DECK, CARD

Description: DECK OF PLAYING CARDS IN BOX. THE 55 CARDS ARE LOOSE (INCLUDES A FULL DECK W/2 JOKERS AND A MANUFACTURER'S CARD). THE BACKS OF THE CARDS HAVE A RED AND WHITE DIAMOND PATTERN ON THEM. ALSO, TWO WHITE RECTANGLES, OUTLINED IN RED, WITHIN WHICH READS "CIRCUS CIRCUS HOTEL/CASINO". ON THE BOX, THE REVERSE HAS THE SAME PATTERN AS THE BACK OF THE CARDS. THE OBVERSE READS "NO. 92 CLUB SPECIAL REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. BEE PLAYING CARDS STANDARD MADE IN U.S.A.", IN RED AND WHITE. ALL SIDES OF BOX HAVE WHITE PRINT ON A RED RECTANGLE. TOP FLAP OF BOX HAS A BLUE STICKER (WHICH HAS BEEN TORN IN TWO) WHICH HAS A WHITE BORDER, AND THE WHITE OUTLINE OF A SPADE, WITHIN WHICH READS "THE U.S. PLAYING CARD COMPANY", IN WHITE.

History: FRED DROSTE WAS BORN, RAISED, AND EDUCATED IN GERMANY. HE IMMIGRATED TO CANADA IN 1930 TO ENGELFELD, SASK. HE LATER MOVED TO NALCAM, SASK, AND THERE MARRIED MINA IN 1934. IN 1945 THEY MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE WHERE HE WAS EMPLOYED IN CARPENTRY (AT NEW ENERSON GARAGE). LATER HE WORKED FOR THE SEPERATE SCHOOL DISTRICT #9 AS MAINTENANCE MAN, AND RETIRED IN 1973. HE RESIDED IN LETHBRIDGE UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY OF 2001. FRED WAS A MEMBER OF ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH WHERE HE WAS THE CHOIR DIRECTOR FOR 30 YEARS.\ *UPDATE* IN 2010 NICOLE HEMBROFF MET WITH LORENZE DROSTE TO DISCUSS THE OBJECTS HE HAD DONATED TO THE GALT ON BEHALF OF HIS FATHER, FRED DROSTE. SEE BELOW. ACCORDING TO DROSTE, THE CARDS WERE LIKELY ACQUIRED ON A HOLIDAY TO LAS VEGAS. HIS FATHER LIKED TO COLLECT THINGS HE PICKED UP ON HOLIDAY OVER THE YEARS. DROSTE WAS UNSURE EXACTLY WHEN THE CARDS WOULD HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED. SEE P20000020001 FOR MORE INFORMATION.