We recently received a wooden 1915 carpet sweeper from Traci and John Lester of Seabeck, who donated it to the Sidney Museum.

Before about 1811, rug beaters were the tool of choice to clean the large Turkish carpets that lay on the floors in the principal rooms of the mid-Victorian homes. The carpets were physically removed from the home and hung over a rope line outside. Rug beaters, resembling oversized flyswatters, were used to know imbedded dirt out of the carpet. The first efficient carpet sweeper was created by Melville Bissell in Grand Rapids, Michigan. By 1915, carpet sweepers were the cleaning tool of choice in most homes.

We are always appreciative of donations of artifacts, including items, pictures (or copies of letters you want to share), letters (or copies of letters you want to share), clothing, maps, old deeds, and most of all your stories.

Contact the museum via the link above.