Most thirteen star
flags in the medallion pattern seen on this flag date to
the first three decades of the 20th century. These
later period flags are scarce, they are usually small,
and they were typically used on private yachts and
boats. This particular example, however, is
somewhat earlier, and dates to the period of the
American Centennial in 1876, or perhaps a bit earlier.
Its construction--especially the presence of hand sewn
stars--is evidence of an earlier flag. A name
stamped on the hoist reads "E. Gorenflo". The
stamp is either the name of an early owner of the flag,
or, more likely, the manufacturer's mark. A search
for the name Gorenflo in the 1880 census records yields
62 families, more than half of which lived in the Ohio,
Pennsylvania and New York regions. Although the
specific history of the flag is lost, the flag is a
wonderful example of how a single, simple trait--in this
case, the presence of a name--can yield additional
information about a flag that would be otherwise lost.
Were it not for the name stamped on the hoist, the flag
could have been associated with any of hundreds of
thousands of families; with the name present, the
possibilities become just a few. Although it's
unlikely the flag's precise history will ever be known,
its beautiful small form, hand sewn stars, small size,
pleasing proportions and scarce medallion configuration
combine to make this a truly special Centennial Era
American Flag. |
