Garrett W. Durland (left) donates an early 19th century trunk on behalf of his family to the Warwick Historical Society. He is pictured with archivist Cathryn Anders. Provided photos.
A deck of 19th century playing cards were discovered in a trunk by the Durland family.
Before knapsacks and backpacks and gym bags, travelers packed trunks for their trips - often journeys. Trunks went on steamers, on trains or carriages or laps, holding their owners’ clothes and valuables.
The Durland Family, one of Warwick’s oldest, discovered a family trunk, which had been a play thing on the Durland Farm, just north of the Village of Florida, in the 1960s and ‘70s.
“We played with it when we were kids with cousins, along with swings in the barn when we visited the farm (past Reservoir Road) for reunions,” said Garrett Durland.
He called it a “magical chest.” It had contained letters from the 1880s. The trunk that is about the size of a 21st century microwave oven has the initials P.A.D on its white horsehair cover.
It had belonged to Penelope Ann Durland, who brought it to the States from England, according to Ken Durland, Garrett’s father, who lives in Northern New Jersey. He told the Historical Society, he’s not certain how she’s related or when she came to the States. Ken Durland called the trunk “a mystery.”
Most recently the trunk contained a deck of 19th century playing cards, a straight razor, notebook sized ledgers, two powder horns - one horn, one metal, a restored in London lighter, a pipe and a cigarette tin.
“The Society is grateful to the Durland family for this unique gift,” said Nora Gurvich, executive director of the Warwick Historical Society. “It’s an incredible addition to the Society’s collection, and it will be featured in future exhibits at the A.W. Buckbee Center.”
For more information about the Warwick Historical Society visit warwickhistory.org or call 845-986-3236.