An afternoon at Hildene

Hello to any and all who may still check this blog for updates. In typical recent fashion, any and all blog post ideas I've had have been put on the back burner. Today, though, I thought I would share some photos of a recent trip my mother and I took to Hildene in Manchester, Vermont.



Hildene was the summer home of Abraham Lincoln's only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln. It is important to note that President Lincoln never visited Hildene (as it was built 40 years after his assassination). The Lincolns were, however, familiar with the Manchester area. In the summer of 1864, Robert, his mother (Mary Todd Lincoln), and younger brother (Tad) visited the nearby Equinox Hotel as a retreat from Washington D.C. which was still in the throes of the Civil War.
Completed in 1905, the house was occupied by members of the Lincoln family until 1975. Photography was not allowed inside which was a shame as there are many lovely things to behold. Nearly everything is completely original to the house and Lincoln family. Even articles belonging to Abraham himself. Unfortunately, one of his signature top hats (and one of only three still in existence) was on loan to another institution. There was, however, a very nicely curated exhibit titled, "The American Ideal: Abraham Lincoln and the Second Inaugural." Focusing on key excerpts from Lincoln's second inaugural address accompanied by artifacts belonging to Hildene and some on loan from from the John Hay Library at Brown University, the exhibit engulfs its visitors and helps to exercise understanding of the president's words. What the war meant, the impact it had on the nation, and the forthcoming era of reconciliation and reconstruction are all there to contemplate while examining speeches, telegrams, photographs, maps, and engravings, etc.
Photography was allowed on the grounds which, now that the history bit is out of the way, I will go ahead and share. A formal garden designed by Robert's daughter is situated behind the house. If we had visited in June we would have been treated to thousands of peony blooms. Some are even the original plantings. A small conservatory occupies a knoll near the house. The property also features a farm, walking trails, and a fully restored 1903 train car (which we forgot to see). After Robert Todd Lincoln's political career (Secretary of War under both Presidents Garfield and Arthur and U.S. minister to the U.K. under President Harrison) was over, he served as president of the Pullman Palace Car Company. Next time: train car and peonies!







Did I forget to mention the mountains? The estate is surrounded by gorgeous views of both the Green Mountains in Vermont and the Taconic Mountains in New York.

Lindenwald

This morning I took a short drive to nearby Kinderhook, New York, to visit Lindenwald, the home of the United States' 8th president Martin Van Buren. Did you know that Van Buren was the first president to be born under the U.S. flag? The previous seven presidents were born prior to the American Revolution and were therefore British subjects. Van Buren was also the nation's first president who spoke English as a second language, having grown up speaking Dutch.

Van Buren served as Secretary of State and then Vice President under Andrew Jackson before winning the 1836 election. Van Buren spent one term as President, serving from 1837 to 1841. It was during this time that Van Buren purchased an old Dutch estate in his hometown of Kinderhook, giving it the name Lindenwald. The above portrait of Van Buren hangs in the formal parlor.

During the tour I managed to snap a handful of photos (both digital and film, the latter to perhaps be shared at a later date), but didn't get too carried away. Taking photos can sometimes be a distraction and I didn't want that to take away from the experience at hand. The tour guide led us through three floors and there was much to see - more of which was committed to memory rather than snapshots. Below, however, are a few glimpses of what one would see upon visiting Lindenwald:

Bust of Van Buren in the Lindenwald library

A staircase leading to the second floor

A guest bedroom

President Van Buren's bedroom

This cane was an inaugural gift to Van Buren by his predecessor President Andrew Jackson. If you're up on presidential nicknames you might recall Jackson being known as "Old Hickory." I'll give you one guess as to what wood the cane is made of ;)

Faded from the winter

Cardigan: thrifted, Dress: H&M, Necklace: self-made, Shoes: Aldo

The neighbor's dog took an interest in me this morning when I was out taking these photos. He barked, clamored over rocks and through the brook, but thankfully didn't come up the embankment to bombard me with sniffs, jumps and the like. Phew.

