Dr. Mudd House Museum

[wpbinzel]

When Laurie Verge passed away, and the M-NCPPC took the Surratt House Museum in a different direction away from its role in the Lincoln assassination, I was asked by an unnamed and unindicted co-conspirator to become a docent leading tours at the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd. I was hesitant, as I knew Louise Mudd Arehart, and according to her, Dr. Mudd was a simple country doctor. If you suggested anything to the contrary, she would chase you off the property, with or without her broom in hand. Times have changed. Members of the Mudd family (who are friends) and Bob Bowser (who does not get enough credit for maintaining the Mudd House Museum) encourage docents to present the facts (as best we know them), and let people make their own decisions. It is exactly what Laurie always encouraged at the Surratt House Museum.

[RJNorton]

(06-21-2024 11:24 AM)wpbinzel Wrote:  If you suggested anything to the contrary, she would chase you off the property,

This is exactly correct. In c.1982 Vicki and I were asked to leave the property when I told her many of my students did not believe the fake beard story.

[wpbinzel]

(06-21-2024 01:28 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(06-21-2024 11:24 AM)wpbinzel Wrote:  If you suggested anything to the contrary, she would chase you off the property,

This is exactly correct. In c.1982 Vicki and I were asked to leave the property when I told her many of my students did not believe the fake beard story.

People like to think about "degrees of separation," so if you met Mrs. Arehart, she was the daughter of Samuel Mudd, II, who was born in January 1864 and would have been nearly a year-old when JW Booth stayed with the Mudds in mid-December 1864. Booth liked children, and likely interacted with Mudd II. Mudd II certainly interacted with his daughter, Louise Mudd Arehart. That means that you and Vicki are only two people removed from John Wilkes Booth. Just in case you had not thought about it that way....

[Dennis Urban]

I also met Mrs. Arehart in the late 1980s or early 1990s but knew enough not to express my opinion when on the farm. Another relative, Cecelia Dyer Mudd, born 1914, became a Carmelite nun with the name of Sister Mary Samuela. She was in a convent in Washington, DC. I don't know if she ever got away to visit the farm but she and Louise signed my copy of The Life of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd 1906, edited by Nettie Mudd. My reprint is from 1975.

[RJNorton]

(06-22-2024 06:19 PM)Dennis Urban Wrote:  I also met Mrs. Arehart in the late 1980s or early 1990s but knew enough not to express my opinion when on the farm. Another relative, Cecelia Dyer Mudd, born 1914, became a Carmelite nun with the name of Sister Mary Samuela. She was in a convent in Washington, DC. I don't know if she ever got away to visit the farm but she and Louise signed my copy of The Life of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd 1906, edited by Nettie Mudd. My reprint is from 1975.

Dennis, I also own a copy signed by the grandchildren:

[wpbinzel]

Before Dr. Sam was imprisoned in 1865, he (and his wife, Sarah Francis Dyer, whom he called "Frank") had four children. After Sam was pardoned in 1869, he fathered five more. Of the nine children, one died as an infant; one daughter became a nun; one son never married; one son never had children. Of the other five children, they produced 33 grandchildren of Dr. Mudd. There are a lot of Mudds.

[Dennis Urban]

(06-23-2024 02:58 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(06-22-2024 06:19 PM)Dennis Urban Wrote:  I also met Mrs. Arehart in the late 1980s or early 1990s but knew enough not to express my opinion when on the farm. Another relative, Cecelia Dyer Mudd, born 1914, became a Carmelite nun with the name of Sister Mary Samuela. She was in a convent in Washington, DC. I don't know if she ever got away to visit the farm but she and Louise signed my copy of The Life of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd 1906, edited by Nettie Mudd. My reprint is from 1975.

Dennis, I also own a copy signed by the grandchildren:

OK, you win 12-2. I hope when you were kicked off the Mudd property you exited in the same direct as did Booth and Herold. Poetic justice.

[RJNorton]

I almost didn't buy the book as I was upset at being asked to leave the property. I meant no harm with my comment, but it simply wasn't taken well.

