LAMP

Description: GOLD PAINTED STEEL. BASE IS ROUND WITH FOUR TRIANGULAR FEET. BASE HAS ORNATE CARVINGS AND CUT OUTS. CENTER OF BASE HAS A CIRCLE OF BLACK STEEL FROM WHICH A LONG ROUND STEM EXTENDS UPWARDS. STEM HAS GOLD, BLACK AND RED BANDS AROUND IT, OF VARYING LENGTHS. THREE PORTIONS OF STEM HAVE 'BEADS' CUT INTO IT. AT TOP OF STEM IS AN ORNATELY CUT GOLD PIECE, WITH BLUE AND RED FLOWERS, AND GREEN LEAVES PAINTED ON IT (PAINT IS WEARING OFF). THIS GOLD PIECE EXTENDS OUTWARD TO ONE SIDE, AT THE END OF WHICH IS A BRASS LIGHT SOCKET. ETCHED ONTO SOCKET IS "S&S 660W 250V". THERE IS ALSO A GOLD LABEL ON SOCKET, WHICH HAS WORN OFF SOME, BUT STILL HAS SOME BLACK PRINT ON IT. SOCKET IS HELD ON BY A WING NUT. A LONG ELECTRICAL CORD EXTENDS FROM BASE OF LAMP; CORD IS WRAPPED IN A KHAKI GREEN THREAD.

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 LAMP SAT BY THE CHESTERFIELD IN THE FAMILY'S LIVING ROOM. IT WAS USED FOR READING. DROSTE SAID THE LAMP WAS APPROXIMATELY 60-70 YEARS OLD. IT MIGHT EVEN HAVE DATED BACK TO HIS GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE IN SASKATCHEWAN. SEE P20000020001 FOR MORE INFORMATION.