Shaping of a President

“Coming to the village like ‘a piece of floating driftwood,’ as [Lincoln] said, he had worked his way up to a position of leadership not only in New Salem but in the state as well” (134).

The Book

The purpose of Lincoln’s New Salem is to introduce the reader to a time that shaped Abraham Lincoln’s life. Author, Benjamin P. Thomas argues that the six years (1831-1837) Lincoln spent in New Salem influenced many of his skills and abilities: leadership, reputation, politics, law, public speaking, and debate to name a few.

Thomas splits the book into three sections, the history of New Salem, Lincoln’s time in New Salem, and the restoration of New Salem. Part One explores the frontier era and what life was like for the average pioneer. Thomas also touches on the people, businesses, and growth of New Salem. Part Two comprises the bulk of the book. Here the reader learns of Lincoln’s arrival in town and the various jobs he held. Lincoln quickly earned the reputation of courageous, strong, honest, and truthful. It is in New Salem where Lincoln first runs for political office and begins to educate himself, ultimately settling on reading the law. In 1837, Lincoln was admitted to the Illinois State Bar and moved to Springfield (the new state capitol). Part Three provides the reader with a look at the growth of the Lincoln legend, after his assassination, which led to an interest in Lincoln pre-presidency. That interest led to restoration efforts in New Salem, as well as in Kentucky and Indiana.

Lincoln’s New Salem was originally published in 1954, 32 years after restoration began of the New Salem village. Thomas is considered a Lincoln scholar and lends credibility to this in-depth look at six years of Lincoln’s life. Lincoln’s New Salem is well-written, although it is a straight history book full of details regarding Lincoln and the frontier of central Illinois. Sometimes, the reader can get lost in the lists of facts or descriptions, but the detail does help the reader visualize Lincoln’s world.

The Place

Lincoln’s New Salem provides visitors the chance to walk the streets of the village Lincoln called home for six years. Numerous buildings, including log homes, were restored and filled with period furniture. The New Salem Mill, a significant part of the village, was also restored.

New Salem has Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter specific hours, so make sure to check the website prior to visiting. Throughout the year, there are various events and the campground is open from April to October. My family visited for a day, tied to a weekend spent exploring Lincoln sites in the Springfield, IL area. One of the unique aspects of Lincoln’s New Salem is the opportunity to learn about the Lincoln before his time as a lawyer or as the president.

Go Army! Beat Navy!

“On, brave old Army team; On to the fray: Fight on to victory, For that’s the fearless Army way” (35-36).

The Book

A Team for America: The Army-Navy Game that Rallied a Nation at War, by Randy Roberts, is a look at America and college football during World War II. While the main focus is one specific game, the book spends most of its pages helping the reader understand why this game was so important.

In the 1930s, the football team at the United States Military Academy (USMA/Army) was struggling. It couldn’t beat its major rivals (including Notre Dame and the United States Naval Academy) and the size of the team was small. In January 1941, the Superintendent of USMA recruited Earl Blaik to turn the team around. In three short years, Blaik introduced the T-formation, recruited standout players, and pushed towards national recognition. The reader learns about Blaik’s coaching style, the changes going on in college football, and key players on the Army team. Always present in the narrative is the reality of World War II and the impact it had on teams, fans, and travel.

During the 1944 season, the national press began to compare the success of Army’s football team to the success of the Army across Europe. Suddenly, there was an even brighter national spotlight on the team. Roberts says, “The 1944 Army-Navy game was widely described as the most important game of football ever played in America” (213). Most Americans had a family member either deployed, in the military, or working on the Homefront. Americans were also war-weary and ready for a return to life before the war. The game was a battle, but Army won 23-7.

Roberts writes in a way that draws the reader into the excitement and crescendos in the last couple of chapters focused on the 1944 game. It is easy to read and would appeal to fans of history, football, or the Army. In a way, the reader encounters a unique perspective: World War II through the lens of football. 

