Like meeting with friends for drinks? Enjoy toasting the New Year with a glass of Champagne or order a Margarita while sitting by the pool on a hot summer day?
If so, you owe a big thanks to Repeal Day. It was a big deal on December 5, 1933 when the 21st Ammendent to the Constitution was ratified, making it legal to drink again. People came out into the streets to celebrate when the news made headlines and was broadcast on the radio.
It had been more than a decade when America went dry on January 17, 1920 with the passage of the Volstead Act, outlawing the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. Almost immediately the conseuqnces were dire. Before Prohibition forced thousands of people out of work, 89 distilleries lined Main Street in downtown Louisville. Poof, those jobs were gone.
Not many people were for the law even at the beginning and its appeal lessened with each passing year.
According to the Mob History Museum website, as early as 1922, 40 percent of people polled by Literary Digest magazine were for modifying the National Prohibition Act (regulating alcohol) and 20 percent backed repealing the 18th Amendment. In 1926, 81 percent of people polled by the Newspaper Enterprise Association favored modifying the Prohibition statute or outright repeal of the amendment. Indeed, as time went on, the only people who really really liked Prohibition besides the most dedicated teetotaler were guys like Al Capone who was earning as much as $60 million to as high as $100 million a year from bootlegging. All that money was corrupt and dangerous with violent gang murders including the famous Valentine’s Day Massacre.
So why isn’t Repeal Day on everyone’s calendar? Afterall, both National Pfeffernuesse Day (pfeffermuesses, in case you don’t know, are a type of German cookie) and National Fried Shrimp Day are among the many rather strange holidyays that are national holidays. But Repeal Day has faded into obscurity.
At least in most cities throughout the U.S.
But in Louisville, where bourbon is king, Repeal Day is being celebrated.
Buzzard’s Roost Sipping Whiskey is literally rolling out the barrel to celebrate the 91th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition.
Buzzard’s Roost also is raising a glass to Repeal with the release of a new single-barrel Founders 8-Year-Old Bourbon on Thursday, Dec. 5
When & Thursday, Dec. 5 at 11 a.m.
Where Barrel Roll kicks off at Buzzard’s Roost, 624 W. Main Stt at 6th St.
Who Buzzard’s Roost Co-founders Jason Brauner and Judy Hollis Jones and Lead Distiller Ethan Spalding will lead the barrel-roll parade down Main Street.
Hot Sauce Brass Band will lead a second line for all barrel roll participants.
Back at the Buzzard’s Roost Tasting Room & Distillery, tastes of the new Founders 8- Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon will be available and the bar will be open.
Buzzard’s Roost Founders; 8-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon
115.6 Proof
Available only at the Buzzard’s Roost Tasting Room & Distillery ($150 per bottle)
Visuals Judy and Jason leading the barrel roll down Main Street, followed by the Hot Sauce Brass Band and bar-towel-waving crowd
The Buzzard’s Roost team will be dressed in 1920s Prohibition-era garb, with plenty of flapper dresses, fringe and bow ties and bowler hats!
Jason Brauner and Ethan Spalding rolling the barrel down the sidewalk and across the street
“This year, people seem to have gotten a jump on hauling out the holly and decorating everything that’s not moving,” writes my friend Mindy Bianca, owner of Mindy Bianca Public Relations. “But we suggest taking that holiday spirit on the road and having a few experiences that could result in the best gift of the season: memories made with family and friends. From reindeer prancing through Kentucky to a gingerbread display that hits it out of the park in New York, there’s no shortage of merry and bright adventures waiting in some of MBPR’s client destinations. Get ready to unwrap some one-of-a-kind happenings that will make your season extra bright this year.”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to embrace the magic than spending time with Santa’s favorite critters? This hands-on farm experience lets you get close to a team of more than eight not-so-tiny reindeer, plus you can take a ride on a festive sleigh, stroll through holiday-themed displays and ice sculptures, and spend time with the jolly guy himself. New this year, the farm just added a zipline, so if the sight of these creatures playing reindeer games inspires YOU to really know how to fly … have at it!
“Let it snow” might not be the theme of a Louisiana Christmas, but that doesn’t mean the holiday season is any less jolly here. At Houmas House Estate and Gardens, the Southern Christmas vibe is strong, with majestic oak trees draped in twinkling lights and a grand historic home decked out like something straight out of a classic holiday movie. Guests can stroll the beautifully lit gardens, have a cup of cheer and enjoy delicious culinary offerings.
