Let's Talk Vintage! #60: A Peek Inside a President's Home - Part 1

 

Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage!

 

This is the place to gather for

all things olde and unique.

 

If you'd like to link up a

post having to do with vintage

or if you have a vintage item for sale

somewhere on the web, we'd love 

to have you join in!

 

 

This week I am sharing our visit to a President's home.

 

The 15th President of the United States:

President James Buchanan.
A lawyer, very involved with politics
 who became the Secretary of State,
and then leader of the country for
one term.

 

Since it was in the vicinity of a one

tank trip for us, we decided to

take my Mother for a fun

"family day" out after we

had stuffed ourselves with turkey

and treats, the day before.

 

 

We started out from the visitors

center and made our way over.

 

 

The house is grand and charming

with its red brick and wooden

shutters. Before President Buchanan

bought it, it was a summer home.

 

 

Our tour guide started us

out on the front porch.

 

Note the 2nd floor

has green shutters while the

main floor has white.

 

 

This grand staircase

was very inviting.

It led to the second floor

which is where the bedrooms

were located.

 

We were able to see most of the

house for the tour. We did

not get up to the third level,

where the servants had stayed.

 

 

 

 

I chose this time of

year to visit because I knew

it would be decorated for

Christmas. And isn't our

guide dressed so dandy?

I blurred out his face because

I did not ask his permission

to use him on my blog.

 

 

 

Anyway, the hubs and I both

noticed the wonderful

arched window and woodwork.

 

 

The next room we went into

was the dining room.

Other than the room being very small,

I noticed the corner cupboards.

 

It was like the holy grail of

china. It was gorgeous!

And it was pink.

 

I couldn't take my eyes off

of it.

 

 

Not only was it pink,

it was Parisian.

 

Purchased by the first lady,

Harriet. Now Harriet was not the

President's wife, she was instead,

his niece! Buchanan was

the only bachelor President

we've ever had.

Anyway, supposedly it

had 96 place settings!

 

He said it was because you

received a clean plate every

time another course was served.

 

 

There was another cabinet

filled with it as well.

Also pink and Parisian.

 

 

Similar to this teacup I sold

last summer.

 

 

Here is a shot of some of the items you

would have seen in his home.

 

 

More items with some suggested

 prices of the era. Love the parasol.

 

 

Unfortunately I couldn't

stay in the dining area with

 the pink china, I was

escorted to the next room, 

which was the parlor.

 

There I saw this beautifully

decorated Christmas Tree.

Lovely! The ceilings were

high in this old home,

perfect for a towering tree.

 

 

And this beautiful fireplace and mantel.

Placed above is a painted portrait

of James himself.

 

 

 And here is the fair Harriet, shown as

a much older woman than she was as the

First Lady. She didn't have an easy life.

Her parents died when she was a child.

Which is how she and her brother

ended up with her Uncle James.

 

Then, her two sons died of rheumatic fever

and then her husband died as well.

Very traumatic.

 

This is where I will end the tour

for today's LTV. I can't wait

to show you more,

I decided to break this trip

up into a part 1 and a part 2

since it was photo heavy.

Stay tuned for next week's

second half!

_____________

 

Let's see who is featured this week:

 

 

We'll start out with Adirondack Girl at Heart's

"Junky Vintage Christmas Tree."

I think it is absolutely charming!

I love how she styled the photo using

vintage red plaid thermoses.

 

 

Brooke of Creative Country Mom

shared these beautiful antique

glass lamps. Her whole room

is stunning.

 

 

and Debby of Debby Goes Shabby

transformed this light fixture

with a $3.00 lace shower curtain!

This is just a shot of the first panel.

See the finished piece on her blog!  

 

 

and Sharon at Blue Willow House showed

us ways to decorate using vintage treasures

for Christmas. A girl after my own heart.

Love her displays! 

 

 

 

If you were featured today or during any

other LTV post, be sure to grab this

"My blog was featured!" button.

You earned it!

 

 

 

Now it's Your Turn:

 

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Linking with:

 

Vintage Inspiration Party

Bernideen's Tea Time

What's It Wednesday

Vintage Charm

Pink Saturday