It Was Just Like One of Varina's "Levees"

 In our blog of 10/4/10 that we told you that we would be entertaining the delegates of the Alabama Preservation Conference on the evening of October 7, from 5:15 - 6:15.

That was last night of course and I am happy to report  it seemed to be a tremendous success! We had 51 people sign the guest book, but more than that came by. These ladies and gentlemen were from all over the State and they were interested in and knew about decorative arts, antique furniture and history and were at the beginning of a full weekend of seminars and events. 

A dozen of our White House Association members were on hand to  "man"  their room (all members are  assigned rooms). As the guests came by, our ladies skillfully told  about some of the most important things in her room. 

One of our group stood on the front porch and warmly greeted every visitor, offered refreshments aand invited them in. Two of our member-husbands cordially served the refreshments.

I want to thank each and every member who was able to come, and especially our Association member Gale Main who arranged for the FWH to be on the Convention schedule. It was a tremendous PR event for us! And we appreciate each delegate that took the time to attend.

You would be very proud of the First White House and how beautiful and impressive it appeared. It reminded us of  what we have read about  Varina Davis having "levees" (teas) in the House.  She would doubtless have been very proud of the House and of the White House ladies last night!!! And of course very impressed with the guests. as well.

"Becoming Alabama"

I thought you would be interested in learning more about "Becoming Alabama".

Becoming Alabama is a statewide partnership for the planning and promotion of commemorative activities to observe the anniversaries of three major periods in Alabama history: the bicentennial of the Creek War and War of 1812, which was pivotal in the formation of the state; the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, which began with decisions made in Montgomery by the fledgling Confederate government; and the ongoing fiftieth anniversaries of major events in the civil rights movement, which had its greatest struggles and achievements in the churches, streets, and parks of Alabama.


The concept for Becoming Alabama began with a pragmatic assessment of the financial and logistical challenges posed by this rapid succession of anniversaries over the next several years. Given the budgetary restraints faced by nearly every historical and cultural organization in today’s economic climate, it made sense to seek efficiency in planning public programs, designing publicity, and developing educational resources.

The effort offered more than mere efficiency, however. When considered from a broader perspective, the three periods under consideration offered a unified theme for understanding the political, social, and economic forces that shaped—and continue to shape—Alabama.

I have attended meeting in Montgomery, Birmingham and Mobile. Each time I have put forth the plans and ideas that have come from the First White House of the Confederacy, so that other groups and agencies across the state could hopefully learn more about who we are and what we do.

I have also enjoyed learning more about what these other agencies and groups do and I have met many interesting people and am glad I had this opportunity to do so. Eva Newman, our FWH Staff Supervisor went with me to Mobile and she too enjoyed the interaction.

"What the Wind Blew In"

I came across a March 1, 2009 book review from the New York Times that was in our files on our quintessential Hollywood movie favorite Gone With The Wind. The article was by Armond White who says that the movie deserves to be rescued from critical disdain and given its correct place among American pop masterpieces such as "The Godfather", "On the Waterfront" and E.T."

White quotes Molly Haskell who written a book called "Frankly, My Dear 'Gone With the Wind' Revisited". I quote White who says about Haskell's book: "In Haskell's thoughtful revisionism, Scarlett comes to embody personal and national contradictions...focusing on Scarlett's turbulent, childlike ways, Haskell illustrates the traits of beauty, self-regard and the uninhibited will to act that have made GWTW one of the least dated classic Hollywood movies."

And again quoting Haskell, "These attributes will always be disputed, but Haskell's critical sensitivity rescues Scarlett's Americanism and femininity, indicating how her image redounds upon our eternal political struggles and deepest fantasies. Haskell clarifies the long shadow that Scarlett O'Hara casts over the American movie imagination".

Wouldn't it be fun to order both of these books and read them side by side? It has been a long time since I read GWTW although I watch the movie from time to time. How long since you read it?

Jefferson Davis's pocket watch

We thought you might be interested in hearing about an item that we had on display as a loan from kind friends for almost two years. It is the Jefferson Davis pocket watch. The watch was used as barter when the ex-president was paroled from Fortress Monroe, Virginia in 1867.

Here is how it happened: After being released, Davis traveled  to a small township, Lennoxville, which is outside Quebec, Canada. It was there that he traded the watch to a boot maker by the name of Robert Balfour in exchange for a pair of custom-made boots.

