The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-04-27

How Wire Screens First Come to
This City, Bought By DR.. Bor-
ton-Presbyterian Chuch Has
Historical Binding

In Plymouth, where everything Is
modern, We have at least one relic
of antiquity, and for those who have
never examined it, it is worth a trip
for that express purpose. This object
Of interest is a real old-time knocker
such as were to be found on front
doors of all the stately colonial
homes of our ancestors.
Webster defines a knocker as ga
kind of a hammer fastened to a door
to knock with for admission. The
knocker, the only one to be found in
the city is on the front door of the
Presbyterian Manse OH the corner of
Adams and Walnut street. This
knoeker is of genuine bronze and
came from New Britain. Conn. Such
a knocker can be purchased today
but is very expensive. costing about
seventeen dollars. which perhaps. ac-
counts for the preference most of us
show for door-bells.
Ira d. Buck. brother of Harry
Buck. placed this knoker on the door
/ at the time he owned and occupied
the house. Once on the door it is
there to stay. Tt it riveted through
The remarkable heavy oaken doors
with frmness characteristic of the
age to which knockers properly he
longed.
Rev. and Mrs. Plug. who recently
occupied the Manse, were very gen
erous about showing the knocker and
other antique features of the house
to those who were interested. Mrs
Plug said that the knocker can be
heard distinctly all over the house
The Manse is now empty and will be
until another pastor is engaged bv
the PRESBYTERIAN people. which will
be few weeks at least. This will
make an especially opportune time
for the p. A. r. ladies, children in
terested in colonial history. and
others who appreciate the educational
value Of such a relic to take good
look at it.
The use of knockers dates back to
very early day. Pope voices the
sentiment of some too popular house
holder in the lines
"Shut, shut the door, good John
fatigued, / said:
Tie up the knocker; say I'm sick.
I'm dead"
The Manse has other features of
peculiar interest. Tt was built by DIR.
Borton in 1864. on the foundation
walls of an old jail. on that site
The front hall is very narrow, follow
ing the foundation wall.
The first set of screens ever in
Plymouth were on this house. DR.
and Mrs. Borton had made a trip te
Iowa. where they saw screens for the
first time and recognizing their sani
tary value decided to put them or
their own dwelling. They were sucl
a curiosity that folks came for mile,
to see them.
The first furnace ever in Plvmoutl
was also installed there and il wa,
considered wonderful thing that II
a residence December could be. as I'll,
song says " as pleasant as Nav"
The Manse is probably the onl,
house now in Plymouth where al
the down stairs windows are in on,
niece. Thev shove hack into the wall
as folding doors do.
Aside from the knocker on tn,
front door. is curious old fashione,
cfain lock and bolt. BY this con
trience the door can be opened
little ways so that the one on tn,
inside can see and converse with tn,
one on the outside. but it would b
utterly impossible for. the person OF
the outside to push the door wild,
enough open to effect an entrance
were he so disposed. This sort of
lock probably dates back to the rug
ged time when it was necessary 70,
every mans dwelling to be hi
fortress. It is especially appropriaf,
q fndav fo,. f1,o &:.<:1 1o.4, = q
who in the absence of her husband
must answer the door-bell at NIGHT.