Frostburg, located on the Mountain Side of Maryland, is home to the nationally recognized Storybook Holiday event, complete with the ever-popular Elf Olympics, kid’s activities, a Christmas market, shops, a featured children’s author and a parade led by none other than Jack Frost himself. Fitting for a town named “Frost”-burg, Mr. Frost closes out the day’s activities by hosting a town-wide snowball fight. The 21st annual Storybook Holiday is scheduled for Saturday, December 7. Even if you can’t make it to town on that particular day, Frostburg is one of the most charmingly decorated holiday towns on the East Coast throughout the season.
They say there’s no place like home for the holidays, but what if you could enjoy all the cozy vibes without the food prep and dirty dishes, laborious set-up and take-down of decorations, and the ensuing stress? Have yourself a merrier little Christmas at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa or Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Cozy accommodations, carolers and holiday-themed packages (including one featuring a tree in your room) will make your stay as sweet as sugar plums. And just in case your holiday barometer measures in this way: This part of east Tennessee was the set for a bonafide Hallmark movie, “Christmas at Dollywood,” back in 2019.
The Otesaga Resort Hotel is the place to stay during a visit to Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum. Each year, The Otesaga’s culinary team pulls out all the stops to create an amazing gingerbread creation that’s proudly displayed throughout the holiday season. This time they’ve hit a home run by building a gingerbread replica of historic Doubleday Field. For nearly 100 years, this celebrated baseball stadium has seen everyone from Hall of Famers to lucky kids play America’s pastime here in the village. Now it’s been transformed into gingerbread and royal icing.
Photo courtesy of the Dollywood Company.
If you’re dreaming of a merry and bright holiday season, gather your loved ones, pack your favorite holiday sweaters (ugly or not) and get ready to make memories that will last way longer than the extra pounds you pick up during this festive time of year.
For the month of October, you might as well start calling Kentucky’s third-largest city “Boo-ling Green,” because this is a destination that truly gets goosebumps when it sees October 31 approach on the calendar. That makes perfect sense, considering that Bowling Green is the hometown of filmmaker John Carpenter, who created classic horror flicks like “Halloween.”
It’s not all about gore and goblins, mayhem and monsters, though. There are plenty of family-friendly ways to celebrate all the things that go bump in the night. And around here, the creatures that get the most seasonal attention aren’t bats … they’re the rare white squirrels that populate the city. The rodents, which are particularly active now because they’re stocking up on snacks for the winter, look like tiny ghosts already jittery from the trick-or-treating sugar rush.
Here are all the ways you can get into the Halloween spirit in Bowling Green:
JOHN CARPENTER EXPERIENCE
John Carpenter, a filmmaker and composer who grew up in Bowling Green, is widely considered one of the masters of the horror-film genre. His most notable films include “Halloween,” “The Fog,” “The Thing,” “Christine,” “They Live” and “Village of the Damned.” Though he was born in New York state, Carpenter moved to Bowling Green when he was just 5 years old. He became obsessed with cinema shortly thereafter, and he made his first short horror film before he entered high school. Carpenter began college at Western Kentucky University, where his father chaired the music department, then left to pursue his career in California. Though none of his films were shot in his hometown, the people and places around Bowling Green remained influential to his filmmaking.
Fans of his films may already feel like they know sites around the city, though those places are a lot less creepy in broad daylight and without the foreboding music. (Fun fact: Carpenter wrote his own scores.) Horror fans can pick up a brochure called the Reel Sites, Real Scary Driving Tour at the visitor center (or download your own PDF here) and take a self-guided trip to 17 spots that were meaningful or inspirational to Carpenter or mentioned in his movies.
ATTRACTIONS
Skeleton’s Lair Scream Park:Open on weekends through early November, this popular attraction is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The park is located – appropriately enough – on Cemetery Road and features haunted woods, a haunted hayride, a two-story haunted house and a 3D haunted maze. It’s staffed by live actors but also offers plenty of pyrotechnics and special effects, all adding to the fear factor.
Lost River Cave: This attraction offers a glimpse into the darker side of Bowling Green … because it’s one of Kentucky’s famous caves, and the only one that’s explored by boat. Though tours take place year-round, at this time of year you can participate in a special nighttime tour called “Lost Tales of the Underground,” on which guides blend history and fun as they share the cave’s ghost stories. The tour takes place nightly from October 21 through 31 and costs $35 per person. Even if you’re afraid of the dark, you can still explore the exterior of the cave, walking along the Scarecrow Trail and voting for your favorite of the scarecrows that have been crafted by members of the community. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be viewed from dawn to dusk each day through October 27. There’s no admission fee for that family-friendly experience.
