"Now, on the piano in the Bowers Mansion is the piano cover that covered the Steinway piano sent around Cape Horn to James Fair, one of the 'Big Four' of those early days. This is a gift of Alta Powers, of Oakland."
"It is a large cover, 6x7 feet, of beautiful tapestry. Its colors are blue and tan, and completely around the cover is a deep fringe. The piano was purchased by Robert Meacham, the only coal and wood dealer in Virginia City at that time, and by him given to Alta Powers, his granddaughter, a daughter of Mrs. Ina Powers Sample, of Pasadena, California. (Correction: Ina was Alta's older sister, not her mother). Mrs. Sample died a few years ago, and the piano was disposed of, but Alta Powers kept the piano cover, which is now the property of Bowers Mansion."
Other Gifts
"From Mrs. Annie Hurd Smith and Miss Edith Hurd, the mansion received some exquisite pillow slips, bordered in crocheted lace seven inches wide, with insertions set between clusters of hand run tucks. At the same time Miss Hurd and Mrs. Smith gave Bowers Mansion some pillow shams, less ornate, embroidered in turkey red thread, and some splashers, fringed and embroidered in turkey red hem are handmade, indicating that the women of that day had much time to spend on work of this kind."
"But probably the most valued gift received from the members of the Hurd family was one of the original bedsteads that was purchased for the mansion by Eilley and Sandy Bowers, bought from them by Robert Meacham and in turn turned over to the Hurd family. The chair, table and bureau of the early days that were part of the bedroom suite are in Pasadena, but the original bed has never left Nevada, and in the spring will be placed in a suitable room in Bowers Mansion."
Miss Alta Powers donated the Tapestry Piano cover. Notice the ? after the hand written entry....
Unfortunately, and rather disappointingly, the walnut bedstead, the piano cover and the pillow cases/sham were not found during an inventory done in 1971. Tammy explained that some items were sold off at one point, and that things like piano covers and pillow cases and pillow shams did not have a long life and were probably discarded at some point before 1971. The only items left were the splashers. At least we still had those!
The splashers could be found in the North Porter closet in 1970 and were located in the dining room in 1972. As of 2023, they were back in the closet. Tammy knew right where they were and gingerly took them out of their container; she then generously displayed them for us. Here they are...
These are embroidered in Turkey Red thread which was a bit more expensive than regular thread, and was colorfast. Red work was all the rage beginning in the 1880's. Embroidered splashers were hung behind the sink or on wash stands to protect the walls. http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/redwork.htm
I wonder if these were ever used?
Mom (Margaret Hansen Boothby) still does red work embroidery and uses it in her exquisite quilts. These splashers reminded me of the work that Mom does. I was surprised to learn how long this beautiful craft has been in existence! And how it has continued in our family after many, many years. That was a pretty special connection.
Relationship Reference: Me->Margaret Hansen Boothby->Harold Hansen->Vere Burrows Hansen->Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows.
The "Three Hurd Girls" were Elizabeth Jane's younger sisters. Her sister Hattie Hurd Powers was the mother of Ina and Alta Powers.
Here is the article in its entirety as it appeared in the Nevada State Journal, March 7, 1951
Original Bedstead, Other Valuables Given To Bowers By Hurd Family
"Last week, Mrs. B.R Addenbrooke, curator of the Bowers Mansion, received some precious heirlooms that were part of the mansion's original furniture."
"They were gifts of the 'three Hurd girls', two of whom are living today in Reno. Mrs. Annie Hurd Smith and Miss Edith Hurd, two of the well known 'three Hurd girls' in Virginia City in the heyday of the Comstock, live at 120 Stevenson St. in Reno. Unfortunately many of the pictures of those historic days which the sisters had were destroyed in the flood last winter." (The Thanksgiving Flood of 1950)
Piano Cover
"Now, on the piano in the Bowers Mansion is the piano cover that covered the Steinway piano sent around Cape Horn to James Fair, one of the 'Big Four' of those early days. This is a gift of Alta Powers, of Oakland."
"It is a large cover, 6x7 feet, of beautiful tapestry. Its colors are blue and tan, and completely around the cover is a deep fringe. The piano was purchased by Robert Meacham, the only coal and wood dealer in Virginia City at that time, and by him given to Alta Powers, his granddaughter, a daughter of Mrs. Ina Powers Sample, of Pasadena, California. (Correction: Ina was Alta's older sister, not her mother). Mrs. Sample died a few years ago, and the piano was disposed of, but Alta Powers kept the piano cover, which is now the property of Bowers Mansion."
Other Gifts
"From Mrs. Annie Hurd Smith and Miss Edith Hurd, the mansion received some exquisite pillow slips, bordered in crocheted lace seven inches wide, with insertions set between clusters of hand run tucks. At the same time Miss Hurd and Mrs. Smith gave Bowers Mansion some pillow shams, less ornate, embroidered in turkey red thread, and some splashers, fringed and embroidered in turkey red hem are handmade, indicating that the women of that day had much time to spend on work of this kind."
"But probably the most valued gift received from the members of the Hurd family was one of the original bedsteads that was purchased for the mansion by Eilley and Sandy Bowers, bought from them by Robert Meacham and in turn turned over to the Hurd family. The chair, table and bureau of the early days that were part of the bedroom suite are in Pasadena, but the original bed has never left Nevada, and in the spring will be placed in a suitable room in Bowers Mansion."
Former Teacher
"Edith Hurd, who came from Pennsylvania to Virginia City when she was six months old, knew the 'Big Four' of that era very well. She taught school later in Virginia City. Her father, William Hurd, was a mining engineer in Virginia City and her brother, John H. Hurd, ran a hoist in the old C and C Mine."
"The 'Three Hurd Girls' are the survivors of a family of 11. Their father, William Hurd was killed in an accident in Virginia City. Mrs. Hattie Hurd Powers was one of the three sisters and Alta Powers is her daughter."
"Both Miss Gloria Mapes, president of the furnishing committee, and Mrs. Addenbrooke, curator of Bowers Mansion, were very happy yesterday when they got the history of the old bedstead, one of the original pieces of furniture in the mansion. The response of the 'old timers' who wish to see the mansion restored to its original splendor has been remarkable, and the work of completing the job has been speeded up through the cooperation of many to whom the early day history of Nevada has become highly important."
