Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - July 1, 1984
By Susie Dewey
Vigo County Historical Society

Flag came allowed patriots to hoist Old Glory to the sky

Signs of American patriotism were never more in evidence than at the end of the 19 th century. America had survived a great Civil War at a great cost of lives and many veterans and the families of those who had died for their country did not intend to let the country forget it. Patriotic observances were perpetual reminders. Flags, bunting, pins and even costumes that kindled memories of the past and aroused great hopes for the future were everywhere.

The flag cane form the cane collection at the Vigo County Historical Society, 1411 S. Sixth St., is an item to arouse and show patriotism at parades, carnivals, concerts and wherever people assembled.

Approximately 36 inches long, the hollow metal cylinder was once gilt. Today the gilt has tarnished and faded. At the top of the cane is an well-worn wooden know designed to fit the hand. At the bottom is a removable tip. The cane obviously meant for carrying and display rather than supporting weight of any person, however slight.

When the tip at the bottom if the cane is unscrewed, a 42-star American flag on a wooden pin of approximately 18 inches appears. When the tip is removed the flag can be unfurled and raised high above the head of the patriotic citizen. As he carried or waved the flag in the breeze, the visibility was good and no one's dedication to his country could be questioned .

The flag cane carries no concrete evidence to help in dating it. On the wooden pin support for the flag, a blurred stamp states that the cane was manufactured in Michigan and a patent was pending.

Irrefutable evidence, however, exists in the flag. The actual time of the year and the year itself can be established from the 42 stars in the flag. No U.S. flag with 42 stars was ever official. In the winter of 1889 flag manufacturers were busily preparing flags with 42 stars for adoption on July 4, 1890. North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington were to have their stars added on the Fourth of July in 1890. The flag cane was all ready for a great American celebration.

At the last minute, July 3, 1890, Idaho was added to the four states and 43 stars were necessary. The 42 star flags and items were sold at discounts, given to charitable institutions or discarded.

Manufacturers lost a year's work and no government subsidies were available to cushion the economic shock. Some small factories went out of business because they had counted on the sale of the flags to replenish their supplies and inventories. An unidentified factory in Michigan may have been one.

One of the pleasures of handling and looking at items of the past is imagining the tales behind them. The Vigo County Historical Society is always eager to learn more about the items it is preserving. The flag cane, made in the winter of 1889 and out-of-date by July 4, 1890, must have many other interesting facets. Who carried it? How did he get it? Where did it fly in the breeze?

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley is open 1-4 p.m. Sunday-Friday