July 1, 2007
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Rose Hill Museum
The antique show that my sister & I attended on June 16th was promoted by the historical group that runs Rose Hill Museum in one of the western suburbs of Cleveland. The museum covers several buildings on the grounds of what was the home of the Cahoon family in the 1800's. Many of the rules they instituted in local government for what was known then as the town of Dover, are still in effect today. Among them are restrictions of what can be done in the park that bears their name.
The museum is only open on Sunday afternoons, so I'd never been inside until the day of the antique show. The small building was half gift shop & I was able to take some photos of the furnishings, such as the one above. The larger home, where the family lived, didn't allow photos, unfortunately. Both places had pianos & record players. The large house had a big living room filled with velvet Victorian furniture, my sister was fascinated with a footstool that matched one of the chairs. I was repulsed by a chair in the hall made almost entirely of cow horns, it was kinda gruesome & out of place next to the fancy table holding a stereoscope & jewelled lamp.
The weirdest thing about the museum was a number of life sized cut-outs of the lady of the house, Rose Cahoon, enlarged sepia photos standing in nearly every room. There was even just her head shot sitting on one of the chairs. It was overdone & a bit eerie. Aside from that, I found the long awaited visit quite intriguing and might go back some Sunday afternoon for the guided tour.
Comments (9)
That's a pretty dress but could you romp around in it? My visitors name is Mona and she is about 3 years old.
What a beautiful dress! I think I would have loved to live back in that time period. I love the clothes. SO Gone With The Wind.
That is a pretty dress it looks like a dress that I wore in this play along time ago. I like old things like that.
Sorry that you could'nt get picture at the other place.
mickie
I look at those dresses and think of the South here and can't imagine having to wear such. Shoot I avoid panty hose and slips now.
I'd go back for the tour, and if there is a little sign in book gently suggest not so many images of Rose.
btw did I tell you I love that turtle in the profile picture?
So enchanting.
I'd enjoy that, too.
Hope you have a wnderful 4th of July. God Bless. (((HUGS)))
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My great, great-grandmother wore 12 petticoats under her heavy antibellum dresses. Can you imagine? One of my elderly relatives swore the lady never even broke a sweat; apparently, the great, great-grandmother had gone to some sort of ladies' school, and they taught that there in the "curriculum"...how not to sweat under the pressure of multiple petticoats. Interesting, isn't it. The self-control must have been unreal in this nearly-unbearable heat and humidity (she lived in south Arkansas, land of the mosquito swarm, bending trees, oft-standing water, and ever-changing weather).
The organ in your photograph looks very much like a family antique (handed down through countless generations; although my father *can* play it...normally he does stick to piano and guitar) my parents have it in their home...Although my parents' organ is a little more ornate, the one in your photo does look quite like it. Makes me a little homesick. One of my chores around home as a child was to dust and clean that organ every week, and even with all of its intricacies, swirls, and curly-q's down the sides and top, I loved the chore. Peaceful and satisfying chore.... Probably sounds silly to you...but it's the truth.
I enjoyed the phtograph!
Love, Angel
Oh, and p.s. - I am so traditional and old-fashioned that I cannot imagine going to church or to anywhere dressy without my pantyhose and a slip....I know that the majority of girls and ladies today go without those niceties, but I would fee I was breaking some sort of unwritten social code if I were to do so. I'd feel as though everyone were staring at me - although I do know they they likely wouldn't be. Such experience would cause the feeling that all eyes were upon me, noticing that I was blushing and feeling positively naked without that important pair of hose & slip. What's next, girls/ladies going to church with no bra on? Ack!
-Angel, championing the past, dreading the social future in which she barely feels that she fits in....
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