HAROLD & VIRGINIA SILLS

Across the Fence 

From The Hamilton Herald-News

By Arvord Abernethy 

Do you remember those “before” and “after” ads that used to show how a certain brand of hair tonic could make hair grow on a man’s head? The first picture would show a man’s head with just a few patches of hair here and there, and the “after” pictures would show the same head with a dense growth. 

The situation at Harold and Virginia Sills’ home is just reverse. When the Sills bought the Brents Witty place at 114 E. Baker about a year ago, the lot west of the house was a jungle of underbrush and trees along the draw at the south end. They have cut the underbrush and thinned out the trees and it is now taking on a park like appearance. They plan to do some land leveling before it is finished. Harold and their grandson, Wayne, were cleaning vines off the fence along the highway when I dropped by to see them the other day. 

This draw that runs through their place is a tributary of Pecan Creek. As we watch the Sills family clean up and develop their place, we can get a vision of how beautiful Hamilton could be if all of Pecan Creek could be developed. 

I had been noticing a lot of work going on around the place, but had no idea who the people were. When I visited them the other day, I found them to be Hamilton County natives just coming home. 

Harold is the son of the late Ashley Sills and a nephew to the other seven Sills children who grew up here in the county. All taught school at some time. Virginia is the daughter of the late John and Emma Blom. Harold and Virginia both attended and graduated from Pottsville High School. They have four daughters and 11 grandchildren. 

I should have been calling Harold, Dr. Sills as he is a D.D.S. in charge of Dental Services in the Veterans Hospital at Temple. He performs oral and maxilla facial surgery on service men who have had injuries around the jaws and face. He is also a retired colonel of the air force, having seen action in WW II and the Korean conflict. 

Their grandson, Wayne, is getting to see a lot of the world also. His father is an engineer who is transferred around some. Wayne attended school in Holland last year and in England the year before. 

After a long chat with them out under the shade trees about their lives and plans, I asked Virginia where she got the name “Red Pineapple” for her antique shop. She said that the pineapple was a symbol of southern hospitality and friendliness and she added the red because of the color of the house trim. You will say that they have chosen a very appropriate name after a visit with them. 

Virginia took me through the shop and she certainly has a fine collection of antiques. It will be hard for me, as an old country boy, to tell you about antiques, but maybe I can hit a few of the high points. 

Some of the first items I noticed were dishes and glassware covering tables and in a china closet. She has cut glass, depression glass and crystal along with various sets and pieces of china. 

She has several clocks on the walls and around the room that will get your attention with their striking and chiming. To me, an outstanding one was a German RA clock enclosed in a beautiful hard carved case. 

The things that probably impressed me most were some pieces of furniture. She has an enclosed desk of delicately inlaid wood of different kinds that is really beautiful. There is a cabinet of shelves made of dark burled walnut that almost shines with its smooth polished finish. Probably my favorite piece of furniture was a large hand carved hutch from Germany. It is a massive piece of furniture made of solid wood that has been well finished. 

Back in another room were many things that looked familiar; wash pots, saws, kitchen tools and so on. There was a pie safe with its ventilated sides and a kitchen cabinet that reminded me of some we had when I was a kid. We already had a pie safe with its perforated tin sides when we got a kitchen cabinet from Sears Roebuck. I remember how proud Mother was of her new cabinet. We were keeping up with the Joneses. 

The oddest thing I saw was a bustle bench. Back when ladies wore bustles they needed more room to sit down, so someone came up with the idea of making an extra wide chair with part of the back real low. 

I can remember Virginia’s interest in the furniture. I knew her father, Mr. John Blom, and on a visit out there he showed me his wood work shop. As a young girl, she had watched him make things in the work shop. John’s father was a cabinet maker back in Scandinavia before coming to America. 

There are many other interesting things I could tell you about, but I don’t have time. You will just have to go by and see them for yourself. As you drive up you will see an emblem on the end of the garage with the word “Wilkum” on it. That is the word for welcome in Norwegian and you will certainly find it at the Sillses. Virginia is open for business on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon.