Brass Top, Made in 1868, Part of Family’s Christmas
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
December 24, 1964
A little brass top, dented with use, spins its way through the Christmases of the Linsley family, a tradition that will be observed again this evening in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Forman, 1134 Cherry St.
Its cheerful hum has been heard at family Christmas gatherings for 95 years, except for two when it was not available. Tonight as on those other Christmas eves, the top will signal reminiscences and family stories.
Mr. and Mrs. James Linsley brought the top from Minneapolis when they arrived this week to spend the holidays with their son-in-law and daughter, and four grandchildren. Mark Forman, 14, will be the next keeper of the top as the eldest male in the next generation. Watching the top spin this evening will be Lucy, 16, and Dan 13, and their cousin, Joanna Linsley, who makes her home with the Formans.
Reflecting the sturdy workmanship of another generation, the small top is mounted in a heavy steel wire frame with a wooden handle. The spinner pulls the string and releases the toy from its frame for a merry spin.
Grandfather Linsley comments that “the Linsleys keep things.” The year the top is dated, 1868, it was a Christmas gift to David John Linsley, then six and the oldest, eventually of nine children. David John treasured his top and made sure that it was part of every Christmas in his home near Redwing, Minnesota. He married and the top went along when he moved to Morris, Minn., in 1876 and to Litchfield in 1904.
The Christmas of 1904 was one on which the top didn’t spin. David John and his hired man got to Litchfield early Christmas morning and unloaded three teams and a pair of mules in the wintry darkness.
Was Packed Away
Driving the stock through Litchfield’s main street, the mules woke the village with their braying, the family story goes. The top, however, was packed away and in transit. It stayed with the family, however, ending up at West Concord, Minn., where the family settled.
David John died in 1937 and the top went to his son, James Linsley.
The Linsley’s daughter is a kindergarten teacher and her husband is on the faculty of Wisconsin State University-Oshkosh. In recent years the Linsleys have carried the top along on holiday treks to join the Formans. About five ago, traveling to Rockford, Illinois, they forgot to pack it, accounting for the second time in 96 years that its humming sound went unheard on Christmas Eve.
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Original caption:
CHRISTMAS TOP HUMS FOR THIRD GENERATION
Grandfather James Linsley, Minneapolis, holds the family top which since 1868 has been a part of family Christmas Eve parties. It will spin again this evening at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Forman, 1134 Cherry St., during the family carol singing. Shown beneath their Christmas tree are Mrs. Forman and son, Mark, who will one day be keeper of the family heirloom and its tradition.
