(09-12-2012 05:41 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  To the nearest 1/2 inch, what was the width of Abraham and Mary's house in Springfield?

Based on the architectural blueprints from the 1952 restoration (which I asked for and received from the state at the time), I am going to venture that it is 39 feet across the front. Talk about taking it to a new level! I love things like this!

Kudos, Joe! Close enough. I got the information here. They have it as
38 feet, 10 1/2 inches. (Scroll down about 3/4 of the paper)

You win a very rare book of mine: An Autobiography by Peanut John Burroughs.

I know this is a broad-based question but I'll throw it out here anyway and see what happens. There was a very specific thing that both John Wilkes Booth and Sam Houston had in common. Any idea what that was?

The first thing that comes to mind for me is Junius Brutus Booth, Sr. Booth's father was good friends with Sam Houston. I have also read that we can blame Houston for encouraging Junius's drinking problems.

Wow, Laurie-you got me on that. I didn't know that! No, what the thing was that I was asking about is that according to the book Lions of the West by Robert Morgan-Sam Houston was an actor on stage early on in his life. He performed in Nashville. So Houston shared that with Booth.

We discussed the Willard Hotel in a different thread. This is where the Lincolns were staying prior to the March 4, 1861 inauguration. In case you are ever asked at dinner what room number the Lincolns were staying in, what is the correct answer?

Hint #1: You do not need a special book or article for this. The answer can be found on the Internet.

Parlor 6 -- which was a corner suite on the second floor.

Yes, Donna. Very good!

You win one free luncheon at the Willard. The food will be the same as the Inaugural Luncheon on March 4, 1861: Mock Turtle Soup, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Parsley Potatoes and Blackberry Pie.

My bet is that no chef at the Willard today would consider cooking such a plebian meal! Surratt House did a bus tour a few years ago that included a tour of the Willard and lunch in one of their private rooms. The women said it was interesting, but good - the men said they were still starving to death!

(09-15-2012 04:40 PM)L Verge Wrote:  My bet is that no chef at the Willard today would consider cooking such a plebian meal! Surratt House did a bus tour a few years ago that included a tour of the Willard and lunch in one of their private rooms. The women said it was interesting, but good - the men said they were still starving to death!

Laurie, I agree -- I think it would be difficult to find that particular menu served at the Willard today.
If the men were starving to death after a luncheon, can you imagine how stomaches would growl after a tea?

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(09-15-2012 01:04 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Yes, Donna. Very good!

You win one free luncheon at the Willard. The food will be the same as the Inaugural Luncheon on March 4, 1861: Mock Turtle Soup, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Parsley Potatoes and Blackberry Pie.

Well, there would be egg all over my face if I didn't get this one right! I'm just glad that I finally was on line before anyone had answered!

I'm getting into the hard trivia game.

What (vaguely) assassination-related figure collected over 100,000 beetles during the course of his lifetime?

Henry Ulke?

I second Rogers's answer and while we are waiting to see if Roger is correct, I have a few questions concerning the Ulkes. Most historians say brother Julius took the famous pics of the "death room." What is the source of this info? In the possession of one of Henry's relations, living in Europe when the discovery was made was the 2nd picture of the room. I believe they would have taken the pics together. Does it matter which one tripped the shutter? Although Julius died in Washington, I have been unable to locate his final resting place. Henry is buried in Oak Ridge in Geoegetown. Anyone have additional info on Julius?

Roger is correct, of course. Henry Ulke became a renown painter but also had a strong interest in the natural history field. His collection of about 120,000 American beetles can be found in the Carniege Natural History Museum in PA.