Tour the WCHS Museum

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SHERIFF'S QUARTERS - SECOND FLOOR

Stairs to Second Floor

1. The Woman in the Picture is Eva Sullivan Wohlwend, wife of William Wohlwend. The picture was donated by granddaughter, Ann Wickerham.

2. The Grandfather's Clock at the top of the stairs was made in Scotland in 1776. It is an eight day clock.

Landing Hallway

1. This area was used as a Sitting Room to relax in.

2. The Victrola (it still works) was donated by Kate & Martha McClanahan. They were former Marion schoolteachers. We also have some old Records and a piece of music with a picture of singer, Al Jolson.

3. A green velvet sofa with only one side arm was a Fainting Couch used for napping. It was donated by Harold Violett.

4. The Gentleman's Chair was donated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ellison.

5. Stereopticon and pictures.

6. Candle holder and stand.

7. Rug on floor.

8. The Organ was made by Story & Clark of Chicago. It was donated by Kate and Martha McClanahan. It is in operational condition.

9. Tuning Fork used by Thomas Jefferson Taylor to teach singing schools & choirs in churches of Grassy Township.

10. The Display areas are closets with the backs cut out. We display antique fashions designed by Mrs. Eva Wohlwend, a pioneer of Williamson County in these.

(Off Master Bedroom). A mannequin is dressed in a Printed Dress with black velvet trim. On the floor is a box containing a Wreath made of Human Hair. A wall hanging "To My Dear Uncle".

11. Closet Display (Off Children's Room). Woman is wearing a Taupe Dress, circa 1918, with floor-length, straight skirt. The top hangs over and down to the knee. Buttons are covered in velvet, there is velvet trim down the front and lace at the neck. The dress was made by Mrs. Eva Wohlwend (her portrait hangs in the Little Girl's Room). She carries a purse and wears a lovely feather hat. A Baby in a Christening Dress is in a Wicker Baby Carriage.

Master Bedroom

1. In 1913 Sheriff Lem Duncan and his family moved into the jail. The second floor served as bedrooms for the family.

2. The room on the left was the Master Bedroom.

3. The bedroom contains a hand carved Sleigh Bed hand made in 1830-1840. There is a Feather Mattress on the bed.

4. A Quilt Rack displaying a Crazy Quilt started in 1907 and finished in 1908 by Margaret J. Sanders, sister to great-grandfather of Mrs. Albert (Mary Anna Miller) Kaeser.

5. The marble-top Wig Dresser was made in England about 1860. Women have worn wigs for many years. Wigs first recorded use was in early Egyptian times. Powdered wigs were popular in the 15th & 16th centuries.

6. On the dresser is Hand Painted China by a Johnston City woman.

7. A Wash Bowl, pitcher, soap dish, cup are on a marble-topped wash stand, circa 1880.

8. The marble-topped Dowry Chest is made of pine, circa 1830. It was donated by Winifred Burress. On top of the chest is a Bible Keeper. They are usually kept on the mantle. This is a large one. It was a mortal sin to touch anyone's Bible Box because they not only contained their Bible, but also their prized possessions.

9. The Charles Cradle, a spindle craddle, was donated by the Huck Family of Johnston City. They are descendants of early banker, Peter Westier.

10. The Cedar Chest belonged to Mrs. S. Glen Young, wife of the Gunfighter who was employed by the Ku Klux Klan to clean up Williamson County during Prohibition days. The picture on the chest is of Mrs. Glen Young. She crocheted, knitted, tatted and did other fine hand sewing. After she was blinded from a bomb having been thrown in their car, she was unable to continue her crafts. The chest is full of her unfinished articles.

11. There are two picture albums on the chest. The one with the ornate silver decoration has pictures in it. Other one belonged to the Caplinger family, but all pictures have been removed. The pictures are in the Marion Carnegie Library.

12. There is an Old Kerosene Lamp.

Boy's Room

1. The bed in the boy's room is a single size, low Jenny Lind Spool bed. Low beds or trundles were used for small children so they would not fall off the bed and become "addled".

2. Other furnishings are 2 small chairs, a large wooden Blanket Chest, a Ladder Back Rocker, a Ladder Back Chair donated by Winifred Burress, and a granite bowl & pitcher, cup & soap dish with his Potty underneath..

3. Toys include an old truck, fire truck, toy train, small shovel and sand pail, and a wooden set of carpenter's tools.

4. A small boy is shown in his Every day Clothes. A wooden peg rack holds the boys cap and some clothes. A second peg rack holds a gun. The peg racks were donated by Winifred Burress.

5. A large picture hangs over the blanket chest.

Girl's Room

1. The girl sleeps in a twin size Canopy Bed made of iron. The canopy extends out over the side of the bed like a porch on a house. The cover for the canopy with eyelet trim matches the curtains. The bed was designed to accomodate a Trundle. Bedrooms were not heated in Winter and heavy drapes or quilts were placed on canopy to keep out drafts. In Summer windows did not have screens & mosquito netting was draped over the canopy.

2. The Victorian Walnut Dresser with marble in the center was contributed by Mr. & Mrs. Jason Collins.

3. Old pictures, of ceramic and plaster, a cedar box and a pair of baby shoes are on the dresser.

4. A Chandelier with Candles.

5. A Handmade Doll House has 5 rooms of Handmade Furniture, circa 1875. The House was donated by Ethel Ashby, but was originally from the Wohlwend family.

6. Here also is a Doll Buggy with Doll and a doll cradle.

7. There is a wash basin & pitcher and a child's potty.

8. A Handmade Rocker with a cane seat was brought to Marion about 1853 by Rev. John Ingersoll. It was donated to the Marion Carnegie Library by George Goodall in 1932. Mr. Goodall said the rocker is more than 150 years old. Infomation copied from a card attached to the rocker in 1979.

9. The combination high chair and rocker was donated by Winifred Bainbridge Hudgens. Made in 1911.

Bathroom

1. The hallway shelves by the bathroom entrance, is the Linen Closet. Displayed here are Old Quilts. We have one quilt made by the First Methodist Women's Organization to raise funds for a parsonage in 1884. For 25c you could have your name put on the quilt. It has 276 names on it.

2. As you enter the bathroom, you see a galvanized Hip Bath, Wash Bowl and Pitcher on a Wrought Iron holder. The Hip Bath was used by sitting in the tub with your feet out. When finished, you would stand in the tub and rinse off by pouring a pitcher of water down you.

3. The Walnut Commode was made in about 1870. The mahogany table hides the Chamber Pot . The top raises and it becomes a chair.

4. An old folding screen separates the old from the new bathroom facilities.

WCHS Tour - page 3