We receive quite a number of amazing donations here at The Mariners’ Museum, but every now and then we receive something this has such an amazing and touching story that we can’t help but be affected. One such recent donation is an one cent token from the Knickerbocker Steamship Company, donated by Robert Zipse. This token, and others like it, were used to purchase goods while on one of the Knickerbocker Company vessels. What makes this particular token (pictured below) so special is the sentimentality and meaning attached to it by the man whose life was forever changed by a day that was supposed to be filled with joy and fun.

1904年6月15日,圣马克的福音派路德Church chartered the Knickerbocker SteamboatGeneral Slocumfor their annual excursion and picnic to Locust Grove. St. Mark’s was located in area of Manhattan known as Little Germany as there was a large population of German immigrants in the neighborhood, including many who had only recently arrived. As this excursion was on a weekday, it was mostly attended by women and children. This included William F. Zipse (pictured below in 1906) who at the time was 15 years old, his mother Sophie Zipse (pictured below on the day of her wedding) and William’s five siblings, Sophia (17), Mary (13), Louise (10), Helen (3) and Albert (1).Read more