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.

[broken_detector]

Man that was awesome seeing that come out of the ground after all those years .

[U.B.]

For me, that is an amazing find, and would be hard to give up. History with provenance isn’t found every day. Congratulations!

[Bquamb]

This is so incredibly cool. I love just how personal it is, and being you were born there with your fam, it just makes it all the better.

[broken_detector]

Yea its definitely one of a kind. I.can almost bet there isn't another of the 5 remaining.

[A2coins]

Banner vote because of the great back story of the medal and how rare it is, and how much it means to you and most for sure the Church Awesome find and you are a Good person to be so excited to return it..Way to go my Friend though the banner vote might stick more once you return it to the Church with a pic of it and a story with that. Ill give you mine now and if need be then also. Tommy

[ecmo]

Wow how cool a find is that. You have a right to crow. If my banner vote is acceptable than count me in.

[CoinFetcher]

Super cool, nice job getting to the bottom of your real Treasure

[Digger RJ]

Very Nice!!! Congrats!!!

[civil_war22]

Banner vote because of the great back story of the medal and how rare it is, and how much it means to you and most for sure the Church Awesome find and you are a Good person to be so excited to return it..Way to go my Friend though the banner vote might stick more once you return it to the Church with a pic of it and a story with that. Ill give you mine now and if need be then also. Tommy

Thank you for the kind words on the banner vote. It’s a definite one of a kind piece. Like my brother said I highly doubt any of the remaining 4 sisters medals survived from 1886. If I get a email back from the church we will see, if anything on the return it’ll be a honorable mention, but I would say banner for sure on such a historic piece. If anyone knows this area, this hospital was one of the first open in the area, and to not only find a medal that old, but to remain to one of the founding 5 is a miracle in itself.

[civil_war22]

Wow how cool a find is that. You have a right to crow. If my banner vote is acceptable than count me in.

Thank you for the banner vote. It’s been a long time coming. This is something I hope can be returned either to a family member or the church who can display it and appreciate it. The convent, and school house where these women attended are long gone, but if my memory serves me right when I worked at Fort Smith Police Dept, the huge Catholic Church was part of it, and also sits on top of Zachary Taylor the presidents home as well.

[civil_war22]

Very Nice!!! Congrats!!!

Thank you so much

[civil_war22]

Super cool, nice job getting to the bottom of your real Treasure

Well being familiar with the area from my days at the PD helped me remember some of the older places, but this one had me for a bit. I had always heard of the 5 sisters of Mercy, but didn’t think they were literally meaning 5 sisters as in church related nurses. This is just an amazing day. I’ve not stopped till just about an hour ago.

[RJGMC]

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

[creskol]

What a spectacular piece of local history!! That is sooooo cool!