Thursday, February 28, 2013

David Reid McKinnon, Grandson of Dr. Arrowsmith

Dr. William Lamb Arrowsmith married twice.  His first marriage to Annie Esther Eedes produced three children who survived to adulthood:  Caroline Annie, Alice Harriett, and Horace Reginald.  Caroline Annie married surgeon David Reid McKinnon.  They had four children.  The eldest, David Reid McKinnon, Jr., was born in 1861 and died in 1890.  His obituary, published in The British Medical Journal, follows: 

DAVID REID McKINNON, M.B, C.M.ABER., F.R.C.S.ENG.

Dr. D.R. McKinnon died at Belize, British Honduras, on October 4th.  He was the eldest son of Surgeon-General D.R. McKinnon of the Army Medical Service, and was born at St. Lucia, West Indies, in 1861.  He was educated at the Grammar School of Aberdeen and the University, and he entered upon the study of medicine at Marischal College in 1878.  After a distinguished undergraduate career he took the degrees of M.B., C.M. with honours in 1882.  For two years afterwards he held successively the offices of house-surgeon and house-physician at the Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen.

Proceeding to Vienna in 1884, he spent a year there, paying particular attention to various special branches of medicine and surgery.  In 1885 he came to London, and joined the River Ambulance Service of the Metropolitan Asylums Board during the small-pox epidemic of that year.  On the subsidence of the epidemic he was appointed medical officer at Bethnall House Lunatic Asylum.  During the three years of his connection with the asylum he took advantage of every opportunity of extending his clinical experience, attending the practice of the London Hospital, and for some time holding the post of clinical assistant at the Royal Ophthalmic Hospital, Moorfields.  In 1888, he obtained the diploma of Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, England.  In March of last year he accepted an offer to join a practice in Belize, British Honduras, where he proceeded in the same month.  For the last year yellow fever has been rife in that colony, and Dr. McKinnon devoted himself with his wonted enthusiasm to the care of his patients and the close study of the disease.  On September 26th he himself showed symptoms of fever, at first resembling those of bilious remittent fever, but soon developing the characteristic features of the more deadly malady.  At the end of the week he so far improved that a hopeful prognosis was given by several physicians familiar with the course of yellow fever; but, on the night of October 3rd, pneumonia supervened, and he rapidly lost consciousness, and died on the morning of October 4th.

The news of his death came as a great shock to his numerous friends in London and Scotland.  Few men had the faculty of attaching friends in the same degree as David McKinnon, and there are many to mourn the untimely closing of his promising and brilliant career, and the loss of a steadfast and valued friend.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Goodwood Hardware

From the Spring 2002 Goodwood Newsletter:

The Hardware

The scale of Goodwood's rooms is impressive.  With ceilings thirteen feet high, the doors between spaces were proportionately sized at nine feet.  Highlighting each of these doors on the first floor are silverplated door knobs, keyholes with covers, and hinges.  The smooth polished surface of the knobs reflected the aura of wealth and sophistication the Croom family sought to project.  The unusual hinges were designed to minimize the number of screws visible.  As the solid, nine-foot doors are extremely heavy--especially for just two sets of hinges--the hinges were designed with heavy iron plates that actually do the work of swinging the doors.  Over these iron plates a thin silverplated cover was screwed into place to enhance the appearance.  Also enhancing the appearance are the keyhole covers.  People often assume that these covers were used to assure privacy in a room and that may be a factor.  But builders' design books and ladies' home magazines from the early nineteenth century frequently  notes that these covers will do wonders to stop that annoying whistling of the wind through the keyhole.

In selecting their hardware, Bryan and Evelina Croom followed established social custom.  While the hardware of the first floor was of expensive and stylish silverplate level, the hardware on the second floor was much simpler.  Porcelain doorknobs and iron hinges were sufficient to do the job.  On the third level in the attic, some of the doors were closed with out-of-date brass and iron locksets dating from the early 1800s.  Even for families of wealth like the Crooms, cost was a factor they considered.