The watch was passed down through the Balfour family until their were no more heirs. The watch was then given by the last surviving family member to his next-door neighbors, the Courchenes.The watch later came on the market and our friends purchased it.  

Jefferson Davis probably bought the watch sometime immediately before or during his Presidency of the Confederacy, but we really have no way to know. We do thank our benefactors so much for the loan of the watch. It was of great interest to our visitors. Please stay in touch and keep us posted on it's whereabouts!

An Important Event This Week at the First White House

We are very excited to have the opportunity to welcome the Alabama Preservation Conference Thursday evening, October 7th from 5:15 - 7:00 at the First White House.This conference is sponsored by the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation, Alabama Historical Commission, Black Heritage Council of Alabama and the Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery. We are honored that they are including the First White House of the Confederacy in their very busy agenda. Some of our White House Association members will be in the rooms to welcome these important visitors and we will serve refreshments on the front porch.

One of our FWH Board members, Gale Main, is a member of the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation and is helping with the Conference. Peggy Hair is Conference Chair and Tina Jones is President of the Board for the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation. Thank you ladies for a big job well done! And thank you for thinking of the First White House!



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Hello, You Want To Visit?

If you have children or grandchildren, please encourage them to read our blog every day for interesting and informative history about Jefferson Davis, the Confederacy, The War and the First White House. If you are interested in any or all of these subjects, we hope you will become a regular reader and share the news with others so that our readership will continue to increase.

If you plan a trip to Montgomery or live here, we would love for you to visit individually,or as a group. If 10 or more, we ask that you schedule in advance a  tour of the First White House.Our phone # for reservations is 334-242-1861. You might think of doing this for your book or study club, patriotic group, school, church or other affinity group. And please remember it is free! You can stay as long as you like and our hours are 8:00 - 4:30 daily, Monday-Friday, except for State Holidays when we are closed.

 Recently we have had tours not only from public and private schools but also home school students. There are many eating places nearby too (see our website at http://www.firstwhitehouse.org/ for these, and for other sites to visit.)

We had over 50 visitors today (one or two at a time) and they were absolutely "enchanted". We had a biker come in and he said he had visited many places like the First White House but had not enjoyed any of them as much as he did his visit to the FWH. That was very gratifying. We can thank former Regent, Cameron Napier for most of what has gone on "behind the scenes" as she for over 29 years assembled our artifacts and collection.

We can also thank our Receptionists Lynn Burk and Evelyn England who greet everyone so warmly and makes all our visitors feel special and "at home". This is what we are all about at the FWH!!! Please come and visit. And do share our website, our blog and our facebook whenever you can.

February 16, 2011 Marks An Event

On Wednesday, February 16, 2011 the White House Association will partner with the Archives and History Department to  celebrate a very special evening at the Archives. Dr. Ralph Draughon of Auburn, Alabama, a noted historian, will speak at 6:00 pm in the auditorium about the meeting of William C. Yancey and Jefferson Davis in Montgomery February 16, 1861. The crowd will gather in the Rotunda for refreshments at 5:30.
Here is what William C. Davis, In "A Government of Our Own: The Making of the Confederacy" tells us about that fateful evening. He tells us that Davis arrived in Montgomery exhausted. He had made speeches all along the way It was 10:00 pm when the train rolled into the station. Even before Davis stepped down, the crowd awaiting him shouted, cannon boomed and the church bells pealed again and again. He spoke briefly to the crowd and then Davis and Yancey stepped into a four-horse coach and rode toward Court Square.

In a few minutes he arrived at  the Exchange Hotel with Yancey and the rest of the delegation. At a quarter to eleven Davis stepped out onto the second floor portico between the massive columns overlooking Commerce Street. "Now we are brethren" he told them, "men of one flesh, of one bone, of one interest, of one purpose".  He hoped they would live in peace but if war should come to test their resolve, they would show themselves worthy inheritors of the heritage of 1776.

Davis went inside to unpack and prepare for bed. The crowd called for Yancey, the hometown favorite. Yancey came out and congratulated them on finding the right man, a patriot, statesman and soldier. This was their defining moment as Confederates, he told them. "The man and the hour have met". The crowd was electrified.

Won't you make plans to join us for the sesquicentennial celebration of this fateful night in Montgomery history? We will gather for punch and cheese straws at 5:30 and Dr. Draughon will speak at 6:00. Mark your calendars for a not-to-miss time of remembrance.