Posted by Robin on 11/15/2005, 5:10 pm, in reply to "Re: furniture?" The Courtroom furniture is partially the original, and partially from the Courthouse built in the 1870's which replaced the Whaley House as the County Seat. The spectator benches and the jury chairs I believe are original, as well as the large table in the center of the Room. The Judges bench and the large railing are from the slightly later Courthouse from New Town. The flag is new and I don't think it represents the correct period. I was in the process of working with a SOHO Board Member to create an historically accurate handmade flag of the period when the Whaley House was the County Seat specifically for the Courtroom, but that project has been abandoned, maybe someday they will find someone else to make it for them. The other toys in the Nursery are not the Whaleys. The iron toy stove belongs to my sister and she will be reclaiming that soon, so there unfortunately will be even fewer toys there, but none of them are the Whaleys anyway. None of the hairbrushes, etc are the Whaleys. Sorry about that. There are a few paintings that were Whaley family members, these are the portrait of Rachel and Harriet Whaley in the Parlor over the fireplace. This is Thomas' mother and only surviving sister. His other sisters all died as toddlers. So did most of his brothers. Thomas and Anna's portrait hang in the Parlor as well, and if you look at the portrait of Anna real close, you will see the brooch at her throat with Baby Thomas' image on it. So we know that she possessed a brooch with a baby's portrait. In case some persons working there haven't noticed that. Upstairs there are two portraits which may or may not be hanging in the Master Bedroom. The large portrait of the gentleman is supposedly Thomas' cousin, a New York Senator. He certainly is a relative. I also wonder if he is not Thomas' father. Put a fuller hairline and a mustache on him and he looks just like Thomas. I would have to ask someone who knows more about men's fashion in different time periods if it's old enough to be Thomas Whaley Sr. The large portrait of the woman upstairs has been incorrectly identified by some as Violet Whaley. This is definitely not a Whaley child. Her eyes are brown and she is probably either a De Launay, from Anna's family (possibly her brother Augustus' daugther) or could even be Francis Whaleys wife Susie and daugther Theresa. Francis Whaley's wife left him and divorced him when their daughter was only a year old. His daughter died of unknown circumstances when she was about 9 years old. There used to be a label on the front of this painting that told who the woman and baby were. But a guest picked off the name, and it wasn't written on the back of the painting. So her identity is lost. But she is connected to the family in some way. I know it's disappointing that so little of the items in the House are truly the Whaleys. But most House museums you visit possess almost none of the original furnishings. So you just have to use your imagination. There was a kitchen displayed in the Dining Room for over 40 years. But the kitchen was really originally right outside the Dining Room window, on the exterior of the House. Some people call it a 'lean-to' kitchen, others a 'summer kitchen'. SOHO received a $25,000 grant some time ago and it was earmarked for the Kitchen reconstruction. This was supposed to have begun last summer. I don't know why they haven't gotten to that yet. But they should, soon. The General Store and downstairs bedroom should be worked on as well, they received lots of money to restore those rooms a long time ago too. Also they were supposed to carpet the stairs. Don't know if they have done that yet. The carpet has been ready to go for months. However, I haven't been inside for a long time so they might have finished that. Hope so, before the stairs are completely thrashed from all the foot traffic. If you have questions about the way the House looks, call SOHO and they should be able to tell you what you want to know. Your admission dollars are there to be used solely for the Whaley House, for upkeep and for good Docent help. You have a right to know what it's being spent on. The number is 619-279-7511. Take Care, --Previous Message--
Hi Jess,
Robin
: wow, thanks. what about the the courtroom
: furniture, where did that come from? the
: other toys in the childrens room are the
: whaleys i hope? the furniture in the
: bedrooms are not the whaleys then? neither
: are the smaller things like some brushes and
: stuff on the tables in the rooms? and when i
: was there earlier, i saw no kitchen. just
: curious about why we couldnt see the
: kitchen.
:
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