The Place
The Army-Navy Football Game is the last game of the regular season and is typically played in Philadelphia (about equidistant from the two academies). It is truly an incredible experience. My family was able to attend twice during the time my brother was a Cadet at the United States Military Academy. When you attend the Army-Navy Game, you are in for more than college football. Both academies take turns marching onto the field and spectators cheer for the future Army and Navy leaders. Army helicopters and Navy jets fly over the field and the Army Black Knight parachutes to the sidelines. While much as changed since the 1944 Army-Navy Game, the patriotic excitement is still felt at present day games.

The only downside to attending the game is the time of year it is played: the first or second week of December. It is often cold and the day can bring rain, snow, and/or sleet. I would recommend wearing numerous layers. Tickets are required, there is ample parking (for a fee) at the stadium, and the Philadelphia area provides a variety of hotels, restaurants, and things to see. 

Ohio's Oldest Continuous Business

“Business had come and gone, presidents and heads of state had changed innumerable times, boundaries had changed, even names of countries, but [the Golden Lamb was] still there” (p. 164).

The Book

Author Fred Compton worked at the Golden Lamb for twenty-eight years and introduces the reader to a world of American history and antiques. The Golden Lamb was originally built as a one-story log tavern in 1803. Since then, it has grown into a four-story brick structure that serves as a hotel and restaurant.

The Golden Lamb is more than a business, it is a hands-on museum full of antique and Shaker furniture that is in daily use. Compton singles out specific pieces that are legendary to regular guests and customers. He regales the reader with stories about Christmas preparations, menus, and famous guests. Each of the hotel rooms are named for a specific guest that visited the Golden Lamb: from Charles Dickens and Harriet Beecher Stowe to 12 different presidents (from William Henry Harrison to George W. Bush).

The Golden Lamb: Tales from the Innside is organized topically, as opposed to chronologically. For someone looking for a specific history, this can be confusing. However, this organization works for a coffee table book and the story telling style Compton uses. The reader feels like she is having a conversation with Compton, hearing what memories pop into his mind. This makes for easy and fast reading. As a reader, I would have liked to have seen more photographs and a bit more history included to help bolster the stories.

The Place
The Golden Lamb offers several ways to walk in the footsteps of history. Visitors to Lebanon, OH can stay overnight in one of the rooms named for distinguished guests, dine in the restaurant, or explore the gift shop.

When I visited, I was able to simply explore the floors of the Golden Lamb. A tour of the building allows you to see the various rooms, collection of Shaker furniture, and other antique pieces. In addition to the restaurant housed in the Golden Lamb, there is also an old-fashioned ice cream parlor across the street- The Village Parlor. For visitors interesting in shopping, downtown Lebanon provides several antique and boutique shops to browse. 

Struggle for the Upper Hand

“Mr. President, what’s this about Japan?” asked Churchill. 

“It’s quite true,” the President confirmed. “They have attacked us at Pearl Harbor. We are all in the same boat now” (60).

The Book

The Mantle of Command: FDR at War, 1941-1942 by Nigel Hamilton focuses on a very specific era of FDR’s presidency-a few months prior to Pearl Harbor through the success of Allied forces in North Africa. While it is a specific era, it is not short of anecdotes and intriguing information regarding the early days of America’s involvement in World War II.

Hamilton begins by telling of FDR’s August 1941 meeting with Winston Churchill. The goals of these two men couldn’t have been more different for this meeting: FDR wanted to listen, provide supplies and weapons, and discuss a future peace agreement; Churchill wanted to develop a strategy to win the war with America’s help. The main takeaway from the meeting was a future peace agreement: the Atlantic Charter (later to become “A Declaration by the United Nations”). Hamilton then provides the reader with the following events: Pearl Harbor, loss of the Philippines, failures of British forces in the East, and the Allied invasion of North Africa. 

One of the most interesting parts of this biography are the two struggles FDR encounters. First, is the struggle between FDR and his military generals. It appears that the two had different ideas for the majority of this time period. The generals wanted a preemptive strike on Japan, FDR demurred because it was not typical of American action and many Americans were still isolationists. Once America entered World War II, the generals wanted a cross-Channel invasion of France (precursor to D-Day). However, FDR recognized the difficulty of such a move and pushed for an invasion of North Africa. The second struggle was between FDR and the rising American power, and Churchill and the fading British empire. Both had different views about how and where to strike, in addition to the preservation of the British empire.

