Presidential Places Part III

In July 2005, My mom and I were driving back to Pennsylvania from a sojourn in Virginia. Somehow I talked her into getting off the interstate to look for Hollywood Cemetery. Hollywood is one of two places (The others being a church in Quincy, Ma and Arlington National Cemetery.) where two presidents are buried. We drove around for a bit and finally reached the c

emetery. It was a hot July day when I started walking, searching for the two presidents final resting place.

Unfortunely I started on the opposite end of the cemetery from where James Monroe and John Tyler's tombs were. I did pass by the grave of James Thomas Flexner, author of a multi volume biography of George Washington. I had read that Jefferson Davis and J.E.B. Stuart were also buried here but saw no signs of their graves. The Sun and dehydration started to effect me. I thought about giving up, but said to myself  "No, You will find them, they got to be here somewhere."  I had walked what seemed like a mile when I saw the profile of the 10th President on a big monument. I found it! 

Me at John Tyler's grave. The black birdcage like tomb is James Monroe's.
I took a picture of myself at Monroe's tomb but it won't upload. I was too tired to look for Jefferson Davis, so I walked back to the car and left.

Travels to Presidential Places Part II

The next Presidential site I'm going to talk about is Spigel Grove, the home of Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th President of the United States. Hayes is probably most famous for two things. His election in 1880 was disputed. Samuel Tilden, his Democratic opponent, got more popular votes than Hayes and Hayes won after a special commission awarded him the deciding electoral votes. This came up alot in 2000 when Al Gore won the popular vote, but George W. Bush became president because he won the electoral votes of Florida by 537 ballots cast.  The second thing you might know is Hayes' wife Lucy, got the nickname 'Lemonade Lucy' for not allowing intoxicating beverages to be consumed in The White House.

I've visited here on two occasions, both having to do with picking my sister up from college in Indiana. The first visit I didn't have enough money for the admission to the house or museum, so I just walked around the grounds. I had read about the hobby of visiting presidential graves, and I was determened to have my picture taken at Hayes' grave. Luckily for me, the fence that usually surrounded it was being repaired, so I got to stand alot closer to it than you normally get to. I look horrible in this picture so please forgive me.

I visited the museum on another trip. It was nice and even had the carriage Hayes had used.  For some reason though the exhibit I found most impressive was the one of Presidential letters, even though a few of them were obvious autopens.

I almost forgot to mention that near Hayes' tomb is the grave of his horse Old Whitey. I found that kind of cool.

Travels to Presidential Places Part I

Ever since I can remember, I've been a Presidential buff. I'm not sure how it started.  I think it was when my great uncle gave us an old set of encyclopdias from the 1960's. The 'P' volume, in it's article on Presidents of the United States, had drawings of every president from Washington to LBJ. Soon after I acquired a stamp album which has room for stickers of all the presidents up to Reagan (then the current POTUS.) It might of also helped that I spent the first few years of my life near Yorktown, Virginia; The site of George Washington's victory over the British that finally guaranteed America it's freedom.

My mom says that her and my dad took me as a baby to Monticello. She said they were asked to leave cause they were worried that I would break something.  Since I have no memory of that visit, I will start with the first one I do have memories of. Mount Vernon

Photo Courtsey Ad Meskens

I was 7 years old and my uncle was working in the Reagan administration. My mom decided to take a trip on the Amtrak to see him. My mom didn't drive or have a car at the time so I forget how we were able to get to Mount Vernon. I remember that the main thing I wanted to see there was George Washington's tomb, so I didn't take the time I should of to look around the house.  I finally got to the tomb and well it was a tomb. That hasn't stopped me in the years since from trying to visit other presidents tombs and graves, but I guess I was 7 so that could be excused.

During my childhood I made several visits to the Yorktown battlefield. Although I haven't been to the visitors center there since 1986, I would recommend you drop by. It's alot better then the 'Victory Center' which I think charges too much. When I was a kid the visitors center had George Washington's tent and bed from the time of the Revolution, plus a cool movie. Definetly drop by and only go to the 'Victory Center' if you have kids who want to take part in hands on demonstrations.

When my parents divorced, I would move to Northwestern Pennsylvania and the town or "city" of Corry. One of the few presidential sites nearby is the site of Fort LeBouf in the small town of Waterford, PA. Fort LeBouf was a French fort.  As a young man in his twenties, George Washington was sent by the Governor of Virginia, to tell the French to get out.  The French said no, but wined and dined him anyway like a James Bond villain does before he tries to kill 007. The statue pictured is said to be the only one of Washington in a British uniform, though some would argue that he is in fact wearing a Virginia militia uniform instead. Along with the statue is a small museum that is rather unimpressive, assuming of course you find it open when you are there.


In my next post, I will tell you the story of the Rutherford B. Hayes Center and the grave of 'Old Whitey'.