Dennison's Jewelry Cleaning Casket

This jewelry cleaning kit consists of a small wooden box, boxwood sawdust, a compartmentalized metal tray, a brush, and a block of soap. Printed on a label inside the box is, "Dennison's Jewelry Cleaning Casket, R.A. Heggie and Bros. Manufacturing Jewelers, Ithaca, N.Y." According to the instructions on the label, one would clean jewelry using the brush with soap and water, and then place into the boxwood sawdust until dry.

R. (Robert) A. Heggie was born in 1846, in Colesburg, Pa. In 1870, at the age of 24, he went to Hornell, NY to learn the jewelry trade. Robert then came to Ithaca and started working at the Collingwood B. Brown jewelry store. He later left Ithaca for Syracuse and worked at the Howe jewelry store. By 1875, Robert was back in Ithaca and with his brother Willis C. Heggie opened R.A. Heggie and Bros. Manufacturing Jewelers Co. on North Tioga Street. In 1893, the store moved to the "new block" of 136 East State Street. R.A. Heggie and Bros. Co. jewelry store manufactured pins, rings, and other jewelry.

In the spring of 1913, R.A. Heggie died of "double pneumonia." According to his obituary, Robert was "one of the oldest business men in Tompkins County." He was a member of the Shriners Association, all the Masonic Orders, and was the oldest member of the Hobasco Lodge F. & A.M. In the fall of 1913, Robert was to achieve the highest degree of Masonry; the 33rd. He was also a member of the Tornado Hook and Ladder Co. No. 3.

After Robert's death, his brother, Willis, took over the company and employed H.R. Hawkins, who worked for the company until his retirement in 1944. Another long time employee, was Marion Buckly who served as secretary for 16 years. Robert's spouse, Margaret, and Willis's spouse, May, ran different portions of the company after each of their husbands' deaths. In 1962, Edward Baron became president and in 1963 Josephine Baron joined as vice-president. They both ran the company until 1984 when the store closed. The R.A. Heggie jewelry store was in business for 109 years and survived the Depression, two World Wars, and the development of the Commons.

Sources:
Ithaca City Directories
DeWitt Historical Society Scrapbooks: S-67-A, S-101-A, and S-161-A

Past Objects:

Ithaca Calendar Clock Patent Model
Indian Clubs
Passenger Pigeon Net
Steamship Frontenac Belaying Pin
Paint Box of W.C. Baker
Amber Candy Dish

Ó 2002 DeWitt Historical Society of Tompkins County