Heirloom

Heirloom plants can be found throughout the Spiker Family Farm. Many were grown by Gay Spiker from seeds that had been handed down from generation to generation. Similarly, a variety of heirlooms can be found in our own garden at the Spiker Family Gathering Place. Some are "true heirlooms", articles of antiquity that have been placed into our care by those that have long passed through this place. Some are "hybrids", items that have been lovingly cultivated to marry the narratives of our past with the journals of our present. And completing the garden landscape are new "subspecies", objects born from a desire to propagate the notions and ideas of this generation to those that will visit in the future.

It is our hope that others will join us in adding more "plantings" to our garden. Let us know how you'd like to contribute and we'll be sure to stop by with our wheelbarrow and shovel to help you "dig" up something for the Spiker Family Garden.

	Scan of Gay Spiker's Last Will & Testament as written in her personal diary. (Transcription at right.) Additional transcriptions from Mrs. Spiker's Diary are available here.	June 23, 1944 I being of sound mind bequeath to my 7 and 2 children all my prayers for their salvation. I bequeath to them all the results of a lifetime of toil. I bequeath to them the Christian religion which has been some comfort to me and I hope may be a solace to them. I bequeath to them a hope of a reunion where the parting of life is over. Share and share alike. May they have eternal riches. My wish is that they avoid my errors and copy anything that may have been worthy. In the hands of God who made me and the Christ who redeemed me and the Holy Ghost who sanctified me I make this my last will and testament. Witness all the hosts of heaven. Witness Eternity. Signed, sealed on this day my 60^th birthday. Your loving mother, Gay Z Spiker
	Wood Spirit and Walking Stick hand carved by Jeff Spiker of wood from the old Silo at the Spiker Family Farm. (Silo pictured at right).
	Wooden Memory Box by Melanie Spiker Fouse, 2006. Lid is a wood burning of the Spiker Family Farm. Aunt Alice Spiker "won" this item at the Spiker Reunion auction. (Photograph of the house at right.)
	Oil Painting on canvas of the Swinging Bridge by Haley Conley, 2005. (Photograph of the bridge at right.)
Click on the images below to view full size.	Melanie Spiker Fouse purchased Guy Zinn's baseball card on E-bay. Here's what she says about it... Guy Zinn Baseball Card This card is card #21 in the 2003 Jewish Major Leaguers card set. The set was a limited edition of 15,000 sets. Guy is pictured in a uniform that includes “B” on the hat and a turtle on his shirt representative of the Baltimore Terrapins uniform. The only other card that Guy appeared on was in a 1914 Baltimore News card set, one of the scarcest sets ever! (continued at right)	(Guy Zinn Baseball Card ...continued from left) The American Jewish Historical Society made this set to commemorate the 142 Jewish players that played in the Major League. It is the first card set of an American ethnic group. The SILVER EDITION set cost $200. The logo, a Star of David with a baseball inside of it, appears on each card. During his career, Guy played for the New York Yankees (then called the Highlanders) and hit 6 home runs, tying the then-existing club record. He was sold to the Boston Braves, and after a salary dispute, jumped to the Federal League where he played for the Baltimore Terrapins. In 1914 he broke his leg, an injury that would eventually end his career. (Learn more about Guy Zinn's baseball history by clicking here.)
	The jug (left) was decorated by Gay Spiker. She enjoyed covering old jugs, jars, etc. with seeds, papers and just about anything else she could find. This jug has been used as a door stop in the household of Bob and Dean Spiker for many, many years. The chair (right) was one of many that surrounded the dining room table at the Spiker farm. The seat has been re-caned. This, and others like it, are in the possession of Dean Spiker.

Spiker Family Heirlooms