HAUNTED SITES
Old Richardsville Road Bridge: Located just off Highway 185, the bridge dates to the late 1800s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also on locals’ list of Most Haunted Places. As the story goes, a young woman either jumped off, drove off or was pushed off the bridge – that part of the tale is unclear – and died at the site. It’s said that if you drive onto the bridge at night and shift your car into neutral, some unseen force will push your vehicle to the other side of the bridge.
Local legend claims it’s the young woman, trying to safely escort travelers across so they don’t suffer the same fate that she did. Many brave souls have tested the theory over the years, and some have even sprinkled baby powder on their bumper before driving onto the bridge. They report seeing a handprint in the powder when they reach the other side.
TOURS
Hilltop History and Haunts Tour: This 90-minute walking tour explores the campus of Western Kentucky University, which is situated on “The Hilltop.” The university has such a reputation for ghostly encounters that it has been featured on the television show “Ghost Hunters.” The tour is led by former WKU professor Dr. Tamela W. Smith, who describes a variety of mysterious phenomena, focusing not only on the university but also the history of “The Hill” and what may have happened there to result in all the spiritual activity. The tour is intended for guests ages 16 and older and is offered on Friday, Saturday and Monday nights at 8 p.m. A special Halloween version that includes the opportunity to use paranormal investigation equipment is scheduled for at 11 p.m. on October 31. As an added bonus, WKU is a great place to see those aforementioned white squirrels.
UnSeen Bowling Green Tours: This company focuses on the city’s histories, mysteries, scandals and ghost stories, and is offering three fall-themed tours that run throughout the month of October. The “Murders and Misdemeanors” walking tour focuses on Bowling Green’s dark side and reveals a variety of bone-chilling tales. Tickets are $24 per person.
DINING
Bowling Green’s chefs and bartenders have been busy at their bubbling cauldrons, creating all kinds of eats, sweets and liquid treats to soothe the howling in your stomach. Some lean into the creep factor, and others are simply celebrating fall.
For example, at Rafferty’srestaurant you can order a slab of sweet potato pie that’s heavy on the butter, brown sugar and pecans. And though you might think that makes it a dessert, they serve it as a side dish! At Mary Jane’s Chocolates in the town square, they’re coating crisp, tart Granny Smiths in sweet and sticky caramel and hoping that a tricked-out apple a day does indeed keep the doctor away.
Over atLost River Pizza Co., though, their Killer Garlic Knots are brushed with enough garlic butter to keep away all the vampires.
Speaking of Dracula and his buddies, at Toro, the mad scientists behind the bar are busy concocting El Vampiro, a decidedly devilish drink made with tequila, orange liqueur, blackberry puree, honey-infused simple syrup, lemon juice and black salt.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Boos & Brews at The Capitol: You missed it this year, but note it for the future: If you’re interested in a big-screen scream, The Capitol performing arts center provided the perfect venue to watch a double feature of John Carpenter’s “Halloween” and “Halloween II” last Friday night. White Squirrel Brewery(yes, even businesses around here are obsessed with the little spectral creatures) served some of its beer, and we hear that the audience members tried their best not to spill any when they jumped out of their seats. And … the theater itself is reported to be haunted, with plenty of stories of ghostly footsteps and apparitions to keep your spine tingling.
Downtown BGKY Harvest Festival:This free, family-friendly event will be held on Saturday, October 19 in the heart of downtown Bowling Green. In addition to kid’s activities, live music, craft vendors, and food trucks, the event is home to Downtown BGKY’s annual “pumpkin drops.” There are no tricks but plenty of treats at this fall-themed, scare-free street festival.
Boogeyman Ball: On October 26, White Squirrel will open its downtown brewery for a costume party and contest that features live (not dead) music and some wicked cocktails. There’s a $20 cover charge for the event, which runs from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Expanded Programming Offers Visitors an Inside Look into the World of Whiskey Making, Beam Family History, and Eight Generations of Craftsmanship as the Clermont Campus Celebrates 90 Years of Craftsmanship.
Behind the Beam
A behind the scenes tour with the First Family of Bourbon, taste our finest whiskies and a few of the most sought-after new releases paired with a Kentucky inspired lunch at The Kitchen Table and storytelling led by a Master Distiller.