This distinction of quality between the first and second floor also held true for the servants' call ringers located on the outer walls of each main room on the first and second floor.  On the first floor they were silverplated and stylishly simple.  On the second floor they were brass and porcelain.  Originally, wires connected these ringers to a call station in the basement where a lever would be tripped or a bell jingled to identify the room where the ringer was engaged.  Although the call system was dismantled generations ago, the call ringers remain, silent testimony to a bygone era.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Margaret in the Garden, 1962

Kodachrome prints of Margaret Hodges Hood in front of Gray Cottage.  This Camellia is now nearly double the size.



Thursday, February 21, 2013

Stephen Hopkins, Mayflower Passenger


Stephen Hopkins, a Mayflower Passenger, was the 5th great grandfather of Arvah Hopkins.  The line backwards from Arvah:  Edmund (father of Arvah), Thatcher (father of Edmund), Jonathan (father of Thatcher), Joseph (father of Jonathan), Stephen (father of Joseph), Gyles (father of Stephen), Stephen (father of Gyles).  Arvah's 4th great grandfather, Gyles Hopkins, was also a Mayflower Passenger (more on him later).

Stephen Hopkins was aboard the Sea Venture, en route to Jamestown, when it was shipwrecked in a hurricane off Bermuda in 1609.  The survivors were stranded for ten months on Bermuda, surviving on turtles, birds and wild pigs.  Six months into this ordeal, Hopkins, who was a minister's clerk, fomented a mutiny on the grounds that the authority of the governor ceased when the ship was wrecked.  He was sentenced to death but later pardoned, having expressed penitence and fear for his wife and children who had remained in England.  The castaways built a small ship and sailed to Jamestown where Hopkins spent an unknown amount of time before returning to England. 

Stephen Hopkins and his first wife Mary Kent, had three children: Elizabeth (may have died young), Constance and Giles.  Mary died in 1613.  In 1617, Stephen married his second wife, Elizabeth Fisher.  Stephen and Elizabeth had seven children: Damaris (died young), Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth.  The Hopkins Mayflower party included Stephen, wife Elizabeth, Giles, Constance (or Constanta), and Damaris.  Their son, Oceanus, was born while the Mayflower was at sea.

Stephen was an active member in the Pilgrim group and was part of all the early exploring missions.  He was used as an expert on Native Americans.  Squanto, who we remember for helping the colonists survive the first winter, lived with the Hopkins for a period of time. 

While Stephen Hopkins was given positions of responsibility, such as assistant to the Governor, in the Colony, he was not always a law-abiding citizen.  Most of his troubles involved alcohol.  Twice he was fined for price gouging.  Two offences were of a serious nature.  In 1636 he seriously wounded a man in a fight.  In 1637 he impregnated a maidservant, Dorothy Temple, and refused to provide for her.  Another colonist agreed to support her and the child.  Stephen Hopkins died in 1644 at the age of 63. 

For much more on Stephen Hopkins, go to the Macarter Family site.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Missouri or A Voice from the South

Harry Macarthy
From the sheet music collection of Susan Hopkins:  "Missouri or A Voice from the South" by Harry Macarthy.  Given that I cannot find the tune online, we will have to make do with the sheet music here.  For more on Harry Macarthy, there is an interesting article at history.net entitled, "Harry Macarthy:  The Bob Hope of the Confederacy".  The Missouri History Museum has an entire website devoted to the civil war in Missouri
Sheet music from Library of Congress
Missouri, A Voice from the South
Missouri!  Missouri!  bright land of the West,
Where the way-worn emigrant always found rest,
Who gave to the farmer reward for the toil,
Expended in breaking and turning the soil;
Awake to the notes of the bugle and drum!
Awake from your peace, for the tyrant hath come;
And swear by your honor that your chains shall be riven,
And add your bright Star to our Flag of Eleven.

They'd force you to join in their unholy fight,
With fire and with sword, with power and with might,
'Gainst Fathers and Brothers, and kindred near,
'Gainst women and children, and all you hold dear;
They've o'errun your soil, insulted your press,
Murdered your citizens, shown no redress:
So swear by your honor that your chains shall be riven,
And add your bright Star to our Flag of Eleven.

