HIDDEN SECRETS of a Civil War Mansion | History Traveler Episode 109 

Such a privilege to see this. Thanks it’s in wonderful condition. To see something like this home makes history come alive. Looking forward to the next episode in your series.

This looks so much like my aunt's house built right after the civil war.

I swear this is the same floor plan of my aunt's home built right after the CIVIL war

How come you didn't ask her why Little Richard is wearing a dress regardless just found the station and I love it love to hear about history

That side board was interesting as hell. My aunt and uncle had a vintage Pennsylvania Farm house in Kutztown Pa and my dad always made mention of their side boards joints like that. The side board was all Cherry wood like that with the top carved out almost dished shape it was blue and white Marble top. Mostly the top was the most interesting it had Blue Hue to it and blue veins in the sun light in lower light it appeared white. The furniture was in the family since the early 1800's most of it was bought near Harrisburg Pa and farther south in the Virginia's is where the chairs and tables we had came from. My cousin still has the side board cabinet tables chairs and a canopy bed that has the words Made in Atlanta Georgia on the left Cherry wood rail. The bed actually has what looks like little I beams as cross supports for the box spring which is new and modern but the craftsmanship of that old furniture always blows my mind whenever I visit we always talk about how old our farm is. 1758 is carved in the main support member of the house it's a 10"x10" 35' long beam under the center of the house and every floor plank is made of knotty Pine from the Northern Pine trees that were on the property. The lumber for our farm house my great great grandfather had made at the local mill near Lenhartsville mill & Kempton which is around the corner from Kutztown. Another fact is the Mill that supplied the old slate roof for our farmhouse had the same guy that put the roof on the later era main college administration building. A picture of the Mill owner and roofers hangs in that building or at least it was when I was a kid growing up. We no longer have the original slate roof on the house a tornado back in 1999 really ruined it so I put a metal roof on seeing the carnage and the broken roof rafters also the original Chimney was a loss so that was that took me a better part of a month to restructure everything repair the broken brick work. As I worked I thought of my late relatives that built our home there and what craftsman they were.

You all have an amazing place there. Thank you for all the hard work at preserving the history.

It's beautiful, y'all do a great job. Incredible to be able to see all these things.

Thankyou for all of your hard work.

Very beautiful for the civil war times close to the water. I'm surprised it wasn't damaged by the war in any ways. Still furnished with period furnishings. I wonder how many are true to the house. Nice preservation.

@@TheHistoryUnderground @

My pleasure! I enjoy sharing the experiences.

Such a nice comment . made me comment on your comment

@@dawnsimons118 Thank you so much...❤❤❤

Thank you for the tour. When I stopped by many years ago they were just closing up and was not able to see the inside

I agree with you Jan. Aat my age I think my traveling days are over. lol

Very much so.

Original to the era, not the house. Still very cool though!!

@@rebeculus Gotcha, but yes still very cool if that's true

Wow Janet, what an Interesting Great Grandma You Had! I Wonder What Ever Happened to The Arrowheads?

Across the plains in a covered wagon.... absolutely panoramic! You should write down what you do know about her life story, leading up to yours, probably more than you think, for posterity & for your family. If able to connect, talk to others who may have been her friends & family, too.

Cool memories, I wish you could of heard more of her stories. History lost is just tragic since everyone should know all the knowledge of their elders. Sending much love and prayers, ❤️ Stormi

Ha! Awesome. He’s a great guide.

Thanks! Glad that you enjoyed it. It's a shame that the old slave quarters no longer exist. I would have really liked to have told more of that part of the story. Unfortunately, not much is known at this particular site.

You know, they couldn't have done it without you.

As a Christian, I am fascinated by Ancient Rome and their engineering marvels, even though many were built by slaves, and many were specifically used as venues to kill Christians. As the host said, it's about the context that people lived in at that time.

At Stone Mountain, near Atlanta, has a "plantation" that had been moved along with the slave quarters. I hope it stays put despite the rewriting of history..

@@janeiwasduncan8463 Some are selective about the rewriting of history, and some believe they have a monopoly on victimization.

I agree with you. Amazing skills were taught and employed to create useful beauty in architecture. Carpentry was an honorable and practical profession that employed many and unfortunately has been reduced to a specialized trade today.

