Handwritten Note from 1882 Found in Firestone Farmhouse during Dismantling for Moving to Greenfield Village, 1983-1984

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Artifact Overview

In 1983, workers disassembled tire magnate Harvey Firestone's childhood home--a farmhouse in eastern Ohio destined for Greenfield Village. They were surprised to find a slip of paper behind a section of plaster ceiling. It had been left by 14-year-old Harvey and the 12-year-old son of a local plasterer in 1882. The note confirmed the date of a 19th-century home renovation, enabling an accurate reconstruction.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Note (Document)

Date Made

1882

Subject Date

1882

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

83.1.1650

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Pencil (Drawing and writing equipment)

Technique

Handwriting

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 6.125 in (in mylar, on board 7")
Width: 7.75 in (in mylar, on board 10")

Inscriptions

Handwritten on front: James Maxwell Washingtonville Ohio 1882 / Harvey Firestone Columbiana Ohio 1882