Author: clermontstatehistoricsite
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Faux Ho Ho
This Christmas 2009 will see the close of Clermont\’s first all-faux year. For the first year ever, we have moved away from the use of not only flame candles, but organic plant materials. While this might not sound like very exciting news, to those of us who love Clermont\’s rich collection of material culture, it…
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Mythical Beasts
I have never forgotten the tour of an historic presidential mansion that I took as a college student (I won\’t divulge which, but it was not in New York). Awash in colorful Zuber wallpaper, historic furnishings, and curious family annecdotes, I had a lovely time. But it was the first time I was ever heard…
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Robert and Alida, Alida and Robert
The third post in a series on Nicholas van Rensselaer… Van Rensselaer\’s odd career ended in 1678, with his death from an unrecorded illness. To his family, it must have seems like their hopes of attaining full control over their land died with him. But things were about to get more complicated, because his widow,…
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Cecily Parsley and Apple Dapply
With Christmas decorating already getting started at Clermont, it is the time of year when my work becomes increaingly focused on children. This is alright with me, since it gives me time to indulge in nostaglia, games, and all things \”fun.\” In this mindset, I thought it might be a good time to revisit three…
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Lighting at Clermont
With the fall equinox behind us and the winter solstice looming in the near future, it is starting to get dark around here. Around 3:00 on a cloudy day, it can get very dim on the tour floor. Now I am faced with the annual task of lighting up the museum. It\’s a tricky business.…
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Ollie\'s Story: Part 2
Olivek Christensen Myers was Janet and Honoria\’s nursemaid. Her story is one of the few from Clermont\’s servants that we are lucky enough to know. I wrote up much of what I could find on Ollie in August. Born in Denmark, entered America at age 25 in 1906 and employed by Alice as her children\’s…
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The Great Hardenbergh Patent
!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –> The first post in a series on the Hardenbergh Patent… We like to say that Robert of Clermont purchased some 500,000 acres of land across the Hudson. It makes for a dramatic moment on the tour, when the door is…
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Is it Original?
When I guide tours at Clermont, I would have to say the most common question I get at Clermont is, \”Is everything in the house original?\” Now, I am the queen of long-winded answers–perhaps that\’s why I was picked to manage this blog–but there is no easy way for me to answer this question. It…
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Deck the Halls (with Paper Lanterns?): Photos of Our Halloween Decorations
Halloween decorating is just about complete here, and I am relieved (and proud). For those of you who\’ve followed along with me over the past couple weeks, I thought I would take a moment to post a few pictures that I snapped this morning of my handiwork. You might recognize a few of the elements…
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How Sweet it is (or was): the Foods of Halloween History
One of our favorite ways to mark our holidays in this world is through food. In almost every culture, we designate some foods to be prepared primarily only once in the year. In America roasted turkey is reserved primarily for Thanksgiving, and until recently marshmallow Peeps could only be found at Easter. Pepernoten cookies were…
Clermont State Historic Site 