on fellow ous L g ulletinH e Volume No. A Newsletter of the Friends of the Longfellow House and the National Park Service June Longfellow House to Celebrate 225th AnniversaryB of American Revolution ince the Longfellow House served as Changing Meanings of SGeorge Washington’s headquarters for Freedom” sponsored by ten months during -, it has been inte- the Boston National grally connected to the American Revolu- Historic Park. tion. Beginning in July, it will be one of the The Longfellow House centers of the National Park Service’s cele- will begin its part in the bration of the th anniversary of the eight-year celebration on American Revolution. July st with a living his- The National Park Service’s eight-year tory performance. Ac- commemoration of events—from Paul tress Dorothy Prince will Revere’s ride in to the Treaty of Paris play the role of poet in —will take place at over fifty Phillis Wheatley, the national park sites. Battlefields, encamp- first black person in the ments, military headquarters, locations of colonies to publish a Howard Pyle (-) paintng of Martha Washington’s arrival in Cambridge important meetings, historic homes, related book, who wrote a poem about, and may Glee Club on music of the revolutionary sites of industry and commerce, and have met with, George Washington (see period. Throughout the day Longfellow memorials will all participate. Each of page ). This will be followed by a concert National Historic Site staff member Paul these sites will offer its own commemora- on the lawn featuring music from Washing- Blandford, in his inimitable theatrical style, tive programs and events. In Boston the ton’s era played by the members of the will conduct tours around Harvard Square national celebration began on June nd and Longy School of Music, and chosen from entitled “In the Footsteps of George Wash- rd with a public symposium called “The a s brochure produced by the Harvard (continued on page ) The House Which “Washington Has Rendered Sacred” ven at the height of his fame, Henry W. brother about her delight in living “where we had a thorough explanation of the American lines ELongfellow never felt slighted when Washington [had] dwelt in every room:” & Bunker Hill, Prospect & Winter hills under Mr. strangers knocked on the door and asked [The House] is, moreover, very interesting to us Sparks inimitable guidance who gave a more vivid to see “Washington’s Headquarters.” He for its associations of which we have lately had very idea of the revolutionary days than I had before... might have been bemused at the lack of exact information from Mr. Sparks…. Yesterday In a letter to her brother two months interest in himself, but he shared the same later, Fanny announced the couple’s inten- feelings of awe about Washington’s associ- tion to preserve the house’s appearance and ation with the House. thus honor the memory of Washington’s In when the young Harvard College occupancy: professor Henry Longfellow first came to We have just returned to our home & are enrap- the House as a boarder, he was well aware tured with its quiet & comfort after that Pandemo- of Washington’s earlier presence there. His nium, New York. It has now, too, the sentiment of Harvard colleague and fellow tenant at Mrs. the Future as well as the Past to render it dearer than Craigie’s house, Jared Sparks, was work- ever, for since we left it has become our own, we are ing—in the very rooms Washington had full of plans & projects with no desire, however, to inhabited—to assemble all of Washington’s change a feature of the old countenance which Wash- existing letters for publication. ington has rendered sacred. When Longfellow married Fanny Ap- In the sacred Washington connec- pleton in , his wealthy father-in-law, tion was memorialized inside the House by Nathan Appleton, bought the Craigie House the Longfellows’ prominent display of sev- for them. Shortly after, Fanny wrote her Washington bust, front hall of Longfellow House (continued on page ) ᳚ 225th Celebration (continued from page ) ሖሗመ ington.”These walking tours of the neigh- Lee-Nichols House on Brattle Street will borhood will continue through the summer feature costumed performances by “Loyal- Friends of the Longfellow House and early fall. ists” and Judith Sargent Murray, a success- Board of Directors The July st celebration at the Longfel- ful eighteenth-century writer whose col- Barclay Henderson, President low House dovetails with other City of umn “The Gleaner” in Massachusetts Magazine Edith Hollmann Bowers, Vice President Cambridge festivities, marking this anniver- provided an eyewitness account of Ameri- Robert Mitchell, Clerk Charlotte Cleveland, Treasurer sary of the arrival of George Washington can history. (See schedule on p. ) Frances Ackerly in Cambridge, where he took command of The Longfellow