Ford restoration

[Jim Garrett]

The Garrett farm site was also used by the army as a dumping ground when they tore down the civilian buildings that were on Ft. A.P.Hill. You could build a mansion out of all the "chimney bricks" recovered from the Garrett site.

---

When Ford's Theater was restored, they couldn't find the original construction plans for the building, so designers had to estimate critical measurements using 1865 photographs and sketches of the interior of the theater for guidance. I haven't had a chance to visit the theater since it's restoration, but from photographs, it looks like they did an excellent job - except for one thing: The presidential box. From various present-day photos of the interior of the box, it appears too small in size to accomodate all the people we know were in the box at one time, not to speak of the various pieces of furniture (the rocker, the sofa and at least three chairs) plus the partition. The far wall (the one facing backstage) seems cut at too severe an angle, making the interior of the box more narrow than it was originally, and the entry hallway seems like it should have been located about a foot or so further right, leaving more room for Lincoln's rocker. At least that's the way it appears from the photos. I'm sure many of you have seen the restored box in person. What do you think? Is the box too small, or are the photos misleading?

Maybe Chris Hunter can chime in on the size of the box. I think he is probably the most recent person on the symposium to have been in the box. Chris, how stuffed would the box have been with all the furniture, and people?

[GARY POPOLO]

First I would like to thank Dave for the web site he posted of Fords reconstruction and other facts and stories listed. I spent over an hour just reading all the information on the site. Still have to go back and read more. Great Site! Next Betty I loved your shadowbox. I am sure the Paine family found it to be beautiful. I am sure they appreciated your kindness. Best Gary

[Anita]

Anita -

You are not being a bit silly! I'll scrounge around - but I think that most of the pile is gone.... I'll check and see. I have one other person whom I also want to "put on the list".... I know I have some nails (original) left as well....

I LOVE this kind of stuff and made a shadowbox out of mine - as well as presenting a shadowbox to Powell's relatives -

Thanks for sharing your shadow box. What a lovely way to display a moment in history and how thoughtful to share with Powell's relatives.

---

Laurie, I have a feeling those nails from your gift shop would end up for sale on eBay!

I wonder how much Oldroyd "dug up" for his collection!

[J. Beckert]

I believe that Jim Garrett said after the assassination and during the first renovation, the box was "boxed in", if you will. Does that mean it was intact, but concealed, until the 1893 collapse, Jim?

[Jim Garrett]

The box was intact through the renovations turning the theater into a office/warehouse. If I'm correct, when they constructed the second and third floors, they kept a center atrium (if you would call it an atrium). Rich Smyth has found and old Washington Star article that mentioned the box being kept and government clerk work areas built around the box. With the 1893 collapse, everything came crushing down into the basement with a complete loss of the box and most of the internal structure.

---

I believe I was told that Ford's has the original metal roof.

[Gene C]

The back wall to the President's box seems to be at a rather sharp angle. Anyone know why? Anything behind it?

[chrishunter]

The box is a very enclosed space. By modern standards you would be tripping over each other. I don't know enough about how it was rebuilt in the 1960's but the furniture in the current configuration is close together. If I were to rush in suddenly I would bump into something. So I am not an expert on these things, but it feels possible that box could've been bigger in it's original state.

The Garrett farm site was also used by the army as a dumping ground when they tore down the civilian buildings that were on Ft. A.P.Hill. You could build a mansion out of all the "chimney bricks" recovered from the Garrett site.

---

When Ford's Theater was restored, they couldn't find the original construction plans for the building, so designers had to estimate critical measurements using 1865 photographs and sketches of the interior of the theater for guidance. I haven't had a chance to visit the theater since it's restoration, but from photographs, it looks like they did an excellent job - except for one thing: The presidential box. From various present-day photos of the interior of the box, it appears too small in size to accomodate all the people we know were in the box at one time, not to speak of the various pieces of furniture (the rocker, the sofa and at least three chairs) plus the partition. The far wall (the one facing backstage) seems cut at too severe an angle, making the interior of the box more narrow than it was originally, and the entry hallway seems like it should have been located about a foot or so further right, leaving more room for Lincoln's rocker. At least that's the way it appears from the photos. I'm sure many of you have seen the restored box in person. What do you think? Is the box too small, or are the photos misleading?

Maybe Chris Hunter can chime in on the size of the box. I think he is probably the most recent person on the symposium to have been in the box. Chris, how stuffed would the box have been with all the furniture, and people?

