TRAY, SERVING

Description: TRAY, NICKEL PLATE, ART DECO STYLE WITH CUT OUT HANDLES AND CUT OUT GEOMETRICAL DESIGN, MARKED, “PRESENTED TO W.R. MACKINTOSH,” AND “LETHBRIDGE AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL… W.J. MORTON,” MISSING TWO HANDLES.

History: DONOR ACQUIRED THE TRAY FROM HER SISTER RETA GOWLLAND IN THE SUMMER OF 2009. RETA HAD PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED IT FROM HER MOTHER IVY MORTON WHO WAS THE SISTER IN LAW OF WILLIAM JOHNSTON MORTON. RETA RECEIVED THE PLATTER AFTER HER MOTHER PASSED AWAY IN LETHBRIDGE IN 1960. DONOR RECALLS W. J. MORTON CAME TO AB IN 1912 FROM SCOTLAND. ACCORDING TO THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY HISTORY BOOK, "HE CAME AS A RESULT OF THE CPR'S PROMOTION TO GET IMMIGRANTS TO PURCHASE AND FARM LAND AROUND LETHBRIDGE WHERE THEY HAD BUILT THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM." HE BOUGHT A 40 ACRE FARM AT SW 15-9-21-W4 AND HE MARKET GARDENED COMMERCIALLY. IN 1931 HE MOVED TO B.C. AND GARDENED THERE. THEN HE GOT TO VANCOUVER, B.C. AND HE DID DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE SHIPS. HE HAD AN OCEAN FRONT SHACK/COTTAGE. WHILE THERE HE HAD POTTED PLANTS. AT THE TIME OF THE DONATION, THE DONOR SAID, “HE WOULD COME AND VISIT ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.” WHEN THE DONOR’S MOTHER HAD THE TRAY IT SAT UNUSED IN THE BACK OF A CUPBOARD. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR MORE INFORMATION.