Presidents and First Ladies Trivia

[L Verge]

She also stayed at the Fifth Avenue Hotel as First Lady. It was equipped with a "vertical railway"--i.e., an elevator.

http://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2012/01...-atop.html

Thanks for getting me started on the Fifth Avenue Hotel, Susan. I noticed that the link you gave gives virtually no Civil War history of the hotel, but there is plenty.

When Lincoln relieved Gen. McClellan of his command, the popular officer took up residence at the Fifth Avenue Hotel and on the day of his arrival was greeted with a throng of cheering supporters. He addressed them from a hotel balcony. Before moving to a fully-furnished home on West 31st Street (given to him by wealthy supporters), McClellan announced his intention to run for President against Lincoln from the hotel.

During the 1864 election turmoil in the city, Gen. Benjamin Butler set up his headquarters at the Fifth Avenue. Much of the fears surrounded the thought that the Confederates would firebomb the city, so Union troops were sent to deter any threat. However, as soon as the troops went away, the one-night incident that we are familiar with occurred, and the Fifth Avenue was one of the dozen hotel targets. Ironically, one of the Confederate leaders, Lt. Col. Robert Martin, was actually registered at the hotel.

The hotel was the site for a grand reception for Gen. Grant on November 20, 1865. Whenever he stayed at the hotel, Grant reserved rooms 43 and 44, overlooking West 24th Street. It was at the Fifth Avenue that he first debated running for President.

Edwin Booth and his first wife, Mary Devlin, lived in a suite at the hotel as newlyweds in 1861. William Tecumseh Sherman lived there for two years before buying an uptown home in 1888.

Now, here's a trivia question about the Fifth Avenue Hotel - There were two shops on the ground floor that were favorites of Abraham Lincoln. You don't have to know their names, but do you know what items Lincoln purchased from each (without cheating)?

[RJNorton]

Now, here's a trivia question about the Fifth Avenue Hotel - There were two shops on the ground floor that were favorites of Abraham Lincoln. You don't have to know their names, but do you know what items Lincoln purchased from each (without cheating)?

I shall guess a hat and a pair of boots?

[L Verge]

Now, here's a trivia question about the Fifth Avenue Hotel - There were two shops on the ground floor that were favorites of Abraham Lincoln. You don't have to know their names, but do you know what items Lincoln purchased from each (without cheating)?

I shall guess a hat and a pair of boots?

You are correct about the hat store - Knox Hat Store. The owner offered the President a new hat free in exchange for his old one.

The second store is going to be rather surprising, I think.

[Steve]

suit/overcoat?

[RJNorton]

I will guess that Steve is right. I know Mary was on Abraham's case for the way he looked during the inaugural train trip, so I think it seems logical he might have purchased a new suit or coat in New York City.

[L Verge]

Sorry, the second store did not sell anything related to clothing.

[Steve]

Book store?

[AussieMick]

Shop selling Lollies ( sweeties ... toffee/chocolates ...whatever they're called in the US) ?

[L Verge]

Book store?

Nope. These folks sold something that I don't usually associate with Lincoln.

---

Lollies ( sweeties ... toffee/chocolates ...whatever they're called in the US) ?

You are absolutely correct. How did you know? Maillard Chocolates was the business, and Lincoln liked them so much that he ordered them for events at the White House.

[AussieMick]

Book store?

Nope. These folks sold something that I don't usually associate with Lincoln.

---

Lollies ( sweeties ... toffee/chocolates ...whatever they're called in the US) ?

You are absolutely correct. How did you know? Maillard Chocolates was the business, and Lincoln liked them so much that he ordered them for events at the White House.

I truly guessed. But (and I'm going out on a limb because I havent checked) ... maybe I recalled ... was there a toffee wrapper in Lincoln's pocket when he was killed ? (Edit: No, I've now checked ... no wrapper in his pocket) or maybe I'm thinking of his law office ... or the shop at New Salem ... or I dunno.

[L Verge]

Watch out, folks, I'm on a string of Presidential trivia...

Which President and First Lady were so afraid of electricity that White House servants had to turn on and off all light switches and lamps?

[Anita]

It was the Harrisons. They were afraid of electric shock. I don't blame them. It was so new and few understood the science.

[Steve]

I'll second Anita, assuming she means Benjamin Harrison and his wife and not William Henry Harrison.

[L Verge]

Kudos to you both. That didn't take long.

Try this one: Which President was a male model in his younger years and appeared on the front cover of Cosmopolitan? He later owned part-interest in a modeling agency.

[Gene C]

Gerald Ford