Inside the WF: Using the Space!!

February 11th marked the anniversary of the "door that goes nowhere".  In celebration of this historic day for the mansion and to honor St. Valentine (of, course), WF hosted a concert in the drawing room!  It was a beautiful event in true turn of the century fashion.  A few of our guests even attended in very proper parlor attire for the evening.

Afterwards, a chocolate soiree was held downstairs in the root cellar as the perfect ending to a perfect evening.  Guests celebrated and stuffed themselves with all things chocolate. 

Above all details of the evening, the fact that an interior space of the museum was used.  In the past the dining room has been rented for "state dinners" as high dollar fundraisers and the formal parlor has been used as a "tea room" for ladies luncheons.  The concert was a unique venue that made use of the space as it was originally intended, to entertain the masses.  It truly was a beautiful evening, and quite nostalgic seeing chairs filling the room and the air of grace and propriety everyone felt.  The expressions, posture, and movements of every person changed through the course of the concert.  Guests may have come in clumsy and stumbling, but left looking like proper Victorian society...a true sight to behold!

 We look forward to many more opportunities to use the spaces at WF for which they were intended...to entertain and moreover to educate.  These social situations always give us a chance to put our best foot forward.  Coming to a museum, one expects to see collections and artifacts.  But, this isn't for every museum guest.  After the event I mingled and learned that some of our guests really prefer to BE a part of WF's history, not to simply look at it.  Going forward, I'm sure this will be a consideration for future events and fundraisers

If you have questions about tours or venue rentals, call the museum Wed-Sun, noon-4pm (901-526-1469)...we'll be delighted to assist you!

St. Valentine's Day

The modern St. Valentine's Day celebrations are said to have been derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. As per one legend, the holiday has originated from the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a fertility celebration that used to observed annually on February 15. But the rise of Christianity in Europe saw many pagan holidays being renamed for and dedicated to the early Christian martyrs. Lupercalia was no exception. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius turned Lupercalia into a Christian feast day and set its observance a day earlier, on February 14. He proclaimed February 14 to be the feast day in honor of Saint Valentine, a third century Roman martyr. During this time, Claudius II, who believed marriage made men weak in battle, banned marriage for Roman soldiers under penalty of death. The compassionate Valentine performed secret marriages of soldiers in remote locations. Later, he was arrested and imprisoned. After attempting to convert Valentine to the Roman gods, Claudius II had him executed. It is believed that his martyr date is February 14, 270 A.D.

In 19th century America, St. Valentine's day was one of four holidays most widely celebrated.  It was during this time that the contemporary exchange of "valentine" gifts and notes was developed.  During this time, "valentines" were hand made...hand written...and most were hand delivered.  It is no surprise that parties began to pop up on this day...along with special sweetheart dances, teas, suppers...anything to celebrate this most lovely day.  Today, many of the traditions associated with this day are still celebrated.  Chocolates, candies, flowers, jewelry, and plenty of cards and notes are exchanged...and, in much the same manner as the Victorians.  So, on this day...St. Valentine's day...be sweet!

Inside the WF: The Door That Goes Nowhere Pt.2

Here are a few images from the "door that goes nowhere".  Some of the signatures look the same, as we assume that some of the gentlemen couldn't write and had their colleague do it for them. 

Among the many signatures, Canadians seemed to have made their mark on the WF.

"Heavy man of the job" was basically the maintenance man. 

"Now we have to stop for now it ist 12 o'clock" probably refers to a dinner or lunch break.

Mr. Beaudry no doubt made it possible to have the door hung in the first place...he fitted the door.

Inside the WF: The Door That Goes Nowhere

Entering through the front door of the WF lies a spacious entry hall.  I call it the "great" hall because of all the design details, history, and the sheer "it" factor.  The architecture of the home is classified as Second Empire French Victorian.  The consistent interior detail is that design elements are symmetrical.  Meaning, what there is on one side should be balanced on the other.  This is seen throughout the mansion with doors, windows, hearths, and furnishings.  But, nothing seems to scream "pretentious Victorian" like the north wall of the hall.  The north wall holds three doors.  The center door is the original back door that leads out to the "back porch".  The left door opens into the music room.  The right door isn't actually a door at all!!!  Of course, there's a frame and a door on it's hinges...but, the door goes absolutely nowhere.  The door was hung merely for aesthetics and for balance in keeping with symmetrical design. 

The real treasure is not that the door goes nowhere.  It's that inside the door are inscriptions, signatures, countries and cities of origin, and one date...February 11, 1871.  This is the date that the door was hung (and probably nailed shut.  The inscriptions are by the many laborers, builders, carpenters, and the like who built the mansion for Mr. Woodruff.  Following this post I will be uploading many close up images of a few of the names.  It's a fascinating piece of history that is hidden in plain sight.  This practice of signing doors was not uncommon, nor is it uncommon today.  My grandfather was a carpenter and helped to build an entire community.  He and his builders would sign the insides of walls or subflooring so as his work not be forgotten.  And, as it turns out, all the builders or carpenters I have hosted in the WF tell me that it's a tradition that is still honored by many, if not, all builders.

The next time you're in the WF, be sure to study the inside of the door that goes nowhere.

Inside the WF: Chocolat, Coffee, or Both?

In the last post, coffee pots and chocolat pots prove to be quite different.  However, by the turn of the century, innovation trumped style (sort of).  By the end of the 19th century many silver sets included two pots...one for tea and one for coffee or chocolat.  If, one could afford the luxury of a Limoges  porcelain chocolat set, it would pair nicely with the larger silver set and used at breakfast or after supper.  By the 20th century, the proper chocolat set gave way to a multi purpose set that could accommodate both coffee and chocolat. 

One of my personal favorites from the porcelain collection is this pale yellow and gold set.  This Limoges set belonged to the Fontaine family and is original to the mansion. The pot has been documented as a chocolat pot, but most of the details are like a coffee pot.  The long curved spout and the inside filter are both characteristics of a coffee pot.  However, the lid doesn't have a steam release, the cups and saucers are much smaller, and most obvious of all...no creamer or sugar bowl.  So, weighing the details and historical documentation...chocolat set, it is!

Inside the WF: Chocolate Pots and Coffee Pots

 

Visitors to the museum may find a "theme" running from room to room.  Some of our prized porcelain pieces grace tables and nooks and are met with a few questions.  Most guests will assume that all of these sets are "tea sets"...they are not.  In fact, most of the pieces that you see are coffee and chocolate sets.  The question we hear is, "What's the difference?".  Above are two examples that are on display inside the museum.  The example on the left is a chocolate pot and the example on the right is a coffee pot. 

It is difficult to tell the difference between a coffee pot and a chocolate pot. The two features to look at are the spout on the exterior of the pot and the inside of the spout. Coffee pot spouts are typically long and sometimes arched. A chocolate pot has a fairly short spout. The inside of a coffee pot just before the spout typically has a filter (a small partition with holes) that keeps grounds from getting into the cup. A chocolate pot would not have the filter. Sets normally included a pot, cups, and many times matching saucers, trays. These sets are still manufactured today. The antique and vintage pieces have become quite collectible and valuable.