Grovers Theater

[Gene C]

Also raises an interesting question, Would you want your children playing with a presidential assassin?

[L Verge]

Wouldn't bother me until I realized that he was an assassin...

Things that I have read about Mr. Booth indicate that he loved children and was very good with them. I think children, themselves, sense this in people. They know who is kind and who is a jerk.

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(06-14-2014 02:25 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Wouldn't bother me until I realized that he was an assassin...

Things that I have read about Mr. Booth indicate that he loved children and was very good with them. I think children, themselves, sense this in people. They know who is kind and who is a jerk.

Another thought: Do we know whether or not the younger Garrett children witnessed any of the stand-off around the barn or the death scene on their own front porch?

[Linda Anderson]

(06-14-2014 02:25 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Wouldn't bother me until I realized that he was an assassin...

Another thought: Do we know whether or not the younger Garrett children witnessed any of the stand-off around the barn or the death scene on their own front porch?

The following is from the same article from the Boston Herald that I cited above:

The reporter asks eight year old Lillie Garrett, "'I suppose you know nothing of what happened that night?'

"'Oh, yes, I saw everything, nearly. I was the first one of the children out after father was arrested. Father and mother slept in this very room where we are now sitting, and he was awakened by the noise at that door, which leads out towards the servants' quarters. He opened the door, and the soldiers at once grabbed him, and pulled him out into the yard. They stationed a soldier in the door, and they would not let any of us out, or would not let us hand father any of his clothes, for fear, as they said, that we would pass him a revolver. I watched my chance, and slipped by the soldier, who stood at the door with a pistol in his hand. He cursed me most violently, and, pointing his revolver at me, ordered me to return. I said, 'No, sir, I'm going to see that fire.' The barn was then burning, and in a few moments after I got out the fatal shot was fired, and Booth was brought up and laid upon the porch, with his head near the door through which you came in. They tried to lay him upon a mattress, but he would not let them, neither would he allow a pillow to be placed under his head. He seemed to suffer a great deal especially just before his death.'"

Thanks to Dave Taylor for telling me about brave Lillie. I would like to ask Dave when the Garrett family heard of Lincoln's assassination. There are different versions from different family members.

[RJNorton]

Thank you to Laurie for sending this photo and information:

"There have been six theaters on the site of Grover’s on Pennsylvania Avenue over the years. This is a photo of the fourth one, constructed in 1873."