Castle

In honor of Women’s History Month – we’d like to shed some light on Olive Plant, Tom’s second wife and the lady of Lucknow Estate.

Olive Cornelia Dewey was the first of six children born to Flora and Charles P. Dewey on January 3, 1883. She and her siblings were born and raised in Toulon, Illinois.

Olive graduated from Toulon Academy in 1901, and then continued her education at Wellesley College from which she graduated in 1905. She was the recording secretary of her classes Alumnae Association and maintained regular correspondence with the association as an adult.

After college, Olive returned to Toulon, Illinois. Familial accounts indicate that Olive maintained a teaching career. She likely taught at her alma mater, Toulon Academy. The Academy formally closed its doors in 1912 (which aligns with her meeting Thomas Plant and moving to New Hampshire). Another source, The Stark County News, says that she was a bank cashier at her family’s bank.

We understand that Olive traveled extensively in the United States and Europe. A familial account notes that Olive “as was common in those days, traveled in the summer”. Olive met Thomas Plant while vacationing in Europe in the summer of 1912 – per the same familial account they actually met aboard the ship on their way to Europe. Traveling remained central to Tom and Olive’s lives together – according to oral history they honeymooned in Paris, France after getting married in 1913. In a letter to the Alumnae Association in 1935, Olive divulged that the “ogre we call Depression” curtailed their international travel plans, and that the couple traveled instead to Florida, California and Arizona to weather the winters.

Raised at the tail end of the Cult of Domesticity, Olive likely would have abided by this social code, which included the ideals: women should manage the home, a “sense of modesty, humility, and public-spiritedness” as well as “restraint, chivalry, and social responsibility”. To this, we know that she left her career to come to Lucknow and manage the estate. Olive likely would have encouraged Tom’s philanthropic projects such as constructing a retirement home in Bath, Maine. She, also, likely would have subscribed to Ladies Magazine which discussed the realm of womanly responsibilities, encouraged consumerism, and informed on fashions of the home and person.

From her letters to the Alumnae Association and to her family, we understand Olive took part in various recreational pursuits that were available to her including: golfing, boating, horseback riding, and gardening. She seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed hosting friends and family, though we would never know otherwise. It is likely she would have hosted close female friends and acquaintances in her boudoir for tea and conversation. This is also where she would have maintained her correspondence. Updating her family on a visit from her nephews, she wrote of enjoying driving through the countryside, and attending the local movie theater in Wolfeboro. To maintain her mind, she alludes to enjoying the crosswords, would have likely read frequently given the size and implied extent of Lucknow’s library, wrote poetry, and played the Aeolian organ housed in the home’s main hall.  She, also, continued traveling frequently throughout her life.

After Tom’s death in 1941, Olive returned to Toulon to care for her aging parents. She signed legal documentation in the foreclosure and sale of Lucknow Estate which declared that she was no longer working, would not return to work and did not have a substantial source of income. Olive’s mother left property to Olive in her will, which Olive eventually transferred to the care of her brother, Mills (The Stark County News, Toulon, Illinois, 1963) who is believed to have financially cared for Olive, though there is no written record of this arrangement. In the 1960s, Olive made her way to California where she maintained residence until she passed in 1976, at age 93. She is buried in Toulon with her family.

What are you doing to celebrate the women in your life?

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 3/10/2020

Tom and Olive spared no expense when creating their country oasis. Popular artists Alphonse Jongers, Alexander Pope and Thomas Moran decorated the walls with one-of-a-kind paintings. Today, Castle in the Clouds has digital reproductions of some of the original paintings that hung on our walls.

Alphonse Jongers (1872-1945)

Alphonse was born in 1872 in France and passed in 1945 in Canada. His painting career flourished in New York, New York with a focus on portraiture. He played an important role in the Lyme Art Colony between 1900 and 1904. His works have been displayed in the National Portrait Gallery, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Academy of Design, National Collection of Fine Arts, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts[1], and the Smithsonian American Art Museum[2]. Around 1912, Thomas Plant had commissioned a portrait of himself – while they lived at Lucknow the portrait hung over the grand staircase. Today the portrait hangs at the Plant Memorial Home in Bath, Maine, and the Castle Preservation Society displays a digital reproduction in the Staircase Hall.

