'STAYING WARM' IN AN OLD HOUSE!

Let me introduce you to Paul Wilham of Cincinnati, Ohio .. a regular blogger I admire for knowledgable commentaries on a range of topics .. good reading!


If you are waking up to one of the coldest mornings in the last several years. Here at our house in Indy it is -12 with a -24-26 wind chill you probably did the usual, went downstairs , checked your thermostat to see how well your furnace kept up and of course turned on your water and hoped it came out. If you survived intact, you realized your furnace never stopped running last night and in the back of your mind you have that nagging thought of just how bad that winter heating bill will be.

So how did those Victorian keep warm? Well we all have the romantic view of Victorian life, opulent rooms with servants bringing by an extra blanket as the fire roared in a grand fireplace as you sipped your hot tea. Well that wasn't the 'real world' of most people in the Victorian era. Opulent Velvet Drapes were the province of only the very wealthy and could cost hundreds of dollars. Most Victorian had to 'get by' by sewing their own drapes. Middle and upper class homes did however have what we called summer drapes and winter drapes. One of the 'chores' of spring cleaning was the removal of heavy drapes and replacing them with a light lace curtains. Most 'less than affluent' Victorians pretty much do what most of us modern day Old house people do. They nailed or tacked blankets or fabric over the windows in really cold periods. They also closed off rooms that were not used either by closing pocket doors and or the use of Portiere which has a drape that closed off a doorway. While many Victorian homes in cities might have gas which powered those lovely cast iron fireplaces you saw in every room of a Victorian townhouse.

Many houses would have had wood burning stoves. Usually in the Parlor or living room and off course the wood stove in the kitchen. In cold weather it was critical to keep these stoked and while the husband went off to work every day it was the "lady" of the house who usually hauled wood in and threw it in the stoves. Children were a blessing because that chore would then fall to the children.

Victorian knew how to "layer' clothes. What we may now view as the 'stuffy' garb of the Victorian era actually had a practical side in winter....it kept you warm! Men wore 'long johns' under their cloths and women had layers of petticoats.

Staying warm at night was the biggest problem. Even in many middle class homes the only source of heat was on the first floor. Assuming you got the downstairs hot enough the rising heat might make the night 'passable". You often found a cast iron grate between floors to allow heat to rise into the upstairs bedrooms. Of course we all think of the grand Victorian bed possibly a 4 poster covered with elegant linens.

A more apt description might be like this:

The best mattresses were filled with horsehair, next step down was cow’s hair, then wool. A straw mattress was often put down under a hair one to protect it from the iron bedstead. Chain-spring mattresses were available in the second half of the century, but they were expensive, and they still needed a hair mattress over them. A square of sheeting was often tied over the springs to prevent them from chewing up the mattress, which was then covered in sheeting to protect it from soot and dirt. If the bed had no springs, a feather bed could be added on top of the mattress. These were expensive and hard to maintain. An under blanket was usually put over the hair mattress. All this needed to be turned and shaken every day, because the fibers tended to mat and clump. Your linens would consist of an under sheet tucked into the lowest mattress to protect it from soot, a bottom sheet, a top sheet, blanket (in winter 3-4 of them), a bolster, and pillows. They would be covered in Holland sheeting then with pillowcases. One good housekeeping writer recommended that blankets be washed every other summer, and sheets once a month, unless 2 people shared the bed, then wash every 2 weeks. Not all sheets were washed at once. The bottom sheet would be taken off and replaced with the top sheet and a clean top sheet put on. The main bedding cleaning was twice a year, spring and fall. The mattresses and pillows would be taken out and aired and every few years taken completely apart, washed, and feathers sifted to get rid of dust. This kind of work could only be accomplished if you had enough room and help. Many could not manage it.A good housewife was expected to check the bedding for fleas and vermin every week. If you found them it meant a major war had to be waged. The bed would have to be taken apart and the pieces washed or soaked with chloride of lime and water. The room had to thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. All cracks had to be repaired and sealed. If the infestation was out of control the bed would be put in an empty room which was sealed airtight and then sulfur was burned to disinfect the bed and surrounding area.People mistrusted laundries because they weren’t sure of what might be in their things when they were returned. They felt the same way about buying used furniture.

Quilting was not only a social pastime but an essential 'chore' as bed linens from a store were often expensive and beyond the means of most people. Victorians Piled on the blankets to keep warm which is why blanket chests were so popular. You needed one to hold them and you needed allot of them to stay warm!

So while we will all grumble next month when that high heat bill arrives, remember, at least we have furnaces!

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Posted By Paul Wilham to Victorian Antiquities and Design at 1/16/2009

MID-WINTER AUCTION

Russell and Abby Carlsen have been friends of mine over many years. Here is information on their upcoming auction on Sunday, January 18. Don't miss previewing or attending this auction. Always a diverse offering of quality antiques and art. HMH

Freehold, NY – Carlsen Gallery’s Mid-Winter Antiques Auction takes place on Sunday, January 18, at 11 a.m. Held usually at six to eight week intervals, Carlsen’s auctions are noted for offering fresh-to-the-market furnishings and accessories from various Hudson Valley and Connecticut estates.

