Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
BURDEN BABY CARRIAGE
BURDEN BABY CARRIAGE. Burden Baby Carriage Goes Home
Entry by: Diane Wolfe Harris
In 2001, Diane Harris was at a Dubuque garage sale and noticed a vintage life size baby carriage. It had the original black wood paint with the original black leather sun visor. The collapsible dark visor blocked the bright sunshine on the stroller’s occupant and could be flipped front to back; depending on the position of the sun. The seller announced it was George A. and Viola (Rider) Burden’s baby carriage that was used at Four Mounds, 4900 Peru Road in Dubuque, IA.
This couple moved to FOUR MOUNDS in 1908 and raised their two children on this estate. Four Mounds was the last remaining intact GENTLEMAN'S FARM in Iowa, which had the owners living in the country and working in the city. Each building and crop activity was strategy planned.
The couple’s son, George R. “Bill” married Elizabeth Adams and lived in one of the homes, "The White House." There they raised their three daughters; Winifred (Frindy), Viola (Vidie), and Elizabeth (Betsy).
The Four Mounds website had numerous historical pictures of the buildings and the Burden family. One of the pictures had “Photograph of nanny pushing baby carriage with Vidie inside and Frindy beside her”. The nanny had her hand on the ornate wood handle of the carriage. This was the same baby carriage at this garage sale find!
The baby buggy was held up with four spoke wheels with the original rubber tires. There was a metal brake mechanism used for the steep Dubuque hills. There also was a black metal bar in front to help lift over street curbs and sidewalks.
Inside the buggy were two soft mattresses. The fitted flowered striped mattress had six sheepskin buttons with no maker’s label. The other mattress was blued striped with a paper label “OFFICIAL STATEMENT – MATERIALS USED IN FILLING- Layer Cotton Felt 15 x 26, 2 ½ inch box, #1139, Geo. Burden. This article is made in compliance with an act of the State of Iowa, approved the 16th day of April, 1923. Manufactured by Dubuque Mattress Company, DUBUQUE, IOWA”. The Dubuque Mattress Company was renamed in about 1880 by John Knapp after his father died. The second mattress would have to be older than 1923 due to the label.
Throughout the last 20 years, this baby carriage was displayed at The Fanny Stout House (1145 Locust Street), the Kennedy Mall, and other various vintage displays. Later, Diane realized she should had obtained a written provenance document that proved the chain of ownership with this baby carriage. This document would show chronological ownership to prove authenticity of the historic value of the baby carriage with a notarized witness to the seller/ buyer signatures.
At the February 6, 2020 Dubuque County-Key City Genealogical Society membership meeting John GRONEN (grandson of George R. Burden), Jay Potter, and staff members of Four Mounds gave an interesting presentation on Four Mounds Foundation that was founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1987. There had been many projects over the years to restore the buildings and landscape. Their mission was to preserve, educate, and serve the youth and the community. The estate was a generous gift of property willed to the City of Dubuque from the estate of Elizabeth (Adams) Burden upon her passing in 1982.
Presently, there are many conferences, team building, obstacle course, weddings, baby showers, summer camps, youth programs and projects, rehab training, bed and breakfast events held at Four Mounds.
Over the years, there were many involved to help the estate survive; from gardeners, farmers, maids, caretakers, nannies, cooks, chauffeurs, etc. Currently, The Four Mounds Foundation is searching for photographs and stories to document their history.
If only this baby carriage could talk, the history it would have to tell!
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Sources:
www.fourmounds.org
www.encyclopediadubuque.org- George A. Burden, George R. Burden, Gentleman’s Farm, Dubuque Mattress Company
www.ancestry.com
Telegraph Herald 11/10/2008, 04/22/2012, 06/12/2015
Personal photographs