[L Verge]

I've often wondered how Booth avoided tripping over the tips of the rocker. I grew up with two of those suckers in the house, and they can do mortal damage to toes and shins.

[RJNorton]

Jim, if you have commented on this before, please excuse. I remember that in 2005 a Virginia family (who wanted anonymity) donated to Ford's the chair that Mary may have been sitting in on April 14, 1865. I believe the people said the chair had been kept in the family over 100 years. Is the provenance for that chair considered solid? Rich said it is among the objects which "are subject to having the provenance scrutinized." Does that mean there are "doubts" about the provenance?

[Jim Garrett]

The NPS is pretty confident that the chair is from Ford's Theater and they represent it as being in the Presidential box on the night of the assassination. I think concerns may be that those chairs may have been in all the boxes. I don't think there is any documentation, inventory or photographic evidence that shows the furniture in the other boxes. If my memory serves me (at 6:00 am), the person who was given/took the chair was involved in the renovation after the collapse. Did he embellish the significance of the chair. I think the chair did come from Ford's, but from inside the box, I can't say with any certainty.

[Anita]

Here are two well-known collectors of historic "wood" souvenirs! http://tinyurl.com/netxlr6

While in England in 1786, Jefferson went on a trip with John Adams that included Shakespeare’s childhood home at Stratford-upon-Avon. Although Adams described this tourist site as “small and mean,” Jefferson simply noted the costs of going there, including entry fees to see the birthplace and the tomb. He and Adams also followed the custom of other visitors by cutting a souvenir piece of wood from a chair where Shakespeare had supposedly sat. In 2006, Jefferson’s home at Monticello exhibited this memento, along with a wry note by Jefferson: “A chip cut from an armed chair in the chimney corner in Shakespeare’s house at Stratford on Avon said to be the identical chair in which he usually sat. If true like the relics of the saints it must miraculously reproduce itself.”

[Dave Taylor]

I'm going to belatedly toot my own horn and say that my post about Ford's Theatre reconstruction was tweeted about by the Ford's Theatre Society: https://twitter.com/fordstheatre/status/...9462300672
I got over 600 hits in one day because of it. Cool!

[brtmchl]

The box is a very enclosed space. By modern standards you would be tripping over each other. I don't know enough about how it was rebuilt in the 1960's but the furniture in the current configuration is close together. If I were to rush in suddenly I would bump into something. So I am not an expert on these things, but it feels possible that box could've been bigger in it's original state.

The Garrett farm site was also used by the army as a dumping ground when they tore down the civilian buildings that were on Ft. A.P.Hill. You could build a mansion out of all the "chimney bricks" recovered from the Garrett site.

---

When Ford's Theater was restored, they couldn't find the original construction plans for the building, so designers had to estimate critical measurements using 1865 photographs and sketches of the interior of the theater for guidance. I haven't had a chance to visit the theater since it's restoration, but from photographs, it looks like they did an excellent job - except for one thing: The presidential box. From various present-day photos of the interior of the box, it appears too small in size to accomodate all the people we know were in the box at one time, not to speak of the various pieces of furniture (the rocker, the sofa and at least three chairs) plus the partition. The far wall (the one facing backstage) seems cut at too severe an angle, making the interior of the box more narrow than it was originally, and the entry hallway seems like it should have been located about a foot or so further right, leaving more room for Lincoln's rocker. At least that's the way it appears from the photos. I'm sure many of you have seen the restored box in person. What do you think? Is the box too small, or are the photos misleading?

Maybe Chris Hunter can chime in on the size of the box. I think he is probably the most recent person on the symposium to have been in the box. Chris, how stuffed would the box have been with all the furniture, and people?

It amazes me every time I see a photo of the box. When I imagine it in my mind it is always much bigger and more open. I can't believe that Booth would have been able to get through there so easily. Even without Rathbone to slow him down, I would imagine maneuvering through that dimly lit box, with all of the furniture sitting at different angles would have been difficult by itself. It seems to me that even the slightest altercation could have trapped him easily. Possibly knocking him over a piece of furniture. He must have been very athletic. A very daring plan indeed.

[BettyO]

I'm going to belatedly toot my own horn and say that my post about Ford's Theatre reconstruction was tweeted about by the Ford's Theatre Society: https://twitter.com/fordstheatre/status/...9462300672
I got over 600 hits in one day because of it. Cool!

Congratulations, Dave! Yes, that is "Way Cool!!" Very, well done....

---

[Jim Garrett]

Good job Dave.