Rope Bed

Object/Artifact

-

Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center

Name/Title

Rope Bed

Entry/Object ID

0067.001

Description

Rope bed - darkwood, all knobs and ropes intact frame with pegs for lacing ropes, all pegs present one chipped...knobs shaped like acorns

Use

Michael Shank, 1829-1905; m. 1851 Lydia Beery. Imprisoned during Civil War. Donor's great-great grandfather. In 1884 the family was sickened by fumes from their coal-burning stove. Mother Lydia and 2 youngest girls, who were at home all the time, eventually died. Attached is a photocopy of a poem, first published soon after the tragedy, then reprinted 1933. Originals in Historical Library, EMU.

Context

Belonged to Michael Shank who was imprisoned as a conscientious objector in Civil War; a Mennonite Deacon.

Collection

Lois Bowman Collection

Category

Household

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Lois B. Bowman Kreider

Notes

Permanent loan

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1850

Time Period

19th Century, Mid 19th Century

Dimensions

Dimension Notes

Headboard 48"h, 53.5"w Footboard 34.5"h, 33"h between posts

Inventory

Inventory Project

INV2026.1

Inventoried By

Hannah Hendricks

Inventoried Date

Jun 17, 2026

Provenance

Notes

Bed given to me by my aunt, Esther R. Burkholder (1903-1999), who bought it at auction

Created By

Phyllis Ressler

Create Date

April 12, 2022

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

July 8, 2026