Making America’s Native Spirit isn’t a process. Here in Clermont, it’s a 225-year tradition. Get a glimpse behind the scenes at the production methods that helped the First Family of Bourbon build the World’s Favorite Bourbon and an innovative portfolio of small batch whiskies.
In Behind The Beam, you’ll be guided on a behind the scenes tour of the Fred B. Noe Distillery, bottle your own Knob Creek® Single Barrel Reserve, and enjoy tasting and storytelling led by a Master Distiller. Following the tour, you’ll be treated to some of Beam’s finest whiskies and a few of the most sought-after new releases paired with a Kentucky inspired lunch at The Kitchen Table.
In addition to your tour, tasting, and Kentucky-inspired lunch each experience will highlight a different aspect of the production process or how to utilize Beam Distilling made whiskies in your favorite cocktails.
2024 Behind the Beam Dates & Theme:
Themes:
Behind The Beam – Maturation Matters
Ever wonder what it’s like to go select barrels with a Master Distiller? Join Fred and Freddie Noe on an experience through the historic warehouses of James B. Beam Distilling Co. where you’ll learn the secrets of how time, temperature, and wood impact the World’s #1 Bourbon.
Behind The Beam – Little Book® + Country Ham
When Freddie Noe set out to make his own mark on the bourbon industry, he wanted to honor his grandfather Booker by creating a product with one attribute in mind: Flavor. Little Book™ was born with the goal of creating the most flavorful American Whiskey on the planet, using a variety of bourbons, ryes, and single malt whiskeys in the final blend.
Join Freddie Noe as he takes you through the process of blending a new batch of Little Book and taste Little Book against other traditional bourbons to showcase the contrast and what blending can do to elevate flavors. After, you’ll join Freddie to showcase how his innovative flair extends to a family heirloom: Freddie’s country ham. Whether it be in bourbon or cooking, the Beam family has always pushed the boundaries of flavor.
Behind The Beam – Cocktails
Fred and Freddie love nothing more than using Beam bourbons to make libations the world over. Yet with so much mixology experience, what are the favorite cocktails of the Master Distillers of the First Family of Bourbon? An immersive mixology experience in which you’ll explore which cocktails pair best with Beam Distilling brands.
2024 Behind the Beam Dates & Theme:
Thursday October 24th, 2024 – Little Book® + Country Ham
Expanded Programming Offers Visitors an Inside Look into the World of Whiskey Making, Beam Family History, and Eight Generations of Craftsmanship.
The James B. Beam Distilling Co., home of the World’s #1 bourbon Jim Beam®, is excited to announce several new visitor experiences and an expanded events calendar this year. New offerings include brand-specific consumer experiences for Knob Creek® and Jim Beam® and for the first time ever, consumers will have access to the state-of-the-art Fred B. Noe Distillery with a limited series of “Behind The Beam” events where guests can enjoy a personalized tour and tasting led by one of our Master Distillers, Fred or Freddie Noe.
These newly designed experiences have been thoughtfully curated to make guests feel part of the First Family of Bourbon and immerse them into their 229 years of whiskey-making expertise. In 2022, The James B. Beam Distilling Co. underwent a multi-million-dollar campus renovation including a revamp of the American Outpost, opening of The Fred B. Noe Distillery, and adding The Kitchen Table restaurant, further establishing the distillery as a must-visit tourism destination. Since then, daily visits have increased by 60%, and last year alone, The James B. Beam Distilling Co. welcomed over 126,000 visitors. This is part of a larger post-pandemic tourism trend and travel boom, and according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail surpassed a record-breaking two million visitors in 2022.
For the first time in 229 years, father and son Master Distillers are working alongside one another to continue inventing and reinventing the American Whiskey category. Fred Noe, 7th Generation Master Distiller, oversees some of the most well-known whiskeys in the world including Jim Beam®, Basil Hayden® and Knob Creek®; while his son Freddie, 8th Generation Master Distiller is at the helm of innovation in American Whiskey and oversees The Fred B. Noe Distillery which opened its doors in 2021 for small batch production of Booker’s®, Baker’s®, Little Book®, Legent®, and more.
The James B. Beam Distilling Co. Visitor Experiences
In addition to the new tours outlined below, guests can still book the classics like the Basil Hayden Culinary Tasting Experience, Family Reserve Tasting, Beam Made Bourbon Distillery Tour & Tasting, and Meet the Family Tasting. A list of tours can be found here.
