The Story of a Piano

My great grandmother purchased it for her two daughters to learn on somewhere around the turn of the century—probably the early 1900’s. She was a single parent who had thrown her gold seeking husband out when he ran off to one too many gold rushes. They were Catholic, so never divorced, but she supported her two girls by making dresses for Molly Brown (among others). Then the piano went to my grandmother, where my mother learned to play on it.

I remember it in our house growing up and giggling when I found my grandfather’s initials on the side of one of the keys “A.S.S.”—yes, they were his initials and yes, he really enjoyed that they were! Inscribed inside the piano, above the pins are the carved name of a tuner who tuned the piano in 1910.

My family will tell you that I’m probably the least sentimental of the group, mainly because I hate when things are stored away because, “we couldn’t possibly give it away.” I love to see things used. I think in this case, this piano will continue to be loved and with any luck for another 100 years.

Photo Courtesy of Frequently Wrong and Never in Doubt