Large Parlor
Large Parlor:
The newspapers, in great detail, describe the events following
Lincoln’s
assassination. The accounts written about the event in the Inquirer papers,
parallel the type of coverage given after the assassination of President John F.
Kennedy. There is a map of the D.C. area, a description of the Ford Theater and
its layout, a map of the area where Booth was killed and under what
circumstances, pen and ink drawings of the casket (with great detail given to
the symbolic mourning decorations), drawings of the casket laying in-state in
Independence Hall, the route that Lincoln’s mourning train took so that our
nation could pay their respects and mourn their loss, and a picture of the
black-draped, rider-less horse. The banner headline that carried throughout the
period was “A Nation Mourns Its Loss,” reminiscent of the Kennedy assassination
and September 11th banner headlines.
Notice the lack of black borders on the April 15 newspaper, which was the day of the assassination, compared to the very heavy black borders on April 16. A quick scan of all the newspapers shows the narrowing of the black borders over the almost two-week span of coverage, eventually returning to the regular column lines.
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Gen. David Detrich’s Tool Chest:
Detrich was born in Antrim Township on August 26,
1807 to Christian and Susannah (Statler) Detrich. He began his cabinet making
and undertaking business in Greencastle in 1829 after completing his
apprenticeship. During his 53 years in business he made or helped to make
coffins for 3,830 people. Detrich through hard work and service to his state,
county, and town was well respected and lived comfortably in the community.
This chest was more than likely made by Detrich during his apprenticeship and held his cabinet making tools. He was both a cabinet maker and undertaker in Greencastle. His shop was located two lots east of the Presbyterian Church as indicated on the Greencastle 1853 map (see the map in the hall) and just one lot east of the church on the 1868 map (marked J. Detrich).
The tools shown here would have been used during the era of Gen. David Detrich and his brother, Jeremiah.
The morning coat and vest next to the tool chest belonged to Jake Teeter, another Greencastle undertaker who practiced during the early to mid 1900’s.
Hair Art:
A large, elaborate
“wreath” displayed in
a deep
shadow box is hanging to the right of the piano The artwork is made of hair
from several people as determined by the different colors used. This was
probably not a remembrance piece made posthumously but is an excellent example
of the genre.
On loan from James Bowersox of Miller-Bowersox Funeral Home, Greencastle
Widow’s Weeds:
The bodice and skirt on the dress form is a
representation of a widow’s attire, circa 1903, which are on loan from Bonnie
Shockey. The accessories are on loan from Becky Manifold.