What to do with kilt everyone wants

[T-Bone]

My grandfather passed away in 1994. Since then my mother has had the kilt he wore for the Masonic pipe band during the 1950's, plus all of the other accoutrements. It has been a sore spot between her and her sister about who should get it. My cousins and my sisters and I have all had our say in the matter. My stance is that my mother should get it, since my aunt was only a little girl (4-5 yrs old) when he was in the band and my mother was in her late teens and remembers the parades, games, and most importantly the practicine at home. My mother and my aunt have had enough. They have decided to use the material in the kilt to make something for everyone, but they cannot think of anything. They are fairly accomplished at sewing, but cannot come to any conclusions. Does anyone have any suggestions?
The tartan is Fraser, probably 13oz, 6 yards. It was made by Thomas Gordon and Sons, Glasgow in the early 1950's. Unfortunately it has been made unwearable by the moths who found it tastey and the mice who found it toasty...mostly the front apron...Grandpa just had all of that stuff in a carboard box in the attic.

Thanks,

T-Bone

[Kilted in Maine]

Do you know what Solomon would suggest?

[Slag101]

Do you know what Solomon would suggest?

Cut the kilt in half?

Could also be the secret of what was in the ark? Solomon's kilt in the long forgotten old testament tartan, complete with an Apple and Serpent Kilt pin?
He also had belt with a buckle made to resemble the tablets the 10 commandments were inscribed on.

[Slag101]

I give unto you these 15 <loud crash>.........I mean 10 commandments.

[Tobus]

Wearable or not, it seems a shame to cut it up and repurpose it. The material may retain some meaning to those who remembered him, but it will cease to be a true heirloom.

[Jock Scot]

Sounds like a names in the hat situation to me.

[macwilkin]

How about a third-party alternative, and offer it to a museum or collection dedicated specifically to masonic items, such as:

http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/
http://www.gwmemorial.org/index.php

If it is documented to a masonic pipe band, and if you have a photo of your grandfather wearing it that might be able to be reproduced, it would certainly be a way to keep it together & honor your grandfather's memory.

T.

[ForresterModern]

How about everyone chipping in to have the kilt and accoutrements mounted in a display shadow box, perhaps with a picture or two or other mementos of your grandfather and his piping days. Then establish a list based on seniority in the family and pass the display from one adult member to another for a year at a time until it makes it through the list, then it goes back to the first and starts over. Or, each member could decide that maybe they wanted the display to stay at whatever respective relative they chose for their turn in the rotation (you might choose to let your mom have your turns for example). That way it remains a family heirloom, a collection kept together in a remembrance format that can be shared with all members of the family in turn. And still valued by all for time immemorial, or at least as long as anybody cares to remember old granpa.

IMHO better than cutting up a precious, if not actually usable, heirloom to make smaller items that in themselves have no intrinsic heirloom value to anyone.

j

[Tobus]

You know, I'm going to chime in again here to say something that's been sticking in my craw since I first read this.

A couple of years ago, my wife's great-uncle passed away, and the family descended like vultures (as families so often do in these situations) to fight over what was left. My wife, like your aunt, was the younger child. And I distinctly remember as we went through all the things in the house, that my wife's older sister kept declaring that she had more memories of certain items than my wife did, so she should get them.

I'm sorry, but I say "phooey" on that. That's merely an excuse for one person to have more of a claim to a family heirloom than others, based on some sort of silly seniority system. It automatically makes the older siblings more worthy of taking whatever they want, simply because they were there first and had more memories of it.

Surely there's a more equitable solution for the entire family. A museum might be a bit impersonal for the family to be able to share memories (it's not like they'll make special trips to a Masonic museum just to look at it). And passing the item around every year will undoubtedly lead to trouble if someone forgets to send it on at the appointed time (or worse yet, refuses to give it up). But I do think the idea of putting it in a shadowbox for display is a good one. Maybe there's a central location that's neutral, where everyone can see it occasionally?

[T-Bone]

The shadowbox is what I proposed. Nobody would have to chip in as I can make it myself. I am really opposed to cutting it up as well. My mother has it now, so she may let the bickering continue until it is forgotten, who knows.
If only grandpa was here today...he would undoubtedly kick everyone in the teeth.