'I'HE QUAKf f: MEETING HOUSE WEST J:RANCH , IO'il/~

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by Sally Johnson K~tcham

Furnl.Ghing Plan s~ction E

October , 1972 Omaha , N ebr~rnkn

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'l'ABLE 01" C.ON 'I':EN'I'S

Page SEC'l'ION }~ RECOffiME:r·lDED l''UHNISHINGS 1

The Meeti ng R OOlilS .. • • • 0 J~. Partitions • • • • • e • • • • I> 6 Pews • • 0 0 • 0 • • • 7 Stov~s • • ' • • " • e 'l'abl ~s C> ~ .. 0 " 0 • • .. e 9 ChairG • • • • 0 • • • • • 9 L i ghting • • .. • • • • • 10 Floors 0 ~ • to • • 11 'l'he N HrsC~l"Y 0 $ " • •· • 11 Clo th(;S Hooks • • • • • " 0 • • 11 Stove 0 • • • • • • • .. 12 Curta ins • 0 • • e • • • 12 Cracllea • • " • • 12 Chairo 1 ,, • • " • • • • a - ,) 'l1able • • • • • c b • 14 I.Jif;h ting • I> • " • • 0 1~· Floors • • 0 • • s c • 1L~

FL OOH PLANS AND ELEVATIONS 15 ESTII::/','i1ES 21

APPENDIX 22

SECTION F INS'l'ALLATION , li1AIN~~EN ANCE AND PROTEC'l~ION (

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Protection • • • • • ~ • • • • • l Main t cnance • • • • • 0 0 2 Barriers • • c • • • • • • • ~ 2

' '11our Plan • • • • • • • • 3 I

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7'hc old ((ual.er ,".[ crting House 111ns built ill tltr mid JSSO's. lle1'1crt l lnot•er' . .; mo!her often spohc bc/<11"<! the con,:r<•gation that wo•·shipped iii this /iuildin g. liool'er. as a child. ottc11<frd meetings here u•ith /tis parcuts. ]11 196.f-{j'j, after brii11: 11101:P.cl to its fl•c.~rnt sil<' on th r ca..~!. sid.~ of l>u11mey Street Ofl/>Osile /Irr P1 cs idenlial Library, it tl'as rrsl<ircd tu ils near origi11a/ CiflfH'C1ra11cc.

SKE'l'GH BY BrLL \VAGN£R

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DESCHIPTION OF HECOMrmi~DED FURN I SHIN c.s

, __ _ ·-· _,_ . ___ .. 'The 'West Branch Meetingbouae was originally locat*1 on the site of the present brick Friends Church on North nown8y Street~.", . . J ,. . : . .J "4 u .... ··~· _. •• _ _ - -~ ,.,c!-1&Mloo:tmo•e . BuJ.lt ;.n 1856 :from lumb(,,r· hauled

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~ from Big Grove (now Newpo~t ), Iowa, i t wa s a substantial buildlhg .

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In later years. a porch~ a room for the babies 1 sheda for the

teams and horseH~ and f ences were add0d. .. Trees shaded the

ground s and cooled hot summer daya . Here, Jesse and Huldah

Hoover~ devout Qu::-i.kers , c:-:i.me to vwrr->hip , bringing with tl1crn

'J~ad , Herb0rt, and l:~3 y. P0rhaps there vms spc~c1al presfJUre on

the boys to be 11 c;ood" on r::~eting days~ for thei:r. mothGr' , Hu1cb.h ,

was a ministe:c in t he church and highly resp~ctGd.

There wero two entrances into thA Meeting House, on6 for

v10men e:.nd the othe.:r.· :for ncn ~ A doorwn.y led into a room at th e

\•1est of th~ strL!ctu.t~~ in VIhich the: worn.en left their babi{":S, v:hile

the me:eting was in pro gr~;.,::~ a A partition clown the middle divided

the Meeting House in to tv10 sections. 'l'hiu p ;;:tr."t:i ti on wa s a bout

four and a half fe (• t hir;h ~ and a man st::mding ne2 ... r could see over·

i t only when standing. Shutters could be raised to the ceiling,

making two separ.ate rooms . TheGe were needed wh~n 11 bt~sinc ss

sessions" were! being conduc tedo Qu0stions that involved the

entire ~eeting were solv~ d- by the men sending a mess enger to

confer with a messenger fr om the wom en 's s ido r ceardin g the .V

result of cach's delibor.;~tion s .

IT Edwfnc-. -B(~"iir~-;·-1nl'f~D-l10•~)\7irl~ou Gd~ a-(1 d c or.:rnunity structuros," Hi ~tnr 5. c st·c1H',tu:cee °Rl'.' 'OO)'.'t (i~OV('. nJ·;;::r ~~o. 19'71) , PT'• 129--130 . --·--· ... ··--· ... - ----·· .... -..... .. -.. .. _ ..... .... ---. .......... ~·· ··---' ····-··· .......

