Posted 11 years ago
upstatenyc…
(263 items)
This is a well loved piece, possibly a gift. I have a very similar piece with more enamel, but I like this one because of the Hello Bill on the inside. I'm guessing 30s- 40s, if someone has a better idea, please let me know. Just a nice locket, and I wonder what the story behind the Hello Bill is?
So funny! Be a great gift for a Bill...hello UpState! Good summer?
An Elk Toast!
WILLIAM GODDARD, of Minneapolis (Minn.) Lodge, No. 44, B. P. O. Elks, is the original "Hello Bill!" of Elkdom, and this cheerful salutation which has found its way around the world, originated in Minneapolis during the Elks' National Re-Union in that city in 1897. Brother Goddard is the junior partner of the Minneapolis firm of Barnaby & Company. He has been for a great many years the treasurer of Minneapolis Lodge, No. 44, B. P. O. Elks, and was Chairman of the Finance Committee, and a member of a great many other committees that had in charge the arrangements for the Elks' Re-Union of that year, and he spent a great deal of his time at the Committee headquarters.
When visiting Elks came to the headquarters to inquire about matters they wanted to know about, if they happened to meet anybody who was not fully posted, they were usually told to "Go over there and ask Billy Goddard," and it was a constant strain of "Billy can tell you," "See Billy, he knows," etc., etc. This was repeated so incessantly that the stranger Elks when they approached Brother Goddard, greeted him with the expression, "Hello Bill! I was told to see you," etc., and so the custom started of greeting each other "Hello Bill!"
In a day or two the custom spread to the streets, with Elks from all parts of the country, and passing each other they sang out cheerfully, "Hello Bill!" and they carried the greeting back to their home lodges, and so it has spread around the ends of the earth.
http://www.elks.org/lodges/LodgePages.cfm?LodgeNumber=634&ID=3683
Here's to the four hinges of Friendship
Swearing, Lying, Stealing and Drinking.
When, you swear, swear by your country ;
When you lie, lie for a pretty woman;
When you steal, steal away from bad company;
And when you drink, drink with me.
http://www.horntip.com/html/recitations/short_recitations/toasts/fraternal_toasts/toasts_for_elks.htm
Wow, vetraio50, thanks for all the info. That's very cool. I still have one Elk piece to post, A pin. Did you see the other stamp case I have up? I'll post the pin right now, as a matter of fact. And Cheers to you for the info! Alos, thaanks for all the loves!