Back in the olden days, when the world was young.....and I went to a couple of auctions a week! We would sometimes see stuff that "came from the ditch". When people cleaned out, they just took stuff to the ditch, then when a family member decided that maybe some old stuff might bring some money, they dug stuff out of the muck in the ditch. Old ironstone was discolored and stained, as were things that had been used for a planter, or a water holder on a radiator. And I have a wonderful old blue pottery pie plate, crazed but not discolored. The first time I used it, apple pie, cooked about an hour and a quarter. that pie dish oozed dark brown grease out of the bottom. The pie didn't seem discolored....so we ate it! Haven't baked in that dish since!

Thanks for all the info. I traced it back using tax records. It is impossible to go past the Church because at that time, they took the property off the tax rolls. I work at the AssessorÂs Office so I have access to them. I didnÂt have a lot of time but I tried running the names back in the Clerk of CourtÂs Office for ownership. IÂm going to have to sit down for a few hours and try to run the ownership back. In this parish, itÂs very hard to trace something once itÂs tax free. I havenÂt been in the attic. We have found square nails in the subfloor. The wood used to frame the house is heart pine. Some studs are a true 2x4, some are 2x3 & others 1x3. The beams under the house are solid heart pine and cut specifically for that house. They are 1 piece, spanning the 25Â across the house. The house has been remodeled several times. It was 2 different doctorÂs offices in the 60Âs. I posted this in the old house forum but maybe I should post some pics and ask questions about the construction. Thanks again.

Thanks for all your hard work Karen! Can't wait to read it in its entirety. Jodi-

Thanks Allison! I hope that didn't come across snippy. What I meant was some of the best deals I find in antique shops are those little hole in the wall - stuff piled high and under stuff, etc. You can get some good deals. Not the upscale places. I do love vintage silver and of course you can find some pricey stuff. I also find a good bit on ebay (people sometimes really don't know what they have!) and etsy (vintage). I appreciate you keeping a lookout. I'm fine with silver plated, vintage/antique would be great if I can find it for a good deal, but a new piece would be fine also. dlm200 - I'm not in a hurry, that's part of the fun - the search, finding just the right thing. That tray is GORGEOUS! $4????!!!!! Allison I forgot to answer your question - I would use the tray as shown in the pic I posted - on a side table, perhaps a chest I have in my dining room, something like that. tina