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- There wci.s no pulpit• ~tc "Instead; tvo tien of ~ •eats, · one above the other 'like &Hts in an amphitheater running

the width of the houae' wu built.Y" · ·- · .. ... ,. . . _ -· · ·· -'··· • ~~ ... . ....... " , ... ~ ;~/

· widUY"Om; hYUJi£:'.:=::sr-;; r ' b p i J t7 , On ·chf.: J.ovurnt t :i. 11:c of s •!atn ' ..

e1itt th 1.~ ol cki.· s • w:i. th ·i;h e: r'.1 ini ntl~l"'r.> abov<; thc:rn . '£h t'1 mo iJt i 111-

port~nt or a vis~tin~ minister sat on the topmost sent n~xt to

the par.ti tion , with thos~ of l c::;ser iMportn.nc0 grn<ling of:r (·(WfiY

fro:n hi m to the l<:.: ft, 'l' his waB <luplicatf' d on th<: \!vmcn' s s i c) t! .

Ther~ w~s no for mula tor cervic ~ observation . When

some: on I!! wSJ ~ f:l()VOd by the "g uidine; of the Spirit" lit: V!Ot~ld

prea ch or pray i but i f' not , sil e.nc~ wns fYHd ntr1.inc·d throt>r.;hout

th~ rriecting, unt1 l one of the miniBti.:~rs inrli.c~:tte cl by shakin(?, the

hand of his neighbor that the ne:~H1on w~s e:t an c:nd . T~0rr w~1s, 1 ,,.,,,,.~ - u-~ U..J.

neither choh' nor organ i and Hulc.kh Min·~horn. HoovEn'.l'h~d hi:'€i}j(l{l -~'j;,,~~ f fw+&er;hmt, wi?tm moved by th~~ Spi1'it, oh<.L.! had ni.i;.;ed hn:c v oico

meeting t but " there were mr.:.ny of those who gr~a. tly fo nr~d that 1/

she was noved by v:ani ty . -;;· The r~~ws we i:r: n a rrow ~nd had st1'<.:. i gh t

hL~h b aoks t which muf;t hnV£! b oen uncomf\'.n·table for f.;cnall childr·en

whose feP.t did n o t y(~t touch the floor .

which was r epl ucod in 1879 by a n~w cemetnry. Iron icnlly . tha

fir~t burial in the latt<:r was to he J<~St'-iG Hoover in th f: wint.f!.t·

of 1m~o .

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3 ln 188 ~, th or·c wu.s a schi ::-s m in the rrwrnb e: r nhip oi th o

West Branch J .~ f!eting Hou s a. 'llhin l e d t o ch;:mges in the~ build5.ng du,~W-v~~H 4/

its elf. 'l'h,5 p artitio!ls v:E.H'<' r<:mov ~ d ::n~. G"ory·thin.g ··• tt:~. 1.1od1'. l?nisH:d7 /'c"~ .L ·~~ ~J...v.+1-- . '-'.~·IAJ ,

Th <' J .. :~o~.tnr; 1~our-1 e C'ontinued to gcrvcf(l ~s "G, ... Fr·1cn-1di;; ' Church

until '.i. 91.5f whon a new br.icl\ F'r:'. cmdB ' Church wc:>. i:i con~:tructnd .

'J~h 0 old Meeting Hou s e he caw~ n tli er!.t~r knd then a g aragc1. It

wa8 not until 1961~ tha t thfl structul" l~ wr-.s rescu e d by \\'es t · Bran ch

citizens , movc!d near thr~ Herb~rt Hoov ~'1 r Birthplace, r and l"osto1~od .

to its (~arly :-:.ppcar :;.nC"~~ hy the ll crbort ltoov(;r Birthplace Found a~

tion. The building ' f~ &.:x:torior \'!as resto:r·cd; anrl scats Rnd in-

· t~rior. fixtu1~c r: for thl" rentorn t:i.on wer~ nalva~ed fl.~om the

Hickory Grove ~ c ~ ting House, a con tcmporory ctr ucture . It i s

planned that the ~·~ eeting House: will be r t; furni s hc rl to th(; period

l88L1., be :fore the 1"ernov2l of the pal'''i:i ti on~ and other i:'Nnoc.kl in g

took plac~ .

Mrs . H?.rriett~ Odell di s cus s ed thG int0riOJ: furn i uliin~s

of the Meeting House with '!'ad and Herbert HoovP.r . Her d6script) on ,

with an accompanying cl i::i.grnm , i s tht! b6'st Wt'l h ave tod<!y. The

cousj.ns ::?.gre c~ d that tho room waR divided by a parti t 3.on , which

could be complete l y closed by nhuttcrs c Opposit~ the doorways,

ther~ were th~ raised tiers of s~ats for tha mini s try r nd cldcra .