Alexander Pope, Jr. (1849-1924)

Alexander was born in Boston and passed in Massachusetts. He briefly trained under Copley and was eventually an active member of the Copley Society of Boston. His works focused on animals and still lifes. A famous collector of his works was Czar Alexander III who owned two of his carvings[3]. Recently some of his early sketches were auctioned for $169,000. Tom Plant commissioned him to paint “Sunshine” his prized horse. A digital reproduction of this painting currently hangs in the dining room at Lucknow. The original is also owned by the Plant Memorial Home.

Thomas Moran (1837-1926)

Thomas was born in England and passed in California. Traveling across the world, he was an active landscape artist in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Colorado and Wyoming. Moran accompanied geological surveys and expeditions allowing him to capture newly discovered lands[4] in dramatic landscape paintings. It’s believed that his paintings of Yellowstone led America to deem it as a National Park[5]. His works are featured in the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and The White House. Tom and Olive collected three of his paintings. We have a digital reproduction of “Zion Valley, South Utah” that will be hung in the library once restoration is more complete. The other Moran paintings owned by the Plants were “Point Lobos, Monterey, California” and “Lagoon Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice.” Perhaps someday we’ll be able to share reproductions of these pieces as well!

Have you seen these artworks hanging around the Caste? What kind of artwork do you decorate your home with?

[1] http://antiquesandfineart.com/artists/bio.cfm?id=166813

[2] https://americanart.si.edu/artist/alphonse-jongers-2508

[3] https://aradergalleries.com/collections/alexander-pope-jr-1849-1924

[4] https://americanart.si.edu/artist/thomas-moran-3406

[5] https://americanart.si.edu/artist/thomas-moran-3406

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 4/14/2020

Throughout the winter of 2020, the North Tower of Lucknow Mansion received comprehensive exterior restoration. This was a vital project to prevent water incursion and protect the house interior and its collections. This project included erecting a scaffold and enclosed exterior that allowed teams to work on the project in the winter despite the cold temperatures and extensive winds we experience up on the mountain top. Restoration carpenters from Fifield Building Restoration & Relocation identified rotten timbers to remove and replace. At the same time, the team from Steppingstones Masonry, LLC repointed the stone veneer, carefully marking each stone to ensure they were replaced in exactly the same place. Doors and windows were taken out for their protection during this work and were independently cleaned and restored by Bedard Preservation & Restoration. The balcony – which was not original, but a replacement installed by a previous owner – was removed from the second floor octagonal bedroom and it will be replaced with a replica of the original balcony.  While many won’t be able to discern the changes made to the exterior of the North Tower, they were necessary to set us up to restore the two rooms in its interior in the next few years.

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 5/12/2020

If you’ve visited the Castle in the past two years, you may have noticed the library. The library was on display in the 2019 season without wall coverings, without artwork, and with the modern upholstery removed from the back of the couch. A decision was made by the Castle’s Curator and the Curatorial Committee to showcase the library as such so that visitors could see the active, ongoing restoration process.

Over this past winter and spring our restoration team has worked diligently to restore the library to its original visage. Peter Lord of Peter Lord Plaster & Paint, Inc. managed the restoration of the inglenook ceiling. Amidst earlier work, a wire lathe was found indicating that the ceiling had a cove feature, similar to what’s seen in Tom’s office. Lord recreated the lathe and plastered the ceiling. His team even created plaster astragals to frame the center of the ceiling, replicating the look from the office.

The red and gold wallpaper was removed from the library walls in 2018 as investigation of historic photographs and oral histories indicate the walls were covered with a gold, silk damask. The restoration team is working to recreate the damask as close to the original as possible. This year the walls will be painted in a similar hue so the guests can envision what the room would’ve looked like while the damask is in production.

The extensive wood paneling has been refinished. Known in recent years for its dark sheen, investigations have found that the library’s woodwork was originally finished with a colorless shellac. Mike Sawyer removed the amber stains and shellacs with a simple alcohol solution before lightly sanding and refinishing with the intent of recreating the rustic, low luster sheen visible in historic photos.

In the spring of 2019, removing the back upholstery of the couch in the name of investigation found evidence of the original material used. The restoration team found scraps of blue mohair with gold undertones which aligned with historic accounts. We sourced fabric similar enough to recreate the appearance of the original and Steve Rollins of Wolfeboro is in the process of reupholstering the sofa and banquettes.

There were several notable prints and paintings that once hung on the library walls (you can read about some of the well-known artists the Plants featured in their home below under the “The Famous Paintings Decorating Lucknow” tab). As part of the library restoration project we will conserve and refinish Plant era artworks and furnishings – we’ll also work to acquire or reproduce appropriate substitutions for pieces shown in George Perry’s photographs but that are no longer in the Castle’s collection.

