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Planter returns to Norris House
A planter donated years ago by the wife of Sen.George Norris has made its way back to the Norris house.
JP and Deb Wallace of McCook purchased the vintage Sanfordware planter for $10 at an auction last month conducted by Dennis Youngs.
Youngs was instrumental in returning the planter to the house, the Wallace's said, although at first the auctioneer had no idea where it came from.
Ready to start the bidding,Youngs picked up the vase and looked at the bottom, noticing for the first time a piece of paper taped to the bottom, the couple said. The note said the planter was previously owned by Mrs. Norris and purchased at a church bazaar in 1968. Mrs. Norris' name and address was also stamped on the bottom.
Youngs asked that the winning bidder return the planter to its rightful owner - the Norris House.
The Wallace's originally had no intention of buying the planter, they said - Deb collects cups, creamers and sugar bowls - but couldn't pass up the chance to return a piece of history.
"I was amazed to find it in such good shape after all these years," JP said. "I'm glad it didn't end up in someone's collection." Deb estimated that the black and gold-edged planter was originally used for a floral arrangement.
Norris Home coordinator Duane Tappe was thrilled with the acquisition.
"Returning something back is the whole idea behind the Nebraska Historical Society," he said.
This is the kind of stuff people need to think about, Tappe said, little pieces of history that reappear now and then that can be preserved for future generations. The planter will be given a number and inventoried with the rest of the items in the house, he said. As Mrs. Norris gave much of her glassware to her daughters in California, this will be a nice addition to the house collection
"I'm grateful that a couple of real nice people in town thought about us to do this," he added.