Below these s cats were tables for the cl~rl~ of the meeting , and

then the p~ws . The women, durin~ cold wonthe r , entered the

Meeting House c:art·ying soap stont: s, v1hich thc~y plncod on the n,_il

of one of the stov es used to he:.it the building. 'l~lrn stonf;S

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would then be r;.lipped in to ~ flrmn e l b;·w; ftnd pluc o<.l undt~r ·\·}rn . S/

feet of the women in the pc.:wc to keep tho:n \·,•arm~- 1n tht~ r·oom

in wh ich the: babi~~ v-rnr&.- en.red for , tlHH'~ 1·: <~· t'<J roc;J~:i.ng c:lw _j :r."E , 6/

a war m stovP. (in the win t<~r) , and '~ cr~dle:

The interior today is painted n soft gr~yi und it is

recorded thnt in 1H'?9 paintci .. s u~nd a coat of •· c10-1e colorn(l p:-1in\;"

to frr.:~h:=;ri the in.t t1:cior of the buil<l 5.r1 1::. 'f(:n Yt".<".J."':1 ln t·::r , n'~w ·i/

paint nncl nr:.hog:'lny f'ini8h w£:1·~ n.ppl i e:d·: In Dec~' <•!bc-;:c , 1B8 3 1

janitor, v:~ts to s~!<~ that the l amp~~ ,-wr<1 el0:.;;r1 6l.nd 11 in c:ood con-.fi/

ditio!'l to g ivt> a clr~ ;-tr\ bright li~ht." He: was ex ·1)<~ cted ~{1~·( 0 tC>

light the lamps at the~ porch whrm th <rn': vH:-r:e n ecdocl. 'f'hn 11<::w

lamps purch:a. rtod in 188 3 do not appeur to hi:!.V ,,. b i: on aduquo.t.<' . fo r

in the~ sprinf~: of 1 fl90 , th~: trt.rnt ~e; L,_ pu:cchasc:d a :mt of "rH·:w ;lncl .2/

be!tt er lamps " ~nd di~post':d of the old.

FOHN ISHINGS

Both nidef:: of the ffi(;l.!ting :r:oor11s wero ft.n:·niHhed alike;; ,

so that whatcv~r i f> proposed for one f;icle of the h ;,) Usr: , wlth mi:w r

exceptions, is propo~sd for the otht-:r s:i.de ~lao , ~:h<:! r.>rr•nc•Ht

furrd shink~ E; canw from thn Hickory Grove T1~<> <!ting Ho u :1•: , v1h ich i ::i

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Frier.ds Hec ting House

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to th~ back of the bottom t'O\/ of ti(!l'S . 1J1his v;cu!. for th~·. u::;(:··

utov0s. In th e Hickox· ~, Grovn ~1c:wting 1:cu;;&.; • th e io:tov(~S wc·rf:

At th~ pr~ f3F;nt time r the furnishing pl~m elf the Hickory Grove

t-~ee;tin~ House has b~en fo l l owed in the. V!e:3t Br:rnch Me etint; Hou ~:~ ;

howeve::i."' • it i s r c:comrr:cnd ad th~ct the fu1"n i :::;h:i ng~-~ fr.:)m t lrn E5. c1:ory

Grov e !·'tee ting Hou se b1': adj ustod to the pl c.o.n pr·ov id(;d by l 1lr:.;.

Odr:ll ~·.nd <'Oncu:r.r.'<Hl in by th.~ Honv(~r.B ..

House~ until 1885 , a. y~ a:r <l.ft <:~>.." th~ per3.orl of' r etito:c:-tt ion r .. nd rt: -

f ur1iiHhing o A not e on th& HABS clrf;1wingn of the: i.1 ~ :ct 5.ng Houfle

i ndicates thRt thn partitions tak~n from Hi ckory Grove were

ori gin~lly nt opposite ends of the m.:::1~ ting room. · · ~.'o muk ·~: :f' i t

i n this Lthe West Hrcmc h r.~eEltin;<:; Hou~:eJi t \'l'.3.!'.t n~ccnsr>.ry t o ·

change sections a~ the fac ing b0nch Atop upa w~rv differ~nt in

tlHi t wo mo.:; tin~ Hour.H-:n r " hovto:::vc.-r~ it •:n·;>_~·; noted that "othc,!~Hi !;C! 10/

th~ p~l'ti t i on fit perfect] y 7 It :i.t.; l'<wo1'.lmencl1~d tlu:t the8~ b~ re -

tai.n0d 1 since ther.<1: 5 .. 3 J.i ttlr~ likul ih0<)d th~:i.t thN ox·igin~) par·ti t:i.c.·ns

·---.,.....-.----··-·····~-----·"··-~·--·~-------·-·· 10; H:\l~S Dro.wing , Sh--et 10.

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· P0ws The nunber of facing benches poses 80n~what of a

pro blemo The sketch th2. t Mrs . Odoll m;;~df-) may be in terpr.fd;ed two

ancl elc1ersi or J~l'8 , Od ell's top line. which ext~nds a.C;J.osr-; t}w

p:art.i ti on r \'18.B in tended to indicate th8 V./;~.11 0 f' -l;J'w building •

Since conte!mpo:r·nry parti ti.oruf arG diff icult to locate ; nnd the

pr£s 0n t p~rtitions cnnnot be adju ~t0d to n third t ier of sentR9

it is recommended that th~ l a tt er intcrpr e tnt ionbo acce pt~d. ·~· -J '

'I1 h ~ third or top l i.1v~ of th ~ di :::grn.1·1 1.3 con!:d.dr~red the out<-:: r

Wall; ~nd on each nidt: of the par ti ti on the: re t.trn t wo ti r-~r·o of

f'i'. rn. Odell commented that the f;f:<?..tf: in th e· Wr-:st Dr'??.nch

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seats divided by Rn aiGle.

