Over 60 years ago, two wicker crates were filled to the brim with everything my parents and I owned. If we wanted to come to the United States, we would have to downsize to whatever would fit in these two basket crates. And that’s what my parents did, they gave up many of their belongings to follow their dream.
M WEJGENSZPERG was painted in black block letters on the front & back of the oversized crates, followed by AKRON OHIO, which was crossed out because our destination had changed to Hartford. U S A stood out prominently on all sides of our luggage pieces, and for almost fifty years, my parents stored them in their home until it was sold.
“You’ve got to keep them,” insisted my husband Steve. “They’re part of your heritage. We’ll store them in our basement.” He was adamant. He understood their significance.
Fast forward to 2020, and we just closed on the sale of our home after 32 years. Two weeks prior, the crates were scheduled to be hauled away, because I didn’t believe anyone would want them, and it was time for me to say good-bye.
“Not this week,” stated Steve, “Let’s wait for our final haul next Friday.” Okay, one more week. I assumed he didn’t want me to be there when they were taken away.
I met my friend Nina for an evening walk. Hints of spice wafted from the fields of thick leafed tobacco plants as we headed to the river to glimpse the setting sun. I felt relaxed for the first time in weeks and relayed the day…describing the latched basket crates.
“It doesn’t feel right,” replied Nina. “Can we save them? They carry decades of history!”
“No one would want them,” I said, “They’re the size of two freezers.”
“Are they in good shape?“
“Yes,” I replied. “After six decades, I opened one and saw that the back latch was loose.” She laughed.
“Send me a picture,” Nina nodded, “I want to speak to Nora, my historian friend.”
Within a couple of days, I received a text: Do you still have the baskets from immigrating? The Connecticut Historical Museum is interested!
OMG – I knew the museum well. Just around the corner from our business in Hartford, my brother Ed and I often walked by it.
I texted back: I don’t have time to follow up now, I’m leaving, and they’re on the docket to be hauled away this week.
Nina made the calls.
With only a day to spare, Molly from the museum responded to Nina. They wanted the baskets! Not only would they be saved, they would be part of their upcoming immigration & citizenship exhibit!
How can I get them there I wondered? Ed had a pickup truck but was leaving on vacation…but Ed made the time. After he and Steve had finished loading them on his truck, and after a brief stop to pay tribute to our parents, he delivered the crates along with my book to Molly, who greeted him at the Connecticut Historical Society Museum.
It took a village.
Thank you, Steve, you had the vision!! Thank you Nina, Nora, Ed, and Molly for following up to save over sixty years of history!!
Visitors to the museum will learn our story, how we carried our belongings across the Atlantic in two wicker baskets, to immigrate, work and prosper in our new country.
What will the future of immigration look like in the U S A? The museum’s exhibit will certainly play a role in answering this.
Everything happens for a reason.