Author: clermontstatehistoricsite
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Well Served: A Disgruntled Servant Misses the Livingstons
It was purely by luck that I happened across this post card in a stack about 8 inches thick. Somehow post cards from Ollie Christiansen Meyers, the Livingston\’s nursemaid from 1909 to about 1917, made it back to Clermont and are now in our collections. The post cards date from 1906, when she emigrated from…
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Games People Play: Keeping Busy Indoors at Clermont
Spring seems to be a little late in coming to the Hudson Valley this year. I was just getting hopeful when a big snowstorm swept in on the first day of spring and ruined everything. Even now that the snow is melting off, the annual big mud spots are moistening up, and parts of Clermont…
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A Little More About Nancy\'s Mother
Clermont\’s connection to the notorious story of Nancy Shippen Livingston has been the source of quite a few blog entries here. But what about her mom? While I was doing some other research, I came across this great article about Alice from her family home Stafford Hall, including a magnificent portrait of Nancy and her…
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Playing Jane: Getting Ready for Our Regency-Era Tea Party
You\’ve probably heard about it on the news–if you didn\’t know already. This year is the 200th anniversary of the first publishing of Jane Austen\’s \”Pride and Prejudice.\” News programs all over the country are giving a little attention to one of England\’s most popular early female authors, and each one of these news spots…
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Volunteers are a Precious Resource
I\’ve just completed one of the biggest logistical winter programs of my eight years at Clermont: The Out of Time Fashion Show. And as I was bouncing around from room to room of Central House Hotel, looking for emergencies to solve (because that is what I do at events), I was amazed to watch a…
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Winter Blues? Not here!
So where have I been these past several weeks? When this blog started, back 2009, a couple of us were working together to keep Clermont\’s blog updated about every week. Through staff changes, we\’ve whittled it down to just me, and lately I haven\’t been quite up to snuff! Things look quiet around Clermont in…
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Beau Ned: The Chancellor\'s Younger Brother
Edward was the youngest son of dear old Margaret Beekman and Judge Robert R. Livingston. Throughout his life he was known for being extremely even-tempered–so much so that the family tells a story in which, when Edward \”was charged with violent conduct\” towards a sister, his mother punished the sister since she must have done…
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A Few Ways to Celebrate Chirstmas Historically
Christmas, and most winter holidays, have a special sepia tone glow of nostalgia and tradition surrounding them. With the gentle unwrapping of each and every Christmas tree ornament and the retelling of where it came from, we reaffirm the importance of our own personal histories. Each time we open the oven to check on the…
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Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful: Weathering the Winter in History
It was quite some time ago that we made a post about keeping cool in history so it seems like it\’s about time to look at the difficulties of keeping warm in an era before central heating and polar fleece. According to Elizabeth Garret (At Home: The American Family 1750-1870), extremes in North American weather…
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More Fun with Weddings at Clermont
In my internet wanderings today I happened across a photographer\’s website highlighting a wedding at Clermont. The photos are beautiful–even with the on-and-off rain the couple were battling–and it reminded me of one of the most important things about outdoor weddings (at Clermont and elsewhere): Nature is unpredictable so have a few preparations ready just…
Clermont State Historic Site 