Recently we received an interesting email from Peter Harron, a collector of Civil War-era artifacts in North Carolina. While searching for relics on the Neuse River with a metal detector, he unearthed a silver trophy, badly crushed, and missing its handles, but with very clear engraving that read:
Whitmore Tubs Trophy
Mark Twain Day
Mono Lake, Calif.
August 9, 1931
Mr. Harron found the trophy on a hilltop overlooking Johnson Point, the site of a Union Army invasion of the town of New Bern in March 1862. The land had since been owned by a gentleman who collected many auction items.
As Mr. Harron wrote, “Mono Lake, CA is far away from New Bern, NC!” The Committee and the Mono Basin Historical Society corresponded with Mr. Harron to see if he would be willing to mail the trophy back to its home. A few weeks ago, it arrived!
The Mark Twain Days celebration began in 1929 at the Mono Inn, and included competitive categories like swimming races, boat races, horse swimming races, and a bathing beauty contest. The popular local holiday also featured a fish fry and happened each year until World War II.
The Historical Society is looking into the mystery of the traveling trophy, and has it on display at the Old Schoolhouse Museum in Lee Vining. Stop by to take a look if you’re in the area!