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Author	Topic: Church Keys
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1800 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 03-08-2007 01:18 AM I coincidentally found three commemorative silver church keys within a relatively short time. They seem to have been presented when the churches opened. The one in the fitted case is engraved "Wesleyan Church House / Smallwood / 15th March / 1927." It is hallmarked for a Birmingham maker. The large gold-washed one is engraved "Mrs F. Salmon / Great Yarmouth" on one side and "Scott Memorial Church / Opened 31.3.1902". There is a Tudor Rose motif incorporated into the design. The last is engraved "Calgary / Minuetta Shumiatcher Borek / 1951" with no mention of a specific church. They are all very well made and in virtually pristine condition, the only fault being that all three show what could be interpreted as evidence of a single use, so perhaps they were used to open the churches' doors for the first time, and then presented. The second two both have a female name as part of the inscriptions, so presumably they were the recipients. It would be interesting to know what role these ladies played in the churches' construction. The Wesleyan Church House key lacks any kind of name. IP: Logged
doc Posts: 730 Registered: Jul 2003	posted 03-08-2007 09:55 AM On a hunch, I did a little Internet research and found that the last key you have is actually a key to the City of Calgary awarded to Minuetta Borek (aka Minuetta Kessler)-she was a composer of some note, who came from a prominent family in Calgary. See Minuetta Kessler for more detail (there's a reference here to Ms. Kessler's being awarded the key to the city). Nice find! IP: Logged
DB Posts: 252 Registered: May 2006	posted 03-08-2007 09:56 AM Interesting entry about church keys - these keys must have been used for commemorating many occasions: The shown key seems to be identical to Paul's with the Calgary inscription. My key is engraved with "I'd fight for you" - some kind of love token. It is marked with Sterling and L. I found an advertisement in The Trader from Geo.H.Lees&Co; Jewelry Manufacturers, Hamilton, ON, showing this key engraved with a coat of arms. Sorry no date (case of sloppy research). IP: Logged
doc Posts: 730 Registered: Jul 2003	posted 03-08-2007 01:00 PM I know that people are often presented keys to the city in America, but I don't know if it has the same significance as it has in European locations. I have a relative who was awarded the key to the city in his town in Ireland, and not only did he get a nice key but certain other historic privileges came along with it, including (a) the ability to graze livestock on the town common; and (b) immunity from arrest within the walls of the city! IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1800 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 03-08-2007 05:00 PM Doc, thanks for that helpful information. I had researched the name on the Calgary key too, but never got as far as you did in finding out it wasn't a church key. Dorothea, since my Canadian key is from 1951, I wouldn't be surprised at all if yours hails from a few years earlier and is some kind of WWII sweetheart memento. My key is marked with the same markings as yours. [This message has been edited by Paul Lemieux (edited 03-08-2007).] IP: Logged

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