Kitchen Artifacts

This piece of clay pipe was found during the Spring 2021 excavation and its production dates are around the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The pipe was a tulip-style, mold-made clay pipe in Izmir, Turkey. A member of the Hutter family likely served during WWI and would have been able to bring this clay pipe back home as a souvenir.

This United States army button dates 1821-1855 and was found just outside the kitchen walls. It features an eagle, the initials US, and a laurel wreath. It is a small button, approximately 15mm diameter and is specifically from the cap of an army overcoat. George Hutter was an officer in the US Army during this time, this button likely came from his overcoat, possibly handed down to an enslaved person.

This watch fob was found in front of the kitchen. It dates from the late 19th-early 20th century. It bears the name Brinly which is an agricultural supply house which is still in business today. Likely it was a promotional item given to their customers.

This pierced 1836 Liberty bust silver dime was excavated during the 2015 Lynchburg College Archaeology Field School. Enslaved African Americans often repurposed items, such as this coin, that were discarded or gifted by their enslavers. In many West African cultures pierced coins, or shiny objects, were often worn as charms and believed to have spiritual power. This pierced coin likely belonged to one of the enslaved laborers at Sandusky.

The Cranberry red transferware china fragment can be traced specifically to its maker, Samuel Alcock of Staffordshire, England. It dates 1828-1859. This pattern is the most commonly found china here at Sandusky. According to family lore, the Hutter china was broken by Union soldiers during their occupation here in 1864 during the Battle of Lynchburg.