Anyway, my mind has been engaged this week with thoughts on the American Civil War. There are several reasons for this, though allow me a moment to say that I think it good for the mental awareness of the average American to reminisce about our country's past regularly without prompting, but I digress. Firstly, PBS aired the remarkably well made seven-part Civil War documentary by Ken Burns this week and while I've seen parts of it before I am always fascinated by it, by the history and by the forces that helped shape the United States. Secondly, my mother is currently on a trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to visit the battlefield (one of our ancestors, my great-great-great grandfather, fought with the Union army there) and other surrounding historical sites. She is a riot, let me tell you. She's been texting and picture-messaging me all week sharing all the fun she's been having. My momma the history buff.

On Wednesday night my grandmother pulled out my great-great-great grandfather's obituary and we sat reading the fragile paper together connecting ourselves to man and an era of long ago. While I knew that he fought in the Civil War with the 80th New York Infantry and was discharged after being wounded on the first day at Gettysburg, I learned that he had been in nine other battles. Upon returning home to New York he led a further life of service in his community. I'm fairly certain my grandmother has a daguerreotype of our family's Civil War veteran somewhere around the house. Now I am quite determined to search for it tonight!

As for other Civil War related things, I went a little crazy yesterday posting about the Sullivan Ballou letter on both my Tumblr and Twitter accounts. I can never seem to get enough of it - it's so incredibly moving. Sullivan Ballou was a U.S. Army major from the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry during the Civil War. On July 14, 1861, a week before the Union and Confederate troops met at Bull Run*, he wrote a letter home to his wife Sarah. In it he recounts his unconditional love for her as well as for his country. It is as heartfelt as it is selfless. The letter was never mailed and was later found among Ballou's personal effects after he died during the (first) Battle of Bull Run. For the PBS documentary, portions of the letter are read aloud and set to the waltz "Ashokan Farewell." It gives me goosebumps every time I read and/or listen to it. *Bull Run is the name of the battle given by the Union forces due to the proximity of the Bull Run river to Manassas, Virginia (the city near where the battle was fought). The battle was simultaneously known as the Battle of Manassas by the Confederate forces.

Lastly, to end this rather uncommonly verbose post of mine, I'm eager to catch the new movie The Conspirator when it opens up next weekend. I'm somewhat familiar with the plot from a book I read some years ago about those who aided and abetted John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. It looks good from the trailer and features a varied and talented cast, so here's hoping it's as worthwhile as I want it to be.

Have a nice weekend! Over and out.

Snowy front stoop

Snowy days like these always result in ''Valley Winter Song'' by Fountains of Wayne being stuck in my head for hours. You know, ''the snow is coming down on our New England town and it's been falling all day long..." I love it, but it intensifies this New England complex I have. I'm so close to living in New England, but, alas, I do not. A stone's throw away from three bordering New England states is still not New England. Gah. Hey ancestors, why did you move from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to New York? Kidding... sort of.

Okay, so in regard to my post title I'm taking some big liberties at calling our small front porch a ''stoop.'' What can I say? I like the way it sounds. I'll even let go of my longings for New England momentarily and fill you in on some New York State history. Back in the 17th century before New York was captured and renamed by the British it was known as New Netherland. At that time there were many Dutch trading posts and forts scattered along the Hudson River. The region is still rich in words taken directly and derived from the Dutch language. ''Stoop'' meaning a small (though usually urban) porch is a derivative of the Dutch ''stoep.'' And there you have a quick history and etymology lesson for the day.

Ruffle collar cardigan: TJ Maxx, Skirt & belt: thrifted
Vintage brooch: thrifted, Bass loafers: gift

I snagged this darling vintage brooch the other day while poking around the Goodwill. Despite it being a flower, the scroll-like metalwork in the back reminds me of a snowflake. Very winter appropriate, no?