The diamond is a fascinating shape when used in a quilt. I’ve enjoyed playing with the lone star pattern:
and the tumbling block (in a little less than traditional way):
But I have a different sort of diamond story to tell in this week’s blog. This story has been passed down by my husband Mike’s Mom, Johanna, who was 10 years old when it happened. I hope you’ll find it interesting, even though it has nothing to do with quilts (pretty clever segue – huh? :-)).
My husband is from Mason City, IA and his Great Grandfather, Furman Stephenson, was a prominent citizen during his career in the brick and tile industry.
One morning, in March of 1934, Grandpa Furman (who was 76 at the time) went into the First National Bank of Mason City to transact some business. He was wearing a 1 carat diamond tie tack that he had received in payment for a car. While he was in the bank Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and the gang showed up to rob the bank! They took all the cash and then grabbed a bunch of hostages to line up on the running boards of the cars as a human shield and make their getaway.
Grandpa Furman was one of the hostages and as one of the gangsters pushed him up against the car he asked “what do you want with me? I’m an old man and I’ll only slow you down.” The gangster agreed and pushed him in the dirt … with the diamond tie tack in plain view! After the gang departed Grandpa picked himself up, dusted himself off and went about his business. That night during dinner a neighbor called to ask how Furman was doing. When Grandma Sadie asked why, the neighbor told her that he had been in the bank that morning when the Dillinger gang robbed it. The family story goes that facing the gang was nothing compared to facing Grandma’s wrath for not having mentioned it to her :-)!
The diamond was passed down to Mike’s Grandfather who had it made into a ring and Mike inherited the ring when his step-father passed away a few years ago.
Well, I’ve heard this story many times and my Mother-in-law was always a bit disappointed after sharing it because it had never been documented. When she passed away in January, we took her ashes out to Mason City to be buried next to Dad and during her funeral I shared the story of the ring Mike was wearing with an acquaintance. After hearing it he told me that a few years back the Globe Gazette, Mason City’s newspaper, had begun holding a reenactment of the bank robbery every March and he thought they would be interested in the story. We contacted the paper and 2 weeks later the story Mom had shared for so many years was finally documented on the front page of the Globe Gazette with this picture of Furman, Sadie and the ring:
If only we had thought to do this while Mom was still around to see it in print. I hope you enjoyed the story and promise to get back to a more quilt related topic next week!
Di says
What a great family legend, Chris! And how wonderful of you to pursue getting it published!
Carmen Sommers says
That was a great story, my grandmother owned a gas station just outside of Pewaukee and my mother said Al Capone used to get his car filled up by her on his way up north.
Juleen says
This is very timely! My granddaughter just sent me a long email with all kinds of family questions for a paper she is writing for one of her college classes. I’ll have to search my memory to remember some of those wonderful stories my grandparents told! Thanks for sharing, Chris.
milwaukeeartquilters says
WW.. What a great story.. And to have that piece of history on Mikes finger!! I loved it..
mary lou cotton says
Great Story – Thanks for sharing.
Miriam says
Thanks for sharing!
Nancy Hansen says
Hi Chris,
I just have to share my family’s Dillinger story.
My grandfatherr was a hard working woodsman/farmer. He never owned a car, so usually walked wherever he was going. One day he was walking along a country road when a dark sedan full of men in suits stopped and offered him a ride. He accepted and they took him to his destimation. He was always convinced it was the Dillinger gang.
clkquilt says
These family legends are so interesting!
Mary Kay Winke says
My uncle was one of the people that had to ride on the running board as they escaped out of town….and my co-worker always told her kids that she was born on the day that Dillinger robbed the bank in Mason…she was from the Mason City area.
from Mary Kay Winke
clkquilt says
How interesting. I wonder if he knew Mike’s great grandfather??? What a small world!
Rachel says
Thanks for Sharing your story. My mom comes from Meyer Iowa which is not far from Mason City. One of my Aunts took me to Mason City one day to do some shopping and I fell in love with a store employee. Turned out he was from Riceville Iowa. He fell for me like a ton of bricks and quit his job on the spot so we could date while I was in Iowa for the summer. I of course had to go back to school and like most teen romances time and miles cooled it off by October. Sigh. Also Dillinger is my favorite gangster.
clkquilt says
Thanks for the Iowa story. Your comment made me smile – I don’t think I have a favorite gangster :-)!
Elaine says
When reading your tale of the Iowa gangsters, I could not help but see the coincidence in the names of Furman and Sadie. My mother’s maiden name was Sadie Fuhrmann. She lived near Wittenberg, WI. My family also lived in Wittenberg until I was 3 years old.