Thank you for the input on the photograph that was presented as the first History Mystery in the Anchor on March 27th. We received this from from Brent Paquette, “It was on a billboard for the first phase of the Cove I believe it was along Hwy 1. If I remember correctly it did not stay long as they changed the logo for the development.” This would have been about 1994 according to ‘Chestermere a Home for all Seasons’ p 124. Other ideas are still welcome!
Mystery #2 is really a puzzling one. This lovely glass vacuum coffee pot, creamer and sugar were donated to the Chestermere Historical foundation by Marian Boutin (on display in the Chestermere Library). Vacuum pots came into fashion in Germany beginning in 1830, when the thought was that coffee should never be boiled. (a complete history can be read here http://baharris.org/coffee/History.htm ) The water heated in the bottom vessel, creating pressure which forced the water up the glass tube into the coffee grounds in the top container. Once the water had risen, the pot was taken off the heat ( if not the bottom could explode!). As the air in the bottom pot cooled, it pulled the coffee back down filtering out the grounds. Marian thinks that these were bought by her brother-in-law’s mother using Nabob coupons in the 50s. The pieces have no identification marks on them. Marcia Slater from the Glenbow stated, ” I’m pretty sure it dates to the ‘30s. Glassware was generally rounder & more decorative then (depending on one’s point of view!) & the rounded handles & gold banding really speak of an earlier period to me [than the 50s]. Too, the fact that there was a matching creamer & sugar bowl to further illustrate the whole thing, says pre-war. Fancier stuff of this type was more in metal (ie. silver) after the war. Having said all that, it’s really a great set, & I’ve not seen anything like it.”
So the question is, have you?
If history is something about which you are interested, join the Chestermere Historical Foundation or attend one of the meetings, the next will be Tuesday May 12th 6:30pm in the Chestermere Public Library. History books are also still available for sale. And maybe you have a local History Mystery that you would like solved? Send an email via www.chestermerehistory.org
