LIBRARY OF CONGRESS III 014 369 166 4 • ■ 204 ^==^==^^ L7 H3 opv 1 \ SUGGESTION As to the most feasible plan by which to preserve to posterity the house in which ABRAHAM LINCOLN DIED 809 1909 The House in which Lincoln Died Together with the almost invaluable collection of relics and other matter connected with the life and deeds of the MARTYR PRESIDENT which it now contains '//ct\^t<^ <:^^.^z <^ Vfe .^>-^^v^ Washington. D. (". 1908 =fi isjh &-*t±> o N the I2th day of February, 1909, the people of the United States of America will honor the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abra- ham Lincoln. Much has been said and written in reference to a suit- able memorial to be offered by the people to commemorate that occa- sion. One of these is the construction of a Grand Highway, to link the White House with the battle- field of Gettysburg, and to cost, approximately, some seven millions of dollars. Another, and, it would seem, because of its associations, connected with the death of the martyr President, a more fitting one, is the safe preservation of the house in which he breathed his last, and of the large and most valuable collection of mementoes connected with his life which it now contains, and which it would be impos- sible to duplicate. This house is the property of the United States Government, but the collection of mementoes therein is the property of Osborn H. Oldroyd, who has de- voted forty-eight years of his life to this work of love. It has been a most difficult task searching for and accumulating all these relics, illustrating, as they do, the life of Lincoln, from the strenuous experience of early frontier days to that last tragic hour, when a great Nation was plunged into mourning; but, with patriotism and loyalty at all times in his heart, and a fixed tenacity of purpose, Mr. Oldroyd has finally succeeded in overcoming all obstacles, and has now a collection which is invaluable, inasmuch as it brings most deeply to the minds of all who look upon it a realization of the homely, simple life of the man who literally hewed his own pathway straight to the head of the Nation; who guided our Ship of State safely through perilous waters, and who finally brought it into a haven of safety; a man whose memory must ever be held in love, reverence and veneration by a grateful people. The house in which Abraham Lincoln died is an unpretentious, three-story and basement brick struc- ture. It is situated in the business section of the Nation's Capital, directly across Tenth Street from the building formerly known as Ford's Theatre, in which the tragedy, which placed a great Nation in mourning, occurred on the night of April 14, 1865. The house was, at that time, occupied by a family bearing the name of Petersen, and, after the tragedy in the theatre opposite, its doors were thrown open by a young man who was a lodger in the house, to receive the wounded President. At the present date a sign, conspicuously placed in front of the house, informs visitors that "Abra- ham Lincoln died in this house at twenty-two min- utes past seven a. m., April 15th, 1865." A short flight of stone steps leads up to the front door, which opens directly into a long hallway, the walls of which are well covered with portraits and pictures of Lincoln, which had been taken or com- pleted at various periods during his life. There are nearly three hundred in this collection, besides others in groups. At the end of this hall is the room in which Lin- coln died. A feeling of reverence and awe steals over one as he steps across the threshold of this room. The sadness of those last moments seem al- rnost to linger here still. On its walls are numerous pictures rcDresenting his death, also many incidents connected with his life. A large American flag is stretched across the side wall of the room in which he breathed his last, and where the bed stood, but all the original furniture of this room has long since dis- appeared. The other rooms, which consist of a front and back parlor, a back room, — in the rear of the one in- which he died — and a recent addition back of that, are all well filled with interesting mementoes almost too numerous to mention. There is a library of more than a thousand vol- umes, all relating to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Also there are almost invaluable magazine and newspaper files; five thousand clippings; hun- dreds of sermons delivered at the time of his funeral in various parts of the Nation; books, pamphlets, original letters, addressed to or written by the man who, in his unselfish love for humanity, never turned a deaf ear to the sorrowing hearts of his country- men. There are also many interesting relics that lead the visitor step by step, along his career, from its humble beginning to the White House. There is also a "black-locust" rail, split by Abra- ham Lincoln in 1830, and taken from a fence around his father's house, as certified to by Governor Rich- ard J. Oglesby, of Illinois, and attested to by John Hanks in i860. Also his office arm chair, in use when he was a struggling, though afterward a bril- liant and successful young lawyer, and in which he sat when writing his first inaugural address. The walnut cradle in which his children were rocked, often by his own hand. Pictures of every eventful scene in his life. Surely one cannot fail to become deeply impressed by this unique