Church were nnrrow and straight and high back , wh5ch were very 111

severe for r estlerrn children , ~~he pr<w<mt benclrns from th~ I ·. '

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Hickory Grove !'leeting House~ fit tlH? above description . The y

are made of wood , approxjmately one foot and fiv c - oights i nch e s

deep and two feet four inch~ s hich. It is recommended th a t th e I

pre~ent seats for both the facing benche E and th~ congregation -., I be r~tainAd. It should be notedi how~ver, t hat in 1ee9 f when

the church waa overhauled with new pnint. Mahog~ny finiAh wns I

npplicct to the interior . It is quite possihl~ th::~t th e:' b~nch c H

Wt~re stain~cl rnaho~n.ny 8.nd not painted, af3 th(::y ri.r1.~ today , in tho

if poE;fJi ble , b<~ refini ;5 hc-: cl to a m~hog;:,my stc~in. • J

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AB the btmchcs n,r<=; now located , t}rn stov~: s Hi:'1'! in th e

midst of the pews . Their placemcmt is indica ted by the flu01:

in the cnnter of each outer w:.:.11 . '.J:he: dl.;!g r;\m of i::rn. Od 0ll ,

however , indic.at!!s the stoves \'HH'e locatE:d betwe011 tho f~cing

benches :!nd the pewB, oppof;i to the cl~r.k' n table . 'rhi:~ plue; e -

mant necessitRtes the use of long~r stove pipes. Nevnrthelcss,

it is recommended th~t Mrs. Od~ll's diagrnm be adh&red to as

Rhou l ct be :'i.l:"r.anged :i.n rowf3, ao in di cat~:d by r.-~rs. Och~ll, with

no proviBion for stoves inh0tw~en the rows .

Stoves --~·--

'I'he µrcscmt lnso burnr.r:; in the~ !leoting Hous(;

appear to b~ of recent v int~ge . It is r0commtmdecl that the:!:> e

be r eulaced by two matching heating stoves , c , 1855-1884 , Al-

thou~h there is no indication that the stoves were r<:placed in

th~ ':~ eetine; House , it ig unlikely that .thH origir1a l stoves woul d

hav<~ bet~n retained over· a thirty year period . Pr0 b~1bl y , f~or.w-

time in th~ 18'/0 ' s, it would have be en necess ary to obtain n e\.:

and lar~er atovns to hBat the structur0 during the h~rsh Iow~

wint~rs . ?he stove recommended would be similar to the Acne

Cannon stove , which wan cast iron , burned e i th•~r coal or wood,

and was intcncied fo1· utores an d larg e :coor~s . Each stove should

rest on a protective metal plate .

Beside thG i; toves , thcrt~ 8hould be a pile of npli t wo on

fo~ keeping the fire go ine. A snall bucket noar each stove should

contain pie c~r:': of coal to l>e us~!d fo1~ additionef:.1 hoat in the

winter . In the summer , the wood Dnd noal may ha removed from

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the 1'."00l'lS .

Enci~cling the stove in thA woman'R side , there s houl d _l'f ,30~

b~ a low rail , appro>:i mately ·ewo f~t M.e;h. with re g ulnrly cp~.ced

sp i ndlcrn , c . 1860 1 s. Pr.cfM:'ably , th.ls nhould be: mnd~ of mc!t~~ l,

brnss or iron . The rail prnbably s erved a dual purpose~ It

may havn been URAd by the lnd i ~s to heat their Eo ap stones i n

tC> dd lin e; in to a potentially dan gc;::.·ous m:-c~.i. . In th ~ winti::r it.

·the wall t o i lluAtrate early w~ rming devices .

"Tables. As indicated on page 6, there are hinged tables on the

backs of the etders • tier of· seats from Hickory Grove, West Branch

did not use th i s type of clerk ' s table . I nst ead tabl es were pl aced

on the floor in front of the fac i ng benches near the doorway in the

part i tion . To do this the Hickory Grove seats will have to be altered.

It is recommended that the front pews on each side of the meet~

inghous e be removed to make room for the c l erks' ta.oles and at the

sarne time do away with the hinged tables on the backs of these seat s.

The tables, one on each side of the partition, should b e similar

in appearance. The style recommended should be plain with a rec-

tangula r top approximately 45 -~8 inches long and 24-28 inches deep.

