No More Chigger Bites!

It's time for Metamorphosis Monday with our gracious hostess, Susan of Between Naps on the Porch! Check out all the great transformations and say hello to the ever gracious and charming Susan!

This is a small change, but one that can turn a ruined piece of crystal stemware into one that can be used and enjoyed.

Below is an example of a rim chip, or a "flea bite" (or here in the South, a "chigger bite"). It's not only unattractive ... it's downright dangerous! I bought a set of beautiful vintage crystal at an estate sale and hated to throw away the ones with flaws. I searched online and found that there are companies that repair chipped crystal by grinding and polishing away the chips.

I also found a company that sells special files for this purpose. I decided to try the ones from beauty supply stores. I bought a variety of "grits." It's the same principle as sanding furniture ... beginning with very gritty and ending up with very fine to achieve a smooth surface.

The glass will never be perfect again. This process just results in a glass that can be used without risk of injury to the user. It causes a slight "dip" where the chip is filed down. A glass like the one below (the pattern is "Caprice" by Cambridge, vintage "Elegant Glass Era" stemware) works well because the pattern helps hide the repair.

Here's how to hold the file. In reality, this is a two-handed job, but I couldn't hold the glass AND take the photograph! I've "improved" a lot of glassware using this method. I've only broken one stem, and that was one of the very first I undertook. You'll learn by doing how hard to press. It takes a fair amount of elbow grease in the first stage. I always keep the rim of the glass wet while I'm filing ... it seems to help the process along.

Here it is below ... almost finished. Note the glass dust mixed with water running down the side of the glass.

And here it is (lower left) ready for use in my next tablescape. This is a sneak preview!


I hope that was helpful. Let me know if you have suggestions or comments!

Warm regards,

Faux MC

It's time for another Tablescape Thursday, with Susan of Between Naps on the Porch. Alas, I don't have a tablescape for you today! I've been a bit under the weather (probably just seasonal allergies), and I've been busy posting tours for the past four days of historic homes and public buildings in Bolivar, Tennessee.

Just so you don't forget me ... or think I forgot about my tablescaping friends, I'm doing a mini ... very mini-post.

The picture below is from a party I attended recently. The hostess has a VAST collection of Mackenzie-Childs .... everything! At the start of the buffet line, she had a stack of enamelware "Courtly Check" chargers/plates and assorted sterling forks in crystal caddies. She also used real napkins ... damask ones. None of that plastic plate/plastic fork/paper napkin business for her!

Below (in a TERRIBLE blurry photograph ... the only one I have of it) is the first tablescape in which I ever had a hand. It was done "by committee," so my only real input was helping select the folk art, borrowing the chargers from my friend, and painting Dollar Tree wine glasses to mimic the "Courtly Check" style. I hope MC doesn't mind --- it was for a charity event.

I used the paint I had handy: Golden artists colors, thinned with glazing medium. I was certain it wouldn't last, but they only had to make it through one luncheon as water glasses. I painted the bottoms of the glasses red to match the round rattan placemats. I used masking tape to create straight edges above and below the check-patterned band. Then I painted irregularly-sized "squares" (shading the black and white with other colors and blending slightly).

I avoided areas where hands and lips would touch the glass in hopes the paint would stay on ... just long enough! The glasses were given to the lender of the plates. I assured her that they would be "for display only."

Well, she used them for a dinner party! One of the glasses accidentally went into the dishwasher ... and survived! Who knew???

Next week .... a real tablescape post ... I promise!

Historic Bolivar, Final Stop

When I first came to West Tennessee, I often heard people speak of someone "going to Bolivar," having "been in Bolivar," needing to be "sent to Bolivar." I soon learned that it was a euphemism for mental illness and hospitalization. I would also hear people say the buildings were beautiful (at least when viewed from a distance).

Western Mental Health Institute (formerly Western State) is easy to find, located directly across the highway from the Wal-Mart Supercenter. Passers-by often comment on these impressive Gothic and Italianate structures. I took numerous photographs the day I was there, but none turned out. I decided to go ahead with this post using stock photographs found online. The story's a sad one, and one that's been told before. Still, it's worth repeating, and the lessons are worth remembering.

Western State Mental Hospital was the last of Tennessee’s state mental hospitals to be constructed (in 1889) and habitually the one least funded. From its original one building, presently used as the administration building, it grew to, at one point, 1,140 acres with seven buildings housing patients. The institution's patient population grew from a few hundred in the 1890s to over 2,000 in the 1960s (as patients remained hospitalized for decades). Many were crowded into large dormitories and had little privacy. With a limited number of doctors and attendants and a large patient population, many were simply "warehoused."