@@jamesrobiscoe1174 Yup....very well said. My wife and I were just having that conversation. We ordered a lot of molding recently for the floor, and the ceiling, and I told her that we're ordering MDF that was cut in mass on a CDC machine, what as once done by hand with what we would consider archaic tools throughout an entire house. And, it's impossible (for me) to even visualize one person doing detail trim work throughout an entire house, with nothing but hand tools. I've been trying to find some books, or videos of who, how, & when that kind of work was done, and what tools were used. I'd love to just sit back and watch someone who still has those skills do work that detailed. It's beyond fascinating to me. Those are workers were the same workers who could look at a tree, and know exactly what kind of wood it is. It was a better time. People took enormous pride in the work they did, and no one b*tched about anything, no matter how bad life got for them (and they MORE than their share of hard times). Thanks for the reply!👍

Lived in West Virginia & had a few friends who were masters at their hand tooled clawfoot furniture making. Just beautiful skills. There are still some who know how, but it certainly Rare!

@@elisemiller13 There's something astonishing about watching someone work who's spent THOUSANDS of hours crafting their skill. Better yet, there's something incredible about being TAUGHT by someone like that. Which unfortunately is also lost now. Teachers who have a purely academic knowledge of what they're teaching, and don't really "know" anything. They could build an entire house getting full use from three tools....

And this is why I hope to never have to buy a house built after 1960. The one I’m currently in, built in 1968, has been constant problems. In my old house, which is 99 years old, I had no issues.

Special to anybody that doesn't live close by too.

Yes I 2 would never be able 2 travel 2 see this

I wonder what it would be like if people kept their illnesses to themselves online. Sharing to people you don't know.

​@@SirenaSpades There's no need for you to be mean. They've already suffered enough.

Why do people always find a need to go out of their way to mention their disabilities, mentally and or physically, or trials, tribulations, and trauma, etc on YT when it’s kind of irrelevant? Why not just say “thank you for sharing things some people wouldn’t be able to see otherwise”? Or similar things like that?

I am shocked the fake news isn’t attacking the home,saying it’s racist.

What did the family do or own to be so wealthy?

Any paranormal experiences?

Thank you for your volunteer work! I would have loved to have been on your tour!👌🤗

Thats awesome. I bet you have many fond memories

Dawn, did you know the James family? I posted that my suitemate at Stephens college was Liz James. She was their daughter. Any way, I never got to tell her family what a sweet person she was when we lived together in college. I just thought I'd see if you knew the family at all.

I hear you.

Me too!!!

Why?

But you may have been, beaten, whipped, raped and forced to leave your family. Why would you fantasize about such a period in time. ? 😢

Because not having modern toiletry tissues would be such an adventure. Especially the outhouse and frequent snake oil salesmen giving you mercury or lead. Such fun!

I totally agree. So sad. They've done a great job at preserving this one though.

Completely agree!

Love it

Definitely plan on telling that story in the future. Can't imagine what kind of havoc that would cause today.

It will happen again! Not if, but when!!

I'm curious ...What original Indigenous Peoples once inhabited this area?

@@lalani888blue ,For some interesting reading on New Madrid and the Native Americans ,look up Tecumseh,he was Shawnee,adopted by Blackfish the chief...also the adoptee of Daniel Boone. Tecumseh grew to be an advocate of the Indian tribes and the resistance of the selling of tribal lands,also known among the tribes as a prophet because of his dreams. Other interesting stories, Google: Strange happenings during the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812.

Wow that is some increadable history facts..How did you discover this information?

That is very interesting. I love history through houses and food.

A lot of slaves were treated like family members.

@@jessiem276 Just curious, you know this on what authority? That's at best a bold statement, or...a sad justification. Also, think about it, if you were a slave (not an employee) this means you had no choice but to be there on their property...As their lawful property and do the bidding of that family.

​@@elisemiller13 Try reading some journals and you'll see. You're rather bold and presumptuous yourself.

John Shifflette It always makes me sad when folks re-doing or flipping really old houses destroy the plaster walls.

Love these old houses. They're as pretty today as they must have been then. Thank you

@@cattycorner8 come here to new bern, NC. We have lots of houses from the late 1700s and all thru the 1800s, and Tryon palace. It was the capital of North Carolina, before it was moved to Raleigh.

@@uhaveautism6192 Thanks! I'd love to some day!

Old houses are always better than the houses being built in the 21st century!!

New homes lack the detail and character these old homes have

New homes built since the 1980’s are only built to last 20-30 years, if that long.

Any home built today. The craftsmanship and artistry that went into these homes has been shunned...and lost...due to build it fast, sell it fast who cares if it lasts.

@@jimreilly917 Where I live the new homes built in developments today (We call them cookie cutter houses.) are made to last twenty years, if that long.

And I.Have you been to the Samuel farm?I wish the paranormal guys would check it out sometime.

Me too. It’s what I daydream about; I often wonder if I lived it and it’s a memory. But it’s so fascinating to me!