Of particular note, the January 18 auction will feature an important collection of 19th century firearms. This is in addition to a wide selection of American, English and Continental antique furniture; and paintings by listed artists, prints, cast iron and garden decorations, Asian porcelains, clocks, Sterling silver, and a diverse offering of country and formal accessories. Also being offered is an “attic fresh” selection of dolls, according to gallery co-owner Russ Carlsen, who also mentioned that .. “many ‘late arrivals’ will add to the appeal of this annual event,”

The Carlsen Gallery is easily accessible from the New York State Thruway’s Catskill exit #21, via Route 23 to Route 32 north.

Gallery co-owner Abby Carlsen remarks, “We are starting the year 2009 with this strong auction filled with many investment quality antiques”. In the opinion of many observers, at a time when our financial markets offer little certainty of enduring values, antiques and art are increasingly being sought out as an alternative, in additional to their functional value.

A fully illustrated catalogue is available online: www.carlsengallery.com. Absentee and telephone bids are also accepted in advance of the sale, although these arrangements must be made by Friday, January 16.

An auction preview will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 14 to 16, from Noon to 5 p.m., and from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. on January 18, when the sale commences.

A 15% buyers premium is charged on all purchases. Cash, pre-approved checks, MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted in payment for purchases.

For more information, call (518) 634-2466, fax: (518) 634-2467. E-mail: info@carlsengallery.com

AN ICY MORNING ..

It is an icy morning on Thursday, December 11. The first major storm will soon hit the upper Hudson Valley. So many random thoughts. Where do I begin?

This morning on WAMC, the local National Public Radio affiliate, I listened to a news item about NPR laying off 7% of their staff of 800, citing declining corporate gifts to the non-profit national radio service. Not good! I listen to WAMC constantly, especially in the morning, and late at night. At 11 p.m., WAMC features "As It Happens", a very entertaining and informative program produced by the CBC, Canada's public news broadcasting service. "AIH" has a global perspective that often touches on what is happening in the US. This program is followed by a four-hour broacast from the BBC, offering an unparalleled update on world news. WAMC is available throughout upstate eastern New York, western Massachusetts and Vermont, and northwestern Connecticut.

THIS WEEKEND .. On Saturday, December 13, people are invited to elebrate the season at Beattie-Powers Place from 3 to 5. This mid-19th century historic merchants house overlooking the Hudson River has undergone major restoration in recent times. Bequeathed to the Village of Catskill in the early '90s, a wide range of public programs are sponsored throughout the year by the Friends of Beattie-Powers. At a time of shrinking resources, this community effort deserves public support. Beattie-Powers Place is located at the northern end of Bridge Street. Refreshments will be served. Ask about membership!

The monthly "Second Saturday" evening stroll commences at 5 p.m., and continues until 9 p.m. From my own personal observation, the weather never dampens the spirits of hundreds of visitors who stroll along Catskill's historic Main Street. Most shops, galleries and restaurants will be open. Expect to be served refreshments at most businesses. Main Street, Catskill is the continuation of Route 23B (exit #21 of the New York State Thruway), just turn left as you exit the Thruway.

Rockwell Kent Will Open At New York State Museum

Albany, N.Y.- Nov 18th, 2008
:The next exhibition in Bank of America's Great Art Series, "Rockwell Kent: This is My Own," will be on view at the New York State Museum through May 17 in the West Gallery.
The exhibition will feature works from the collection of the Plattsburgh State Art Museum, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, the most complete and balanced collection of Kent's work in the United States.
The collection was established by a gift and bequest from Kent's wife, Sally Kent Gorton. This exhibition is curated by Cecilia M. Esposito, director of the Plattsburgh State Art Museum.
An artist who provided the illustrations for such classics as Moby Dick and the Canterbury Tales , Kent succeeded in multiple endeavors during his lifetime. He was a painter, muralist, illustrator, print maker, book designer, graphic artist, architect, builder, writer and editor, lecturer, navigator, world traveler and political and social activist.
This exhibition offers a breadth of materials on display, including hundreds of items that chronicle Kent's life and work, reflecting intensely personal experiences and a deep sense of moral and political principle.
On display will be paintings, drawings, prints, books, bookplates, photographs, dinnerware, advertising art and more. "Rockwell Kent," a documentary produced by Frederick Lewis, and the book, Rockwell Kent: The Art of the Bookplate will be for sale in the Museum Shop.
Born in Tarrytown in 1882, Kent experienced a comfortable, upper middle-class lifestyle until the sudden death of his father in 1887. As a young boy he developed a resilience and strong work ethic that was evident in all of his future endeavors.
Kent achieved both critical and financial success as an artist during the 1920s and 1930s. He became well known for his book illustrations, bookplates and commercial work. Private collectors and major museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, acquired his paintings and prints.
Between 1918 and 1935, Kent traveled to remote parts of the world, often staying for long periods of time to learn about the people who lived there and to express and record his experiences through his paintings and books.
While editor and publisher of Northeast, I visited the extraordinary collection of work by Rockwell Kent in Plattsburgh years ago. I strongly recommend this exhibit now at the State Museum.

