The Norfolk Mace: History 101
Norfolk's historic silver Mace, is the only existing pre-Revolutionary American symbol of civic authority of its kind, it has a long, elusive and interesting history. Its presentation to the Borough of Norfolk in 1754 by Robert Dinwiddie, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1751 to 1758, climaxed a friendship between the colonial official and Virginia's principal port of entry and exit dating back almost three decades.
Made in London of pure silver, the Mace has an inscription stating it was given to the Corporation of Norfolk in 1753. It was not until the next year, however, that it was delivered, for the minutes of the Norfolk Common Council for April 1, 1754, explicitly state that Dinwiddie delivered the Mace in person and was gratefully thanked for the handsome gift.
According to tradition, the Mace was removed with the public records at the time of the burning of Norfolk in January of 1776 and was returned only after the danger had passed. In its earlier days the Mace was always carried ahead of the mayor upon his entering court or before him in processions. On September 15, 1836, it was carried in the parade honoring the one hundredth anniversary of Norfolk as a borough, and on May 13, 1857, when the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the landing at Jamestown was observed, it was taken to Jamestown Island to be a part of that celebration.
In May of 1862, when Norfolk was evacuated by the Confederate forces, it was hidden by Mayor William W Lamb under a hearth in his home on West Bute Street.The Mayor told no one his hiding place and the mace was lost for thirty two years! It was eventually recovered but was practically forgotten until 1894, when Norfolk Chief of Police C.J. Iredell discovered it in a state of disrepair in a heap of litter and old records in a room at the police station.
At that time, Norfolk city officials asked the Norfolk National Bank, to accept its custodianship. And in its carefully restored state it was displayed in a specially built glass case in the downtown Norfolk main office of the bank for several years. Today you can view the elusive mace behind glass on the second floor of The Chrysler Museum.
For more info about The Norfolk Mace and or The Chrysler Museum check out their website at... http://www.chrysler.org/
