Tour the WCHS

SHERIFF'S QUARTERS - FIRST FLOOR

Entry

1. As you come into the Museum, observe the Victorian Hall Tree. There is one just like it in the Lincoln Home in Springfield.

2. Also notice the Iron Boot Scraper on the floor.

3. On the south wall is a unique Hat Rack donated by Dianne Stanley Arnold.

Foyer

1. The Brass Door Plates on the sliding door to the library came from the old courthouse which was demolished in 1973.

2. Notice the beautiful Lead Glass in the front door and the Dark Woodwork.

3. The Flocked Wallpaper in the foyer and parlor were purchased at a flea market in Nashville, Tennessee.

4. The early Schoolmasters Desk was made by J. W. Turner, the founder of Crab Orchard Academy.

5. The Little Chair is a Pulpit Chair from Grassy Creek Baptist Church and was donated by Noel Taylor.

6. There is a Storage Bench beside the stairs.

7. A coat and hat rack.

8. The Picture over the desk is entitled "Heading Home" and was painted by David Gooden for the Williamson County Sesquicentennial -1839-1989. (150 yrs.)

Parlor

1. To the north of the foyer is our Parlor, furnished in the Victorian Era.

2. As we enter, the Large Cupboard to the left and the Secretary on the northwest corner, belonged to Nannie Gray Parks.

3. Her Portrait is over the Red Velvet Settee on the north wall.

4. She was Librarian at Marion Carnegie Library for 33 years. When a young child would come to the library, she would ask all about their parents, grandparents, writing on scraps of paper, envelopes, anything she had. She would file these notes at the end of the day in used brown manila envelopes. We have these notes, which were the beginning of our Genealogy Department.

5. She painted the China in her cabinets, the Bird Pictures on the west wall "Yellow Roses" on the east wall above her Doll Collection. We also have some of her High-lace Shoes . She was an accomplished Horsewoman.

6. Pictures of her Mother and both Grandparents are on the mantle.

7. The Red Satin Lamp or "Gone With The Wind" Lamp has been made electric. This style lamp was used in many stage plays. The lamp, the love seat and the four Windsor Chairs were donated by Winifred Burkhart Burris. The chairs were from her uncle's Dentist Office.

8. The old Love seat originally had horsehair, but was restored in crimson velvet, circa 1850.

9. The pictures on the south wall are of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Morrison, owners of Coca Cola Bottling Plant for over 50 years.

10. The large picture over the fireplace is of LeRoy Goddard, who had the only private bank in Marion for 12 years. He went to Chicago and became a millionaire. He remembered Marion and wanted to do something for the city. So he sent money, workers and materials to have the Gothic Style Chapel built at Rose Hill Cemetery. It was completed in 1909. He wanted something beautiful that all could use as a final resting place for their loved ones. We have a Bible that was purchased for the Chapel, but had to be brought here because of vandalism and dampness.

11. It was the custom back in earlier years, when someone died they were in the parlor during the visitation period prior to burial.

12. Our numbered Mason Hamlin Organ was made in France in 1874. It was formerly used in the Carbondale Lutheran Church.

13. Atop the organ is a Banquet Lamp with hand painted shade from the 1850's.

14. The Glass Enclosed Case contains items donated by Joe Goddard.

15. Here is a lovely Candle Stand of the 1850 period. The beautiful Vase, on the Nannie Gray Parks cupboard, is 14" high, white and fuchsia, with roses, is very old.

16. The Queen Anne table is made of Cherry Wood and the Victorian Fireside Chair are about the 1850 era. The Bible is the one originally placed in the LeRoy Goddard Chapel in Rose Cemetery. It was brought here to preserve it.

17. There is a Black Horsehair Sofa that looks just like the one in the home of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield. We believe ours to be of the same era, circa 1850.

18. The old Edison Phonograph with Morning Glory Horn was donated by Paul Gore. There are several cylinders which still play, though scratchy.

19. A large upholstered chair. (No historical significance).

20. Notice the Button Collection sewed on velvet organ scarves, common practice in by-gone days. Jars were too valuable to be used for buttons, and buttons were too valuable to be discarded.

21. On the ground floor, two Steel Doors separated the prisoners from the sheriff's family area. One of those doors is in this room. It opens into the Sheriff's office.

22. The Other Opening is from what was the Kitchen into the Jail Area.

23. There are no openings from the Jail Area into the Family Residence Area on any of the other floors in the building.

Library

1. This was a Dining Room and Kitchen, divided by French Doors and Glass-doored Cabinets that could be reached from either side. The Sheriff's wife prepared meals for both her family and the prisoners here.

2. We removed the Cabinets and Doors to make a large Meeting Room. We formerly had church pews here for seating.

3. We have recently moved our Research Library here as we outgrew our other space.

Book Store

1. To the south of the library is our Book Store. This was originally a Side Porch with a large table where Marion Bakery would leave day-old bread and rolls. The Sheriff had to feed the prisoners out of his salary.

2. We enclosed this porch to make a Confectionery, then an Optometrist Office and now our Book Store.

A Tour of the Williamson County Historical Society Museum

History of Williamson County