and patriotic col- lection. It tells the simple, yet incomparable, story of his life with such eloquence that its influence lin- gers with one almost as an inspiration. Mr. Olroyd has always been a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln, and began the accumulation of this collection because of his respect, love and rev- erence for the character of the man. At that time he was a member of Company E, 20th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. When returning from the ser- vice he \vas handed three telegrams that had been taken from a "bulletin board," which announced, amidst the rejoicing of home-going, victorious troops, the sad tidings of the Nation's calamity. The first of the "headlines" read: "Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theatre. Mortall}^ wounded." The second read: "Abraham Lincoln not expected to live;" and the third: "Abraham Lincoln died at twenty-two minutes past seven this morning." Prior to the close of the war, however, Mr. Oldroyd had made quite a collection of the speeches of Lincoln, during the campaign of i860, as well as of newspaper articles relating to him, but after his tragic death, as above stated, he states that he saved everything he could get hold of which might have any interest or bearing on the life or acts of Abraham Lincoln. To further this end he removed to Springfield, Illinois, in 1873, that he might better prosecute his 5 research at the former home of the Martyr President. At his earnest request Honorable Robert T. Lincoln presented the old Lincoln homestead to the State of Illinois. ]\Ir. Oldroyd was appointed custodian of the property and until 1893 his collection was on exhibition for the public. A change of political views, or prejudice, which- ever it may be, affecting the administration of af- fairs at Springfield, caused his removal, which, how- ever, was followed soon afterward by an invitation from the Memorial Association of the District of Columbia to bring his collection to the Capital City of the Nation with a view to its ultimate purchase by the Government, and its public exhibition as an eloquent tribute to the memory of our martyred President. The Memorial Association, through a bill intr9- duced by Honorable J. D. Sayers, Representative in Congress from Texas, finally induced that august body to make an appropriation for the purchase of the building containing the collection, although no appropriation was made for purchase of the collec- tion itself, wdiich was accumulated only by years of continuous effort and much expense. This collection should, without question, belong to the Nation, for it is a lamentable fact that no proper Lincoln memorial of a National character exists; nor is there, within the National Capital, a monument really worthy of his memory. It would seem that no more fitting memorial could be offered to preserve the memory of this great man than this house, from which his soul took flight, and with it these relics and souvenirs, all of which speak so highly and eloquently of his life. That their safe preservation should be the sacred duty of the Nation, that those now living as well as the countless gen- erations to come may all be brought closer to his memory. The building, as it now stands, in the midst of the busy traffic of a great city, is in almost constant danger of destruction by fire or other causes, and be- fore altogether too late, steps should^ be taken to guard against any such possible calamity. It is the most earnest desire of Mr. Oldroyd that kis life's work, or the results of such work, shall re- main for all time in the Nation's Capital, in the midst of the stirring scenes and the closing of Abra- ham Lincolit's life. For this reason he has declined to accept a number of offers from other cities which., if accepted, would mean the removal of the entire collection. Mr. Oldroyd has perfected plans which, if carried out properly, will provide a memorial worthy of the name of Lincoln, and a shrine at which all Ameri- cans would gladly pause to pay homage. These are the result of years of careful study_ on his part and have been drawn, under his direction, by the Government architect, Frederick D. Owen. They arrange for the purchase of property on both sides of the "Lincoln House," as it is now called. The buildings now standing on these lots to be torn down and a two-story fireproof building erected on the rear of each lot which shall connect with the house proper, thereby allowing greater room for the collection, which will naturally be added to and in- creased in quantity, as well as in value, from time to time as the days and years roll by. The open ground remaining to be beautified by flowers and shrubbery, while the building, as it now stands, will be com- pletely encased in a fireproof wall, thereby insuring safety for all time. To accomplish this, including purchase of tbe col- lection, the conservative sum of $150,000.00 will be asked. A bill will be introduced in Congress at the com- ing session, and, in view of its being the Centenary year, those interested in its success have strong hopes of its passing both houses in time to be able to throw open the doors of the "Lincoln Memorial Museum" free to the public on the anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. HARRIET EUNICE HAWLEY. 7 f ' LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 014 3G9 166 4 %