This is a 3.5” piece of belt from a rarely encountered artilleryman’s waist belt. This is the end with the roller buckle, belt loop, and slotted “tongue” underneath. This is a piece broken from the belt, well-worn and in very weathered condition. This style artilleryman’s belt was strictly utilitarian, and worn until worn out, making them rarely seen these days.

Likely a Gettysburg battlefield pick-up, this item was once part of the Shields Museum Collection, located on the First Day’s Battlefield by the Reynolds equestrian state.  Arthur “OTT” Shield’s opened a Civil War Museum west of Gettysburg along Route 30 near the Reynold’s Monument in 1925. OTT would amass one of the largest and earliest collections of Gettysburg artifacts. His museum would rival the Danner Museum and his father-in-law’s Museum, John Rosensteel’s “Round Top Museum/Inn.” OTT and his wife Margaret (Rosensteel) the only child of John Rosensteel would raise seven children at the Museum which was also their homestead. After their father’s death in 1950, Ellen, their daughter, continued to operate the Museum and concession stand. The Museum was free of charge and was sustained financially on sales of extra artifacts, concessions and souvenirs. The Shields family would operate the Museum until the “NPS” acquired the property in 1985. The Collection was sold by Redding Auctions in November 1985.  [jet] [ph:L]

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