Stingy Jack, The legend of Jack O'Lantern

Whether Halloween is a time of celebration or not for your family, "moral stories" seem to make their way into some of today's traditions.  Take a moment to listen to this story...it's sinister, fun, and actually has a lesson.

The First American Halloween

As immigrants to America began to arrive from Europe, they brought along many of their beliefs and customs and one of these was Halloween. During the colonial days, the celebration was limited due to the rigid Protestant ways of the early settlers.

However, the southern colonies and Maryland held the customs of various ethnic groups from Europe including the beliefs held by the Native American Indians. All of these beliefs began to join and create a new American version of Halloween.

The first American Halloween celebrations seen were parties that were held to celebrate the harvest. During these socials, neighbors would share stores of their departed loved ones or others they knew, would tell the future of those that wished to know, along with singing and dancing. The trend for Halloween in the beginning days of its creation were mainly centered on ghost telling and mischief.

During the 1800's more immigrants came to America, especially in 1846 when Ireland had the infamous potato famine. With these new immigrants came other Halloween traditions. At this time, Americans everywhere began to dress up in various costumes to go door to door to ask for money or food. This was the beginning of what we know as "trick or treating". Traditions and beliefs emerged such as young women believed doing special tricks with apple parings, mirrors, or yarn they would learn the name of their future husband as long as these tricks were done on Halloween night.

By the late 1800's, Halloween was more about the community gathering for fun instead of the witchcraft, ghost stories, and pranks of yesteryear. The early 1900's brought about Halloween parties for both children and adults and was the most popular way in which to celebrate this holiday. The parties were centered on the food, games, and of course brightly colored costumes instead of the ghosts and ghouls. Even the local newspapers pushed Americans into taking out anything scary from all of their Halloween celebrations, thus the superstitions and ghost stories were fast becoming a thing of the past.

 

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue...

The timeless gem of nuptial wisdom, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue" was, and is, a gifting code in which to bless the couple's union.  This expression was given new meaning to Mollie Fontaine on her wedding day in February of 1886.  She and her husband Dr. William Taylor were gifted a home built by her father Noland Fontaine, Sr.  It took him four years to build this ten room eclectic Victorian mansion.  During this time Dr. and Mrs. Taylor lived just across the street in Mr. Fontaine's home (now the WF House Museum).  It is often referred to as Mollie's "Victorian Valentine", in honor of their wedding date.  Dr. Taylor died in 1925, but Mrs. Taylor lived in the home until she died in 1939 at the age of 74.  A terra cotta relief of Mollie's face crowns the large picture window in front of the mansion, eternally her "Victorian Valentine".

Today, the mansion is home to Mollie Fontaine Lounge.  An eclectic lounge with some of  the best music, eats, and "spirits" that Memphis has to offer.  Be sure to check this lovely gem out!

Victorian Village Home Tour...THIS WEEKEND!

It's been a few years since the last home tour, and my how things have changed!  Nora Tucker, of Victorian Village Inc., has been such a vital part of engineering this event and really pushing to have the entire village looks and be at it's very best for our guests.  The event is always a grand success, with staggering droves of locals and out-of-towners alike.  Be sure to put this on your calendar for this weekend...the weather will be perfect for a stroll through one of Memphis' most historic and well preserved neighborhoods. 

The WF will be open to the public with entrance through the rear of the museum.  Our Mourning Memphis exhibit will still be on display and our museum shoppe will be well stocked with unusual and charming trinkets to take home with you after your day "in the 19th century".



Victorian Village Home Tour

Featuring nine sites, two concerts and a silent auction

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in front of the Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum on day

of the tour at 680 Adams Avenue with cash or check.

(children six and under are free)

Sites included on the Tour

Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum (c.1871), 680 Adams Ave.

Mollie Fontaine-Taylor House (c.1886), 679 Adams Ave.

Sidewalk Cafe

Goyer-Lee House (c.1873), 690 Adams Ave.

Silent Auction Art & Antiques

Laurelhill (c.1867), 671 Jefferson Ave.

