A Dinner to Remember

Cait Clark via the Mercer County Historical Society

As the 250th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence draws ever nearer, we are honored at the Mercer County Historical Society to showcase two very special artifacts related to the event.

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Kinder family, now residents of Rockford, were residents of Philadelphia on that day. As such, they decided to celebrate the signing in 1776 with some very unique cutlery at their celebratory dinner: a knife and fork, their handles fashioned out of antler.

Exactly 100 years after the signing, this carving set was put on display during the Centennial Exhibition in 1876 in commemoration of the Declaration being signed. This event in Philadelphia drew in over 10 million people over the course of 6 months, and is recognized as the first World’s Fair in the United States. The set has been in the loving care of the Kinder family ever since it was used at the dinner table on that momentous day in 1776.

Today, this historic carving set is in the care of the Mercer County Historical Society, donated by Katherine Kinder as a condition of her estate. It is a deeply appreciated addition to our collection, an addition which directly connects the residents of Mercer County, Ohio, to the document which led us to becoming the United States of America. If you are interested in seeing this rare set of carving utensils, stop in at the Mercer County Historical Society, housed in the Riley House. It will be displayed in the War Room. We are open on Mondays and Fridays from 9 to 5, and admission is free.