U.S. 35 Star National Flag.
This important flag has its history in California for it flew over the General Hardware Store in Marysville, California from 1863 to 1880, according to museum records. Such long use would mean that this flag had some advantage to keep its condition flyable such as a porch or hung inside the store and only brought out on special occasions. It may have had regular use from 1863 to 1865 and was semi-retired and brought out on special days, given its representation of the star count during much of the Civil War. It is obvious upon examination of the flag that it has seen considerable use.
Why the museum had it in its collection is not entirely clear though research could answer that question. Information has been gathered that suggests that the hardware store was a landmark in Marysville for many years till it was demolished in the late 20th century.
During the Civil War, the western counties of Virginia, whose economy was quite different from the rest of the state, seceded to form a new state. West Virginia joined the Union on June 20th, 1863, and its star was added to the flag on the following Fourth of July. The 35-star flag saw the end of the Civil War and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln two years later.
The loosely woven wool/bunting field is composed of 13 horizontal alternating red and white stripes, each about 7.5 inches wide, with the top and bottom stripes red. Inset into the field and extended through seven stripes from the top, is a dark blue canton (union) 46 inches wide on the fly x 47 inches high on the hoist. There are 35 white cotton, 5-pointed stars, each 5 inches across, set in five horizontal rows of seven stars each. The stars are sewn on the obverse only; on the reverse side, the dark blue bunting backing each star on the obverse has been cut away and under-hemmed to expose the white cotton. The flag is hand stitched with cotton thread. There is evidence that four metal rings were once attached to the white canvas heading.