It should be large enough for a clerk and his ass i stant to work comfor­

tably . lla/ A table with one or two drawe~s and si~ply turned legs

is p referr ed. There should be no other deco rative motif . This style

~ "lla/ See memorandum from David L. Hieb to Director, Subject, Furne \..<:-ish i ng Plans , HEHo·; May 31, 1973" "\).

table, cl850 ' s or 1860 ' s , i s usually walnut or stained mahogany . "

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two slats ~cross the back, supported by two round0d sid e r~il s

that 1:H.!ccu:1e th~ r·e:a:c lq~s of th<' chair. 'I'h ~~ 8t->at \.'i"l.S tlBU~'.llY ~1.

rounded • taperi.ng at ·t:h(~ bottom, 'l'he two sidc-s l-1.nd front v:nre

At th~ present t i mn , lightine i a pr ovided by

a serie3 of bracket 1 n:npo attach ocl to tlv~ wall hc~ h)nd tli!~ f r-!. cing

benches . The r<~ cords , hovH!Vfn· , indicat<:! th::i.t four h ~~n g inp., l. <:'.!~p i:

were purchas0d in 1883 for th e room ; ~1d thes~ we~e r~plnc 0d in

l P90 . It is not poBsi blP. toda.y to kn ow exactly wh ~~.t typr~ o:f

"h::..ngin~ 1 amp" V.'8.H u ::: {; d: but the strong posf~i b i.1 i ty ex i cts thr.: t

wire fr s-.rne s , tin or gJ.tlss shad(~ s , and imokc bolls . ThH li(:Sht

generated by t his style l amp proba bly was inadcqu~te ; and seven

ye;ars l?.te r, the ne ed would junt:i.fy the pln"ch f.l.81' of R c lrn.ncklier~

t ypn light, with severRl arms rndiating froM the c~nt~r to g ive

greater illumination.

It i s rocorr.menclc~d th;;J. t two trn.nging la~ s i milar to

tho se dt~scr i b~d abov1~ , b e hung in en.ch · . g roor.; . ~: hos1:~

I~T ·ru..;le _j_~.i..c:i-µt> ~:·r1.,._a-·s-;eor1d-c,r;·{Ion but in this s tructurt'! , th:: O)fm 1 anp i:.; pre f(~:i:-'rt:c> ~

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between th e pews6

\':h~n needed. " ~.' o meet th5.s ):'Cq td.remf!nt 1 it is l"Ccon'W:tmdc: d that

F'l(1n·1·s __ ... _. ... _ ..

runners will be preferred .

'fh8 Cry Hoof:1 i n not 01·iginal to t lit: church.. It \'Ir,:-; re:: ::iovefl

fr.om ano tlH"ir Me~ting House ano added to the women • H sid(~, · •·h~re

room has two vd.nd<ww on the north and ::mu th wall~ . E1ttry is

~;ained through a door on the west wall; ;:md a SCH~ond door on th«·

f!?..St partition open:::; to an attE:ched pr·ivy~

Mrs . Odell has g iven \tS the only description of this room, ~. '3/

whi c:h she ~w.id contained a crR<Ht~ . ro cki.ne; chairs, and a stov~:

1f hir5 room un fortunrd:eJ.y . 1. f; not :i.nclud ed in her diagr.·am •

Cl otJHHl l~ool::> ----·----.. --.. -...~ ~~urro1.mding the r·oorn, on C-!(!.ch w~tll , arc

metal , two-prong hooks for- the: wom1m to use: to h :::ng their v.r:r.:~ps.

-,---.-----·-.. ·-·----·.;,__. ___ .,. ______ ·-···- .......... ,.. .... --.- ..... . l.J.1 8C?1~ : 11•ri . Odell ' G notc-;r:r. l>• 5 .

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ThiH is an i nter esting feature and shoul d be retainedo Nine of

th~ or i ginal hooks , howev i::r, nl.~c broken or mi nsin G; and the s e

s hould be :i;·oplaced.

Stovn A stov~ shoulcl be pl~ced in tht"! nc1·ti1we s t co rflc~r )h/

of t.he room m 1d conn<:ctod by s·tove pipe to the existing flu-e .-

The stove recommended may be either a small pot-be l lied he ating

stove , c . 1Q80 1 R , nr it rany be the earlier rcct~ngul~r heating

r.:;tov0 1 wi t.h ornntf! met<:~J. de~:d gn s popuLrc :ri~orn the l Ol1·0 ' ~; th:r.ou.gh

the 1860 1 f~ . ~rhe GtOV(~ sl1ould fJCt cm ()_ m~· ·t.al pr_otcctiv<~ mat ; ;:u1<1

a s~all pile of Rpl it wood · should be plac~d hes i da th e stove .

Sincie th e hooks flO eDtirely nroun~ the room, it ia poss ible t hat

th ~ s tove v1as re mov c-;ll duri nr.; •:mr1~1 \'!be?. th e r and storc~d in one of

the sh~ris neRrby. Th i s pract ice may be followed by the are a a l s o .

cu-;::!:a:b_nr; It is recom1-iended that plain gray calico

curt:::. ins J \'d. th a sm~dl de ::-: i g;n , h,~ hung ?.t the south ::i.nd north

window8. Preferably , thi s s hould bo a rnproduction of an early

pattern . The curtai ns should be hemf'led at top and bottom approxi-

mately two inches r and the top should be double stitched to pe r mit

a brass curtain rod to pass through. These curtains should be

hung fro !'!l the brass rod a.nd to app·roximatcly three inches below

the s ill. Bright light , e·spec ially in the ::iu11Hncr . vmuld hRv ~

kept smal l babies awak~ .

