🥇 BANNER SUPER RARE piece of local history

[civil_war22]

I can’t even put in to words how excited I am. Went out to that permission today Broken_detector, and I’ve been digging lots of goodies, and found a Banner worthy find. The medal I found was worn on a necklace given out to only 5 women, who were the original 5 sisters of Mercy hospital graduating in 1886. Miss Agnes Gray got this medal some 133 years ago, and I was fortunate enough to find it. The old St. Anne’s Academy is no longer there, but the main church is there. These 5 women took care of the men, women, and children of Fort Smith, AR back in a day when the population was so little they could make house calls. I have reached out to the church itself, and am hoping to get ahold of them, and returning the beloved Miss Gray’s graduation medal back home to where it began. I was born at Mercy as a child, as well as my twin, and other family. My great great uncle in the 1930’s who was Alma Town Marshall Henry Humphrey we’re brought here to be tended to by women like these. Maybe even her. I’ve highlighted in the article mentioning the first graduating class, and Miss Gray’s name. This is the biggest Banner I could ever imagine in my life, and I’ll be cheeky for years to come.

 

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[broken_detector]

Yea their is alot of stuff between the indians to the cowboys to civil war soldiers. Crazy amount of history in one town.

 

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[mindcrime1988]

Sweet find indeed. Plus it's an incredible addition to find a write up for this as well. Names, dates, locations, etc. all add to the story. Well done!

 

[civil_war22]

Loose translation of the Latin on the back, virtue is the way of life. Please put me down for banner vote. Absolutely amazing!
RJGMC

Thank you so so much for the banner vote

 

[Argentium]

Wow ! What a wonderful bit of history and provenance !! As an heirloom piece , it is possible that some of the other 5 may well be laying quietly in a dresser drawer in the homes of decendants of the original recipients. Fantastic find ! Banner Worthy for sure ! Is it sterling silver?

 

[civil_war22]

Wow ! What a wonderful bit of history and provenance !! As an heirloom piece , it is possible that some of the other 5 may well be laying quietly in a dresser drawer in the homes of decendants of the original recipients. Fantastic find ! Banner Worthy for sure ! Is it sterling silver?

Not sure if there is any known to exist. Got off the email with the curator of the museum, and there’s no known examples from the original time period. I haven’t checked to see, but it’s definitely heavy. Thanks for the Banner vote

 

[civil_war22]

The curator of the museum, and I have been in contact via email, and now through phone, and the find is so significant as most of these women never married off, they usually stayed long enough working there and died, and so there was no children. He told me historically this is the most valuable piece of history as it was only awarded to the five original sisters of Mercy hospital. He called it “ priceless”, also he said if I was to donate it that there would be a article written up about it, photos, and the such

 

[civil_war22]

Here is photos of the new Convent of Mercy building . Approximately 300 yards away is where I found that once in a lifetime find.

 

[civil_war22]

So far nothing else has turned up except some jewelry, lock, and a 1914 Wheat cent, and one piece of camp lead. I’m waiting to hear back from the curator on what next. Since there is no next of kin, I would like for the new convent to display it for everyone to be able to see. I get to tour it this week, and see what I think as far as making my own display, or using one of theirs.

 

[civil_war22]

The gentleman I spoke to earlier said he would get ahold of one of the eldest sisters there to see if she could find a photo of the unknown sister. Sadly out of the 5 she wasn’t available for pictures, or that’s what the information on the webpage says. Of course the one woman I’d want to see a pic of, and there isn’t one.

 

[SanMan]

A fantastic Find!

Got my Banner Vote!

 

[civil_war22]

A fantastic Find!

Got my Banner Vote!

Thank you very much SanMan, it’d be my first Banner find, and a perfect holiday gift

 

[cannonball]

Very cool find!! Nice local History. Congratulations

 

[civil_war22]

Very cool find!! Nice local History. Congratulations

Thanks so much

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Killer historic and personal item!

I believe it is Banner worthy...Vote In!

 

[civil_war22]

Killer historic and personal item!

i believe it is Banner worthy...Vote In!

I pray it is. I’ve been a active member on here since 08, and in 28 years detecting I’ve never came across anything like this. If I could vote for Banner myself I would, but admin, and Treasure_Hunter wouldn’t let that slide I’m going tomorrow to tour the facility, and I’m going to do a impromptu act like I know nothing of it’s history, and see if I can find a picture of her. Sadly Miss Gray didn’t have her graduation photo taken. I’m doing more digging tonight on her, and possibly when she passed away, and any living relatives.

 

[washingtonian]

Not to mention that is in great shape after all these years in the ground. Good job on that one!

 

[civil_war22]

Not to mention that is in great shape after all these years in the ground. Good job on that one!

The ground has been very very kind to anything we’ve found here. At the time of losing this, it would have been built over by a two room home from the early 1900’s. So it was well protected from weather, and less than 2 inches deep.

 

[GaRebel1861]

Congratulations on making the banner!

 

[civil_war22]

Thanks so much creskol, means a lot coming from a legend.

 

[civil_war22]

Thank you so so much GaRebel1861. Means a lot. Next time you’re in Arkansas I’ll take you to a spot to do some civil war relic hunting, funny thing is the front yard where this medal was found we found all sorts of civil war relics as well. We aren’t done yet. I’ve got to help remove the front porch off the old mansion, and I’m going to talk the landowner in to letting me take my tractor, and box blade with the ripping teeth and ripping up that ground again where I found this at, so that some more good finds come to the top of the ground.