Missouri!  Missouri!  where is thy proud fame!
Free land of the West, they once cherished name?
Trod in the dust by a tyrant's command,
Proclaiming there's martial law in the land.
Men of Missouri! strike without fear!
McCulloch, Jackson, and brave men are near;
Swear by your honor that your chains shall be riven,
And add your bright star to our Flag of eleven.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Ancestry of Fanny Hopkins Tiers

In answer to a recent question, "Was Fanny Hopkins Tiers related Arvah Hopkins?":

Fanny Hopkins Tiers descended from a different Hopkins line than Arvah.  Arvah's Hopkins ancester, Stephen Hopkins, was a Mayflower Passenger.  Fanny was a descendant of Gerard Hopkins who was born in 1650 in Canterbury, England.  

Fanny's Hopkins line:
Gerard Hopkins (b. 1650 in Canterbury, England, and died 1692 in MD) married Thomasin Baxter.

Gerrard Hopkins (b. 1685 in England)  (son of Gerard) married Margaret Johns (daughter of Richard Johns and Elizabeth Kinsey).  Gerrard's brother was the "Johns" of Johns Hopkins University fame.

Richard Hopkins Sr. (b. 1715 in MD) (son of Gerrard), married Katherine Todd.

Richard Hopkins Jr. (b. 1751 in MD) (son of Richard Sr.) married Rebecca Cumming (daughter of David and Sarah Cumming)

Nicholas Hopkins (b. 1788 in PA) (son of Richard Jr.) married Emily Macalester (daughter of Charles Macalester and Anna Sampson)
From Catalogue of the Memorial Exhibition of Portraits by Thomas Sully,
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 1922
Henry Hopkins (b. ca. 1829 in PA and died in 1870) (son of Nicholas) married Ellen Lathrop (daughter of Francis Stebbins Lathrop and Caroline Gilmore).

Then Fanny Lathrop Hopkins (born in 1861) (daughter of Henry & Ellen)

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Blended Lives Re-Cap

Over 2,600 fourth graders participated in the Blended Lives program this year.  This video about the program was produced by WLCSTV.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

"Blended Lives" Pieces Together History in Tallahassee

Goodwood was privileged to have archeologist Barbara Hines participate in this years' Blended Lives program.  You may read about her program on the Shovel Bytes blog.
Prehistoric artifacts recovered from the Goodwood property.
From left to right, an Archaic stemmed projectile point (arrowhead)
and a Ft. Walton period decorated ceramic sherd.
Historic artifacts, probably associated with the Goodwood house,
recovered at the Goodwood site. Bottom Left: etched glass fragment,
Top Left: Whieldon ware ceramic sherd, Right: small clay marble.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Welcome to Goodwood

From the Spring 1995 Goodwood newsletter:
Souvenir postcard of Goodwood, ca. 1920s,
with portraits of William C. and Margaret Hodges
"Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Goodwood newsletter!  Over the last one hundred and sixty-three years, Goodwood has been recognized as one of Florida's most significant historic sites.  For most of this time, the estate served as a private home for five important families.  Now, thanks to the considerate planning of the last owner/occupant, Goodwood is undergoing restoration for use as a public museum and park.  The Margaret E. Wilson Foundation invites you to join us as we seek to restore the grandeur, sophistication and style for which Goodwood was famous.

"Before we introduce you to the Goodwood of today and tomorrow, a brief history lesson to introduce you to the Goodwood of yesteryear.  In upcoming issues we will entertain you with the history of the five families who have called Goodwood home, but for now, we hope a simple listing will give you a frame of reference.  The first owners were the Croom family of North Carolina.  They owned the plantation from 1834 through 1857, and built the Main House in the 1840s.  The Crooms were followed by Arvah Hopkins and his family from 1857 through 1886.  Dr. and Mrs. William Lamb Arrowsmith owned the estate from 1886 through 1911; Mrs. Alexander Tiers, from 1811 through 1925, and the Hodges/Hood family, from 1925 through 1990.

"Women have played, and continue to play, a significant role in the story of Goodwood.  One of the most important women in our history is Margaret Wilson Hodges Hood.  Margaret lived at Goodwood longer than any other owner, and Goodwood is being restored to the elegant appearance it enjoyed when she came to the estate as the young wife of William C. Hodges, one of Florida's most powerful state senators.  Margaret dearly loved Goodwood, and Thomas Hood, her second husband, established the Margaret E. Wilson Foundation to honor her memory.  The restoration and preservation of her beloved Goodwood would surely please her."

