Assassination Trivia

[Jim Garrett]

(12-02-2012 05:06 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Good morning, Bill. Here's the information I have. If anyone finds anything wrong here, please let me know. Many thanks.

Here is the list I have of "originals" at Ford's:

(1) The picture of George Washington.
(2) The sofa where Henry Rathbone was sitting.
(3) A carved-back, cane-seat parlor chair (possibly the chair Mary Lincoln was sitting in).
(4) One of the five flags that adorned the State Box on the night of the assassination.

You win a free dinner at Gautier's Restaurant. Bill wins a coupon worth 50% off on Gautier's senior early bird specials.

As far as the items relating directly to the presidential box:

The original sofa is in the box. It is the sofa that Rathbone was sitting on. I am told that it has not been re-upholstered. It is suppose to be very fragile and if one sat on it, you would most likely tear the fabric.

The rushed bottom chair is original to the box. It was removed or goven to a workman at the turn of the century and eventually returned by descendants.

The picture of George Washington was personal property of the Ford family and is the original from the night of the assassination. At the time, the president seal was either not in use, or something that had not been put in popular use. The engraving of Washington was used by the Fords to honor the office.

The Treasury Guard flag (large blue flag with the eagle) is at Fords and on display in the museum in the basement. Rich knows the provenance of this flag (and all the other flags) like nobody's business.