[Rob Wick]

You would think with how long the name "Mudd" has been, well, Mud, that the family would have been used to it by then.

Maybe, Roger, they were really upset about you being a Cub's fan (had to get a plug for my Cardinals in here somehow).

Best
Rob

[bob_summers]

(07-01-2024 03:30 PM)Dennis Urban Wrote:  

(06-23-2024 02:58 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(06-22-2024 06:19 PM)Dennis Urban Wrote:  I also met Mrs. Arehart in the late 1980s or early 1990s but knew enough not to express my opinion when on the farm. Another relative, Cecelia Dyer Mudd, born 1914, became a Carmelite nun with the name of Sister Mary Samuela. She was in a convent in Washington, DC. I don't know if she ever got away to visit the farm but she and Louise signed my copy of The Life of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd 1906, edited by Nettie Mudd. My reprint is from 1975.

Dennis, I also own a copy signed by the grandchildren:

OK, you win 12-2. I hope when you were kicked off the Mudd property you exited in the same direct as did Booth and Herold. Poetic justice.

As some of you may know, my Aunt Louise and Sister Samuela were my mother's (Carmelite Mudd Summers) two younger sisters. Aunt Louise passed away in 2002, and Sister Samuela in 2003. I knew them both well.

Yes, Aunt Louise could be a bit intense in her support for Dr.Mudd, but we all owe her a debt of gratitude. Were it not for that intensity and prolonged hard work, the historic Mudd farm we can all visit today would not have been preserved and protected from developers.

She had a full life apart from her interest in Dr. Mudd. During World War II, Aunt Louise worked as a civilian in the Pentagon. After the war, she ran a tourist home in Waldorf, served as a judge in the Charles County Orphan’s Court, and worked in real estate. She also had an extensive collection of antique furniture.

Sister Samuela was a Catholic nun her whole adult life. She had a BA in math and taught math in schools in Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. She passed away in retirement at St. Mary's Convent, Notre Dame, Indiana.

Both were remarkable ladies.

[RJNorton]

Thanks for sharing, Bob!

[wpbinzel]

And, Bob, I take great pleasure in leading tours through the historic house at least once a month. I try to point out that most museums are built to house historic items, and while many of the items in the Mudd House are historic (especially the couch), the most historic item is the house itself. Bob Bowser does not get enough credit for keeping enough docents lined up to keep the museum operational.

(07-07-2024 03:47 PM)bob_summers Wrote:  

(07-01-2024 03:30 PM)Dennis Urban Wrote:  

(06-23-2024 02:58 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(06-22-2024 06:19 PM)Dennis Urban Wrote:  I also met Mrs. Arehart in the late 1980s or early 1990s but knew enough not to express my opinion when on the farm. Another relative, Cecelia Dyer Mudd, born 1914, became a Carmelite nun with the name of Sister Mary Samuela. She was in a convent in Washington, DC. I don't know if she ever got away to visit the farm but she and Louise signed my copy of The Life of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd 1906, edited by Nettie Mudd. My reprint is from 1975.

Dennis, I also own a copy signed by the grandchildren:

OK, you win 12-2. I hope when you were kicked off the Mudd property you exited in the same direct as did Booth and Herold. Poetic justice.

As some of you may know, my Aunt Louise and Sister Samuela were my mother's (Carmelite Mudd Summers) two younger sisters. Aunt Louise passed away in 2002, and Sister Samuela in 2003. I knew them both well.

Yes, Aunt Louise could be a bit intense in her support for Dr.Mudd, but we all owe her a debt of gratitude. Were it not for that intensity and prolonged hard work, the historic Mudd farm we can all visit today would not have been preserved and protected from developers.

She had a full life apart from her interest in Dr. Mudd. During World War II, Aunt Louise worked as a civilian in the Pentagon. After the war, she ran a tourist home in Waldorf, served as a judge in the Charles County Orphan’s Court, and worked in real estate. She also had an extensive collection of antique furniture.

Sister Samuela was a Catholic nun her whole adult life. She had a BA in math and taught math in schools in Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. She passed away in retirement at St. Mary's Convent, Notre Dame, Indiana.

Both were remarkable ladies.