Couldn't have worded it better myself!

Some of the carpet was a reproduction. I do know that the carpet in the girls bedroom was original though.

Do we know if the wallpaper is original? So beautiful!

Most wallpaper made “back in the day” we of ornate colors, especially green. Turns out the green actually had arsenic in the makeup of the design and color.

Things were meant to last back then.Not like this throwaway society.Just about the only thing I would miss if transported back in time,apart from my kitties,would b my electric blanket.

Yeah, they have done a good work there.

Especially with the Agenda to destroy anything that stands for any particular cause or group, the Mob doesn't like.

Yes. My great grandparents built a house in the early 1900’s and it was very well maintained even when I was a child in the 1960’s. I just loved it. It still had the original crystal doorknobs that had skeleton keys, claw foot bathtubs, wrap around porch and curved mahogany staircase. They had an orchard and a carriage house. It was sad that they built a one story house across the street as it was a huge 5 bedroom house and my great grandfather would carry my great grandmother up the stairs to clean. The had moved a bed into the dining room and just was too difficult for them to care for. As a new family with six children bought and moved in the original house was being destroyed by lack of care and disrespect to the building. It was very sad for them to watch.

If you are ever in the area go to the Carnton House in Franklin TN. It is in a nice state and it served as a Civil War hospital during the Civil War. boft.org/carnton

I agree this is so wonderful! So many beautiful homes were destroyed during the war. And today because of debt greed and too high mortgage rates..Many beautiful homes that should be filled with love and people families..enjoying these homes and maintaining them they are falling apart Across our nation.

Yankee criminals occupied the house. Why were things not stolen?

You should have seen the old pictures of New Bedford, MA waterfront before urban renewal of the 60s

@@fastsetinthewest Yankee!

@@m.asquino7403 I scallop out of new Bedford, and I love the place. Past & present.

, oops I thought this house was in Colorado

Thank you for that information.

Sorry, that's not even close to true. I have lived in pre-civil war houses my entire life, and been an antique dealer for almost 50 years and sold dozens of sideboards. I'm pretty sure I know what a sideboard is, and your definition is incorrect.

Agreed!!!

Speaking of weird things ....right at the end when he is at the front porch, the last rocker....is rocking.....It begins at 22:08

@@Kat-gx3se yesss I said the same thing!

Yes! I think it was Phyllis, saying thanks for stopping by…

I came to the comments curious if anyone else noticed the rocker. Was this B-roll clip rendered in slo-mo? The slow, measured pace of the rocking is certainly consistent with an "occupied" chair vs. an empty one. Hmmm.....

Thanks!

Thanks! Hope that enjoy the rest of the content on this channel!

Yeah, pretty amazing place. Wish I could've been there when it was decorated for Christmas.

I don't get it.I have a collection of gorgeous china dolls & my son's think they r spooky!!

Lol I threw soooo many porcelain dolls away wasn't smar of me llool. Now I'm like one would be cool lol.

Ha! My grandma said that the outhouse was too close in the summer and too far away in the winter.

@@TheHistoryUnderground Your grandma knew what she was talking about HA!

@@TheHistoryUnderground I have to agree with both you as I'm from the outhouse era too !

@@TheHistoryUnderground And hopefully down wind.

You were right to be scared. My husband's grandfather was using the outhouse when a black widow bit him on the dangly bits. He didn't die but spent some time in the hospital.

Thanks 🙏🏼

Hope the so called "woke" people don't watch this. They will probably want it burnt down because it once had slaves working there. Another historical site that is pretty much original and very interesting is the Haile Plantation near Gainesville Fl.

@@bradbauman7594 - I’m in the Ocala area, full-time rv’er. Thanks for that historic tidbit in Gainesville. I’ll have to take a drive, verify it’s accessible during this pandemic and check it out. 🦩🌴🦩

​@@bradbauman7594 So true!

Preserved sites are an important part of any country, but the enslaved people of USA that were treated so badly in most cases, needs to be told to generations so that it is not lost history. Some of the current members of the USA government want that history to be removed from the schooling, and I disagree entirely, it needs to be told to make sure that type of behaviour never happens again. Critical Race Theory is real and even if the governors or members of government think it should not be taught in schools, it is because they are ashamed of the truth. Yes it was awful and should not be done ever again, but without the truth being taught, they are trying to make is as if it never happened, and that is just wrong

Glad to share the experience. Thanks for watching!

i'm wondering who was in the rocking chair on the porch at the end ???

🙏🏼

There is a good video about that place here on u tube.

