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This toy fireplace was hand-carved by a Mr. Gene Horner, who worked with my grandfather aboard the river barge "Tishomingo", on the Cumberland River at Clarksville, Tennessee, when my mother was 5 years old. That was in 1932. Mr. Horner carved the "brick" front and base, the white wooden mantle and sides, and the long barreled gun mounted above the fireplace opening. My mother left it to me and I decorated and dressed it up with various miniatures suitable to it: an iron kettle, kindling wood, wooden utensils, crock, fire irons, coal scuttle, preserves, canisters, a spittoon, broom, andirons, newspaper, butter churn, dog and cat, books, letter box, and lucky horseshoe. (That's also a tea kettle and a loaf of bread on the warming shelf.) There are probably a few other items that I've missed! I'm very attached to this little piece of my family history, even though it needs dusting. Comments welcome.