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Lincoln Wonk · 06-08-2021, 04:17 PM

Blaine Houmes, our friend, died Sunday.
https://www.thegazette.com/obituaries/blaine-houmes/

RJNorton · 06-08-2021, 05:14 PM

Kathy, that is very sad news. I knew he was ill, but he was very strong and lived several years longer than what the doctors originally told him. Dr. Houmes was a member here and made many thoughtful posts. His expertise will be missed by all.

Dave Taylor · 06-08-2021, 05:28 PM

In addition to being one of the most knowledgeable and generous people in the Lincoln assassination field, Blaine was also my favorite speaker to listen to. I was always captivated by his talks at the Surratt Conferences as he explained the different medical mysteries of the Lincoln assassination story. He was such a wonderful man.

J. Beckert · 06-08-2021, 05:40 PM

Very sad, indeed. Blaine was a perfect gentleman and a pleasure to be around. He will be missed.

Steve · 06-09-2021, 05:41 AM

I'm sorry to hear about the passing of Dr. Houmes.

Rob Wick · 06-09-2021, 07:08 AM

That is definitely sad news. Blaine helped me out when I was researching Everton Conger by describing exactly what Conger's war wounds involved and how they would have affected him. He was also a fun-loving guy, as evidenced by his obit.

Best
Rob

RJNorton · 06-09-2021, 08:16 AM

I do not know if everybody knew, but Blaine was quite the collector. For example, he owned the rocking chair from Mary Lincoln's room at Bellevue Place.

https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussi...r#pid20404

J. Beckert · 06-09-2021, 09:12 AM

He certainly was. Rick Smith and myself were talking to Laurie in her office once when Blaine walked in. He pulled a CDV from his pocket and said "Look what I just picked up". It was a CDV of Lincoln's bloody deathbed and it had a Ulke backstamp on it. As I handed it back to him I said "These aren't supposed to exist". He just smiled and said "Yes. I know!"

Jim Garrett · 06-09-2021, 08:58 PM

Blaine will be missed by all who knew him. A great person with a dry sense pf humour. The first time I met him was at a Surratt Conference. Rich Smyth and I had been trying to get information on the Booth mummy and hoped to get a modern picture of it. I was fortunate to sit next to Blaine at the conference and also during the conference luncheon. He shared with me many details about the mummy. He had viewed the mummy and at one time (a very short time) considered buying the mummy. He said it was so full of arsnic that it was "a toxic waste dump". He had promised not to disclose the owner's name or whereabouts, (I did find out his name and address, and not from Blaine). Sitting next to him during the conference, he leaned over and said in a low voice, "the owner has another mummy too." Completely deadpan. Could not help but laugh.

Others, please share any stories of Blaine. He will be looking down upon with that smirk.

LincolnMan · 06-10-2021, 05:43 AM

I also had communication with him years ago in the form of a letter- regarding a Lincoln question, of course. As everyone has said- a great loss to the Lincoln world.

Jim Garrett · 06-10-2021, 07:42 AM

Blaine was very generous with his collection. He provided a number of downloads of items in his collection. One of my favorites was a CDV of a mourning wreath for George Atzerodt. The name is spelled Atzrodt and that was the spelling the family adopted, maybe from fallout from the assassination.

J. Beckert · (This post was last modified: 06-10-2021 08:30 AM by J. Beckert.)

He had an amazing collection that any museum would envy. I asked him if his children had any interest in the items he had. He said no and that his children used to jokingly refer to his collection as “our inheritance”. His dry sense of humor was hilarious.

RJNorton · 06-10-2021, 08:40 AM

(06-10-2021 08:20 AM)J. Beckert Wrote: He had an amazing collection that any museum would envy. I asked him if his children had any interest in the items he had. He said no and that his children used to jokingly refer to his collection as “our inheritance”. His dry sense of humor was hilarious.

An example of Blaine's humor:

"I'm getting confused. First Nancy Hanks was alleged to be illegitimate. Then I've read where people thought Abraham was illegitimate. Now Thomas and his son Abraham--even his mother Nancy Hanks--were all supposed to have been wrestlers. There's a legend that Thomas once walked into the cabin and caught Nancy Hanks in flagrante delicto with another man. Were they just wrestling?"

https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussi...ml#pid4883

Eva Elisabeth · 06-10-2021, 05:07 PM

Very sad to hear (and so sad he wasn't allowed to enjoy his retirement), I feel for his family. I second Joe, it was a pleasure to have met him. He had a great sense of humor, and he was a smart and brilliant talker at whatever he presented or discussed. As for his collection - one of my fondest memories is Mary Lincoln's veil which he once put in my hands to marvel at.

wpbinzel · 06-14-2021, 09:57 PM

I had the great pleasure to know Blaine. He enjoyed a good discussion and very willingly and freely shared any information or artifact that he had. I mourn his passing, but consider myself most fortunate and blessed that our paths crossed.