· Behind the Beam ($350): Get a glimpse behind the scenes at the production methods that helped the First Family of Bourbon build the world’s favorite Bourbon and an innovative portfolio of small-batch whiskeys. In Behind the Beam, guests are guided on a behind-the-scenes tour of the newly opened Fred B. Noe Distillery, have a front row seat to the bottling process of Knob Creek® Single Barrel Reserve and enjoy tasting and storytelling led by a Master Distiller. Following the tour, guests are treated to some of Beam’s finest whiskey and a few of the most sought-after new releases paired with a Kentucky-inspired lunch at The Kitchen Table. Behind the Beam dates and themes can be found here.
Themes:
· Behind The Beam – Maturation Matters
Bourbon lovers can join Fred and Freddie Noe on an experience through the historic warehouses of James B. Beam Distilling Co. where guests will learn the secrets of how time, temperature and wood impact the World’s #1 Bourbon.
· Behind The Beam – Little Book® + Country Ham
When Freddie Noe set out to make his own mark on the bourbon industry, he wanted to honor his grandfather Booker by creating a product with one attribute in mind: flavor. Join Freddie Noe as he takes you through the process of blending a new batch of Little Book and enjoy a tasting against other traditional bourbons to showcase the contrast and what blending can do to elevate flavors. After, you’ll join Freddie to see how his innovative flair extends to a famous family heirloom: Freddie’s country ham. Whether it is in bourbon or cooking, the Beam family has always pushed the boundaries of flavor.
· Behind The Beam – Cocktails
Fred and Freddie love nothing more than using Beam bourbons to make cocktails. Yet with so much mixology experience, what are the favorite cocktails of the Master Distillers of the First Family of Bourbon? An immersive mixology experience in which you’ll explore which cocktails pair best with Beam Distilling brands.
· 8 Generations Tasting Experience ($40): Taste through 229 years of whiskey making and discover the unique fingerprint each generation has left on this iconic spirit through a 40-minute guided experience. Guests will discover the Beam and Noe families’ rich legacy while tasting seven unique whiskeys, each a captivating chapter narrating their pioneering journey. From pre-prohibition classics to innovative contemporary expressions, this guided exploration lets guests experience the evolution of American Whiskey firsthand.
· Knob Creek Tasting Experience ($25): Embark on a guided tasting experience featuring Knob Creek’s lauded small-batch bourbons and rye whiskeys. Learn the secrets behind Knob Creek’s unique aging process through a 30-minute guided tour and discover how each different varietal tells its own story and learn how the release of Knob Creek® was a major step toward making the small-batch whiskey movement what it is today.
· Jim Beam Tasting Experience ($20): Journey through the iconic expressions of the World’s #1 Bourbon brand in this immersive experience with a curated selection of Jim Beam® expressions, allowing guests to appreciate the subtle nuances of each bottling. From Jacob Beam’s pre-prohibition roots to the modern-day leadership of Master Distillers Fred and Freddie Noe, this 30-minute guided exploration showcases the evolution of this iconic brand.
The Kitchen Table Restaurant and The Clermont Supper Club Dinner Series
The James B. Beam Distilling Co. has released 2024 dates for the Clermont Supper Club dinner series at The Kitchen Table, the full-service restaurant inspired by the original Beam family kitchen table, a place of storytelling, whiskey sharing and recipes. Guests can purchase dinner tickets and join Master Distillers Fred and Freddie Noe for an evening of Beam family-inspired fare, unique cocktails, tasting of new whiskeys and behind-the-scenes barrel stories directly from the First Family of Bourbon themselves. Dinner details and tickets can be found here.
Upcoming Clermont Supper Club Dates
· Thursday, June 13 – Bardstown Bourbon Collection™
· Thursday, July 18 – Knob Creek®
· Thursday, August 15 – Bakers® 13
· Thursday, September 12 – Little Book®
· Thursday, October 17 – Beam Family
· Thursday, November 14 – Distillers’ Share™
· Thursday, December 12 – Holiday Edition
Please visit beamdistilling.com for more information about The James B. Beam Distilling Co. and to purchase tickets to any of these experiences. While tours are limited to guests age 21+, guests of any age can visit the grounds and The Kitchen Table restaurant.
The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is an ideal location and venue for weddings, corporate travel and meetings, family gatherings, bachelor(ette) parties, birthdays and more. Inquiries can be made here.
About The James B. Beam Distilling Co.