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 6/9/2020

One of the many legends that guests discuss at the Castle is Tom’s friendship with President Theodore Roosevelt. Some of the folklore around this relationship includes:

• The President visited Lucknow Mansion, staying in the Brown Guest room (the octagonal guest room on the second floor) at some point while Tom and Olive resided here.
• The President personally recommended that Tom invest in the Russian economy prior to the economic collapse, in turn accelerating Tom’s legendary financial demise. As an apology for Tom losing money in the investment, the President bought Tom a bear rug which laid in the Main Hall. (This will be explored in next month’s blog post).

Many have investigated President Roosevelt’s implicit visit to Lucknow – unfortunately we cannot find evidence to substantiate it!

What we know: We know that Teddy visited Portsmouth, NH in 1905 to orchestrate the Portsmouth Peace Treaty between the Russian and the Japanese delegations which effectively ended the Russo-Japanese War. After losing the 1912 election, Teddy traveled South America with his son. Upon return, seven months later, he focused his efforts to writing historical and scientific essay. It’s also understood that Teddy Roosevelt traveled the country selling war bonds during World War I, and advocating for military preparedness. He became despondent after his youngest son, Quentin, died at war. Falling into a depressive state, Teddy died in his sleep in 1919 at his home in New York.

What we think: While it’s entirely possible that he visited New Hampshire as private citizen after his presidency, and before he started the speech circuit in 1917 – there are no known letters or telegrams coordinating the travel, and no newspaper articles celebrating the former president’s visit to New Hampshire.

We know that Tom and Olive had a residence in New York City for business – it’s entirely possible but overall unlikely that they knew the Roosevelts. It is possible, however, that they had mutual friends or acquaintances.

It’s widely believed that Tom was an active member of the Bull Moose Party who stood behind Teddy during the elections – likely people took this connection and spun it to be greater than what it is.

Have you heard this story before? Do you think Tom and Teddy were friends?

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 7/14/2020

Legends of Lucknow is a segment of the Castle theme that will explore stories that have been handed down through generations surrounding lucknow estate. Some of these stories hold truth, others we are still seeking evidence for. what rumors, legends and stories have you heard about castle in the clouds?

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One of the many legends that guests discuss at the Castle is Tom’s friendship with President Theodore Roosevelt. Some of the folklore around this relationship includes:

• The President visited Lucknow Mansion, staying in the Brown Guest room, at some point while Tom and Olive resided here (published last month, see green tab below to read the post!)
• The President personally recommended that Tom invest in the Russian economy prior to the economic collapse, in turn accelerating Tom’s legendary financial demise. As an apology for Tom losing money in the investment, the President bought Tom a bear rug which laid in the Main Hall.

Last month’s post explained that we do not believe Tom Plant and Teddy Roosevelt knew each other personally, and that it’s very unlikely that Roosevelt visited Lucknow Mansion despite the generational legends of their friendship and stories of them hunting together. Staff at the National Park Service have confirmed that there is no correspondence or other documentation in their Roosevelt archives or in the Library of Congress collections to confirm an acquaintance between Plant and Roosevelt.

The other rumor surrounding their relationship is that Teddy Roosevelt personally encouraged Tom’s investment into the Russian economy which in turn lead to Tom’s legendary financial ruin. Research shows that Teddy whilst selling war bonds during World War I may have also made a generalized announcement over the radio encouraging those who are able, to invest in the Russian economy. We believe it may have been at this encouragement that Tom invested in Russian bonds. Unfortunately, the 1917 Russian Revolution led to the collapse of the Russian economy and Tom only made a fraction back on his investment.

Given that we don’t have information to support Tom’s relationship with Teddy it’s unlikely that Teddy gifted a bear skin rug to Tom as an apology for advising him to invest in the Russian bonds. We understand that Tom had a few bear and tiger skin rugs in the Main Hall – helping to give the impression of a French or English hunting lodge or game room.

As always, research into these legends is ongoing. If you have any evidence to support one of the Legends of Lucknow, please feel free to share it with us. Do you think Teddy encouraged Tom to invest in the Russian Bonds?

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 8/11/2020

Legends of Lucknow is a segment of the Castle theme that will explore stories that have been handed down through generations surrounding lucknow estate. Some of these stories hold truth, others we are still seeking evidence for. what rumors, legends and stories have you heard about castle in the clouds?