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

To Him Who Plants a Tree

From a Hodges' scrapbook, dated 1922.  Hodges wrote two notes on this page:  "one of the very best," and "This makes me think of my father who was always planting a tree--He died at 80 1/2 years--at peace with all the world."  His father was John J. Hodges (1842-1923).

TO HIM WHO PLANTS A TREE
Perhaps our God has somewhere made a thing
More beautiful to see
Than a majestic tree;
But if He has, I think it grows
In Heaven, by the stream that flows
Where whiter souls than ours do sing.

Who plants a tree, his is akin to God,
In this impatient age
Where quick returns engage
The fevered service of the crowd.
In reverent wisdom he is bowed
And hides his purpose in the clod.

The blessed man that plants a long-lived tree
That shall grow nobly on
When he is dead and gone,
He seems to me to love his kind
With true sincerity of mind,
He seems to love his fellows yet to be.

Above his grave the suns shall flush and fade,
The seasons come and go
And storms shall drive and blow;
But sun and rain that from his tomb
Efface his name, renew the bloom
And glory of the monument he made.
--Author Unknown
The Goodwood drive, lined by "long-lived trees" that "grow nobly on"

Friday, February 1, 2013

Hearts and Flowers Dinner for Two

From Margaret's February, 1951, edition of Home Gardening Magazine:


HEARTS AND FLOWERS DINNER FOR TWO
Fancy for February and Valentine's Day... A Hearts and Flowers Dinner for two... the new bride and her groom! The table setting will look like one big Valentine... so get out your fanciest "wedding gift" china, your prettiest "trousseau" linens, arrange a fresh flower centerpiece, and add lighted candles. Now we have the frills... how about the food fun?

MENU
PINK GRAPEFRUIT APPETEASER             CITY CHICK             MILK GRAVY
FLUFFY RICE HEART WITH PIMIENTO ARROWS
TOSSED GREEN SALAD
LOVER'S KNOT ROLLS (packaged variety)
LEMON BUTTERED ASPARAGUS
CUPID'S HEART-Y STRAWBERRY BAVARIAN
DEMI-TASSE          MINTS

Start the meal off with this gay tangy appeteaser.  It'll click!

Pink Grapefruit Appeteaser

Cut pink grapefruit in half crosswise, remove core, and free meat from membrane by cutting around each section.  scallop edges of shells.  Now fill the center with canned green grapes, and garnish with maraschino cherry "hearts".

Now for City Chick... even a bride knows there isn't a smidgen of chicken in this "make-believe"--but that doesn't seem to affect its ever-growing popularity.  City Chick, bless it, is simply generous chunks of veal and pork placed alternately on a skewer to resemble a chicken drumstick.  No waste... all good eating!
City Chick

Have your butcher prepare city chick for you.  Allow two drumsticks for each serving--that'll mean four for your dinner for two.  Now roll each one in flour so that it is well-coated.  Melt 3 tablespoons of fat in a skillet, add the meat and season with salt and pepper.  Brown meat well, turning it so the browning is even.  When browned to suit your taste, add enough water to cover bottom of skillet.  Cover and simmer gently for about 45 minutes or until tender, adding more water if necessary.  Remove the "chicken" and serve at once.

Milk Gravy

The good browned flour, meat juices and fat that are left in the skillet make wonderful gravy.  Blend 1 tablespoon flour with the juices and stir until smooth.  Place over low heat and gradually add 1 cup milk, stirring until gravy is smooth and thickened. If you like a thinner gravy, add a little more milk. Season with salt and pepper. Serve spooned in the center of a heart of fluffy rice, pierced with a pimiento arrow.

Cupid cuts a few capers in the "party-like" dessert, which is quite simple to prepare.

Cupid's Heart'y Strawberry Bavarian

1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1/2 cup hot water
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup crushed frozen strawberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup heavy cream, whipped 
candy hearts
additional whole strawberries

Soften gelatin in cold water, dissolve in hot water. Chill until partially set. Beat until frothy. Add combined sugar, strawberries, and lemon juice; mix well. Fold in whipped cream. Chill in individual heart molds. Unmold at dessert time; garnish with additional berries, whipped cream "puffs" with a top-knot of candy hearts.

Au Revoir Til March
When A Southern Coffee Buffet ushers in the Spring Season!  Until then, remember, Hearts and Flowers are quite glamorous... but HEARTY food helps out a heap!

Erna Harris