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Cootie Game
This Cootie game is from the Stokes Collection at Old Independence Regional Museum. The original game is complete with box and was copyrighted in 1949. It features the parts to complete two plastic “cooties” plus some additional parts. It was created by William Schaper and in 2003 it was named to the Century of Toy list.
Dr. Dickson’s Civil War Surgeon’s kit
This surgeon’s kit is from the McGinnis Collection at Old Independence Regional Museum. This ten instrument kit was a Confederate States of America (CSA) surgeon’s medical kit, and was used by Dr. L.A. Dickson during the Civil War. Dr. Dickson’s biography can be found in Goodspeed’s North Central Arkansas book. Written on the back of the kit is R.C. Newland.
Mowhee Teardrop Dulcimer
This Mowhee Teardrop Dulcimer from the McSpadden collection at Old Independence Regional Museum was crafted by Lynn McSpadden in April of 1967. It is an exact replica of a dulcimer that he repaired in the Dulcimer Shoppe in Mountain View, Arkansas. He crafted the dulcimer from walnut and used a modern fretwire instead of the broom wire that was used in the original. It is said that John Mowhee was a full-blood Cherokee who traveled throughout the South during and after the Civil War. Mowhee called this dulcimer an “Indian Walking Cane” because the long slim shape looked like a cane, but the common designation for the instrument is “mountain dulcimer”.
Cast Iron Coca Cola Toy
This cast iron toy is from the Matthews Collection at Old Independence Regional Museum. The Coca Cola wagon features eight cases (three with coke bottles), being pulled by two horses, complete with a driver under an umbrella. This type of advertising toy was known to be sold at the New York Fair 1939.
A letter from the Smirl Collection at Old Independence Regional Museum. The letter was written to Private Lawrence Plaster from DeLois Ann (his one year old daughter) with the imprints of her hand and foot in 1944. The letter stained with Private Plaster’s blood was found folded in his pocket after he was shot by a sniper while picking apples from a tree. Plaster was inducted into World War II on March 19, 1944 and died in the “Battle of the Bulge” in France on December 17, 1944 at age 28.
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