Patients at Western State received the treatments available in their period of institutionalization. These treatments ranged from hydrotherapy and insulin shock therapy to lobotomies and electric shock therapy. With the severe staff limitations, however, patients were fortunate to receive ten minutes per week with a psychiatrist.

The facility once had a very unfortunate connection with the infamous Georgia Tann, who operated the Tennessee Children's Home Society, an adoption agency in Memphis, Tennessee. Tann used the unlicensed home as a front for her black market baby adoption scheme from the 1920s until a state investigation closed the institution in 1950. Tann died of cancer before the investigation made its findings public.

"Angel of Mercy," Georgia Tann

Inmates at Western State were one source of babies for Tann’s operation. Records were either sealed or falsified. Tann often arranged for what her victims refer to as kidnapping. In some cases, single parents would drop their children off at nursery schools only to be told that welfare agents had taken the children. In other cases, children would be placed with the society because a family would be in the midst of illness or unemployment. They would later learn that the Society had either adopted them out, or had no record of the children ever being placed.

Tann was also documented as taking children born to unwed mothers at birth, claiming that the newborns required medical care. When the mothers would ask about the children, Tann would tell them that the babies had died. In reality, they were placed in foster homes or adopted out. Mary Tyler Moore won an Emmy award for her portrayal of Tann in the television movie, “Stolen Babies,” 1993.

Tennessee law at the time, the Home charged about $7 per adoption. Adoptions in states such as Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri could be arranged for $750. But Tann also arranged for out-of-state private adoptions where she charged a premium - upwards of $5,000 per child - for her "services." It is alleged that she pocketed 75% of the fees from these adoptions for her own personal use, and failed to report the income to both the Society Board and the Internal Revenue Service. She was the first to create new birth certificates for adopted children; the practice became widespread.

Tann's standards for suitability of adoptive parents seemed to be based strictly on financial status. Notable personalities who used Tann's services (but were not aware of the tactics used by Tann) included actress Joan Crawford (daughters Christina Crawford, and twins Cathy and Cynthia were adopted through the agency). June Allyson and husband Dick Powell also used the Memphis-based home for adopting a child, as did New York Governor Herbert Lehman, who signed a law sealing birth certificates from New York adoptees in 1935.

Tann could not have done all this alone. She was assisted by powerful friends, including Family Court Judge Camille Kelley and Memphis Mayor E. H. Crump (head of the powerful Crump “political machine”). Tann enjoyed Crump's powerful protection as she illegally placed babies in adoptive homes. Tann's legacy—and by extension, Crump's—lives on today, in that 32 states (as of January 2007) still have sealed birth certificates for adoptees.

I know a man in Jackson who says he was one of "Georgia Tann's babies." He was adopted by an older couple, a minister and his wife. He says he was well-treated, but will always wonder about his birth parents ... and what might have been .....

Historic Bolivar, Part 4

It's time for another Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer. I hope you'll stop by, say hello to Susan, and check out all the other participants. Thank you, Susan, for making this event possible

As promised, here's the tour of the Court Square area of Bolivar, Tennessee, population 5,802.

The third and current courthouse was built in 1868. The first building was moved to its current location and serves as the Hardeman County Museum. The second was destroyed during the Civil War. You can read about it in "Historic Bolivar, Part 2." Just click HERE and scroll down to the "Little Courthouse."

This bust is a likeness of Simon Bolivar for whom the county was named. Read about him HERE.
Looking across the Courthouse lawn toward an attractive row of offices and businesses.

A view of the Courthouse from the barber shop on the corner. Isn't the ironwork attractive? I'm sure you know why barber poles have "candy stripes." It will be interesting to see who tells us in a comment. Lori E.?


The pedestrian walkway is a new feature of a recent downtown renovation.

An AT&T Wiresless store reminds us we're in the 21st Century!

Live music on the square on Friday nights is a recent development. A friend I ran into while I was there said over 1000 people turned up to hear the music last friday night. Locals considered that a great success!

The old bank building on the corner appears lit from within ...

Because it no longer has a roof. A fire damaged it severely and destroyed neighboring buildings.

A view from the other side ...

This stock photo shows the buildings that were destroyed (including a popular restaurant I've enjoyed visiting).

The old US Post Office in the same block is still in use.
Now alone since neighboring buildings burned to the ground. There have been tentative plans to build a downtown hotel on the site (on hold due to the current state of the economy).


One building that hasn't had a facelift is the old Luez movie theater.

Still showing current films!

A successful decorator's shop, just down from the square ... Barrett & Stevens. They did several of the window treatments for this house (some of you have seen them in the background of Tablescape Thursday posts).

More PINK anyone? I haven't dined at Opal's ... but if I ever do, I'll let you know!

The new farmer's market. Not huge ... but definitely an asset to this community.

The next stock photo represents perhaps the most interesting architecture I've shown you in this series of posts.

