MARCUS & CO. ANTIQUE PINK TOPAZ AND DIAMOND PENDANT-BROOCH

New Jersey native George W. Bacon (1869 – 1953) was one of the intelligent engineer minds behind developing the electrification of streetcars for the New Orleans & Carrollton Railroad Company in 1894. Bacon, along with his two partners, created the New York based firm, Ford, Bacon & Davis, which took on multiple engineering and construction projects that were both historical and noteworthy across the United States.

Bacon married Caroline Tilden Mitchell (1873 – 1931) of St. Cloud, Minnesota in 1904. Caroline was a professor at Smith College and feminist as she firmly believed the best thing to do in life was learn. On March 30th 1905, the couple welcomed the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth followed suit in her education as she graduated from Smith College and went on to write short stories about her childhood and her life living in one of the oldest homes in Vermont.

The present pink topaz brooch was purchased by Bacon from Marcus & Co. as he was thrilled with the birth of Elizabeth. He added the sincere engraving “CTB [Caroline Tilden Bacon] from GWB [George W. Bacon] March 30th 1906”. After Caroline’s passing, he had the additional engraving added, reading “Elizabeth from Daddy March 30th 1945” and presented it as a 40th birthday present. In addition to the purchase of the brooch, George Bacon commissioned an oil painting of Caroline wearing the brooch as baby Elizabeth sits on her lap.