Exhibits

Edwardian Opulence: Lavish Living in the 1910s

August 7, 2013

Do you enjoy shows like Downton Abbey and wonder how many families enjoyed such opulence? The McFaddins lived the glamour of the Edwardian period and we have the family stories and artifacts to learn about their lifestyle of luxury. From fine dining to festive clothing, the McFaddins lived what we see on popular shows of today.

Ida McFaddin’s velvet coat and skirt trimmed in chinchilla was suitable for traveling in colder areas, like her hometown of Huntington, West Virginia. The suit dates to sometime between 1912-14, and was a typical type of fashion for women of society.

The velvet suit’s details were created by hand.

The McFaddins enjoyed “a la Russe” dining, just as the family did on the popular television show, Downton Abbey. “A la Russe” involves a butler or maid serving each dinner guest from a platter around the table. The porcelain dinnerware has Ida Caldwell McFaddin’s monogram and was made by the F. Shultze Company in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Baltimore Rose pattern was created by the Stieff Company in Baltimore, Maryland. The McFaddins entertained formally and often and would have used a proper setting such as this for meals served to guests.

This Edwardian frock had elaborate and colorful hand stitching and beading. Many society women of the time would have had their dresses and gowns custom made for them. Ida McFaddin preferred dresses by Madame Dunlevy, a noted seamstress in Cincinnati, Ohio. On trips home to Huntington, Ida would often stop in to choose fabric and style, and the seamstress would design the new dress in time for Ida’s return trip home. Ida would go in for the final fitting, and the shop would ship the completed garment to her by train.

World War I: Home and Away

August 7, 2013

We are all familiar with the stories of World War I and their global impact, but have you ever wondered what contributions were made in our hometown? World War I: Home and Away, an exhibit by summer intern Arthur Garrison focuses on Southeast Texas’ contribution to the war and specifically those of the McFaddin family.

Ida McFaddin was certified to instruct volunteers on preparing surgical dressings for the Red Cross. Many local women contributed to the war effort by volunteering for the cause.

Ida McFaddin’s surgical dressings war manual was used both while in training and when instructing her volunteer groups.

Red Cross packages would have included an assortment of surgical dressings and bandages, as well as cigarettes, candies, and other morale boosters.

Both of Mamie McFaddin’s brothers, as well as her future husband, Carroll Ward, enrolled in the military during the war. Carroll enlisted in the United States Army Air Service.

Write this Way — Past Visitor Center Exhibit

May 22, 2013

In the last century, the tradition of writing was the main way to keep in touch with friends and family over long distances. Some writing implements and accessories from this era lent a certain luxury to this important social ritual that we relish, even today.

A dedicated letter writer, Ida McFaddin kept up with communication trends, and in the 1930s she purchased this portable Royal typewriter.

We can almost imagine Ida McFaddin, impeccably dressed, sitting at her writing table to compose a letter on her Royal typewriter. As she would have wanted everything “just so,” we envision her there with this cup and saucer filled with perfectly-brewed tea. Crown Staffordshire China Company, Ltd., Burslem, England.

The act of sitting down to write a letter may be somewhat lost on younger generations, but we history-lovers cannot help but smile when a hand-written note comes in the mail on beautiful stationery. This hand-embroidered Montag writing paper belonged to Mamie McFaddin. Montag paper was popular during the 1950s and 60s and was often given for special occasions, or even Christmas.

No writing desk was complete without a beautiful pen. This Waterman’s fountain pen, ca. 1920-30, had a metal “lever filler” on the reservoir.

This postal scale, ca. 1950, was made in England. Back before dashing off quick text messages or emails was possible, letters–oftentimes, very lengthy–were written, especially if there was a lot of news to include; often they took more than one stamp. This postal scale had counterweights that indicated the weight of the letter, letting the writer know how much postage to use to ensure that it reached its destination.

Tried and True: Traditions of a Southeast Texas Family — Past House Exhibit

May 22, 2013

Our summer edition of Tried and True: Traditions of a Southeast Texas Family, features some exciting details, including the winning place setting from our Click to Curate campaign. The exhibit, which includes Dresden, will be on display through November.

Dresden was made by the Saxonian Porcelain Factory, ca. 1920, in the town of Freital just outside of Dresden, Germany. The dining table, set in Dresden china, Baltimore Rose silverware, and cut glass, looks as if the McFaddins were about to walk in at any moment for dinner.

The butler’s pantry is set with the domestic employees’ preparations for the next course in both adjoining rooms. Here, aqua Blenko sherbet dishes, ca. 1930, perfectly match the luncheon set in the breakfast room.

The Dresden coffee service, set on a silver tray, is nearly ready to be taken in the dining room for the dessert course. The book, Coffee and Waffles by Alice Foote MacDougall, contains coffee trivia and household tips.

The appliqued, embroidered, cutwork tablecloth is the perfect backdrop for the Blenko luncheon place setting.

The tablecloth, ca. 1930-50, with appliqued flowers and leaves in delicate pastels, harmonizes with the room’s nature theme.

The scalloped-edge cotton and linen napkins match the tablecloth.

The blown-glass Blenko finger bowls were used for diners to rinse their fingers between courses.

Delicate doilies used beneath the finger bowls are decorated with a cross-bar hemstitch design.

Blenko wine glasses coordinate with the breakfast table’s finger bowls, iced tea glasses and place settings.

Blenko cocktail glasses were used for serving after dinner drinks.

Here in the library, Mamie would spend evenings relaxing, listening to the radio, and reading. She frequently consulted etiquette books to keep up with the latest trends in hospitality.

The sun porch’s informal atmosphere was the perfect place to spend leisure time. The Wedgwood hunting scene tumblers, ca. 1910, were likely used to serve a cool beverage, especially in the hot summer months.

The Gloria swinger clock, was manufactured by the Ansonia Clock Company in the early 20th century.

A conscientious hunter like Carroll Ward kept his guns maintained, using a gun cleaning kit like this one. This kit was manufactured by J.C. Higgins company.

The McFaddin “guys” enjoyed evenings in the billiard room, many times kicked back with a beer and a smoke, listening to the latest songs on the phonograph.

The game table is set up as if the boys are about to play block dominoes. The black “pips” are made of ebony and are set in ivory.

These stoneware and pewter beer steins were made in Germany around 1920.

To see the rest of the summer exhibit, see our tour information page or call (409) 832-2134 for reservations.

The Supporting Cast — The Current Carriage House Exhibit

April 30, 2011

In the early twentieth century, the wealthy employed large numbers of people to support their lifestyles. These working people were essential, both for their service, and for the status they brought to their employers.

Visit the carriage house for a step back in time! Tour the servant’s quarters and see how one of the McFaddins’ domestic employees lived. Explore the upstairs exhibit, The Supporting Cast, to learn about all the people required–mostly behind the scenes–to make the McFaddins’ lifestyle possible. The displays tell their stories–like that of Buck Sam, pictured left, the McFaddins’ farm manager, who brought the family produce daily.

Along with the history learned, guests will see the architectural ingenuity in the building’s construction, the fabulous cars driven by Mamie and Carroll Ward, and a carriage that dates back to 1908. According to the American Alliance of Museums, the carriage house is one of the best preserved in the country.