Have you been to Tinker?
Welcome to the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum Blog! Have you ever been to our museum? We are located in Rockford, Illinois, just 90 miles west of Chicago. The actual museum is a Victorian mansion that looks like a Swiss chalet. The furniture in the house is original to the family and we also have their artwork, clothes, letter, and diaries. Our museum is affiliated with the Rockford Park District and we have been a museum since 1943. We hope this Blog helps you understand the history of the museum and keeps you up-to-date on our upcoming events. If you have any questions or feedback, email me: steve@tinkercottage.com or call 815-964-2424. Thank you and have a great day!
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November 7, 2008 at 3:55 am
Great job!
November 7, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I didn’t know Tinker was from Hawaii, it that why he has so many tropical plants in the conservatory? Most are tropical, right?
November 7, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Hi Holli,
Yes, Mr. Tinker was born in Hawaii in 1836 because his parents were Christian missionaries. The Tinker family was in Hawaii from 1830 to 1840 and they played a very important role in the missionary movement on the islands. Many of the plants in the conservatory are and were tropical because of Mr. Tinker’s love of the tropics. The conservatory was also added because of Mrs. Tinker’s love of roses and the cabbage rose was her favorite variety. Thank you for your comments and questions! -Steve
November 13, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Job well done! What a great kick off for your blog. The cottage is such an asset to the Rockford area. I’m sure that this will help get the word out. Also thank you for including Veterans Memorial Hall in your links area.
November 13, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Thank you for your comments Scott, and I appreciate all of the cooperation with Veterans Memorial Hall. I hope we can all benefit from our use of technology. Have a good day!
Steve
November 15, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I have just popped over from the Operation Migration web site, where your museum was mentioned. I found it very interesting. The Swiss cottage is beautiful, and it is good to see it so well maintained.
I am over the pond in England by the way.
November 15, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Hi Thelma,
Thank you for visiting our site. I am glad to see that we are attracting international attention. Thank you for your comments, and if you are ever in the states, drop by and say hello!
Thank you!
Steve
October 6, 2009 at 2:47 am
Was there a Gertrude Tinker or a Rosemary Jessie Tinker decendants?
October 6, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Hi Sheila,
There was a Rosemary Tinker that was the daughter of Theodore “Ted” Tinker, the adopted son of the family. I am not sure who Gertrude is, Ted was married a few times, so it may have been another one of the wives or another daughter I did not know about. Are you a relative? Thank you for the question!
-Steve
August 24, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Hey Steve.
First of all, what “mail” are you referring to that’s required? Email? Snail mail? And what do you mean by “website”?
Could we have some blogs about the $25,000 Community Challenge until Sept. 15?
Tinker could sure use $25,000 about now.
Thanks!
April 17, 2011 at 12:37 pm
I used to make sales calls in the Rockford area many years ago and learned of the Tinker cottage from that experience. My wife and I had gone to the Rockford area to camp and play golf several years ago, and, since it was raining I said I know where we can go. We were so fortunate as the historical club was having a function at the cottage – on the other hand, it was being restored so was not fully open. As I recall, Abraham Lincoln represented Mr. Tinker in a suit against the McCormack Reaper co. and won the suit. I would like to know more of the history of Lincoln-Tinker relationship. Is that on the web site.
April 17, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Can you comment on the suit for Tinker vs. McCormack
(I think it was McCormack) with Tinker represented by Abe Lincoln.
May 6, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Hi, good blog, i like it.