Category: History Nuggets

Painting of George Washington sits on the back of his favorite horse "Nelson".

Acrostic Poem: Honoring President George Washington’s Birthday, February 22, 1732

Published on by goldenbrodie5 Comments

George Washington by PamelaWLucas

General you led us through Valley Forge to many victories

Energy flourished in your tall frame

One among yourself, standing in glory

Riding on Nelson’s back, you must have been grand

Greatness came and visited you each day, lingering

Every person, man or woman loved to be in your presence

Washington is a name that is known to us all

Among all those who have led us, you remain in our hearts

Such a kind and respectful man who simply wanted to farm

Helping and guiding, directing and leading

In the face of danger you grew strong and never faltered

Nelson was your steady steed, a Chestnut that carried you

Giving of yourself, through sorrow and lonely moments

Teaching the troops how to fight the British

Only one among himself, “The Father of Our Nation”

Never to be forgotten, The Soldier, The Hero, The President

More here about George Washington and his horse Nelson.

Capitol Christmas Tree 1913

History Nuggets: Woodrow Wilson Firsts and a Christmas Tree?

Published on by goldenbrodie8 Comments

Lots of firsts for President Woodrow Wilson (No. 28)… first buried in the nation’s capital…  first President to have a PhD…the first to attend a World Series, first to want a national Christmas tree… and the first to travel overseas during his time in office. His legacy includes tariff reform, income tax, currency and credit reform, regulation of business, and better working conditions for the working masses. He left behind a legacy of domestic reforms, a revised and stabilized central government and broadly admired foreign policy.  We thank you 28…

Source for this nugget 

Christmas tree at the Capitol from 1913 in the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog.

Holly and the Ivy

History Nuggets: President William Henry Harrison and the Holly and the Ivy

Published on by goldenbrodie1 Comment

William Henry Harrison, (No. 9) was not in the White House long enough to enjoy a Christmas season, serving only one month before he died of pneumonia after making—in the snow—the longest U.S. presidential inauguration speech on record.

William Henry Harrison, was born at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia on February 9, 1773.  His father, Benjamin, was a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The young Harrison grew up on the James River just 30 miles from Yorktown, where Cornwallis surrendered to Washington. William, the youngest of seven children, learned to rely on himself early in life. The Christmas season was celebrated on Virginia plantations by attending church services and decorating their homes with holly and ivy. William, no doubt, followed the colonial boy’s custom of “shooting in the Christmas,” which consisted of firing their guns into the air on Christmas Eve morning.  “Oh the holly and the ivy…”

Hear the ancient Christmas song “The Holly and the Ivy”.

The inspirational photo by Pixabay

colored drawing of the White House in the winter, with the official White Christmas Tree , Washington Monument and the Potomac River in the background

History Nuggets: The skinny on John Q and where was Christmas?

Published on by goldenbrodie5 Comments

John Quincy Adams (No.6) spent four Christmases in the White House and yet there is very little written about his Christmas celebrations, if indeed there were any.

President Adams was known to follow the same routine every day. He would arise early, swim nude in the Potomac, read several newspapers during breakfast and hold meetings. In the evening dinner was at 5 PM and then he would write in his diaries. He had been raised in Massachusetts where the Puritan distaste for Christmas celebrations may have affected his outlook and he would not have allowed Christmas day to interfere with this practice. However, First Lady Louisa Adams probably celebrated the Christmas holiday in a more prominent way for the children’s sake. There is no historical evidence of Christmas parties at the Adams White House, but Louisa was a very good hostess and may have sent invitations for Christmas dinner at the White House to further her husband’s political connections.  Bah, humbug…

Read from the personal diary of John Quincy Adams.

Inspirational photo by Pinterest

Christmas Poinsettia

History Nuggets: John Q #6 and the Christmas Poinsettia

Published on by goldenbrodie3 Comments

The popular Christmas Poinsettia was first introduced to the U.S. during John Quincy Adams’ presidency (#6) by Joel R. Poinsett, the first diplomatic minister to Mexico.

In 1825, President Adams appointed Joel R. Poinsett as the first diplomatic minister to Mexico. The diplomat, an amateur botanist, found a plant growing wild in the southern states of Mexico and sent back samples to the US. Perhaps they arrived at the White House during the Christmas season, because the “Poinsettia” has grown into a very popular seasonal decoration.

