Sister Grace

Sister Grace May Dahm (1874-1958) was born in Kinderhook, NY on April 13, 1874. She signed the Shaker covenant at the Watervliet, NY community in 1887 at the age of 13 while visiting with her father John Dahm who was at there to do some carpentry work. She lived at Watervliet with her sister Mary. Grace was referred to as "little Gracie" and was described as a little slow. As a result she was "looked after" by her sister. Grace was an expert rug weaver. Her and her sister also raised and sold birds while living at Watervliet. Grace and her sister were two of the few sisters left at Watervliet when Eldress Anna Case died in 1938 and that community closed. At that point Grace and her sister moved to the community at Mount Lebanon, NY and were again relocated to the Hancock, MA community in 1947 when Mount Lebanon closed. She passed away on June 15, 1958 at the age of 84 two years before the closing of Hancock. She is buried in Kinderhook cemetery. This box belonged to Sister Grace during her time at the Hancock, MA community. Old grey paint with the name "Grace" embossed on the top. Box measures 25 inches long by 13" wide and is 7" tall. Metal eye hooks in front of lid and metal hinges in back. Available for purchase in our Collection.