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The secret room located in the library of Lucknow has had quite the story spun around it. Situated next to the inglenook and the partition between the library and the Main Hall – this small space is complete with a globe light fixture, a full height ceiling, and a window. The door is built into the wooden wall paneling and meant to be camouflaged, does not show up on floor plans of the home, and only opens from the exterior.

Some of the stories about this space suggested by visitors over the years include:

• This was Tom’s private reading room
• Tom was so reclusive that he would hide from his guests in this room
• Tom would hide in this room and eavesdrop on his guests to see if they spoke ill about him
• This copies the European idea of a Priest Hold / was a safe room, in case of emergency

Given what we know about Tom’s personality – he was a shrewd man, and liked to be in control – it would be very unlikely that he would close himself in –a room that can only be opened from the outside.

Using this space as a Priest Hold is also unlikely given the era of the home and its location. While Priest Hold’s were prevalent in the 1500 and 1600s during the religious war in Europe – they’re unnecessary here in Northeastern U.S.A. in the twentieth century. Beyond the necessity of a priest hold – this room could not have served as a safe room in case of emergency due to the functional window in the room.

What was this space really used for? While we are not 100% certain – the evidence suggests that the use of the Secret Room was much less alluring than the legends. We believe that the Secret Room was… storage space. Members of the Tobey family – the subsequent owners of Lucknow –remember storing their board games on shelves in this room. The Tobey’s moved into the home in 1941 – during World War II – and did not make any major updates to the décor, furnishings or layouts of the home at that time. It’s likely that they would’ve kept the existing shelving units in the room.

What would you have used the Secret Room for?

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 9/8/2020

Old Homes are always in need of work and restoration – our historic Lucknow Estate is no different. We have several big projects coming down the pipe including: new glass paneling in the sun parlor, restoration to the bedrooms in the North Tower, and completing ongoing projects in the Library and Green Guest Room.

The Curatorial Committee has been hard at work researching the North Tower Interior – this project will entail repapering the walls, refinishing the floors, carpeting the room(s), and having textiles produced for the curtains and bed linens. Investigation is starting in our first floor guest room, the Blue Room. This room was most recently papered with a yellow paper that was likely installed within the last 30 years. So far we have found samples of a gray wallpaper with a white floral motif (Figure 1) under the current yellow wallpaper. We believe the gray paper to be from a Plant era remodel of the room that took place in the late 1930s. Previous investigation has also found a gray imitation grass weave wallpaper; this is the wall covering we believe to be original (Figure 2). Given the gray wall coverings, we believe the blue color that merited its name on the interphone system would be from the curtains, carpeting, and bed linens, as well as the roundels found in this room. Our team also moved the wardrobe off of the wall in order to investigate the extent of water damage, when we did this we found what we believe to be original paint samples and the original color of the flooring (Figure 3).

As mentioned we’re also looking to finish ongoing restoration projects:

• We’re planning to have the silk damask wallcovering woven for the library,
• Recreate bed linens for the Green Room as well as a slip cover for the chaise lounge in that space
• Recreate a few of the club chairs shown in historic photographs of the library
• Find an appropriate rug for the library and reproduce the octagonal carpet for the dining room

When we are working on restoration project we use historic photographs, oral history, and investigation to get as close to the original esthetic as possible. When we do not have concrete evidence to work from, we review Tom and Olive’s aesthetic as a whole as well as time period appropriate trends to help guide our decisions.

Do you have any remodels or restorations going on? How do you make the décor decisions?

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, last update 11/3/2020

Thanksgiving is an American tradition dating back to 1621 when the Puritan’s celebrated a particularly successful crop of corn. The holiday was then celebrated regularly throughout America’s history, often used as a time of fasting and prayer. George Washington called the first National Thanksgiving, asking citizens to give thanks for their independence following the Revolutionary War, although it was Abraham Lincoln who deemed it a National Holiday to be held each November heeding the persistent appeals from Sarah Josepha Hale (https://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving). 

The traditional Thanksgiving meal boasts a turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie – next week we’ll share a historic recipe for you to try this Thanksgiving. 

Other traditions for the holiday include parades in major cities and towns, most famous is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. This parade started in 1924 and features bands, performers, floats, balloons, and celebrities. Also, starting in the mid-1900s, the U.S. President “pardons” a turkey or two sparing the birds from slaughter and sending them to a farm for retirement. A number of governors have also taken on this tradition. 

