Photos from the Rapuzzi collection: Parlor restoration part 13.

Locked Horns in Battle
Taxidermy Moose from Jeff Smith's Parlor Museum
Soapy Smith's bar (?) on far right.
(photo by and courtesy of Bob Lyon)

(Click image to enlarge)

ational Park historian, Bob Lyon continues to amaze us with photographs and information about the museum history of Jeff Smith's Parlor. When the Rapuzzi collection was purchased everything had to be cataloged and stored until the Parlor display could hold the collection. Bob sent three photographs to give us an idea of the vast variety of items that had to be filed, restored, and made ready for display. The above storage unit holds the famed Moose battle that was displayed in one of the back building attached to the Parlor. I remember seeing these animals when I was with my parents in 1977 and George Rapuzzi gave us a tour of the Parlor. Along the right side of the photo the front bar that was on display in the Parlor museum can be seen. It is supposed to be Soapy's but comparing it to the original in old photos shows little similarity. It might be possible that the top portion of the bar once adorned the original one. Surely the Park Service will let us know what they were able to find out about the front bar.   

One of many bottles in the collection
(Photo by and courtesy of Bob Lyon)

(Click image to enlarge)

Bob writes, 

A few photographs of the artifacts found in Soapy's. I photographed these for the people designing the exhibit. They're trying to put everything back where it was when Rapuzzi operated the museum. That'll be challenging, but they'll come close. Some of these aren't particularly interesting, but good examples of the incredible variety of things Rapuzzi and Itjen collected. Somewhere I have photographs of the Soapy mannikin on a shelf. I'll dig them out soon.

A scale from the Rapuzzi collection
(Photo by and courtesy of Bob Lyon)

(Click image to enlarge)

We look forward to all the photographs Bob sends us. In the same emails Bob also sent me some newspaper copies that give clues as to when the museum opened to the public. Believe it or not, that is a mystery. I will be making a separate post on that subject very soon.

Jeff Smith's Parlor restoration

February 4, 2009 (Part 1)
February 19, 2009 (Part 2)  
March 31, 2010 (Part 3)  
August 7, 2010 (Part 4) 
February 11, 2011 (Part 5) 
April 5, 2011 (Part 6)
May 8, 2011 (Part 7)
May 17, 2011 (Part 8)
November 20, 2011 (Part 9)
March 30, 2012 (Part 10)
June 20, 2012 (Part 11)
August 8, 2012 (Part 12)

AUGUST 11

1860: The first successful silver mill in America begins operations in Virginia City, Nevada Territory.

1860: Twenty-seven members of the 4th Artillery battle 200 Gashote and Parran Indians in Fagan Canyon, Utah Territory. One Indian is killed and an unknown number are wounded.

1865: Paiute Chief Black Rock Tom is captured and shot by soldiers in Nevada Territory. Colonel McDermit was killed a few days earlier during a skirmish with the chief’s warriors.

1871: Lawmen Mike McCluskie and William Wilson, who were assigned to keep order during an election, shoot it out with one another after arguing who will buy the drinks at the Red Front Saloon in Newton, Kansas. Wilson is killed and McCluskie flees fearing reprisal from Wilson's friends.

1874: A patent for the sprinkler head is given to Harry S. Parmelee.

1877: The two moons of Mars are discovered by Asaph Hall, an American astronomer. He names them Phobos and Deimos.

1896: Harvey Hubbell receives a patent for the electric light bulb socket with a pull-chain.

1900: Outlaw brothers John and Jim Jones rob a Union Pacific train in Hugo, Colorado, taking money from the baggage car. Lawmen pursue the outlaws, finally catching up to them in a small ranch house. Gunfire erupts lasting for several days until lawmen set fire to the building. Not wanting to surrender, Jim Jones shoots himself as the house burns around him. John leaps through the front door, two six-guns blazing. He is killed by rifle fire.