Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - April 12, 1998
By Alice Zimmerman Johnson
Vigo County Historical Society

Easter brings out eggs all in one basket for museum visitors

Easter is a very special time of year for Christians, but it is also a special celebration for children.

Children have been celebrating Easter even before it was associated with the birth of Christ. Easter probably originated in the celebration of spring, which began thousands of years ago, maybe with the festival of Eastre, who was the goddess of spring and fertility.

The traditions of this festival are, in part, still alive today. We use the Easter bunny, which in Eastre’s festival was the symbol of fertility, and Easter eggs that are dyed, which originally were to make one think of the sunshine in the springtime of the year.

In the front hall of the Vigo County Historical Museum is a china cabinet that has an Easter display. The treasure for today is a darling yellow Easter basket made from accordion or waffled paper. The patent date on the basket is 1925 and the basket was probably made in the late 1920s.

The basket holds six colored eggs which are also made from the waffled or accordion paper. The handle on the basket is comprised of two yellow chicks and is made from cardboard.

The card on the handle reads, "to Elton from M," which, I believe, is Mom.

Any child would be delighted with this basket. The eggs have lasted a long, long time and the basket could be sold in any store today.

Come to the museum and enjoy the articles from Easters of long ago and notice the basket with the little colored eggs. It will surely bring back memories of your childhood.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.