MOP, STRING

Description: DUST MOP - WOODEN HANDLE WITH DETACHABLE GREEN STRING MOP HEAD - 2 PIECES. 1. MOP HEAD, EGG SHAPED (WHEN LAID FLAT) ATTACHMENT. CANVAS AND VINYL COVER WITH WAVY BLUE, PINK AND PURPLE PATTERN. INSIDE OF COVER IS SOILED WHITE CANVAS. PIECES OF GREEN WOOL ARE ATTACHED TO UNDERSIDE AND EDGES OF COVER. WOOL IS SOILED AND HAS COLLECTED MANY PARTICLES OF DUST AND LINT. 4.7 CM HIGH, 40.7 CM LONG, 26.0 CM WIDE. 2. MOP HANDLE, LIGHT COLORED WOODEN DOWEL. BOTTOM END ENCASED IN METAL. END OF METAL PIECE CLOSED WITH RIVET. PIECE OF BENT, THICK WIRE ATTACHED TO RIVETED END OF HANDLE BY A FOLDED PIECE OF METAL. 136.0 CM LONG BY 2.6 CM IN DIAMETER.

History: ACCORDING TO THE DONOR, WENDY AITKENS IN AN INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY NICOLE HEMBROFF, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT, IN JULY OF 2011, THE DUST MOP ORIGINALLY BELONGED TO HER MOTHER (KAY JAMIESON NEE FARRIES). SHE SAID, "THE HOUSE IN LETHBRIDGE HAD HARDWOOD FLOORS IN THE LIVING ROOM, HALLWAY AND BEDROOMS AND VINYL TILES IN THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOM. MOM USED TO CLEAN THE FLOORS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. CLEANING THE HOUSE BECAME A COMPETITION AMONGST THE LADIES LIVING ON THE SAME BLOCK. SOME OF THE WOMEN ROSE VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING SO THEY COULD GET THEIR HOUSE WORK DONE AND BE THE FIRST TO SIT ON THEIR FRONT PORCH WITH A CUP OF COFFEE. MOM BOUGHT INTO THIS COMPETITION FOR A WHILE AND THEN DECIDED SHE HAD BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH HER TIME; LIKE CURLING, KNITTING, SEWING, BAKING BREAD, CAKES AND COOKIES AND PLAYING THE PIANO. OUR HOUSE WAS ALWAYS CLEAN BUT MOM DECIDED NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS A SILLY CHALLENGE." ACCORDING TO AITKENS, SHE AND HER SISTER (MARGIE) HAD TO HELP WITH THE CHORES. SHE SAID, "THE DUST MOP WAS ONE OF THE EASIER TASKS SO WE LIKED DOING IT. YOU WOULD HAVE TO SHAKE IT OUTSIDE AFTER YOU SWEPT." THE MOP WAS ALSO USED WHEN THE JAMIESON FAMILY MOVED TO CALGARY, AS THE HOUSE ALSO HAD HARD FLOORS (VS. CARPET). FOR FAMILY HISTORY SEE P20090030001.