Marietta’s Castle hosts ‘Over Here’ Living History Day
Newspaper clippings relevant to current events of 1917 could be found throughout the home. One table specifically held articles that showed reasons the Davis family felt led to the U.S. joining the fight. One reason was the sinking of the Lusitania, killing over 1,000 people; another reason was the Zimmermann telegram, where Germany attempts to form an alliance with Mexico and Japan against the U.S., which was intercepted by the British in January of 1917 and Germany’s declaration to start attacking all ships that pass into “barred zones.” (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
House maid Ida Wiley shows off a metamorphic dumb waiter table stacked with fine wares for the evening’s party. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
This fireplace, which came from Cincinnati, has been with the house since 1880. It is noted that the fireplace cost $1,000 to buy and $1,000 to install, but the house itself was only about $800 at that time. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Andrew Stock, dressed in a military uniform of the time, represents the local Ohio National Guard recruiting others to join the local Grand Army of the Republic Post. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Newspaper clippings relevant to current events of 1917 could be found throughout the home. One table specifically held articles that showed reasons the Davis family felt led to the U.S. joining the fight. One reason was the sinking of the Lusitania, killing over 1,000 people; another reason was the Zimmermann telegram, where Germany attempts to form an alliance with Mexico and Japan against the U.S., which was intercepted by the British in January of 1917 and Germany’s declaration to start attacking all ships that pass into “barred zones.” (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
House maid Ida Wiley shows off a metamorphic dumb waiter table stacked with fine wares for the evening’s party. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
This fireplace, which came from Cincinnati, has been with the house since 1880. It is noted that the fireplace cost $1,000 to buy and $1,000 to install, but the house itself was only about $800 at that time. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Andrew Stock, dressed in a military uniform of the time, represents the local Ohio National Guard recruiting others to join the local Grand Army of the Republic Post. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
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MARIETTA -- Visitors to The Castle in Marietta were transported back in time Saturday.
Specifically, they were transported to Friday, April 20, 1917; a pivotal year for the nation and the Mid-Ohio Valley, when America had just joined the Great War (WWI) and people want to know how they can help.
Outside, on The Castle lawn, living history interpreters set up shop recruiting townfolk who happened by.
Women could be seen dressed as members of the American Red Cross recruiting others to train as nurses, sew items and fill comfort bags for the soldiers. Men, dressed in military uniforms of the time, could be found representing the local Ohio National Guard recruiting others to join the local Grand Army of the Republic Post.
After meeting with the recruiters, tour takers could knock on the door and meet the Davis family inside. As they toured the home, guests were able to "spend the day" wondering alongside family members what role, if any, they might play in the coming days.
They could be like Jessie Davis Lindsay, eager to train with the red cross and become certified in first aid or like her mother Lucy Nye Davis, who sewed gifts for soldiers, refugees and orphans.
Guests were able to go from room to room, seeing original pieces, newspaper clippings tied to international, national and local events of the time and really getting to know each member of the home.
But the information didn't stop there, through the conversations, guests also learned about neighbors, national icons and events that lead to the U.S. joining the war in the first place, instead of staying neutral as President Wilson hoped.
One "neighbor" was Ella Kathleen Hoff, who was born July 15, 1887 in Muskingum, Washington County to Pascal and Jennie Bartlett Hoff.
In 1910 at age 22 years, she lived at home on Fifth Street in Marietta with her parents and brother and two sisters. During this time, she was also a nursing student at Cincinnati City Hospital.
When the World War broke out, Hoff chose to serve with several other nurses from Cincinnati City Hospital at a reserve hospital in Vienna, Austria. While on duty in Vienna, she contracted a cold and subsequently became severely ill.
In June 1915 she sailed from Copenhagen on the Frederik VIII and arrived in New York. From there she returned to her home. Just a month later, this 29-year-old nurse died of tubercular pneumonia.
She was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery and her name is included among those who served in WWI and died serving their country.
While the war was the forefront of conversations, April 20 was also surrounded by awe and excitement for the area, because at 8 p.m., renowned singer Margaret Wilson, daughter of President Woodrow Wilson, visited Marietta to give a concert in aid of the American Red Cross.
Also present in the home was their maid Ida Wiley, who could be found working away to prepare the home and food for a party taking place after the evening's performance.
She talked about different pieces in the home, and shared stories of the home, which was built in was built in 1855 for Melvin C. Clarke, a lawyer who died in the Civil War at Antietam.
The home was later owned by the Nye and Bosley families. Lindsay, a descendant of the Nye line lived in the home until her death in 1974. The Bosley's then purchased the home and provided some renovations to the property.
While original work can still be found, other pieces were donated once it became a museum.
People interested in learning more about the history of the home and families in it can take tours from April-December (hours vary by season and prices vary by age). Check out their website for more information.
Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com