Great work Matt!
I had the glorious experience of aiding some family friends evaluate the estate of an old maid they had been taking care of for years. This elder lady had been the sole survivor of a family that made history in so many ways. Her father was a West Point Cadet with Ike and corresponded with him until his death. The father was a military cryptographer who had helped the US break some of the Japanese codes in WWII. Her mom was a significant person by right of her family because her dad had been Governor of Ohio, post civil war. Her mother had once had to make a journey alone by train from New York to somewhere down south. She was only 13 or 14 yrs old and despite her moxie was a little intimidated at the prospects of the trip. I was asked about a talisman she was presented to protect her on her journey. It was a small amulet about an inch long that was obviously hand made by a jeweler, from 2 different pins. The inside was a Skull and Bones pin from Yale. It was mounted on a Knights of Pythias pin that was larger. She was told that if anyone hassled her on her trip to show them the pin and warn them of their bad prospects.
The knights of Pythias were dedicated to binding up the wounds from the civil war. Apparently their was a clandestine wing that was prepared to use force.
Cool find Iron Buzz!