Founded by America’s first family of bourbon, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. has crafted genuine American Whiskey since 1795. Its portfolio includes globally coveted and award-winning whiskey brands including Jim Beam®, Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, Booker’s®, Baker’s®, Little Book®, Legent®, Old Tub®, Old Overholt®, Old Crow®, and Old Grand-Dad®. Maintaining the whiskey traditions of eight generations of family distillers while advancing the category through innovation, the Beam family has defined what American Whiskey could be and should be for more than 225 years. The James B. Beam Distilling Co. crafts American Whiskey with genuine, quality ingredients that are distilled and aged without compromise at its family distilleries in Clermont, Kentucky.
About Suntory Global Spirits
As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.
A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive sustainable change and have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com and www.drinksmart.com.
This article could actually fill an entire book, although a book will not fit into the pages of this newspaper. So readers (and this writer) must settle for a more manageable rendering of what took place last week. It’s a slice of Spencer County history that must be preserved.
__________
A few more than 200 years ago — just as Indiana was gaining statehood in 1816 — a family of four packed their belongings and moved from Kentucky to a small settlement in the new 19th state known as Little Pigeon Creek.
The husband and father was a talented furniture maker with a magnificent set of tools to ply his trade. He was also artistic and particular in his craft.
Sadly, history has not remembered him fondly, which likely can be laid down to a marketing ploy designed to get his son elected president, making the claim the father was a shiftless, illiterate ne’er-do-well and the son was entirely a self made man who came from nothing.
The son, as readers will already have guessed, was Abraham Lincoln and the father was Thomas Lincoln.
Flash forward a couple hundred years.
Steve Haaff, of Patronville, became fascinated with Federal style furniture many years ago. The former educator decided to educate himself on the furniture Thomas Lincoln crafted by hand. He educated himself to the point of replicating Thomas Lincoln’s tools and recreating certain pieces of furniture. He made patterns from the designs and became so knowledgeable that Haaff — a Spencer County native — is considered the world’s foremost authority on Thomas Lincoln furniture. He has been contacted by people the world over, including those fine folks at Antiques Roadshow, to authenticate (or debunk) a claim of a Thomas Lincoln-made item.
A couple years ago he received a call from a family in Kansas who had a dresser that family legend claimed was made by Thomas Lincoln.
Without going into the details of Haaff’s investigation (lacking an entire book to write), he was able to confirm the four drawer dresser or bureau had been crafted by Mr. Lincoln. In fact, it was a piece Haaff had been looking for over many years. Noted southern Indiana author and Lincoln historian Bess Ehrmann had written about it after a visit to the home of Squire William Wood over 100 years ago, although she claimed it was crafted from mahogany, which was incorrect.
However, Haaff was not surprised at the misidentification. While the dresser is actually walnut and poplar (the latter for pieces that would not be seen) with an 1/8th inch thick cherry veneer gracing the arched front — time, linseed oil and smoke from the fireplace would have darkened the finish over time, rendering the finish with a mahogany-hued patina.
Thomas had built this dresser for Wm. Wood, whose family came to Spencer County before there was such a thing, and even before there was a state of Indiana in 1809.
Wood was a close neighbor of the Lincolns and later told William Herndon, Abraham Lincoln’s law partner in Springfield who interviewed many neighbors after Abraham was assassinated, that in fact Thomas Lincoln, “built my house, he built my furniture and the run up the stairs in my house.”
Thomas and Squire Woods were good friends and according to Steve, the latter even spent a night with Nancy Hanks Lincoln as she lay dying from the Milk Sickness.
One thing Steve Haaff wants the world to know, beyond the fact that Thomas Lincoln was a talented and meticulous craftsman, is that the people of this new state were not all backwoods hillbillies, but folks who appreciated and desired the finer things, including beautiful cabinets and other fine furniture.
One thing this writer wanted to know was how the bureau ended up in Kansas. The question was answered and will be revealed, just not quite yet.
Following many conversations, the current owner wanted the bureau displayed and while she thought the Lincoln Museum in Springfield should be the recipient, Steve convinced her the Indiana State Museum would provide a better showcase, since Thomas crafted the piece in Indiana for a Hoosier family.
But first, Steve had another task to complete. The current owner, 91 year-old Mildred “Millie” Moore’s father had replaced the federal style brass pulls with crystal knobs. Steve knew exactly what type of drawer pulls would have been used and the museum staff wanted them restored, but wanted the most knowledgeable person in this generation to handle the job.
