John B. Brake, left, brings a Revolutionary War glass canteen to the Gardendale Historical Museum while Gardendale Historical Society President Kermit Dooley discusses the item with Brake. The canteen was used by Brake’s great-great-great-great grandfather.

On Thursday, a man walked into Gardendale with a unique historical artifact: a glass canteen from the Revolutionary War.

John B. Brake is loaning the canteen to the soon-to-open Gardendale History Museum. It had belonged to his great-great-great-great grandfather William Speer, who carried the canteen during the war.

Gardendale Historical Society President Kermit Dooley was all smiles as he accepted the treasure as the most recent item for the museum.

After having their artifacts scattered about for several years, the historical society members are thrilled to finally have a location to house their items.

The society will officially open the new Gardendale History Museum on Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. The public is invited; refreshments will be served.

Located at 175 Bell Street near the Gardendale Civic Center (in the former North Jefferson News building), the small museum houses items that are unique to Gardendale, along with other pieces that represent American history in general.

“It’s good to finally have everything in one place,” said Dooley. “Before, we had things in garages and spare rooms at members’ houses. We’ve needed a place to display our donations for a long time.”

Members have been busy sorting and cataloguing historical pieces in preparation for the museum opening ever since the city of Gardendale announced last year that it was donating space for the museum.

The museum has several display cases that feature sections on the Civil War, old books, clothing, antique bottles and many other items.

In addition, one wall features bookshelves containing photographs and information about genealogy, schools, military and numerous other topics. A reading table at the museum will allow patrons to sit and peruse the museum’s many books.

One of the museum’s prized possessions, according to Dooley, is a sofa that occupied a room used by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant when he was staying in the Cherry mansion in Savannah, Tenn., in March 1862.

Another prized relic dates to the Revolutionary War: a piece of an oak beam that was removed from the camp hospital at Valley Forge. The ax marks can be seen on the beam.

“That’s a treasure. It’s a unique piece,” Dooley said.

Four representatives with the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) field services office in Montgomery visited the museum on Monday, and seemed to like what they saw.

“It’s very impressive,” said Dr. John C. Hardin. “The museum has the support of the city, which is critical.” Hardin was especially interested in the U.S. Grant sofa and the Revolutionary War glass canteen.

Local items at the museum include milk bottles from long-closed local dairies, the bell from the old Milner School and much more.

Dooley said the museum will not only provide a place to display historic items, but he said it gives the Gardendale Historical Society more credibility.