Museum Musings: William Ireland

By Kaydance Stammers

The Crossroads Museum received wonderful donations from the descendants of the Howard and Eloise Ireland family. Family items like a porcelain doll and even family albums were donated to us in 2024.

The Porcelain Doll was given to Eloise Willock in 1926. It has a porcelain head and hands and wears a white dress, donated with a wooden rocking chair for display.

Note: The early William Ireland story can be found in Many Trails Crossed Here Vol. I, pages 141-146. The story of their only son William (Howard) is found on page 354-355 in Many Trailers Crossed Here, Vol. II, written by daughter Edna McKelvie. Howard, born in Billings, Montana in 1918 and his wife Eloise Willock, only child of Esther pioneers, had five children who all completed school in Oyen: Edna (born 1942), Kenneth (born 1943), Robert (born 1944), Yvonne (born 1950) and Roger (born 1956).

We also received two photo albums of Howard’s side of the family, one of the oldest photos is of a family member born in 1802, and possibly older photos too. The albums are velvet covered and include members from the Ireland and Brown families.

Among the stuff donated, we received an attendance book for a school from the 1930-1931 school year, along with teacher’s certificates.

Metal curling irons were donated in a box of small trinkets. They would be heated in a fire then used to curl hair before electric curling irons.

Some gold trimmed bowls and many spoons were given as well.

Small cases were among the box of trinkets, inside has photographs. One has a photo of Hoppey Ireland, who was born in London England in 1802. The cases are small and could have possibly been carried around as a keepsake.

All these pieces have been saved and kept by the Ireland family before donating them to us. Thank you to Kate Ireland and Dean McKelvie for the wonderful donation.