USM eagle button

[groundswiper]

Greetings from Maine! The ground is sterting to thaw so I got out to a cellar hole dating from the late 1700's. I found this eagle button with USM under the eagle and can't seem to find any info on it. I assume it's USMarines but what era? any info would be greatly appreciated. thanks for looking and happy hunting!!

[Timewarpdigger]

congrats on the nice button.

[fyrffytr1]

I don't think it is a marine button. I do think that it may be associated with the University of Southern Maine. They started in Gorham in 1878.
http://usm.maine.edu/about/usm-history

[giant056]

Cool button :cool:

[RobW]

It looks very similar to a US Navy button I have from the Civil War..and I believe the Marines were a part? I'm unsure of the date of the founding of the marines, but I do believe it was the first war fought with marines, and given that you found it in Maine with the seafaring history of Mainers would make sense to me.

[groundswiper]

I don't think it is a marine button. I do think that it may be associated with the University of Southern Maine. They started in Gorham in 1878.
http://usm.maine.edu/about/usm-historyhmmmm interesting theory,i'm going to look into that,thanks

[groundswiper]

It looks very similar to a US Navy button I have from the Civil War..and I believe the Marines were a part? I'm unsure of the date of the founding of the marines, but I do believe it was the first war fought with marines, and given that you found it in Maine with the seafaring history of Mainers would make sense to me.
thanks for the info I appreciate it,it was found near the coast for what thats worth

[del]

I don't think it is a marine button. I do think that it may be associated with the University of Southern Maine. They started in Gorham in 1878.
http://usm.maine.edu/about/usm-history

thats what was my thoughts were too Fyrffytr1 , because its definitely not a U.S. issued Marines or Navy button but either a military school , university or other.

i had suggested the University of Southern Maine to Groundswiper on the MDM forum the other day.


Dan

[RobW]

Dan knows his buttons...I definitely have to give him that. I wonder if militia? I find it hard for it to be university, I could be wrong (I am a lot) but definitely seems to be mid-late 1800s.

[groundswiper]

thats what was my thoughts were too Fyrffytr1 , because its definitely not a U.S. issued Marines or Navy button but either a military school , university or other.

i had suggested the University of Southern Maine to Groundswiper on the MDM forum the other day.


Dan
yup, and I'm looking into that possibility. Not finding much on uniforms from them yet tho
. In the meantime, hearing others opinions and thoughts is ok.....right?...:cheesysmile:

[del]

In the meantime, hearing others opinions and thoughts is ok.....right?...:cheesysmile:

OK , its encouraged around here to do so :thumbsup01:

[groundswiper]

So I cleaned the button a bit more,the eagle is holding a flag in each talon, and more letters are visible on the back. "on Co" coming down one side and "& HAVRE" coming down the other side......at least thats how I read it. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[groundswiper]

yup, and I'm looking into that possibility. Not finding much on uniforms from them yet tho
. In the meantime, hearing others opinions and thoughts is ok.....right?...:cheesysmile:
Ok so the university of southern maine did not become known as such until 1978. prior to that it was known by other names like Gorham normal school in 1878......soooooprobably not where my button came from

[RobW]

Check out this site: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/173001-us-military-uniform-buttons-interesting-facts/

[RobW]

All my research shows that early marine buttons had an anchor, and none had the USM...but they do look VERY similar. I'm stumped....still a great find

[groundswiper]

Check out this site: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/173001-us-military-uniform-buttons-interesting-facts/
very interesting site! Thanks!

[groundswiper]

All my research shows that early marine buttons had an anchor, and none had the USM...but they do look VERY similar. I'm stumped....still a great find
they do look similar,but you're right it seems Marines and Navy all had anchors and or globes.....???

[aloldstuff]

It looks very similar to a US Navy button I have from the Civil War..and I believe the Marines were a part? I'm unsure of the date of the founding of the marines, but I do believe it was the first war fought with marines, and given that you found it in Maine with the seafaring history of Mainers would make sense to me.

The Marines were founded in 1775 and have fought in every war.

[fyrffytr1]

Maybe something from a steamship line. I found references to several USM steamships but can't find what U.S.M stands for.
https://www.google.com/search?q=USM&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=fflb#q=USM+steamship&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

[groundswiper]

Maybe something from a steamship line. I found references to several USM steamships but can't find what U.S.M stands for.
https://www.google.com/search?q=USM&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=fflb#q=USM+steamship&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official
Well another member found a button online with USM on it and it stood for United States Mail and it also referenced stream ships being used by the us mail, the button was very different from mine but had USM on it.maybe we're getting closer to solving this little mystery......a civil war era US mail steamship uniform?

[RobW]

The Marines were founded in 1775 and have fought in every war.


Yeah...you'd remember, you were there:poke::poke:

[fyrffytr1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Mail_Steamship_Company

[RobW]

Very interesting piece of history that is easily forgotten about .....until someone makes a find and uncovers it...very cool:cool:

[BTV Digger]

Yeah, my best guess is it's a button from one of the old U.S. Mail Steamship lines. CTTodd has one (a different variety) on his website under his finds link. It also has USM on it, but also has the name of the line on it.

BTV Digger

[groundswiper]

Yeah, my best guess is it's a button from one of the old U.S. Mail Steamship lines. CTTodd has one (a different variety) on his website under his finds link. It also has USM on it, but also has the name of the line on it.

BTV Digger
thanks for the info,I'll check it out. I think it's pretty cool if that's what it is!!!!