Mrs. Christie's Linen's Make Their Way Home

If you have been following along in our journey of the Stone House, then you might have noticed that I have a love of vintage things - in particular, vintage linens and dishes..... ok, furniture too.

My love of fine old things came from my grandmothers. As a young girl, I remember playing dress-up with old hats, shoes, pearls, and bright red lipstick. But my favorite dress-up accessory was my grandmother’s aprons. Both my grandmother Vern and Virginia had aprons, and as the years progressed my grandmother, Vern started wearing smock aprons.

I also remember going to church with my grandmother, Virginia, and helping out the church ladies in the kitchen. I loved watching them meander about the kitchen in their aprons. My other favorite memory as a child was my grandmother’s handkerchief. She always kept a clean one in her purse, and whenever she would pull it out it always smelled like Dentyne gum.

They both always had beautiful tablecloths and little lace doilies everywhere. My fingers still remember the feel of the starch in them to this day.

Over the past year, I have been gifted with some beautiful things to use here at the Inn. Guests and local community members have bestowed some wonderful things to me, all with a story. My intention for every gift is to bring it back to life and to use it in the way that it was intended to be used, and most importantly, to enjoy it.

Today, I was gifted with some very special gifts that belonged to Jane Christie, past resident and caretaker of The Stone House. At the urging of Jane’s daughter Mary, Jane's daughter-in-law Marcia came bearing gifts of old linens. The family chose their favorites, but there were still many left that needed a home. As I opened them, tears of joy fell. They were some of the most beautiful pieces of cloth and craft that I had ever seen.

Some of the vintage linens that Marcia brought were designed to outfit card tables for Jane’s Ladies Bridge Club. These tablecloths and napkins feature intricately embroidered black, red and white Scottie dogs and card suits.

I can imagine the ladies sitting at a beautifully set card table enjoying an afternoon of Bridge. I am sure that there were hours of Bridge played within these walls, and another thing that I am sure of is that the Bridge table was decked out to the nines with these beautifully hand-crafted gems.

My own family had a Saturday night Poker ritual, or it was Gin Rummy or a game of Tripoli, or of course, Euchre. Playing Bridge was not something that I learned, but now I find myself having a great desire to if maybe only to utilize those gifted linens. I, like everyone else, am looking for the days of the pandemic to be over so we can all sit across the table and play a game or two of cards.

Today at the Inn, I set the table. If you are a guest for a meal, you will always find the table decked out in what I would like to think is close to Mrs. Jane Christie’s style. At the Inns at 8th & Main, you’ll always find cloth napkins and fine vintage plates adorning the table.

Just like The Stone House, beautiful things are meant to be used and shared. I know that I feel just as proud ushering in our guests as Miss Jane must have when she invited the ladies in for an afternoon of refreshments and cards.

To the Christie Family, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for gifting us with these beautiful treasures. I know that our guests will love the linens as well as hearing the stories of Jane Christie and her bridge-playing friends.

And yes Mary and Marcia, they truly are home. XO

- Innkeeper Amy

 

Add comment

* Please fill out all required fields

Add Comment

Search

Added to basket

CheckoutContinue shopping