As a child, enjoyment came from spending time at my maternal grandparents – especially when they were still living in their house. There were items that had been collected on all their travels – wooden shoes, Hummels, small dishes, and the list went on and on.
In their finished basement, they had a kitchenette, a bathroom, and a shuffleboard game painted on the cement part of the floor. Large gatherings were held downstairs. A very large oil painting of my grandfather hung on the wall. He had other photos from years gone by hanging up as well.
Yet, once as I was exploring in the dark corners of their basement, I saw a woman with a hat behind some other items in the back room. I ran upstairs telling my grandmother that there was a strange woman in the basement that scared me.
Nana just chuckled and told me that I had just seen Mrs. Furbish. She took me by the hand, walked me downstairs, and made sure there were lights on to chase away the shadows. Then she introduced me to Mrs. Furbish. She wasn’t a long lost aunt or cousin or even a neighbor. In fact, sbe wasn’t even an animate object! However, from that moment on every dressmaker’s form was gifted with the moniker of Mrs. Furbish!
I have met some cousins and learned quite a bit of family history, stories, and information due to being curious, but Mrs. Furbish will always hold a special place in my life because she came from my grandmother’s imagination.
This post was written for Week 4 “Curious” blog prompt of “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.” For more information please go to https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/
(Photo of question mark – Pexels – public domain; photo of dress mannequin Henry & Co. from Pexels)
All My Branches Genealogy 
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