Secret Society Ballot Box Plus Roses

DH did some essential repairs on this wooden box and I did any touch-ups plus waxed and polished. The roses are at the end of this post.

Vintage Secret Society Ballot Box

This wooden box with two drawers is most likely a ballot box, used in England and America, by private clubs and secret societies. I found several similar boxes when searching online.

This may have been where the term black ball originated. Each voter had clay marbles, white and black. When members were voting to add a new member, for example, if someone dropped a black clay marble into the voting box the vote did not pass (depending on the rules of the society) and everything was secret so no one knew WHO black balled. 

DH made a knob for the bottom drawer, re-glued the box, bottom had to be reattached, and I wiped it down with refinishing oil. 

Amazing how many discoveries from the past there are in the collecting world. This week I learned (after searching online) about secret society voting boxes where members used black and white clay balls to ensure secrecy in voting. New to me.

Front Yard Garden Flowers Update

The front flower boxes are doing well (this is a reality shot with the stuff on the deck exactly where it was at the time of the photo). I didn't add cosmos along with the sweet peas this year (hugs Gail).

The roses are such a treat and here is a collage of what is blooming. The yellow and bright pink/yellow are from my birthday roses and the pink with some lighter pink rose has been a perennial for about 20 years in my front garden.

Thanks for visiting.

I will be at these amazing parties this week, 
come and join me!

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Thursday
Saving 4 Six, Try Like It, Seeking Lavender Lane, The Charm of Home, Stacey Embracing Change,  A Delightsome Life, My Thrift Store Addiction, Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Crafts a la Mode, Life With Lorelai,

Friday
Reviews, Chews and How-To's,  My Thrift Store Addiction, Two Chicks and a Mom,  Under a Texas Sky,  Rattlebridge Farm, Chic on a Shoestring,  Little House Big Alaska, The Cottage Market,  A Fireman's Wife,  The Painted Hinge,  Sweet Inspiration,  How Sweet The Sound,  Ms. Toody Goo Shoes, Pam's Party and Practical Tips, 

Saturday
Pieced Pastimes,  Strawberry Butterscotch, Our Mini Family, Scrapality

Sunday
Nifty Thrifty,  That DIY Showoff, Silver Pennies, Mother 2 Mother,  Creating My Way To Success,  Rustic and Refined,  Share The Joy

Monday
Dwellings The Heart of Your Home,  Normandy Life, Coastal Charm, A Stroll Through Life, Home Stories A to Z, 

Tuesday
Stone Cottage Adventures, My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies, Fluster Buster,  DIY by Design,  Knick of Time,

Wednesday
Gingersnap Crafts, Raven Would, Raggety Bits, Grandma's House DIY, The Thrifty Home, Suburban Simplicity,  Five Kids a Dog and a Blog, Grammy's Gold, Of Faeries and Fauna Craft Co., The Essence of Home, I Gotta Create