House has worked with Gene A. Blumenreich the Continental Army. Following an open- the Historic Cambridge Collaborative, a Ruth Butler ing ceremony at Fort Washington Park in group of nonprofit historical and educa- LeRoy Cragwell Cambridgeport, a procession of officials tional institutions, to develop other public Dick Dober and onlookers will meet “General George programs that explore life in Cambridge Nancy Fryberger Washington” and escort him to the Cam- during the early months of the Revolution. Victor Gulotta bridge Common. There day-long com- The programs will take place in Cambridge Abigail Houser memorations will include musket firing throughout and . Diana der Hovanessian demonstrations and an encampment by the A schedule of all commemorative events Carol Johnson First Middlesex Regiment as well as sam- nationwide for the next eight years as well Diana Korzenik Arthur Loeb ples of food and drink from the s. In as a - day-to-day journal of Amer- Marilyn Richardson addition, the Cambridge Center for Adult ican Revolutionary War events can be Sally Sapienza Education will host a living history perfor- found on the National Park Service’s Web- Lynne Spencer mance of Abigail Adams. The Hooper- site at: www.nps.gov/revwar. Charles Sullivan Catherine Vickery The House Which Washington “Has Rendered Sacred” (continued from page ) Advisory Board eral Washington artifacts. Longfellow circumstances. People go over land and sea to see just Timothy Anglin Burgard bought the bust of George Washington, a the place where some great man was born and died, Dennis J. Carlone copy of the famous original by and here all day long I can walk the floors this great- Francis Duehay Houdon, which he placed in the entrance est of men to us Americans trod, go up and down the Justin Kaplan hall, and beside it hung the Washington stairs… “Up and down these echoing stairs, Heavy Leslie A. Morris family coat of arms. On a wall by the front with the weight of cares; Sounded his majestic tread” Richard Nylander stairs, he hung an engraving of Washington It is grand to feel the presence of so great a man and Stephen D. Pratt on his white horse. Portraits of Martha and lifts me up quite out of the present life…when you Marc Shell George adorned his study. come back I will read you his letter to his wife when Judith Tick Longfellow enjoyed giving tours of the he received his command and you will say it is full of Lowell A. Warren, Jr. Eileen Woodford House and never failed to pay tribute to its manly, tenderness most inspiring. historic role in the American Revolution. Alice Longfellow lived in the House for Newsletter Committee Blanche Tucker-Macchetta, who received many years after her father’s death. She con- Marilyn Richardson, Editor such a tour in , wrote in The Home Life served the house in her father’s memory, yet Ruth Butler of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that the poet she also honored its connection to George Victor Gulotta Glenna Lang, Designer described his study thus: Washington, as is shown in a letter she James M. Shea This was Washington’s own private room; and received from her cousin Alexander Wads- where my writing desk now stands, there stood his worth Longfellow Jr.: q table. These walls, lined with books, also shelved his I want to see you soon, foregathering as a family, National Park Service literary lore. In fact, I think the arrangement of the and wish I could see you honoring the Father of this Myra Harrison, Superintendent room is exactly the same as when in his time. Country and his admirers at his headquarters, with James M. Shea, Site Manager Other members of Henry Longfellow’s the spirit which you show and feel so deeply. I think Paul Blandford, Museum Educator family took pride in living in Washington’s you very fortunate to have inherited this and be able Nancy K. Jones, Museum Educator former headquarters. After the family cele- to do so much for his memory. Liza Stearns, Education Specalist brated the hundredth anniversary of Wash- —Research by Robert Mitchell Kelly Fellner, Education and Visitor Services Janice Hodson, Museum Curator ington’s arrival in Cambridge, the poet’s Jude Pfister, Museum Specialist daughter Edith wrote to her sister Alice: Anita Israel, Archives Specialist My interest and excitement is reading all about Henry W. Longfellow’s letter to Ferdi- Ed Bacigalupo, Chief of Maintenance this summer years ago in Sparks and Irving, nand Freiligrath, February , : Pat Laffey, Facility Manager and everyday I read the letters for that date written Do not think for a moment of going to New certainly in this room and probably by this very win- York. The roof under which you sleep in Printed by Newprint Offset, Waltham, Mass. dow where I write by dear George! Think what a America must be Washington’s (and mine).