In Lexington, we made time to go around the corner to Stonewall Jackson's home. I was looking forward to it the night before because, as a teen I had read a biography on Andrew Jackson,* and while history's view of him has certainly changed - and should have, he stays in my mind for the 'kitchen cabinet' that Jackson had and also for the fact that it was our young who explained to me why he has been so discredited. I love the editing of history to take in not just white man's take on it, but the diverse and more truthful look.
But, of course, me being me, had confused Andrew with Stonewall. Ah well, we would go anyway, and did, where I was reminded that he died of, in today's language, 'friendly fire,' a so very weird phrase. Remembering that from my history lessons, I had something to connect him to.
But then, at the home with an able guide who shared stories with us, the best wasn't about the man, but about the house. In 1851, the town decided to lower the road.... 5 feet!! The steepness of the hills made for difficult, if not impossible, travel in buggies and carts into the young town. Imagine that - five feet dug down by hand, and, again, of course, slavery hands.
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Top left: Love the irreverent plaque of history. The narrow alley shows, on the right, a close-up of the house's foundation. Top right: explanation of "accidentally wounded by his own men." |
Looking at the photos, bottom left, the original stone foundation changing to brick is the old level of ground. Glancing to the photo next to it, the amount of land moved on the side continues with foundation even more exposed.**
The door was moved to the center and steps added for their entrance. Quite steep, at a 90 degree angle to the house, and narrow, I'd wondered at them. Mystery solved but amazement added.
Edited and Revised
*from a Reader's Digest condensed version. They came 4 times a year. Along with other books and the encyclopedias we had, they sat on the built-in shelves at the end of the living room in the home Dad built. I'm every thankful for the love of knowledge and reading I was raised with.
** This photo is from 1890, much later than when the Jacksons were there. In disrepair, it's the only one I had that showed how much the road had been lowered. The house, now, as a museum, has been restored to the beauty it was when Stonewall and wife lived there.