Last Wednesday, January 24, Steve drove to Indianapolis and set to work. While he was making the transition he pointed out significant details and explained how Thomas would have crafted the bowed front, affixing the cherry to the walnut and carving the arch. He pointed to two stars etched into the legs, saying stars were a particular signature on Thomas Lincoln works, noted original nails and a plethora of other details the average person would not necessarily notice.
At some point the linseed oil had been removed with a tongue oil finish. There was some damage, which he attributed to mice, including a partially missing decorative apron along the bottom. The conservators at the museum listened raptly to every word, soaking up knowledge as Haaff imparted it.
Haaff said every cabinetmaker had his own idiosyncrasies, which helps him with identification. He believed Thomas learned from Jesse Heade, a noted cabinetmaker in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, who was know to use apprentices and who, in fact, had performed the wedding ceremony uniting Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks.
While history has left the impression that Abraham Lincoln came from poverty, that truly wasn’t the case. His grandfather, also Abraham Lincoln, owned 5,000 acres and was well-to-do, but was massacred by Native Americans when Thomas was just a child. The rule of the day, known as primogeniture, meant his older brother, Mordecai, inherited everything so it’s likely why Thomas became an apprentice.
“His work was an extension of himself,” Haaff asserted, “a labor of love.”
He crafted in the Federal style and that never changed, although in the 1830s Duncan Phyfe came into vogue.
As to the original shiny polished brass drawer pulls, Thomas would have purchased those and they were most likely imported.
Other than the time it took to cut down the trees and season the wood, the actual building of the cabinet would take about 40 days and if Squire Wood paid in cash, Thomas likely earned $40, although he could have been paid in goods as the barter system thrived during that period. Elizabeth Crawford once traded a quilt for a Thomas Lincoln corner cabinet.
Haaff reported it was said about his creations that “Thomas Lincoln was as good a cabinet maker as any of them and better than most.”
Also that he had the best set of tools around, composed of hundreds of pieces, some he made himself so he was also for all intents and purposes a blacksmith as well as a furniture maker.
After several hours of work the dresser was ready for display. A ceremony was planned for the following day during which (hopefully) answers to all questions would be revealed.
___________
Day Two
In addition to corner cabinets, chests of drawers, tables and other furniture, Thomas Lincoln built his own house and others, as well as Little Pigeon Church.
This, Steve Haaff told the assembly on the second floor of the Indiana State Museum who had gathered for the unveiling.
Haaff explained his process for identification and documentation and said the Federal style of furniture was popular from around 1780 to 1820 (give or take, depending where one lived).
Listening in fascination was the bureau’s owner, Mildred Moore, of Kansas City, Kansas, along with her daughter, Julie McIntire, also from Kansas City, Millie’s niece, Shirley (Fouse) and her husband, Dan Bishop of Topeka Kansas, another niece, Karen Yudnich of Denver, Colorado, Debora Wood, widow of Tim Wood from Louisville, Kentucky, and Mike, Bud and Ken Schaaf from Spencer County.
Millie said the dresser had always been in her home. As a child she placed her rag dolls in the drawers. Her father changed the knobs because her mother had very tiny, arthritic hands and the crystal knobs made it easier to manipulate the pulls.
She, being the youngest of three sisters, didn’t get to pick first when her parents passed away. Oldest sister Esther (Shirley’s mom) got first choice — a necklace watch. Middle sister Dorothy (Karen’s mom) chose some oak furniture. Millie felt like she ended up with the dresser by default.
But how did it end get to Kansas?
For that matter how did Squire Wood and his family (he and his wife had five children) end up in Spencer County?
This is what his descendants shared.
While not a Catholic, Squire moved to Bardstown, Kentucky with the influx of Catholics, then relocated to Daviess County, Kentucky. As with others, including Thomas Lincoln, he had trouble getting a clear title to his land, which was why he moved on in 1809 to what would become Indiana in 1816 and Spencer County in 1818.
One son, Robert, eventually moved to Terre Haute.
Robert’s son, Newton, decided to seek even greener pastures and he homesteaded in Kansas.
Newton paid a visit to Spencer County and was given a list of four local girls. He was told he needed a wife and had to pick one. He picked Mary Schaaf (hence the Schaaf connection).
They were wed April 26, 1894 and would take the train to Larned, Kansas, where they would debark and walk to Truesdale and the farm Newton had homesteaded.
Robert, Newton’s father, gifted the newlyweds with the dresser. He had likely been a playmate of Abraham and Sarah Lincoln in his youth.