The Mantle of Command is a well-written and insightful account of these two years. Hamilton attempts to tell FDR’s side of the story and relies heavily on first-person accounts and letters. To truly understand the global nature of this story, the backgrounds of key players and occurrences are included. 1941-1942 involved much more than America’s preparation to enter World War II and avenge the attack at Pearl Harbor. The book does go into military and political detail, which could be difficult for some readers. In the first half of the book, Hamilton often editorializes in the nature of an italicized question directed at the reader. It feels more like an astonished aside that can jar the reader out of the narrative. But, overall, The Mantel of Command presents a new insight into a significant era of American and world history.

The Place

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is located by 
the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. It is a memorial unlike the others on the National Mall because it focuses on storytelling. The Memorial is split into four rooms that depict each of FDR’s four terms in office. Each room includes quotes, statutes depicting specific events, and a water feature.

As a part of the National Park Service, entrance is free. If you enjoy reading and spending time in the memorials, plan your schedule accordingly. Due to its size, there is a lot of walking to move through each outdoor room. The first time I visited, it was pouring; the bulk of my time was spent in a small Visitor Center. Before visiting, make sure to check the weather forecast. 

Setting the Stage

“The Turner Opera House [later the Victoria Theater] was hailed as the most beautiful theater west of Philadelphia” (11).

The Book

The Victoria Theatre in Dayton, Ohio experienced name changes, disasters, renovations, star performers, and epic performances throughout its history. Authors Bruce and Virginia Ronald introduce this storied history in Now Playing: An Informal History of the Victoria Theatre.

In 1866, the Turner Opera House opened after two years of construction. However, the first disaster occurred in 1869 when the Opera House burned down with only the front façade surviving. The Music Hall opened in 1871, was renamed the Victoria Theatre in 1899, the 1913 Dayton flood ruined the interior, and in 1918 the theatre burned again. In addition, the Victoria Theatre struggled with management, theatre goers, and finances.

Despite all this, the Theatre provided entertainment for the people of Dayton-bringing well-known performers and lavish productions. Some of the people to perform at the Victoria Theatre were:  Buffalo Bill, Harry Houdini, Ethel Barrymore, Helen Hayes, Henry Fonda, Rex Harrison, and Anna Pavlowa. Lecturers also stopped at the Victoria: Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and William Jennings Bryan. Productions included a massive live cast for Ben-Hur, touring companies, and stock companies.

In 1971 the Victoria Theatre was in danger of being turn down. Residents of Dayton worked hard to save the theatre and in 1989 a full-scale renovation was made possible through local donations. When it re-opened in 1990, the lobby and double staircase were close replicas of the 1871 design.

Now Playing: An Informal History of the Victoria Theatre is just what is says: an informal history. The book is comprised of short snippets (making for a quick read or a coffee table book) that are organized topically and chronologically. Readers interested in Dayton theatre history or even American theatre history will find this book engaging. Sometimes it is difficult to determine when the authors are discussing Dayton theatre history or American theatre history. However, Now Playing: An Informal History of the Victoria Theatre provides a glimpse into the development of theatre in America, through the lens of Dayton, Ohio.

The Place

Today, the Victoria Theatre still operates live theatre, a ballet studio, and a summer film series. Live theatre is what the Victoria Theatre was designed for, however, for visitors on a budget the summer film series is the way to go. For $6 you can view a classic film and have free popcorn and soda in the lobby.

There are ample opportunities for area residents or visitors to take in the marble grand staircase in the lobby or the green décor in the auditorium. When you attend a performance or summer film, make sure to take time to appreciate the architecture inside and out. The details on the light fixtures in the auditorium reveal the craftsmanship from years ago and the classic lobby remind visitors they are stepping back in time.

Willkommen!

“Even though we don’t hear much German spoken in the village, we walk the same streets and live in the same houses as those early German settlers, and we respect their history and contributions to the present. And we absolutely appreciate the German in German Village” (33).

