Sad Iron Tales; Issue 1

Someone had to tell it…

Some years ago, a couple was having heated words in their kitchen. The wife had a volatile temper and something that her husband said made her snap. She looked around for something to throw. You guessed it. A sad iron was sitting innocently on the top of the stove just within reach. Her hand fit around the iron and it was flung out the kitchen window. (At least she didn’t aim it at the source of her vexation.)

After a lively discussion about her action, the husband went outside and showed that his temper was just as hot because the iron made its way back into their house through another window.

It is not known how the dispute was settled, but the trusty sad iron found a new use that day – instant air conditioner.

This story was related to me without names and places attached and perhaps that is the way it should stay. But it would be interesting to know whether the house and the marriage weathered the storm.

Keep those stories coming in!!

Sally has been reading the comments and e-mails that have been coming in. She is most encouraged by the stories of sad irons.

You can read some of them on this blog. They are comments at the bottom of a Sally Sad Iron post. Just click on 'comments'. While you are there, you can comment yourself!

Sally at the Aquarium

A lighter and liberated Sally visited the Vancouver aquarium this week. The Belugas don't seem to mind being in their displays. But Sally, if you are going to be in our museum, you may have to learn how to do tricks like the beautiful whales.

Sally Frolics in the Snow

Now that Sally has broken out of the museum building, she is taking advantage of her freedom. The cold did not bother her one bit as she slid down a slope. In fact she didn't want to stay still for the picture as the slopes were calling her!

For all you conservator types, please note that she was snug in her baggie buffer to keep out that nasty moisture and shades to help with the UV rays! The stylish toque/head sock/stocking cap (depending on what part of the world you are from) kept her quite snug and looked smashing too.

Now where will she go next?....

Sally Sad Iron's Saga Starts

Hi! I'm Sally and I'm a sad iron. "Sad" is an old English term for 'heavy or dense'. I'm made of iron and am quite heavy. But.... I am also unhappy sad, because of the bum rap I've been given in some museums.

My sisters and I live in museums now, because modern women have the luxury of electricity. No one today would want to heat a piece of metal on an open fire or wood stove so that she or he could press clothes.

Back in the early 1900's, my owner was glad to have more than one sad iron so that she could use one for ironing while the others were heating on the stove. (Yes, a female would have most likely to have been my user back then, but men may have used me too!)

Museums don't like to have more than one of me unless we have a story associated with us. So I am asking you for your support to help save me in our museum. I need your stories that will help glamorize me. Please e-mail our museum cmmmcutknife@gmail.com with your story or post a comment below to help my cause. What might have I been used for other than ironing? Was I implicated in a crime? Did I have a famous or infamous owner?

Your stories will make up a new display next summer in our museum so that I won't have to be removed from the museum's collection. :(

Also watch for further postings as I am going out in the world to gain support for my cause. Watch out world, here comes Sally Sad Iron!

Note: The Sally Sad Iron Saga is a lighthearted attempt to engage interest in our museum. All stories will be noted as fiction.