in a let·tcr , Huld ah Hooven" wr ote: tlrnt nint! babi es had heen born

in West Bt~anch in two \·rn eks , s ix of them wi th in a f orty-eight

JlV-· 'l'h~-x:\(?c 1ocn~CT0;-o:f.the -;·:rove flu::; cannot bc..• de?t~rmilH•·d ·- fro :•i ~Jj_~ c; :-; :.:11t : 1t\ ·;:.: d :.· c·,·:i:~ ..... ~ .. :- \':it:'1 ! ... :..t~'):·Jc:.c:i t; £;:;.' .\ 1't::}1 i-'..: ~ct

;\· n.f,: nc1· 1 &. t har 1 d •

12

)

1.21 period . rnor~ th~n on G crud le 01' c1'i b woul d h~i.v1:: lJ. .. :on nt.c:ch.d

) to accornmod<.it.0 the bal)it: s. It i::s :cocornmer1di:::d tha t tw0 ·m~lnut

spool-turned cribs be set n.gainst the e~.:. r~t v:all . Tlwr. i:: ch0uld

One cr:=ld1 e on rockcro al. sn nhouJ d be in tiw C r·y n 0cirn

for tho !;malle:l.' or i'uuf:ier b~bies .

&<./U.u.il simple etu~v(.fi he; ad and foot boai:·df:: . The ~id~a bhoula

and hand holes may or may not b e cut into the sidcri .

'! • • •

00 J.U. :-:.1 n ;

Both c r i l>n and cradle ~,houl<l hav~ t·:mo:.11 hu ~~ le ·· :f'il10d m,:.. t -

tresses . No q u U . trs are recomrn~nded , r;inc~ t;ach r:-.otlH~r proba bly

brought her baby in its coverings.

Chairs A at~~ight ch~ir shoul d bo set bos i de th e Eaot

doorway and againat the partition ~ The ch air ohould b~ si~il~r

chair•s in the Meeti ng House. Th~ back of c.:=.w h chr .. ir shoulc~

have two s l ah1 fitted into two rounn side rn.ils , wh:lch become

the back l egs of the ch2ir'~ The E.:r~at should be l:·uoh. The

~ront leg s should be rounded and slightly taperc~d ?.t th G bottom.

The legs should be brace d by double ctrC::tc.:he:rs . '1'he cha irs

prefen~ably should hav~ the old popnl:.u· reel e tai.n fini::;h .

Two rocking ch~ira nre rccomm~nde d. Thece should be

pl~ced n~2r the north Window and i11 the southwest corner of

T~7~!.faud Str!i."t"forl;"'HC!r.bert l!oovm·· ' ~: H0me 'l'own. ( Privatt: Puhl i shing , _... l -·---- ---- -------------194 fn , P · 1 ~ ~. 16/ 'l'homas H. Or.m~~bet~ • Field Gl':i d o to Ar:ind .c:an V 5 c:tnr· i~!.n ftn ' ·· - "']' ·'•..ll.'" ( ~; "' "J v

0v' ' ' 1 e;·r~-; ~y--;.':'~-:1-'"··-.),.[i.Y.·~. ;.)fli,""·····--- -------·-··· .. • · · ·· ·-·--····--~···

!....:-:... !::'-----~ l' , ~ , .l ""' .. ,._ , - ,• ·"" J-.. J. tJI" (j: \ ' .J'" ~··

1J

_ _...,..., __ _

) with rounded side rails, ru s h seats, round~d an t~pcring front

legs, and bD.l<mced rockers. N l'd. th &. r ch:..1ir nhould hi~vEi arms.

This style rocking chair was popular over an extended period

of timer and the simplicity of the style: mr:.y have r.:.pp0ul~d to

the Quaker ladies.

1l1 abl~ -... --~ A mnr.111 table 1:ihonld be Ge~; und~:r. thi:~ south

Buch as dio.pe:cs or mo<Eein E'fJ p which the mother's ln·ough·i: ~ rmd

pc~rhapi:i evc~n to chang e: the b::~by. 'ViH~ tr:. bl c r::ihou1<1 ha:v-c: a c uw.11

ree;tangul~n· overhane::i.ng top, Vii th a plain three Ol.' fom~ inch

skirt. The four leg::.: should be squared and slightly t;,1_p<'H't:d

at the bottomc The table should be stained the old red color.

present addition th&t lamps were once attachad to them. It ia

recommend0c1. how<!lvf~r. that t wo ca.~:;t iron bracke;t lamps be

fastened to the walls, one near th~ east doox·way and thG other

near the west or outer door.. The g 1~ should have mlllrcur·y rc):flcctol~s

behind them.

No carpets are recommended for this area . The

floor should be swept cl c•m periodically and left bare.

FLC:OR PLAHS /'.ND ELEV A'l'IONS

Facing Benches

Pews

I .' I :

j I

l I

L_·.~-

N .1. ....

