Spanish American War Blanket ID’d Named 1st Michigan N.G. w Photo SEE Story

Description

This auction is for one (1) original Spanish American War Blanket which was issued to, and belonged to, Frank Leslie Darling who was a member of the 1
st
Michigan N.G. (National Guard)  during the Spanish American War.
When I was quite young, I developed an interest in history and the military, and my grandmother, who had once been a teacher, encouraged me to read and study about such things.  At times, she would give me things that had been in the family.  The first item she gave me was a Paisley Shawl that my g-g-grandfather had brought back to his wife when he returned home from the Civil War.  One day, when I was at her house after school, she gave me this blanket and the original photo of a man in his Spanish-American War uniform.  She then explained to me the story behind it.  My grandmother weas 14 in 1898 and she graduated from the eighth grade.  There was no high school to go on to where she lived and the same year, her parents divorced (her father was an abusive alcoholic).  She went to live with her older sister and her husband in Brooklyn, Michigan where I grew up, and she attended the high school there for two years until she could pass the State Teacher’s Exam which would enable her to teach in a one room school.  She passed the exam and took a job in teaching in a one room school in the same township that she had grown up in.  Evidently, Frank Darling had been a childhood acquaintance for a long time, and he had a crush on her.  He gave her a picture of himself in his uniform when he volunteered around the time of the Spanish American War . . . as my grandmother said, “To impress me”.  He began to pursue her romantically and I have a handwritten note that he sent to her at some point inviting her to “go for a moonlight ride in my carriage”.  She told me that she accompanied him a few times for carriage rides and to dances and one night on the way home from a dance, it was chilly out and he had this blanket in the carriage and told her to put it around herself to keep warm.  He explained it was one of his blankets that he had carried and used while in the service.  When they arrived back to where she was boarding, he told her to keep the blanket, saying that it was a “memento to remind her of him”.  About the same time, my grandfather, who was 17 years her senior, became acquainted with her and the rest is history.  Any interest my grandmother might have had in Frank Darling was gone and she and my grandfather fell in love and married in January of 1902.  It must have been a good match because their marriage lasted 61 years until my grandfather’s death.  So that is how this blanket came into my possession.
This wool blanket is a dark grey as can be seen in the photos.  It measures approximately 62 inches X 82 inches.  It has a couple of holes that I have tried to show in the photos – that are near the edge and several very small holes within the body of the blanket.  Overall, it is in nice shape for an original ID’d Spanish American War blanket that is at least 124 years old.  Blankets such as this, especially when ID’d to an individual/regiment, are quite scarce.  This blanket will display very well in any Span-Am-Philippine Insurrection Collection.  With this blanket, I am including one “copy” (scanned and printed photo paper) of the original Cabinet Card Photograph of Frank Leslie Darling that was given to my grandmother.  He has a brass “1” on the collar of his 5 button wool Sack Coat and crossed rifles on the front of his military cap.  I have no idea of what became of Frank Leslie Darling.  I have tried to locate him on Find A Grave and have had no luck. I have treasured this for many years and have often chuckled over the story behind it, but due to age and health, it is time to let such things go and let the newer generations who have an interest enjoy and preserve them.  Please see photos and ask all questions prior to bidding.  Thank you.
I am currently in the process of downsizing due to age and will be offering many items for auction from my collection of 60 plus years.  Please see my “other auctions” for other interesting collectibles.  Thank you.
Continental United States sales only.  Payment by PayPal.  All Sales Final with no returns.  Please ask all questions prior to bidding.  We are a smoke free environment.  Thank you.
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