Antique 1900 B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge No. 59 Sterling Silver Souvenir Spoon

Antique 1900 B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge No. 59 Sterling Silver Souvenir Spoon – For Sale

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Antique 1900 B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge No. 59 Sterling Silver Souvenir Spoon –:
$49.99

Up for sale is a truly remarkable piece of turn-of-the-century American history with an unforgettable backstory.This antique solid sterling silver souvenir spoon features a beautifully detailed, crisp factory engraving inside the bowl depicting the majestic Elk head emblem of the B.P.O.E. (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks) alongside the text "St. Paul 59". This represents the historic St. Paul, Minnesota Elks Lodge No. 59, a highly prominent chapter famous for hosting massive regional street carnivals right around the year 1900. The handle features an elegant, ornate Edwardian Rococo scroll pattern.An Incredible "River Treasure" History:What makes this specific piece extraordinary is where it spent the last century. This spoon was recently recovered directly from the riverbed of the Black Fork River right here in Shelby, Ohio.How did a 125-year-old Minnesota fraternal spoon end up at the bottom of an Ohio river? Around 1900, Elks members traveled extensively across the country via rail networks to attend national conventions and lodge gatherings. A local Ohio member likely traveled to a St. Paul gathering, brought this fine sterling souvenir home to Shelby, and accidentally dropped it during a riverside picnic or boating outing over a hundred years ago. Because solid sterling silver does not rust or decay, it survived perfectly intact beneath the mud and water, developing a deep, beautiful, authentic dark charcoal patina that can only be created by decades of natural river mineral exposure.Details & Condition:• Material: Solid sterling silver (clearly stamped "STERLING" on the neck).• Fraternal Chapter: B.P.O.E. St. Paul, Minnesota Lodge No. 59.• Recovery Location: Black Fork River, Shelby, Richland County, Ohio.• Era: Circa 1900.• Condition: Excellent antique condition. The engraved elk and lettering in the bowl remain incredibly sharp. The metal has been left completely unpolished to preserve its honest, unique "river-find" patina (though it could easily be polished to a mirror shine by the buyer if desired).This is a phenomenal cross-collectible piece for local Ohio history enthusiasts, Minnesota collectors, or fraternal order historians. It ships promptly and will be packaged with extreme care. Thank you for looking! Related Items: