On Dec. 11 our family is making a donation to and hosting a reception at the Fort Saint Joseph Museum. Our gift to the Museum is a 19th Century sleigh bed and is being given in memory of my mother, Patricia Benson Bachman, and her longtime friend Miss Lena Lardner.

The sleigh bed belonged to Henry and Lena (Phillips) Lardner of Niles, Michigan. Their son Ring Lardner was born in this bed on March 6, 1885.

Ring Lardner was a celebrated author and sports writer. Lardner wrote short stories that appeared in such magazines as the Saturday Evening Post and Esquire. He wrote more than 4,500 columns and articles and was syndicated in more than 115 newspapers. Ring wrote a popular stage play titled “June Moon” which is still performed. He wrote the song “Gee, It’s a Wonderful Game” that is also heard today. Ring Lardner died in 1933 at the age of 48.

Ring’s son, Ring Lardner Junior, was also an author and won an Academy Award for writing the movie screenplay M*A*S*H. Junior was known as one of the “Hollywood Ten” who were unfairly accused of being communists and persecuted by the McCarthy Hearings of the 1950s.

Ring Senior’s older sister was named Lena after her mother. Miss Lardner (Lena) was born July 27, 1875. In her youth, Lena was in love with, and had promised marriage, to a young man who was killed. She never married and chose to care for her parents until their death. Miss Lardner was the organist and choir director for Trinity Episcopal Church for most of her life. She taught piano in her home to support herself.

As a child, and through her teens, my mother studied piano with Miss Lardner. Lena Lardner was 40 years and one day older than my mother, who was born on July 28, 1915. They always celebrated their birthdays together. In spite of their age difference, my mother and Lena shared a close and lasting friendship. It is possible that mother took the place of a daughter that Lena never had.

Before her death on Aug. 27, 1960, Lena gave our family her most valuable possession, the Lardner bed. She had it moved to our family’s home on North Fifth Street in Niles. After Miss Lardner’s death, my mother sold our baby grand piano, and she never played piano again. I was a teen, but I remember that Mother felt the loss of her friend very deeply. When my mother retired and returned to the family home in 1977, she always slept in the Lardner bed, and it became her bed.

You are invited to the dedication of the bed on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Fort St. Joseph Museum, 322 East Main St. Finger sandwiches and pastries will be served.

 

Jeanne Watson is a sixth generation Niles resident who wants to see the downtown strong once again. Jeanne has volunteered her time with the Niles Main Street/DDA for nearly 15 years. She can be reached at jeanne0503@comcast.net.