Hemingray Family Silver Collection

Prized pieces of silver are admired at the Friends of Comprehensive Care Bicentennial celebration at Ft. Mitchell Country Club by, from left, Mrs. C. Gordon Walker, co-chairman, Dr. Joseph I. Willett, executive director of Comprehensive Care Center, and Lee Wilson, supervisor of the display.

'Beautiful' in any language.

By Margaret Paschke

Kentucky Post Women's Editor

The Greek word for it is translated "shining," and shining it was. In Latin it becomes argent, and the Hebrew meaning is pale, but the success of other significant displays in this area paled by comparison.

That was the consensus of nearly 400 visitors who viewed the half million dollars worth of rare silver, all collector's items, spread in orderly profusion at tables that completely rimmed the dining room of the Ft. Mitchell Country Club.

Occasion was the Friends of Comprehensive Care benefit, a bicentennial celebration in the form of a singular display of heirloom silver that was shown during the champagne punch and coffee hospitality Thursday morning and afternoon.

Interest focused on the major pieces from the silver service of Battleship Kentucky brought up from Frankfort for its first public viewing. Making the trip here with the silver was Nicky Hughes, Frankfort, custodian of Kentucky Military History Museum in the State Arsenal Building.

Valued at more than $300,000, the silver service was paid for by citizens of the Commonwealth who collected the $30,000 to have it created by the Caldwell Co., of Philadelphia.

Spearheading the gigantic display was the discovery by Harry Lowe, president of the First National Bank, of a leather pouch containing the Hemingray family silver in a bank vault.

It was on display as were prized heirloom silver on loan from 30 prominent northern Kentucky families.

Mrs. C. Gordon Walker and Mrs. Richard Franz were co-chairmen of the day, with Mrs. James Ware, chairman, and Mrs. Gilbert Kingsbury, co-chairman of acquisitions.

Through the courtesy of Gov. Julian Carroll who was contacted by Mrs. Ware's son-in-law, former Rep. Terry McBrayer, and Gen. William Buster, the Battleship silver was transported here.

Perhaps at one time culled from rich deposits in the world's leading silver mines in Peru and Mexico, Canada, Australia, and several states in this country, were the antique silver items coveted by collectors, rare appointments of little use today — a bride's basket, filigreed egg dish, a Victorian grape overlay plate, elaborate napkin holders, bedside water set, egg warmer, unusual pickle bottle, and flower holder that swung from the wrist of a belle as she danced at a ball.

Claiming its share of attention was the display of Hemingray glass from the collections of John Webster of Erlanger, and Glenn Drummond, Cincinnati. The latter has 1,000 glass electric insulators, the prized one insured for $1,000 and one of three in existence.

Mrs. Sam Rees is chairman of Friends of Comprehensive Care.

Hostesses were Mrs. Henry Mann, chairman, Mesdames Charles Stevenson, Berz Wagner, George Roth, William A. Groening, Richard Woodyard, Ted Richardson, Charles Landrum, Kenneth Jordan, and William Miner.

Photo No. 3: Grouped around the champagne punch table which centered the silver-lined room are several of the day's hostesses, from left, Mrs. Gilbert Kingsbury, Mrs. Henry Mann, Mrs. Harry Lowe, wife of the president of First National Bank, Mrs. Berz Wagner, and Mrs. Ted Richardson.

Sharing the spotlight with the silver was a display of Hemingray mason jars and insulators manufactured at the Covington glass factory owned by the late Daniel Carroll Hemingray. Mrs. Richard Franz, right, co-chairman of the event, examines a jar with Mrs. Glenn Drummond, Cincinnati.

Mrs. Charles Landrum, a hostess, serves a cup of coffee to her sister, Mrs. Edgar Huff, here for the affair from Somerset.

Selecting fruit and sweets from the coffee table are from left, Mrs. William Miner, one of the hostesses, Gilbert Kingsbury, who coordinated the benefit, Mrs. William E. Terwort II, and Mrs. Harold Truitt, wife of the chairman of the board of First National Bank.

·

·

[Photo No. 1: HANDSOME AND PRICELESS — Major pieces of the 75-year-old silver service from the battleship USS Kentucky which dominated the silver display at the Friends for Comprehensive Care benefit are examined by Mrs. James Ware, right, chairman of acquisitions, and her sister-in-law, Mrs. William Dawson. "It weighs a ton," exclaimed Mrs. Dawson as she attempted to move one of the massive and ornate pieces before the exhibit opened at Ft. Mitchell Country Club.]

[Photo No. 2: Prized pieces of silver are admired at the Friends of Comprehensive Care Bicentennial celebration at Ft. Mitchell Country Club by, from left, Mrs. C. Gordon Walker, co-chairman, Dr. Joseph I. Willett, executive director of Comprehensive Care Center, and Lee Wilson, supervisor of the display.]

[Photo No. 3: Grouped around the champagne punch table which centered the silver-lined room are several of the day's hostesses, from left, Mrs. Gilbert Kingsbury, Mrs. Henry Mann, Mrs. Harry Lowe, wife of the president of First National Bank, Mrs. Berz Wagner, and Mrs. Ted Richardson.]

[Photo No. 4: Sharing the spotlight with the silver was a display of Hemingray mason jars and insulators manufactured at the Covington glass factory owned by the late Daniel Carroll Hemingray. Mrs. Richard Franz, right, co-chairman of the event, examines a jar with Mrs. Glenn Drummond, Cincinnati.]

[Photo No. 5: Mrs. Charles Landrum, a hostess, serves a cup of coffee to her sister, Mrs. Edgar Huff, here for the affair from Somerset.]

[Photo No. 6: Selecting fruit and sweets from the coffee table are from left, Mrs. William Miner, one of the hostesses, Gilbert Kingsbury, who coordinated the benefit, Mrs. William E. Terwort II, and Mrs. Harold Truitt, wife of the chairman of the board of First National Bank.]