I couldn’t really see them because the picture was too dark. Please light those kind of items up. I could not see the details on the drawer either. Please use a big bright light. Thank you.

Appreciate that!

Definitely want to see that at some point.

I've been there too. Loved that tour.

Ha! Yeah, I thought that I'd really found something (lol)

Awesome! Thank you!

Oh wow. I would love that. Putting that on The Big List as we speak.

@@TheHistoryUnderground Robert E Lee is buried there too on the campus of the University he was president of after the war.

Oooh yes, would like that. I’m in Virginia

@@TheHistoryUnderground I STILL remember the clock that Mrs Jackson brought with her. It STILL ticks the correct time.

When things were made to last your lifetime and passed down through family as heirlooms.

🙏🏼

No kidding.

Really? Does it have his signature in it? I wonder what the odds are that it’s the same John Booth? Maybe shoot me an email at thehistoryundergroundchannel@gmail.com.

@@TheHistoryUnderground I have been scrolling through the comments to see if anyone had mentioned the John Booth bathroom writing. Booth actually lived in Philadelphia in 1857 and 1858 as a part of the Arch Theater crew. I am wondering if this bit of bathroom writing was more of a show of support for Booth, like the Jeff Davis and Stonewall Jackson in the sewing machine was.

Thanks! I enjoy sharing the experiences.

Thanks. I have some big plans for Gettysburg 🙂

This is the first video I’ve seen of his!! Will definitely be watching more.. I have 3 grandfathers in the CW. Several in Rev. War .. and beyond... Love Geneology and History.. Will be great to hopefully learn a bit more!!! Thanks for Sharing to all who wrote and participated in this video!!!

Is it G'burg where the stone tape plays a group of CWS,seen crossing some open ground?There is a kind of mist around their legs & feet.One of them appears to trip & then the recording or whatever it is,begins again.Interesting but sad.

@@lynnettemcelmurray4597 So do I Lynette.My fav periods being the Cousin's War & Richard Plantagenet & the years from the final time of poor Henry,to Edward becoming king & carrying on from there,& the English & American Civil War & the aftermath with Monmouth & The Youngers/James gang.Well,the history of the old west too.How about you?

Oh wow! How cool. Glad that you enjoyed it!

🙏🏼

Right?! I enjoyed it way more than I thought that I would.

Glad that you found the channel as well! And yes, there are a lot of items in this home that you won't find anywhere else. Definitely a time capsule that they have there.

I wonder if the family is extant.

Very much so.

I have a huge house built in 1970 and the foyer is larger than most homes built currently bedrooms. It actually has two closets!

The back part of the house was completed in the 1840’s so she may have lived there.

Foy- eh is a French word it translates to hearth actually. Be we’ve adopted it to mean entry way.

Unfortunately, Americans have ALSO adopted miss-pronouncing this French word to be:"Fo-yirr"! (as in"voyeur") instead of Kelly Henderson's correctly noted phonetic of "foy-eh" (or fo-yayy). Even funnier is how I have also found the word "foyer" to be miss-spelled! One descriptor of a historic building read: ["...the "fauxyeur" had a "faux marble" wood-grained floor..."] which I can only guess, attempts to impart that, in this room (which is NOT really the entry hall, but a mere illusion of one?) has a floor that's artfully painted to appear as REAL marble, which was THEN grained to look like its... REAL wood?? 🤣 As for Krissy's query of what Mrs. Hunter did following her husband's passing, you're looking at the answer to that: She went ahead and completed the house. Since she now was the sole proprietor of their large business holdings, and as the house had been designed for her, and to her tastes she was unlikely to move elsewhere. The only difference might be her choice of the original more somber toned wallpapers (in grey shades) for the drawing rooms, as she would have still been "in mourning" by the time she would be receiving her first guests in the completed house? Here is another odd detail co-related to the previous point, that I might guess at (and this was not mentioned by the tour guide?): The "guest" bedroom has an unusually opulent & completely matched suite of furniture, that is quite well fitted to that room (as is her OWN bed that fits "exactly" in between the two windows) I would postulate that due to the length of time it would have taken to produce such a commission, it was likely ordered from the cabinet makers to fit the bedroom from the measured architectural plans long before the house was even started, and that this was in fact intended to be her husband's bedroom, because at that time it was common for the master and the mistress of the house to have separate rooms. (This is where the modern term "master bedroom" originated). As Mr. Hunter did not live long enough to ever occupy it, this chamber was from the outset, always the guest room.

I live in Maryland. Near me is Tudor Hall, the Booth family home. They have many original pieces owned by the family.

Thanks! Appreciate that. Hopefully we can get there someday 🙂

Thanks!