Find

top, cane
top, cane

top, cane

Catalog Number
2014.15.6
Dimensions
4.5 X 1.25 in.
Description
Cane top, belonged to Austin Harrington. Gold-colored metal tip, curves, attaching to what appears to be antler, which is, in turn, attached to more metal, then wood, and more metal.
History
Austin Harrington was born in Overisel, MI on 8-11-1863 to George S. Harrington (1836-1921) and Martha Partlow (1839-1922).

Austin married Lucia Garvelink (1862-1951) in Holland, MI in 1887. They had two children: Harry (1890-1957) and Carl (1904-1991).

Austin was a licensed lake captain and contractor who served as the Holland harbormaster for over fifty years. In 1888, Austin opened a wood and coal yard on the corner of Eighth Street and First (Washington) Avenue, with a loading dock on Black Lake. Known as
Harrington Coal, business was so good that by 1917 it had tripled.

In the late 1920s Austin’s sons Harry and Carl joined the company,
which by then ran the largest coal yard in town. Harrington Coal
never turned a needy customer away empty handed and even supplied
competitors when supplies ran short. Austin Harrington died on 8-2-1939 in Holland, MI. He is buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery.
Gift of
Vander Leek, Garnet Harrington