Antique Pen Wipers and Pin Cushions

Alpine History Mystery for December 2013 SOLVED! – Gifts the Foss Children Made for Christmas in 1888

Mystery Solved! The Foss family, Edward, Carrie, and six children were early pioneers in Alpine, setting up their rancho at Tule Springs in 1875. Pioneer life was very difficult in the late 1800’s and it was particularly hard for Carrie Foss whose health was declining as a result of the physical and emotional demands of raising a family and taking care of farm chores a full continent away from her childhood home and family. In her Christmas letter of 1888 to her dear sister Annie she wrote of physical decline and how difficult it was to put a good meal…