One of the newest additions to the Fort St. Joseph Museum in Niles has direct ties to Niles literary hero, Ring Lardner.

The sleigh-style bed was donated to the museum by Niles’ Jeanne Watson Dec. 11.

It is believed to be the bed in which Lardner was born on March 6, 1885. Lardner would eventually become one of the best and highest paid writers of his time, covering sports and writing novels, short stories, plays, words for music and manuscripts for movies.

Carol Bainbridge, museum director, said the bed is an important piece to the museum because the Lardner family is significant to the history of Niles.

“Up to this point, almost everything we have is on Ring Lardner, who was world famous as an author,” Bainbridge said. “This (bed) comes from his parents, who were significant in their own right.

“I wanted the bed because it would fill in the story of the Lardner family itself — not just Ring Lardner.”

Bainbridge said Lardner’s sister, Lena, was an author and skilled musician who played the organ at Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles.

“Lena was known for her music skills. She taught piano lessons and played for the church,” she said. “She wrote books and was a much loved local author.”

Ring’s and Lena’s mother — also named Lena — was known for her philanthropic efforts, Bainbridge said. She also taught her children elementary education at home, while exposing them to music, writing and culture.

“To raise a family with their writing skills and musical skills — she was one of those well-rounded women,” Bainbridge said. “At that time, to have somebody that cultured wasn’t really common.”

The bed remained in the younger Lena’s possession until it was given to the parents of Patricia Benson (Bachman), a Niles girl who studied piano with Lena. Patricia and Lena were also close friends, despite Lena being 40 years older than Patricia.

When Patricia died, the bed was inherited by her daughter, Jeanne Watson.

The bed was given to the museum in honor and remembrance of Lena and Patricia.

Watson wrote that the bed is a visible symbol of the friendship shared between Lena and Patricia.