This morning I was listening to the radio and a woman was being interviewed about and was playing a button accordion. It made me think of the accordion in my cupboard.
Internet research leads me to believe that it is a Vienna model Hohner diatonic accordion made in Germany. The melody is played on the row of buttons on the right. There are two buttons on the left for bass and chord accompaniment. Only one of the three draw stops at the top remains.
One day when I was probably about 10, my uncle Matthew Moore (1907-1981) gave me the accordion which had belonged to someone in the family. Now of course I can't remember who owned it. It was either his father Knox Moore or his grandfather John. Did it come with the family when they emigrated from Ireland or did they have it when they lived and worked in the sugar mills in Greenock, Scotland? Perhaps it was purchased after they came to live in Australia.
I may have known the answers to these questions when I was ten years old but have now forgotten.
The fact that the story has been forgotten highlights the message from a lecture I attended last year in Sydney by Judy Russell titled "Just Three Generations". Her message - If we don’t tell the stories of those who came before, and our lives, the history will be lost in just 3 generations.
Now the only story that remains is that the accordion belonged to either my great grandfather Knox Moore or my great great grandfather John Moore. I don't know the answer to the many questions I have. Did he enjoy playing? Did he play at local dances or solely for the pleasure of his family? Were his children taught to play?
Don't forget to write down your family stories.
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| Accordion belonging to either Knox or John Moore, Wallangarra |
Internet research leads me to believe that it is a Vienna model Hohner diatonic accordion made in Germany. The melody is played on the row of buttons on the right. There are two buttons on the left for bass and chord accompaniment. Only one of the three draw stops at the top remains.
One day when I was probably about 10, my uncle Matthew Moore (1907-1981) gave me the accordion which had belonged to someone in the family. Now of course I can't remember who owned it. It was either his father Knox Moore or his grandfather John. Did it come with the family when they emigrated from Ireland or did they have it when they lived and worked in the sugar mills in Greenock, Scotland? Perhaps it was purchased after they came to live in Australia.
I may have known the answers to these questions when I was ten years old but have now forgotten.
The fact that the story has been forgotten highlights the message from a lecture I attended last year in Sydney by Judy Russell titled "Just Three Generations". Her message - If we don’t tell the stories of those who came before, and our lives, the history will be lost in just 3 generations.
Now the only story that remains is that the accordion belonged to either my great grandfather Knox Moore or my great great grandfather John Moore. I don't know the answer to the many questions I have. Did he enjoy playing? Did he play at local dances or solely for the pleasure of his family? Were his children taught to play?
Don't forget to write down your family stories.
Hi Sharon, thanks for sharing your family history blog with me. Love the posts. What a rabbit hole it is - family history. It leads you into so many different paths. This accordion is a beautiful part of your family history.
ReplyDeleteI just wish I could remember the exact person it belonged to.
ReplyDelete