Artifacts donated to Hillsboro museum
Keith Ebel, great-grandson of William and Ida Schaeffler, and grandson of Arthur W. and Louise (Schaeffler) Ebel, came to Hillsboro with a truck load of items that had once belonged to members of the Schaeffler family. He and his wife, Susan donated the items to the museum for exhibit in the Schaeffler House Museum.
Among the more than 35 objects in the collection is a brass bed that had been in the house, a silver-plate tea service, silver flatware with Schaeffler "S" monogram, several pieces of china that match the Schaeffler's c. 1910 Johnson Bros. transfer ware china set in the house, six oil paintings by a family member, a colorized photo of one-year-old Louise Schaeffler, and an anniversary clock that had once stood on the fireplace mantel in the second parlor.
The Ebels walked through the house with Stan Harder, director of museums, and explained where many of the articles had originally been and how the house had been arranged.
Ebel's father, Robert Ebel, was born in the house and Keith reminisced about visiting there when he was a boy and the good times he had with his great-uncle Robert Schaeffler who lived in the house until 1980. The Schaeffler house was donated to the city of Hillsboro in 1981.
"This is an important donation. It is especially meaningful because these objects were actually owned by members of the Schaeffler family," said Harder. "We really appreciate the support of Keith and Susan Ebel," he said.