And is part of a fascinating and horrific story ....

I hope you'll be back for the final installment ...

Historic Bolivar, Part 3

It's time for another Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer. I hope you'll stop by, say hello to Susan, and check out all the other participants. Thank you, Susan, for making this event possible

Today, we're continuing the tour of Bolivar, Tennessee, with homes in the East Main Historic District. If you saw the Antebellum Estate Sale post, you'll remember this house:

This tour will be the equivalent of stream-of-consciousness literature. As I walked down the street with a camera (yes, I got a tiny bit of exercise capturing these images for you!), I sometimes alternated between taking next-on-the-right and across-the-street images.

This is the house directly across the street from the estate sale home:

Next on the right, past the estate sale house.

So much of Southern life used to be lived on the wide and deep front porches of homes like this one. With a fan in one hand and a cool glass of lemonade or iced tea or, even better, an invigorating mint julep in the other, people watched the world go by. Often "the world" stopped by for good conversation with friends, neighbors, and relatives.

Across the street again. Can't you imagine how beautiful this street is in Autumn, with tall old deciduous trees in almost every single yard?

The third house on the right:

Mallory Manor, circa 1870. It's being renovated, and ... it's for sale! Any takers?

I had to steal a backward glance at this beauty!

The next on the right is, for me at least, one of the street's most charming.

Looking across the street again ....

And another look back. Isn't the "gingerbread" trim wonderful? I think it has the look of an enchanted cottage.

Next on right. More gingerbread and stained glass above the front windows.

Next on right ... a shady porch with large shrubs providing privacy.

Across the street is Magnolia Manor, the bed and breakfast we saw yesterday.

Here's a beautifully restored and maintained Craftsman-style house.


One more look across at Magnolia Manor, where Union generals dined. The following story is from the B&B's website:

"It has been told by the Miller Family that during one meal, Mrs. Miller was seated with Generals Sherman and Grant. General Sherman made the comment that he believed "all southern men, woman and children should be exterminated!" General Grant did not hear this comment, but Mrs. Miller did! She was so upset by the remark that she left the table and went to the back porch to cry. General Grant followed her to see what was wrong. Mrs. Miller told General Grant what Sherman said to her. Grant ordered Sherman to apologize to their hostess at once! Sherman did apologize, but was so humiliated by the order he stormed up to his room! As he approached this staircase, he drew his sword from its scabbard and slashed the banister with it. The mark is still visible to this day!"

Just past Magnolia Manor. There's something so clean-looking about a freshly-painted white house, isn't there?

Isn't it a HUGE porch to have so little "visible means of support?"

Back to the right side of the street. Remember the house with the antiques yard sale in the front yard (from Antebellum Estate Sale)?

I complimented a lady sitting well back on the shady front porch, telling her she was clever to have found a cool spot on such a warm afternoon. She smiled and responded, "Well, I've learned a FEW things in these 93 years on earth!"

When a different woman tried to calm two children, who were running and playing among the items for sale, I offered that they certainly seemed to have a lot of energy. The lady on the porch said "Yes, and you can't KILL them these days." Her friend offered, "You USED to could, but not anymore."

Just past the house with the sale is this beauty. Do you suppose a gardening enthusiast lives here?


Another view of the colorful front yard.

Looking toward downtown, it's obvious how near these houses are to the court square. See the tower of the courthouse? It's above the Big Star supermarket's red sign.

Pink anyone?
Another look at the neatly-painted house with the little "tower" feature.

I mentioned in Part 2 that I chatted with the Magnolia Manor owner, who was sitting on her front porch. These folks were also relaxing on theirs. They saw my camera, and the gentleman offered to pose. Much to the ladies' combined chagrin and amusement, he assumed a "Rockette" pose. Too bad I didn't capture that image before he lowered his arms (and leg!)!

That ended the North Main tour.

Below is a house near "The Columns." Some would be horrified that the owners are having vinyl siding installed. It wouldn't have been my choice, but at least the house is still standing. Perhaps a future owner will fully restore the home to its original condition.

On the right, approaching McNeal Place (that we visited yesterday) is the "Wren's Nest."

A second look:

Around the corner from "The Pillars" is this lovely yellow Victorian. It was moved from a location where it faced demolition. That explains the immature landscaping and the "door to nowhere" on the side of the house. If you look closely, you'll see the homeowner planting something that will eventually shield the heating & air unit from view.

The fact that this house was saved demonstrates the strong commitment of the citizens of Bolivar to historic preservation. Yes, I know ... some would say it should have remained in its original location. As with the siding issue, I say ... at least the house survives for the benefit of future generations!

So which house is your favorite?

The next stop on the tour will be points of interest in the historic court square area.

Hope to see you there!