App·:.·ox, 1/411

: :: 1'0"

Facing Dcnchcs

.. I

.·.

11~ :'~ >'. ' \. ,· '-. , ·

·-.

·' ' : \ ' ' :-.:-- I

\ :

"--·., \ ............ ,

I

en 1 : : ( 'i~ · ... :·:~~ '!' :rr-.: I'.'. 1, (HI:·; E ( \'/01.!i~i'i ' S SlDE )

15

Clrn i1' t- f

C ~. '3 rk G u '!' a bl t:

l . . .... .. ·-

Pew r:J

I

l'

i---. ..

!

i -... .. . .. .

·, i ' ' •I '. 'i 'I

I ;

I : i

. ' . !

• '• "• Ml

! ; · .. ' ·-: I

~ r 1 . 1 r

"I :~ • i I . ,.

; J

I I: ..

: . .i

I ,. l

! .

i : ; ~

. ' ! . \

'! I "I .. ' . \ :. 1: • 1 \l p , 1

··'

\. :'·· !

·'

!. ' ~ ,'

~EETlNG ROOM ( WOMEN ' S ) ~1outh Elevution

r

I

)

) j

~ ~ 1\ ll ! ' i - ( I . I \'. I "-:::> l----··'._·--· -------··-·· -. . 1·

~ t I __ _ I_ _

l { \ i

l !

l \

\ l ______ J, _

\. - - - . .. ,J \ . / : ........ • •' l:...

I \ ': .

MEETING ROOM (WOMEN' S) North Elevation

17

·- -~

- ~ ·~ ·-:.• -......~:--~~ .. ..., .. 1

• _n·_ - ··~~ .•~'4._!':._.~"'1tc•!•!r-11_:_ ~ _:.'

. N .

Approx . 1/4" = 1 t 0 11

...

'rable

---·-_:.: I n . .

cracffe :·: , • i : I I

Ro!ckin·g , I ! Chair· : l I · l

'\ _ .. - · --~ I I '1 I - \ .L. -- -·-· .. I

... -- -· ·- .. ..... -· I L__ . ..... - .

' I :

' . I l .

I i

NURSERY OR CRY ROOM

18

. (

L __

···--···--... -- ..

I \ •• ••

.. :~ _1,_,,, - ..

; ;.---+·--.. .. ._ ... ,..__ r I, I ~.-.:·---··--- . i ..

=··· \) ;1 ~ ....... --- ......

,.,, ,. ·i ( ... ' l \ )

<.' ,~ -~ . __ './

East Elevation

. . -· ·- . ··----· .. .. -

r .... I } I . I

----· ..... , ....... :t"""'"' ·--

... -.. ...... · :_. .. _

f - ...... _ I

I I' •• I

'I

North El ev c-1tion

1.9

, I

( J ?

I I

.. ·~·· • • - ·-· .... ?

r-- - ·- - -·-·- - - --.. · · ---·-·-···-··-····-·---~·--------·-··-·----· -- ···-·. --··-·--·--

1 )

.{.

!\--··-···· ... " I I .... ••·• - -... • ··• i

! ; . . -.... .. -· .. ....... .... . • ... .

.l : _ _ ·_ .. ~ " _ ... ·., l l , : i . 1 1 • I•

)

l .: __ )

J

- · 1 !

I' 1-=-~=::=-:11 ' I I i I

I t ! • 1 ~

l I I l . I I I I I I v.i : I I

; · .. ... ·

/

"<' .... ,.·, ·· ...• • - l • ,··

l ' ' '.. l . - .

I ) I._, ! i : .· " ' •. . ' .• 't-. !·Y'

I -: ~ ·· -~. :'"' ~. ~ ··:·-:~ p -=::: ' i ' ~ • . r ;, , t I

\

. .. "~ I I

- ..... .. __ , ..... !..- . . ~. -·-· ... i.:. ...... . -· - ... \ - ----!

West Elevation 11 '

\,.. .

. ; I

....... ·-

I

; ! ' ' . . '; __ ...... --~· ··· ··"- · ··· · · ·- - ·- -· ·-~· ··- ,. ! ' \ i • , ... -: (''

South ElE:vation

20

ESTIMA'l1ES

' I

,,.

Estimates

~eeting_ Ro~ Cos+ o.f. 11-tt:tl<in9 h~n~e..d Pews, staining 0

+et b/e ;/.OO. t) V

$750 .00

·-

Stoves, two Railing Soapstone warmorse three 'Pa.bl t'. !t i 1i!d@ ,,., --

Ch Eli l'S J two Hanging lamps.t four Porch lamps, two

<;)

Clothes hooks, nine stove Curtains~ calico Brass rods Cribs, two Cradl<! Chair, straight Rocking1 chairs, two Table · Bracket lamps , two

Grand Total

21

150,QQ 3()0.DO

75,0Q.~()O.OO

55.00 M9a00

~Q...-1- (, oo. 0 0

~-- 10 0.co

2'?.00 110,00 175.oo lW.00 . .g.' 0 0 's. 0 ()

190. 0.0 'f OO. c O · 65. oe- ,:,-6. a o 115,00 7~~.oo

-1-00 .• 0'0 3'9o.oo 50' 00 <I!:. 0 (I

~. 'JO o O O / 6 o . o CJ - -----:rre;3·:-0&-_______ !..t.::±..~ . ..'J. a .?""l.~·------

---·--- :$23J5.00 3)(, 3 ·:l. 0 0

r· 1.'