The Book

Remembering German Village: Columbus, Ohio’s Historic Treasure is a collection of columns originally published in This Week (a community newspaper) and written by Jody H. Graichen (former director of the German Village Society). The book is broken into three sections: Historic Preservation, Residents, and Structures.

The first section introduces the reader to the history of German Village and the unique architecture, which reflects the area’s humble beginnings and eventual growth. In the mid-1800s early German immigrants built two unique styles of homes: a story and a half home and a Dutch Double (allowing for two families to co-own). The early settlers took more care with the side of the house facing the street in order to impress others. This could be considered an early version of curb appeal.

The second section builds upon the history by looking closer at the residents of German Village. They chose to leave Germany due to war and famine. They chose Columbus because of the ease of access through the National Road and canal system; in addition, the immigrants wanted to leave their mark. Graichen provides specific stories about early residents, showing the audience the mix of residential and commercial in German Village. The third section focuses more on the concept of reusing buildings. As a member of the National Register of Historic Places, German Villages is protected from the teardown mentality. Instead, residents renovate and develop new ways to use the historic buildings.

Remembering German Village is a quick and easy read. The columns are brief and provide snapshots of history. The original audience was probably more familiar with the subject, but the book is still interesting. In fact, the reader can imagine German Village in the past and present-almost like their own walking tour.

The Place

A visit to German Village is a bit like stepping back in time. The streets are brick paved and the buildings appear to be plucked from Germany. Visitors can stroll down main and residential streets: admiring the architecture, exploring Schiller Park, or stopping in locally owned businesses. The residents of German Village have done a great job preserving their community and welcoming visitors.

 Of course, if you are visiting German Village, the one place you cannot miss is Schmidt’s, which serves authentic (and delicious) German food. This family-owned restaurant began as a packing house in 1886. Today, they are not just known for bratwurst but also for their giant cream puffs. Eating here is definitely worth the wait. 

The First President

“Fearing anarchy, disunion, and an end to American freedom if he failed to act decisively, [Washington] transformed himself-and the presidency-from a relatively impotent figurehead into America’s most powerful leader…” (3).

The Book

It is common knowledge that George Washington served as the first president of the United States and set many precedents that his successors followed. However, many do not know the reasoning behind the precedents or the extent to which Washington’s fingerprints are on the presidency. In “Mr. President”: George Washington and the Making of the Nation’s Highest Office, author Harlow Giles Unger outlines “the seven pillars of power [which Washington raised] that sustain the mighty American presidency edifice today-the power to control executive appointments, foreign policy, military affairs, government finances, and federal law enforcement, along with the power to legislate by presidential proclamation and to issue secret fiats under the cloak of executive privilege” (3).  

Unger begins his biography at the end of the Revolutionary War and follows Washington through the government of the Articles of Confederation, his leadership of the Constitutional Convention, his eight years as president, and his retirement. During this time period, the reader comes to release the precarious position the United States of America was in: civil unrest over the size of the federal government and taxes, state’s rights, and foreign influence. The reasoning behind Washington’s pillars of power is presented in detail.

There is a lot we can learn from Unger’s well-written biography of Washington. The reader will come away with a better appreciation for the role Washington played in the early stages of our country. Washington struggled with decisions, cabinet infighting, and negative press. He recognized his major failure as president: the inability to unite Americans into one country. The early stages of the United States were not easy or perfect, but Unger credits Washington with laying the groundwork for a stable presidential structure-one that still continues to this day.

The Place
The Washington Monument  was built to honor the man who was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countryman” (Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee). However, the building of the monument was not simple. A monument was proposed prior to George Washington becoming president, but wasn’t completed until 1884. If you look closely, you can see two different colors because construction was halted for a time.

Inside the Monument, visitors will find a statue of Washington and an elevator ride to the top. The Monument towers over the National Mall and each of the four sides provide breathtaking views of Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland.

Currently, the Monument is closed (until Spring 2019) due to work being done on the elevator. Despite the fact that visitors cannot go up in the Monument, it is still a breathtaking site to walk along the National Mall and take it in. If you are planning a visit to Washington, DC in the future, check back with the National Park Service for additional information regarding the reopening.