and elements he had his weavers make. His distinctive styles included a bordered rug with natural wool tones of black, brown, and white, coupled with carded blends of gray, tan, and beige. These were used in combinations with commercial dyes of red and blue. He credits himself with developing the “Storm Pattern Rug” and his basic patterns led to the regional style rug called the “Two Grey Hills”.
On a 2018 trip to the Southwest, Vicki and I stopped in Gallup, New Mexico. There I consulted with Billy Malone, trader and owner of . Billy concurred this rug is indeed an “Old Crystal” style rug, probably woven around 1920.
An author of several books on various topics, including her family’s history, Lois provided, first detailed information regarding her Navajo rug and then entries from the mother’s period diary.
“In 1923, Kathryn Nisley (my mother) and Rebecca Hassler (her grandmother) took off on a train trip across the country. On the way east, their train stopped for meals at Fred Harvey Houses in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. These locations also served at the time as prime locations for travelers to see and buy Indian jewelry, rugs, and other native works.
Family lore is that Rebecca bought a Navaho rug and along the way back shipped it home. The rug went from their farm to my grandmother’s home in Progress when her parents left the farm and moved in with her. That’s where I first saw the rug. Eventually the rug would move with me to Mt. Gretna. Ultimately it landed in the hands of Don Kensinger in exchange for his artwork – the Stone Trees that adorn my cottage property.”
What follows are several entries from Lois’ mother’s 1923 diary describing days on the train and meals at the Harvey Houses.”
“Wed, Aug 1
We had to get off the train for breakfast at Seligman, Arizona. We know now what a Fred Harvey dining room is like. After we were on the way again, a doctor from Winslow, Arizona, who had the berth opposed to ours, asked me to play my violin. If his girl would have lived, she would have been a violinist, too. So, I played almost all the selections I had along. We changed trains at Williams for the Grand Canyon at noon. Arrived at the canyon at 4 something. Arranged ourselves in a little white frame cottage in the Bright Angel Campground for $2.50, then took the Rim Ride. Grandma was disgusted because the driver went so fast. We were given a cold drink and tea cakes at the Hermit’s Rest and stopped at interesting points along the edge of the canyon on the way back. After dinner, we visited the Hopi House and the El Tovar Hotel, where we heard a fine illustrated lecture about the Grand Canyon and had an elegant afternoon tea. Found out the Grand Canyon became a National Park three years ago.
THURS, AUG 2
I was too sleepy this morning to get up for the sunrise. How can I travel so far and then miss it? After breakfast we walked to the station. I had to carry both suitcases because the boy had already gone. So, Grandma was “riled” again. We changed cars at Williams and are now on the way to Kansas City. It is 6:11. We will stop at 7 in Gallup, New Mexico for dinner. We had lunch with us, so we’re going to get only ice cream and coffee. This ride has been hot, but it’s getting cooler now.
Will be good to see Joe and Florence Stober again. We’ve covered a lot of miles since we were with them. This is such a big country.
FRI, AUG 3
What a shock – The conductor came through giving the news that President Harding died last evening at 7:30. That is the main subject of conversation today. Apparently, there’s some speculation about what caused his death. He had been on a cross-country trip too – his “Voyage of Understanding.” Our trip is a voyage of understanding for me – understanding my family, relationships, and the sheer size of our country.
We stopped at Clovis, New Mexico, for breakfast. I couldn’t do anything but sleep the rest of the morning until we got off for lunch in Amarillo, Texas. The remainder of the day we tasted dust and felt heat.
In Missouri Grandma plans to see all the Stobers. Doesn’t talk much about her family normally. I gather from what she said today that she was very close to her mother, being the oldest child. When her mother Elizabeth died and her father married Susanna Yeager, the young housekeeper, Grandma left home in a huff and lived with her Aunt Rose Hocker until she married Grandpa years later. Some of the Stobers we’ll see are her brothers and sisters, but some are the children of her father’s second wife. I’m making her tell me the names and writing them down at dinner.
We had a fine dinner at a Fred Harvey place again and Grandma set out for me the people we’ll see in Missouri. Her brothers George, Joe, and her youngest sister Jennie came out west with their father and his second wife’s children Will, Harry, and Cora. Grandma had never yet met Harry, and she looked forward to seeing him. Will died young and Cora married and moved to Nevada. We’ll be spending time with George, Joe, Jennie and Harry and their families.
SAT, AUG 4
Was awake in time to see the sun rise – and would have seen it if the train hadn’t turned directly towards it. Put on the last clean piece (almost) of clothing. Reached Kansas City at 7:30. Red Cap escorted us to the Missouri Pacific Sedalia train at once. That jerky train that stopped at every fence corner. Grandma can thank me for the newspaper she had to read. Pages and pages about Harding and Coolidge. Grandma always paid attention to politics and so have others in the family. Uncle Doc was on the Harrisburg City Council and even ran for Mayor. Every year Grandma goes out registering voters, especially women now that we won the right to vote.
Lois’s rug measures and has a weft count of per inch. The black, white, gray, and tan colors are from natural dyes, while the red is aniline dyed. The hooks or frets, commonly found in Oriental and Persian rugs, were elements that J. B. Moore encouraged his weavers incorporate in their rugs, as he thought such features were appealing to Anglo customers.
For a rug reported to be 100 years old it is in good condition with minimal damage and fading. An “old Crystal rug” is a desirable weaving in any collection. The account shared by Lois and the additional provenance of the purchaser’s diary entries increases the rugs significance and value