Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

A lot of us have items that were passed down from generation to generation. I still have my father’s desk that he did his high school homework on back in the 30s. I also have my mother’s jewelry box and a lot of my father’s Masonic items.

One of my favorite items is a metal squirrel nutcracker that was a wedding gift to my parents. I thought it would be fun to ask people what they may still have in their homes that was passed on by a relative. Here are the things our friends shared:

• I am currently using my mom and dad’s dresser they bought in 1942. I have their wedding bands. My dad’s huge conch shell he brought from Newfoundland in the 1920s.
• May sound silly? I have my mom’s colander. Must be at least over 50 years old now. Also have a porcelain poodle figurine. We always had poodles in our home, her favorite.
• My grandmother’s recipes, recipe box, sewing machine, and my grandmother’s ceramic doll she made. My mother’s ceramic nativity set she made, statues. Just too many to list.
• I have many items and pictures from my grandparents, great grandmother and other family members going back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Nothing of any value except to me. I am the last of the family.
• Portraits of my grandmother and grandfather by my aunt in my dining room with my grandparent’s grandfather clock.
• My grandmother’s wedding dress that’s about 70 years old. My grandmother’s hope chest and my grandfather’s navy bag from WWII.
• My whole home is an heirloom. Been in the family since the 40’s!
• My father’s 1936 Royal typewriter. I’m looking at it right now.
• My grandfather, affectionately known as Pa in the neighborhood, was a charter member of the Laborers Union. He actually worked on building portions of the subway system. I have several of his old hand tools.
• I have my great grandparents’ old oil lamp, it has a pewter base and a red, glass hurricane lamp top. My grandfather made it into an electric lamp years ago. I remember it very well from my childhood and absolutely treasure it. I light it every night.
• I have my dad’s rolltop desk that he had as a boy.
• Sadly, my cousin stole everything of value before anyone got to my grandparent’s house when they died.
• I have my great uncle’s brass book ends, and my great grand aunt’s rocking chair.
• I have lived in my parents’ house for the past 20 years and still have all their belongings
• I have a piece of furniture my dad made before I was born (I’m 83). It’s a decorative piece with a glass door
• I am fortunate to have my maternal grandmother’s Bible and engraved rosary beads, very sentimental. I recently found an Irish linen table cloth with needlepoint message, “A gift from Ireland, 1953.”
• I have a few things that once belonged to my grandparents. The most used is their old kitchen set. On Thursday, my great niece will be the sixth generation to sit at that table. Sadly, she will never get to sample my Nonnie’s homemade ravioli or ricotta pie that was often prepared on that table. But it is still pretty cool that she will sit at the same table that her parents, grandparents, great grandparents, 2X great grandparents and 3X great grandmother sat at!
• OMG, don’t even. When my mother died, I moved a ton of her stuff into my house to give it away since it was so difficult to do that from her home in Philadelphia. A lot of it is still here.
• My dad’s glasses and wallet.
• I have my Nana’s watch that my grandfather gave her in the 1930’s and I have my aunt’s wedding handkerchief that my great grandmother made for her.
• I have my parents’ 25th Anniversary glasses and plates, candy dishes.

It’s very comforting to have items around us that remind us of our loved ones and the happy times we shared with them.

Thank you to all my social media friends who graciously contributed to this article.