.... l

APPENDIX

I I

· ~ \

l I I ~

I

J

Hanging ~fit3'1P with smoke bell .

: ... . .. - :~: .......... ... ··~ ._. ~, . . -- ~ .. . ····--.-.:...:_ .. :::.~:::.:::~ .:.:.,_,,

'\

Heating stove. burning either coal ·.or -wood.

r.;:

.· ...

" .

"Common Reed Seat Chair"

Re s Abernathy Br o ' s Illustrated Cata­log;-ue and .wholesala Price List (L'eavenworth, Kansas , 1872) ·•

Ladder Back Rocking Chair

2J

THE QUAKER MEETING HOUSE WEST DRANCH, IO\'IA

by Sally Johnson Ketcham

Furn). shing Plan Section F

Octobe):' , 19?2 Omaha, NebrRGka

l I

INSTALLATION , MAINTENANCE AND PROTECTION

Atthe prosent time, the Meeting House is open to

visitors , but guided tours are given only upon special oc -

casions or upon request . An audio talk is available in the

Meeting Room ; and the talk apparently is popula1" with visitors ,

who do not miss the opportunity to press the button to com-

mence the speech. S-inee the Mee ting ttottse: IJl°eeantly i:s owue d

by the Herbert Hoovc1r Jhrtl"lplace Poa11de.tiQn , the principal

respon~ibili. ty of the !'ark ~et vice has been ·t:o 19rovidg

· k~eping am~ maintenance .

WRen the r~atlonal !'ark St·tvice e.ss~11u~s ownerRfiip o:f' ~d.v

~re Qaalter Mee ting Hou.".!e and a furnishing plan is instituted , . .

the area · may plan to have conducted tours of the Meeting House ,

at least durin~ the summer . Since only a minimum of furnishings

are projected , protection principall~ will be focused on break­

able items, such as the porch l amps , which have glass chimn~ys,

anq attempts to leave mementos, such as carved initials on

pews or on tables . The clerks' chai rs are not constructed

sturdilyJ and being antiques, these should be protected from

visitors ' attempts to sit on them. Thi s may best be accomplished

by drawing the chair to the table co mpletely. Visitors, how­

ev er , may wish to rest and to contemplate in the quiet of the

congregation • s pews. Since thi~ is a part of the total ex-

perience of the visit , t hi s moment of relaxation should not

1 I

be diHcourag~d . The pews are not orieinal to the ~est Branch

t:1teting House and appear to b0 sturdy 0nough to sustain such

UGe ,

The Nu:r.~ i:;en'y or Cry Room will inte1~est wo rnr;n and ch) ldren

~specially , lt is important thut the cribs ru1d cradle hnvu

rnattress~s on them; and these should bt': shak~n :c egnlarly, 80

t hat duRt does not appear on them. No self-respacting Qu~her

mother wonld have per.mittt:cl ' her baby to lay in a dirty crib.

The calico (;u.rtr.tins chonld be kept crisp und fr<::t;h , All o f

the furniture here , a::i in the f.1c-eting Hous D, should h6 c:l<:.unr:d

regularly , 80 that the furnishings are spo tler::s. Regular at ·0

t<::ntion should be ]Jaid to the condition of th!! f'loo1~s and

windows .

No barriers are plannBd for the Meeting l ~ooms . The ( l

runne1·s on the floor h~lp to dire: ct visitors ; and to date

th~ latter have been able to enjoy thD rooms fre~ly , Con-

tinuance of t his policy is r e commended. Barriers are not

recommended for tho Nursery ~t this time; howevcrt the nren

may discover that barrit::1"s will b~ ne ce~-:sary in the :future , I

if the Meeting House remains unrnann·ecl . The temptat ion to

s i t in the chair or rocking chairs may l ead to the destruction

of these fragile items.

2

.... *

LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE CALL RECORD -- -----

DATE: 3-21-75

To: Vera Craig Office: Harpers Ferry

From: Lauretta Mintzmyer & Pat WhceleOffice: Herbert Hoover

Subject : Histo rical furnishings and costumes

Consulted wit h Vera Craig about furnishings in t he cry room of the Quaker

Meetin9house. She approved change of Furnishing plan from suggested

spool turned c rib to a cradle of si milar desiqn or bentwood styl e cradle

of relative plain design of the same vintage .

Also ask if a gaberdine type fabric would be appropriate for Quaker

costumes of 1875-1880 in this area. She assured us thi s would be a lright

as they used a corded fabric very simi Jar in looks to gaberdine.

cc: Vera Cra i g Reqional Director

J rurnishing Plan Quaker Meetinghouse

~--i~··· ·~··---"~ ~-- .

(Signature)

. ~ - - .

'·