Ford's interior gutted in late 1865?

[DKEast]

I just read last evening to my surprise that Stanton had the interior gutted (in Manhunt book) yet I thought the assassination night "bones" remained until the collapse in 1893 which killed 22 clerks?

[RJNorton]

Hi Doug and welcome to the forum. I am not certain, but I think the book by George J. Olszewski covers this. It is titled Restoration of Ford's Theatre.

It can be read or downloaded to your computer here.

[DKEast]

(04-13-2015 12:57 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Hi Doug and welcome to the forum. I am not certain, but I think the book by George J. Olszewski covers this. It is titled Restoration of Ford's Theatre.

It can be read or downloaded to your computer here.

Thanks RJ...As a kid we used to get the Weekly Reader and I recall one edition in 1968 trumpeting the reopening of Fords. I believe VP Humphrey attended the first event.

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RJ, also the Manhunt book noted Matthew Brady did complete panoramic shots of the interior of Fords immediately after the assassination as ordered by Stanton. I have never seen any of these published - were they lost?

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Thanks by the way - these are my first posts and I am going to Fords tomorrow afternoon. I don't have a ticket and don't expect to get one but is it open to the general public tomorrow afternoon before the commemoration?

[Thomas Kearney]

To answer Doug's question Ford's was gutted as a theater and converted into an office building by order of Stanton. Stanton did not want a theater where an assassination occurred to be used as a place of amusement.

[DKEast]

(04-13-2015 12:57 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Hi Doug and welcome to the forum. I am not certain, but I think the book by George J. Olszewski covers this. It is titled Restoration of Ford's Theatre.

It can be read or downloaded to your computer here.

RJ - much obliged! Very interesting - I did a skim through as I'm readying for departure on the 150th this morning to go to D.C.