by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The Historical Society Museum window scenes celebrate Presidents Day with mega portraits of each president, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by military service flags. Our first and 16th president—each a wartime leader in his own lifetime—had hosts of stories and letters written to and about them as well as their own tales of personal experiences, many of which have been preserved reverently and historically, including heroics, personality traits, family, letters (critical and complimentary), etc. Copies from each with some comments from the authors include:
Mr. Washington was a popular subject for the artists. For example, the "Washington Crossing the Delaware" painting.
A personal trait: ice cream, a favorite dessert. He even had an ice house built near his Mount Vernon home so his wife, Martha, could serve ice cream to friends and family. The Washingtons also used the ice house to preserve meat and butter, chill wine and make ice cream. The ice house was located on a river bank about 75 yards from the Potomac. To store ice cream, Washington's slaves had to use chisels and axes to pull large chunks of ice from the frozen river during the winter time and haul them to the ice house for use throughout spring and summer.
During the nation's celebration of its 200th birthday, 1976, Mr. Washington was honored with a song whose opening words were "First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen."
One of Mr. Lincoln's many letters was a request for a Good Friday observance: "State of New Hampshire, Claremont, March 16, 1865 - To His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln - 'Honored Sir, I beg leave to express to you, the Chief Magistrate of our country, my earnest require and desire that if not inconsistent with your own views or with a decision already made, you will appoint Good Friday, the fourteenth day of April next, to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer throughout the United States. I have reason to believe that day would be agreeable to Christian people of all denominations. Having made this brief suggestion I beg to assure you of the high consideration with which I remain your Excellency's most obedient and trustful servant. Cariton Chase, Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire."
The president did not declare Good Friday of 1865 a national day of fasting and prayer. Instead, Lincoln went to the theater that night where he was assassinated.
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Sat., Feb. 22.
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