Inspirational photo by Pixabay

More on the Christmas Poinsettia 

William Wallace "Willie" Lincoln as a young boy

History Nuggets: A dark 1862 Christmas in the Lincoln White House

Published on by goldenbrodie10 Comments

When life becomes complicated…holidays and celebrations become difficult and thorny…for instance…Christmas during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

During these hard times, the Lincoln White House left no record of Christmas trees in the halls or parties, other than a family Christmas dinner in 1861 when they were all together.  President Lincoln served the people, met his presidential responsibilities…attended to the needs of war…he and his First Lady directed their energies…spending countless hours in the military hospitals administering to the wounded…writing letters for injured soldiers to send home to loved ones…such unselfish devotion to a divided nation left little time for holiday festivities.

Additional sorrow and mourning entered the White House when third son, Willie, died in February 1862.  Imagine…the White House doors and windows still shrouded in black, black arm bands…stark black attire during that Christmas combined with a civil war.  Lincoln told Tad, his youngest son, “I want to give him all the toys I did not have and all the toys that I would have given the boy that went away”.… referring to 11 year old Willie and his short sweet life.

War deeply influences our lives and our cultural legacy…look for the next History Nugget: “1863 Santa Claus drawn political and choosing sides”

Inspiring photo of William Wallace Lincoln by Pinterest

Lighted candles with the glow of Christmas

History Nuggets: An orphan boy who never heard of Santa Claus became President

Published on by goldenbrodie9 Comments

“On Christmas Eve in 1835, President Andrew Jackson and the White House children embarked upon a carriage ride, delivering gifts to former First Lady Dolly Madison and Vice President Martin Van Buren.  During the ride one of the children asked the President if he thought Santa would visit the White House. Mr. Jackson replied that they would have to wait and see and told the children of a boy he once knew who had never heard of Christmas or Santa Claus and who had never owned a single toy. The boy, he told them, never knew his father and then his mother died.  After her death, he had no friends and no place to live. Jackson and the children then visited an orphanage and delivered the remaining gifts in the carriage to its residents. Years later, one of the children, Mary Donelson, realized that the boy the president spoke of had been Jackson himself.” Jackson was a complicated man who came from lonely and troubled beginnings…who grew to cherish Christmas and share the joy of light and hope.

Inspirational photo by Pexels.

Black and white colonial cut-out figures during Christmas

History Nuggets: First Christmas Cards, First Christmas Party in the White House and a nose bitten off?!

Published on by goldenbrodie4 Comments

The second President of the United States, John Adams, held the first ever White House Christmas party in honor of his granddaughter, Susanna. History could also say that Adams invitations sent for this party were the very first White House Christmas cards from the Peoples’ House.

First Lady Abigail Adams, planned a successful party complete with dinner, cakes and punch, with a  small orchestra that played festive music in a grand ballroom adorned with seasonal flora.  When one of the younger guests accidentally broke one of the First granddaughter’s new doll dishes, granddaughter Adams enraged, promptly bit the nose off of one of the offending friend’s dolls. An amused Adams stepped in to make sure the incident didn’t take an even uglier turn.  Seems a president’s job is never done.

Inspirational photo by Pinterest

History Nuggets: 1941 FDR and Winston share war and Christmas Eve dinner

Published on by goldenbrodie5 Comments

As the United States celebrated Christmas for the first time as combatants in WWII (while still climbing out of the Great Depression), the dinner menu at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue  reflected the country’s wartime sacrifice. FDR and guest of honor Winston Churchill, after lighting the White House Christmas Tree, dined on clear soup, thin toast, turkey and dressing, and beans, and Christmas plum pudding. Imagine their conversation…

Source: Mental Floss

Colorful drawing of Mount Vernon in the winter with carriages and guests arriving by Pinterest

History Nuggets: George Washington’s Boozy Christmas Eggnog

Published on by goldenbrodie5 Comments

So recorded…by his own hand…George’s recipe for boozy eggnog that was quite the hit during the Christmas season at Mount Vernon…

George Washington’s Christmas Eggnog

“One quart cream, one quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one pint brandy, ½ pint rye whiskey, ½ pint Jamaica rum, ¼ pint sherry—mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of 12 eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well. Add milk and cream, slowly beating. Beat whites of eggs until stiff and fold slowly into mixture. Let set in cool place for several days. Taste frequently.”

Inspirational photo by Pinterest