The Henderson's Home (c.2007), 655 Jefferson Ave.

Collins Chapel CME Church (c.1865), 678 Washington Ave.

Gospel Music concert at 1 p.m.

St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral (c.1898), 700 Poplar Ave.

Organ concert by Scott Elsholz at 2 p.m.

Wright Carriage House Gardens (c.1840), 688 Jefferson Ave.

Garden tour

Juvenile Court (c.1935), 616 Adams Ave.

Centennial exhibit and tour

Historic Homes For Sale: Open House

669 Jefferson Ave. (c.1863)

648 Poplar Ave. (c.1851)

Mourning Memphis: Victorian Book Of The Dead

While most of these images are from the period in which the WF would have stood in Memphis, no Memphian is seen in the pictures.  I decided to wait until closer to Halloween for the "creepy" factor, but the art of Memento Mori (loosely translated "Remember your mortality, Remember you will die, or Remember you must die." was an entire genre of art that was of great virtue and grace at the time.  Most images were of children...as this was the only image the family would ever have of the child.  This all seems quite macabre and maybe taboo to most of us, we must remember the time and place. 

WARNING: IF IMAGES OF THE DECEASED DISTURB YOU, PLEASE DO NOT PLAY THE CLIP.  IT IS INTENDED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL VALUE.  THE DEEPEST RESPECT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO EACH OF THESE SOULS THROUGH THE BEAUTY OF THIS COLLECTION.

Mourning Memphis: Mother's Mourning

It was an unusual and cruel curse to mourn during pregnancy, yet more a curse to mourn the loss of an infant. The mortality rate of infants during the Victorian era was fifty percent, making gowns like this mourning style maternity dress rare. It is made of lightweight black silk and hangs lower in the front than the back allowing for comfort. Tiny eyehooks along the back make it easy to slip on and the belt ties in the back to create an empire waistline for “cradling” comfort and support. Large cuffs were especially suited for mourning apparel. These cuffs were referred to as “weepers”. Due to uncontrollable and unpredictable fits of weeping, the “weepers” were an instant relief for clearing a tear stained face.

Note: This room is respectfully mentioned as “Mollie’s Room”, as this was Mollie Woodruff’s bedroom while living in this home. Some say that her spirit still resides here because this was said to be where she was happiest, though she lost both her first infant and husband, Egbert Wooldridge within three months of each other. In her death bed, Mollie was quoted as stating, “I’ve never lived a tragic life, but I did know sorrow.“ Mollie loved to look into the rose garden, just below, through her window. The preservationists of this room took this into consideration when selecting the beautiful cabbage rose wallpaper. We try to include dolls and a juvenile feel to her room when staging display, as her perfect world would have included this sort of whimsy. A lovely tribute to a lovely spirit, our dearly departed “Mollie”.

Afternoons in the WF: Scary Dolls

I have friends that are afraid of spiders, clowns, and the dark.  I'm fine with all three of those fears.  I tell you, however, dolls are my absolute worst "creepy" fear.  I've never liked them...the eyes spook me.  Maybe, when younger, I watched one too many horror movies about puppets or dolls coming to life?  Whatever the case, I always feel like they're watching me...it's an unusual feeling...uneasy, to say the least. 

During my afternoon walk through the mansion, I try not to look at the bisque and porcelain dolls in the Rose bedroom or nursery.  Today, I was feeling rather brave and determined to get some pics...so, I went in like a lion...snapped a few...and immediately ran out.  After seeing them in digital form, I was a little disappointed in what I had, so I altered to colors to appear how I saw them this afternoon! 

It's all a bit of harmless "Halloween" fun, though.  We do have several dolls in our collection, usually bringing them out during  our Victorian Yuletide exhibition.  Most of them are very rare and are very valuable, despite their wicked eyes!  They range from bisque to porcelain to china...even a cloth doll from the early 1800's!  I'll try to get a few more pics in, if I can muster the courage.  Enjoy!