Tom and Olive may have celebrated this holiday whilst traveling throughout the United States or abroad. Perhaps they even watched the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in person. If they celebrated on the property, they likely would’ve enjoyed the traditional meal mentioned above. It’s possible that Tom or one of their staff hunted the turkey here on the property, and the side dishes would largely be composed of ingredients grown here on the estate’s farm at the base of Ossipee Park Road, known today as Ledgewood Farm.

How do you plan to celebrate Thanksgiving this year?

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 11/10/2020

This holiday season, in concert with our Very Virtual Christmas, Chronicles of the Castle: The Blog will focus on various holiday traditions, the evolution of décor, and seasonal joys.

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Christmas at the Castle is one of our fan favorite events here at Castle in the Clouds – we choose a different theme each year and invite local business partners to come into the Castle and decorate individual rooms with their interpretations of the theme. In 2018 we celebrated Holiday Traditions from Around the World, and our decorators made each room a different country’s Christmas tradition. 2019’s focus was Christmas Memories – we saw rooms decorated with books, common gifts of Christmas past, and individual Christmas traditions.

We’ve had comments on how we stray from our effort to showcase the house in 1924 – we don’t necessarily decorate with timely décor or to the same limited extent of a 1920s holiday season. We try to go above and beyond at Christmas – giving each room a unique look, and modeled around the central theme.

We would like to give you a peek into Christmas past and give some insight into how Christmas was celebrated in the 1920s.

One memoir account says: “We had neither the time nor the wherewithal to decorate our homes…” (earlier than Christmas week). Most waited until Christmas Eve. But when you think about it, with the use of real trees lit by candles, it wasn’t safe to keep one up longer than a few days. Electric Christmas lights, General Electric’s “Edison Decorative Miniature Lamp Division.” were available – it’s likely Tom and Olive would’ve had a set. A single Christmas tree, perhaps cut on Lucknow property, likely would’ve sat in the Library, they would’ve decorated it on Christmas Eve with popcorn strings, red and green rope, Christmas lights, tinsel, and dried fruits. Perhaps they would’ve added small trinkets from their travels. A train set or a village would’ve decorated the tree skirt – as it does for many families today. Sprigs of holly would be the go to rather than today’s boughs of pine.

All in all, many Christmas decorations considered to be traditional in the 1920s are still used today. What is a special way that you decorate your home during the holiday season?

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 12/8/2020

LEGENDS OF LUCKNOW IS A SEGMENT OF THE CASTLE THEME THAT WILL EXPLORE STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS SURROUNDING LUCKNOW ESTATE. SOME OF THESE STORIES HOLD TRUTH, SOME WE ARE STILL SEEKING EVIDENCE FOR, AND OTHERS HAVE PROVEN TO BE FICTION. WHAT RUMORS, LEGENDS, AND STORIES HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT CASTLE IN THE CLOUDS?

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Did you know that the Castle is actually named Lucknow? Lucknow is the name that Tom and Olive gave their home and estate. We get a lot of questions about where the name originated from but we do not know where this name came from – if Tom or Olive ever wrote down their reasoning, we do not have that documentation. There are various theories as to why the property is named as such. The Lucknow poem attributed to Olive suggests that the name is a play on words:

So to each is his desire;

And when the day too soon has past,

In the twilit hall, by the open fire

Each one agrees, “I’m in Luck Now at last.”

Although the poem hints at this wordplay, we simply don’t know if this was the original intention. It’s possible that the name came first, and the poem later.

There are several other “Lucknow” places around the world including:

• Lucknow, India
• Lucknow, Canada
• Lucknow, Pennsylvania
• Lucknow, Australia
• and, a Lucknow in Scotland.

We often have visitors, particularly asking if there’s a connection to Lucknow, India. To our knowledge, Tom does not seem to have any association with any of these cities – we have no record of him ever visiting them or even knowing of them.

It wasn’t until the property sold for the second time after Tom’s death that the property was renamed Castle in the Clouds in 1959 when it opened to the public.

Where do you think the name, Lucknow, came from?

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 1/12/2021

Have you ever wondered how we choose our next restoration projects? Or exactly what goes into the restoration, which are often multi-year ventures? While every project is different and poses its own challenges and difficulties, there are a number of standard factors that go into our restoration decisions. Below you can see an infographic that explains some of our yes/no decisions surrounding work previously done and any damage that would necessitate immediate restoration work.