Let's Make a Deal in N.Y.

The doors at Mark McDonald Ltd. originally adorned a 1930s-era movie theater in nearby Saugerties, N.Y.





From the Washington Post
By Annie Groer
Sunday, September 7, 2008; Page P06

Make no mistake about it. You go to Hudson, N.Y., a slowly gentrifying, semi-shabby city of roughly 7,000 souls, to feather your nest.

Sure, you can admire splendid Hudson River and Catskill Mountain vistas 125 miles north of Manhattan, check out four centuries of architecture, eat and drink well in a Starbucks-free community and even take in local culture.

But the main draw, which has been evolving over 20 years, is antique furniture, art, rugs, sculpture, books, funky tchotchkes and, increasingly, new home furnishings. Feel the need for some George III or Louis XVI chairs? A Murano glass chandelier? Japanese erotica, garden sculpture, 1970s psychedelic barware, elaborate quilts, primitive paintings? How about decorating advice on pulling this stuff together?

It can all be yours along an eight-block stretch of Warren Street and a few adjacent byways. The mile-long main drag boasts about 60 antiques dealers, whose merchandising style ranges from meticulously curated to annoyingly jumbled, and 100-plus flea-market-style vendors sharing space in two large old buildings nearby.

Read Full Story

REMEMBERING .. 7 YEARS LATER

When I first arrived in New York City, in the early 1960's, I was interviewed and employed by a long-gone prestigious Wall Street firm, Eastman Dillion, Union Securities & Co. The man who hired me was handsome, bright and incisive, only a few years older than me. He became my "mentor", his speciality, the beginning phenomena of mutual funds as a tool for investing. It was a fascinating experience for me!

In recent weeks, I sought to find out his current association, his whereabouts. It is with great sadness that a search on Google revealed that he was among the thousands who died on September 11, 2001. He was reportedly in his office on the 92nd floor of a World Trade Center tower that fateful morning. I regret it took me seven years to learn of this tragedy.

My very belated condolences to his wife Marianne and his children. I will always remember the role Robert Cruikshank played in my life.

‘10 Coolest Small Towns’

Catskill named as one of ‘10 Coolest Small Towns’ in America
As featured in ‘Budget Travel’ – September 2008

These towns all have fewer than 10,000 people—but they can rival larger cities when it comes to good food, culture, and quality of life.
Laura MacNeil - Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Catskill, N.Y.Population: 4,340 Nearest City: Albany, 35 miles.

Thomas Cole, founder of the Hudson River School of landscape painting, was so enamored with the area that he moved to Catskill in the 1830s—his former home and studio is now the Thomas Cole National Historic Site (218 Spring St., 518/943-7465, thomascole.org, $7). After a period of neglect in the 1980s and '90s, Catskill is attracting artists again, as much for its affordable Victorian homes as for the surroundings. In 2005, musician Frank Cuthbert turned a crumbling 19th-century building into the Brik Gallery, which hosts exhibits as well as classical-music concerts and readings (473 Main St., 518/943-0145, brikgallery.com). Down the street, Argentine artist Dina Bursztyn and her partner, Julie Chase, display their works—some made from river driftwood—at their three-year-old gallery, Open Studio (402 Main St., 518/943-9531, potatospirit.com). Another foreign transplant, Israel-born Yael Manor-McMorrow, and her husband, Keith McMorrow, cook an excellent brunch at Bell's Café-Bistro (387 Main St., 518/943-4070, bellscafeny.net, omelet $9). Catskill's diversity is part of what inspired David Miles to move here to set up his furnishings store, Hood & Company (432 Main St., 518/943-1891, hoodandcompany.com). Well, the town's architecture certainly played a role, too. "When I first turned on Main Street, I fell in love," he says.

ONE OF THE TOP FIVE!

'Associated Content' recently published five top Hudson Valley park destinations, with Dutchmen's Landing ranked #1!

Dutchmen's Landing Park in Catskill, New York. Located in Greene County in the mid-Hudson Valley, Dutchmen's Landing Park is a short drive from Catskill's Main Street area. This peaceful mid-Hudson Valley park is right on the Hudson River, and the park's four launch ramps make it a mecca for boaters. There's a lot to see at Dutchmen's Landing, and on a summer afternoon you can spot a variety of interesting boats of all sizes making their way up and down the Hudson. Dutchmen's Landing is an ideal spot for that family reunion or summer get together.

The park is fully equipped with barbeques, picnic tables and benches, and a playground for the kids. The snack bar at Dutchmen's Landing serves the usual summer fare like hamburgers, sandwiches, French fries and onion rings, as well as ice cream and cold drinks.

Also check out the summer concert series at Dutchmen's Landing for great live music by popular local bands and performers. While visiting Dutchmen's Landing in Catskill, don't forget to look across the river to Olana (on the east side of the Hudson). The Persian castle that was the home of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church is visible in the distance.

Historic Catskill Point - just a few steps away from Dutchmen's Landing, is also a hub of summer activity in Catskill. Located at the bottom of Main Street and just a short walk from Dutchmen's Landing, The Historic Catskill Point is host to a number of fun, warm weather events, including a Farm Market every Saturday morning.