Rutherford B. Hayes

 Saturday. May 10, I stopped in Fremont, Ohio to visit the Rutherford B. Hayes Museum, home, and by extension, Library.   They claim to be the first Museum/Library, although so does the Adams home, although the Presidents Adams do not have their presidential papers in the home library.

The house is beautiful, was built for Hayes by a favorite uncle.   Young Rutherford asked for a porch, and it is a beaut!   About 4 generations of Hayes lived in this house, but in the 60s the family moved out because the foot traffic right next door at the museum/library got on their nerves.   There was a wedding going on out back when I was there.

Note the steps leading up to the museum.  ADA compliant ramp built into the steps, and heated in winter.   The pattern is a little confusing.

This is the ceiling in the parlor of the house.  Restored to when Rutherford lived there.   Very impressive.

Mrs. Hayes sewed.    This pedal-operated sewing machine is about nine inches square.   Looks more like a little scroll saw, but I could see where the spool of thread would go.

OK, this was their bathroom.   Circa 1880.  The Hayes had running water, but did not yet have a flushing toilet.   Chamber pot under the seat.  The board over the tub allowed the president to have his papers and books while bathing.   A bookshelf in the bathroom!  

Pride and joy of homes at that time would have been the telephone.   I think the tour guide (shown) told me Hayes had the first telephone in the White House.

The gift shop has quite a collection of plush toy squirrels.   I asked why, and the lady said the squirrels on the grounds are very numerous, and will come up and DEMAND a treat.   

Hayes was one of several presidents who served in the Civil War.   He did well and rose to general, a title he preferred over "Mr. President.   William McKinley was a protege, having served in his regiment.  Up until this trip, I kinda thought most of these politicians who served in the war were mostly political, but what I am seeing is that they really did their job, often heroically!

Hayes only served one term, by choice.   That's a novel idea.

The guides are careful to differentiate between original, reproduction, or from that period.   I think much of the Hayes dining room, including dishes, are from that period, but the two corner tables by the window were rescued from the White House during the War of 1812, when the British burned much of it.  

I had some difficulty with GPS.   Several times, the lane configuration on my screen did not exactly match reality (or so I thought, at 40 miles an hour) so I did several "around the block" trips.   Actually, GPS is instantaneous at rerouting when I pass an exit or turn.

Spent Saturday and Sunday nights in Strongsville, South of Cleveland, both for the price, and to be between Garfield and McKinley.