Once it’s determined that we are moving forward with the restoration of a particular space, there are a variety of actions, research and planning tasks that need to be coordinated. Using our recent library restoration as an example, let’s take a look at the extensive timeline that goes into the work:

Funding is an overarching question that looms throughout the planning and initial stages of the research. Having a donor or financer for a specific project, may alter the project’s priority. However, even if we don’t have a particular financer advocating for a project, we spend time researching the project and gathering quotes for the work. Once we’ve compiled the estimates, we explore grants and fundraising opportunities to support the project. Often our annual gala benefits our restoration projects, as do public donations.

This year we were lucky enough to receive a sizeable donation that will cover the costs of replacing the windows on our Sun Parlor, and making our pathway and parking near Shannon Pond more accessible. We’ve received directed donations to commission the textile work in our guest rooms (bedspreads, and chair covers), and to replace the wooden squirrel sculptures that once sat atop our pergola roof. We are also working on the restoration of the Blue Room (first-floor guest chamber) and the Brown Room (second-floor octagonal guest chamber). We’re so excited to share our progress with you this season!

Follow us on social media for the most up-to-date status on our restoration projects!

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 2/9/2021

Many visitors walk through Lucknow Mansion and reminisce about Downton Abbey – they draw comparisons and conclusions about how the households were run. Today we’re going to explore roles that were traditionally held by women in the early 20th century and share some of the little that we know about the domestic staff that worked at Lucknow Mansion:

• Cook – Within the home, there was often only one cook. If it were a larger household, then perhaps there would be an assistant. The cook would be responsible for making meals for the household, guests, and staff. She would also be responsible for receiving grocery deliveries or marketing (now known as grocery shopping)[1]. While this was often a cook’s responsibility, we have records that Olive preferred to do her marketing herself.
• Parlor maids – At a home the size of Lucknow, there would be a parlor maid. She would be responsible for receiving visitors, taking calling cards, announcing guests to the family, and acting as a waitress during meals. She also would do the dishes after the meal.[2]
• Chambermaids – Perhaps one or two chambermaids would be responsible for cleaning the house, cleaning the carpets, and polishing the floors. Chambermaids would be responsible for answering call bells.[3]  The Lucknow Mansion featured state-of-the-art amenities that made certain tasks easier for these women. They could save time and the central vacuum system, and interphones allowed for quick coordination of requests.
• Lady’s maid – There might be one lady’s maid for each married woman of the household. So, at Lucknow, there would be only one (if any). She would be responsible for helping Olive dress and undress. She would keep Olive’s wardrobe by mending it, removing stains, cleaning, and organizing it. She would be responsible for keeping the lady’s room rather than the chambermaids.[4]

Before World War I these roles were often held by immigrants and working-class women who used these roles as a career-launching point.[5] After The Great War, household servants were an anomaly – more women began taking jobs in the factories and shops rather than as maids and cooks. Immigrants had a wider array of opportunities from which to choose. When Tom and Olive moved into Lucknow Mansion in 1914, they allegedly used a staff of approximately 30 individuals to manage the estate. By the mid-1920s, Tom noted that the property could be managed with a staff of six. This reduction in staff size was likely linked to the Plants’ diminishing finances but may have also been impacted by a lack of interested candidates.

Our research in naming these staff and sharing their stories is ongoing. Here are some names of the female staff that we know of:

• Stella Libby – Cook
• Jennie Frye – Wife of Caretaker of Plant Farm; responsible for dairy production, canning & preserving
• Louisa Frye – Wife of Caretaker of Plant Farm
• Agnes Patterson – Wife of Caretaker of Estate
• Bridget Quinn Moulton – Parlor maid (Housekeeper)
• Marsha Taylor- Cook and Parlor maid (Housekeeper)
• Martina Malmquist – Unknown role, likely a Cook and Parlor maid (Housekeeper)

If you know any additional information about the staff that allowed Lucknow Mansion to run smoothly, please feel free to share this information with us by emailing our Curator & Museum Manager, Robin Sherman. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, please be sure to watch our Programs & Events Calendar and social media for the announcement of our new Castle Close-Up Tour that will explore this topic in depth.

[1] http://thegibsonhousemuseum.blogspot.com/2015/02/domestic-servants-part-i.html

[2] http://thegibsonhousemuseum.blogspot.com/2015/02/domestic-servants-part-i.html

[3] http://thegibsonhousemuseum.blogspot.com/2015/02/domestic-servants-part-i.html

[4] http://thegibsonhousemuseum.blogspot.com/2015/02/domestic-servants-part-i.html

[5] https://driehausmuseum.org/blog/view/below-americas-stairs-domestic-servants-in-the-gilded-age

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 3/9/2021