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When people talk about Harriet Lane Johnston, they tend to focus on all the outstanding elements in her life. Behind these exceptional stories is a reoccurring story of loss. Like many Victorians, Harriet knew death well. Today’s post explores the grief that coexisted with the timeline of Harriet’s public and political accomplishments. Rife with Tuberculosis […]
Read MoreTen year old Charles Jacob Swarr had quite the vivid imagination. Or so it would seem from his colorful and creative self-published picture book. It’s truly – and literally – one of a kind. The book was hand drawn and has stitched binding, though it’s no bigger than a matchbook. Created by Swarr in […]
Read MoreThe Slant-Front Desk For those of you familiar with the National Treasure movie franchise, this story of a secret (but empty) compartment in a Chippendale style walnut slant-front (or slant-top) desk might seem rather ordinary. Even so, the discovery of such a compartment in an eighteenth century desk of local manufacture speaks not only to […]
Read MoreContinuing from our previous post, we know that Peter Hilliard escaped arrest in April 1867. There is a small period where his whereabouts remain unknown until Buchanan’s Chemical Bank Book lists Peter Hilliard back at Wheatland as early as June 1867. In this book, Buchanan records wages of $12.00 per month given to Peter Hilliard […]
Read MoreFrom 1848-1868, Buchanan employed domestic staff at Wheatland. Some worked briefly and others worked for many years. The majority were people of Irish, African American, and German descent. Their age range during employment was as young as 13 and as old as early 60s. The domestic staff at Wheatland also had a variety of family […]
Read MoreJames Buchanan “Buck” Henry was one of James Buchanan’s nephews. Orphaned at the age of seven, he lived under the guardianship of his Uncle Buchanan. Buck went on to attend the College of New Jersey (presently known as Princeton), become a successful lawyer, serve two years as President Buchanan’s private secretary, and serve as the […]
Read MoreIn many ways, Buchanan’s presidency was a failure. While we regularly discuss those failures from a political perspective, there is one other fatal flaw to his presidency that lurks at a microscopic level. Indeed, as Buchanan made fatal decisions during his term in office, his body suffered the fatal error of his choice in hotel […]
Read MoreA Marriage in High Life While the month of January can be a quiet time at Wheatland today, it was not so quiet in 1866. In the chill of midwinter, Wheatland prepared for a wedding. Wedding guests filled the rooms, a chef prepared a special dinner, and family gathered together for the wedding of Harriet […]
Read MoreWhen guests visit Wheatland and learn about the Yuletide traditions during Buchanan’s time, many ask if Buchanan was a humbug. This question arises after hearing stories of Buchanan not celebrating with the same pomp and circumstance that we associate with the holiday today. In today’s blog post, we’ll look at some of the reasons why […]
Read MoreFabric brings all garments to life, from the simplest shift to the trimmed gown. And though fabric serves as a canvas for skilled craftsmanship, it also serves a function to the wearer. Come hot summer days, or cold winter mornings, certain fabrics help regulate the wearer’s temperature. Introducing the Four Main Natural Fibers The four main […]
Read MorePresidential hopeful Theodore Roosevelt made a stop in Lancaster while campaigning for the Bull Moose Party in April 1912.