The Flashlight Tours
Part 1 - Friday Night, 2015
Here I am at the front door.
As you can see, it is decorated for Halloween.
There are "spider webs" covering the front door.
This is the lady of the house. Sally Hardee Murfree Maney. She was born in 1793 and died in 1857. She had eight children, four of whom died within four months of one another in 1838-9. The children's death was due to cholera, which is a water-born disease. This portrait was complete in 1839, when she was in mourning's second-stage. This is evident because she is wearing a white bonnet, collar, and cuffs.
On Friday evening, I was stationed in the back parlor, which was the fancy parlor at the time of Sally's death. This would have meant that she was laid out if the parlor where her portrait now resides.
This is Dr. Maney, the man of the house. Apparently, the doctor was incredibly religious and would not allow dancing or alcohol in the house.
It is interesting that four of his children died. This meant that diseases effected the wealthy as well as the poor, the white as well as the black, and the educated along with the non.
This is a portrait of Governor Cannon. He was the eighth Governor of Tennessee, and the first Whig Governor of Tennessee.
This gorgeous lady was the wife of Governor Cannon, and mother to the young lady who married the Maney's son.
A grand table set for a dinner in the back parlor.
The same location, but I took the photo without the flash. This is how the room was lighted. You could really only see the photographs and other details with the flashlight.
While not covered for the event, mirrors would have been covered if the family was in mourning.
Here you can also see silver pitchers and crystal and silver spice rack.
Gorgeous marble mantle with a coal stove in front.
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