Museum Corner—OCtober 2019

Making history a personal experience

You didn’t have to be a fan of the Downton Abbey movie to have enjoyed the museum’s recent “Return to Downton Tea at the Downtown Depot.” The event was set in the 1920’s era. Bill Borden brought his Model A Ford, which had belonged to his grandfather, Leroy Morris. Guests enjoyed photo ops with this classic car. Lawanna Morris created the menu and Mrs. Patmore would have appreciated the delightful fare.

 First Course—Lord Grantham’s Grand Roast Beef Rose, The Dowager’s Date Bread Sandwiches, Mr. Pamuk’s Pimento Cheese Sandwiches, Cora’s Cucumber Sandwiches. Second Course—The Crawley’s Cranberry Scones, Lady Sybil’s Sugar & Cinnamon Scones. Third Course—Lady Mary’s Madeleines, Sinking of the Titanic Shortbread Cookies, Mrs. Patmore’s Petit Fours, Sir Anthony’s Strawberries. Serving the guests were: Jeannette Albertson, Jim Buher, Byron Morris, and Jeff Routh (echoes of Mr. Carson).

 Emma Voris helped determine door-prize winners—Cassie Wheatley, received a 2020 Downton calendar, Chris Pierce, a Downton movie companion book, and Cece Pierce received a gift card for two tickets to see the movie at Bedford’s Regal Theatre.

Though no regal connection can be made in Lawrence County, the early decades of the 1900s might locally  be called a Golden Age. Teenager Mary Lemon kept a diary, and her words come alive with pictures and details about Bedford High School friends, class activities, travels, family, her Victorian home and the family’s maid. Mary spent some summers at New York’s Chautauqua and college at Vassar. Mary writes with such candor and spirit that it’s easy to see Bedford through her eyes. You can read about this family’s experience in the museum’s 2011 publication, “Through the Eyes of a Teenager.”

Mary Lemon’s family house once stood at the southeast corner of 15th and M Streets. Her house is gone now. Archibald and Antoinette Voris’ grand house once stood at 13th and K Streets. It was the first dwelling in the city to have electricity and central heat. It was razed in 1969 and the Hauk House Apartments were built on the site. The elegant brick home of Jesse and Clarissa Mitchell once stood at 15th and L Streets. It survived as apartments and businesses until the 1970s.

Throughout the county, historically significant homes have been lost: Mitchell’s beautiful Moore mansion was located just a block off Main Street. The large brick Gunn house in Springville served as the school building for many years before it was razed. Isaac Williams’ brick house in Williams had a spring in the cellar used to cool food before refrigeration was available. The spring remains. The house does not. In Fayetteville, Ezra Kern’s tavern house was razed in the 1970s.

Many houses do remain: Tunnelton’s elegant Guthrie house survives as a delightful B&B. Some houses are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: C. S. Norton’s Mansion on 15th Street is a private family residence as are several historic houses located in Bedford’s Zahn Historic District. At Otis Park, William Ragsdale’s brick house is known as the Red Brick and can be rented for events. 

Though never a residence, the Mitchell Opera House, also listed on the National Register, was famous during the Golden Age for vaudeville and musical acts traveling from New York to Los Angeles or Baltimore to Chicago. Mitchell’s Menlo E. Moore was known as one of the leading vaudeville, motion picture, and theatrical producers in the United States.

Reed’s Station Conflagration is the next museum event.An historic house in Avoca will be the location of the museum’s October mystery walk, Friday, Oct. 25, 5:30 p.m. The house existed in 1823 when Absolem Hart purchased a house and grain mill. He used both until 1835 when he sold to James and Joseph Hamer. Most of us know the house as the stately white colonial house located at the former Avoca Fish Hatchery. 

The event’s mystery involves Reed’s Station, a thriving primarily Italian-immigrant communityonce located southeast of Avoca and west of Oolitic.It became the scene of a dramatic series of events that would baffle law enforcement and test community ties. This event consists of an historic walk with costumed re-enactors exploring events, a light supper and a Believe Paranormal presentation about their investigations at the former fish hatchery. Tickets may be purchased at the Museum. Hope to see you there!