Newton and Mary had four children before she passed away from Typhoid Fever on September 9, 1901 — their oldest child age six and the youngest a baby.
Newton never remarried and his maiden Aunt Jenny would move from Terre Haute to Kansas every summer, taking along a bunch of hard boiled eggs to eat along the way.
The other maiden aunt was Dr. Anna Wood, a physician practicing holistic medicine in Terre Haute.
Debora’s husband, Tim came through another branch of the family.
Lunch following the ceremonial unveiling of the bureau, or dresser, was rife with tales of Wood, Schaaf and other families that shall be saved for another day (or maybe that book that likely will never be written). But space is getting a bit tight, so it’s definitely time to reach a conclusion.
And a conclusion for readers? If you haven’t been to the Indiana State Museum lately, or even if you have, it’s a good time to slot it on your bucket list. The treasures found within are innumerable! A corner cabinet also built by Thomas Lincoln stands to the right of the dresser and a more utilitarian, open shelf cabinet, also his creation to the left. Steve explained Thomas built every piece to order and the intricacy and detail was largely dependent on what the customer was willing to pay (or barter).
Of course there are many other jewels in the State Museum’s collection with revolving exhibits that are sure to please every taste.
The museum is located at White River State Park at 650 West Washington Street in Indianapolis, in a complex that includes the NCAA Hall of Champions, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, White River Gardens, Indianapolis Zoo and more.
Photos by Kathy Tretter.
Group photo 1: Cousins, some who may not have met before, gathered for a snapshot at the Indiana State Museum. Pictured from left: Mike Schaaf, Shirley Fouse, Julie McIntire, Mildred Moore, Bud Schaaf, Ken Schaaf and Karen Yudnich, with Steve Haaff, who was responsible for authenticating the dresser as a Thomas Lincoln-crafted piece and for amking repairs to restore it to its former glory.
Group photo 2: Julie McIntire and her mother, Mildred Moore, discuss the family’s Lincoln connection with Haaff and Indiana State Museum Chief Curator and Research Officer Susannah K. Koerber.
Move Over, Rudolph – It’s Moodolph’s Chance to Shine!
As the holiday season approaches, here’s just the place for families looking for unique experiences to create lasting memories and new traditions.
Located in the heart of Bowling Green, Kentucky, a family-owned reindeer farm has become a popular holiday destination for locals and visitors alike. It’s the only spot in Kentucky with an immersive live reindeer encounter and – thanks to the Anderson family’s commitment to providing a magical experience and spreading holiday cheer – this farm has become a cherished Christmas tradition to all who visit.
The entire family pitches in here at The Reindeer Farm. Husband-and-wife team Russell and Jessica Anderson lead the herd with everyday operations. Ten-year-old Aniston is the farm manager who helps with the petting zoo, guest relations and guest check-in. Nine-year-old Ashton is “head of farm security” (she’s a black belt, so she isn’t messing around!) and 7-year-old Russ acts as assistant manager. Jessica and Russell’s parents and siblings can also be found helping out around the venue.
The farm is the entire family’s passion, stemming from Jessica’s love for Christmas and Russell’s background in farming. Starting this site was the perfect way to combine everyone’s interests and skills.
The farm offers an unforgettable opportunity to get up close and personal with Santa’s favorite companions, along with more traditional farm animals like pigs, bunnies and miniature cows. One of the many things that sets this family-owned reindeer farm apart is the dedication to an authentic, respectful animal experience. The Andersons offer Reindeer Encounters to help educate guests about reindeer and what makes the species so unique. The Encounters include a 30-minute experience with the reindeer inside their enclosure, which is the perfect time to snap a photo for your family holiday card this year!
Apart from its educational aspect, the farm also offers a range of holiday-themed activities to get families into the spirit of decking the halls. Though you won’t find chestnuts roasting on an open fire, you WILL find s’mores … and plenty more! With an indoor playground, live ice sculpting demonstrations, train rides, breakfast with Santa, Christmas karaoke, free hot cocoa and a station for writing letters to Santa, kids and adults alike always have a holly-jolly good time. The farm is also adorned with festive lights and decorations, in addition to an overflowing gift shop, all working to create a cheerful atmosphere that adds to the Christmas spirit.
Now … on to the part you’ve been waiting for! You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen … but what about Flea, Mistletoe and Clarice? Though they may not be part of the “front line” on Christmas Eve, they (and seven others) are front and center here at the farm. The reindeer spend their time grazing, napping and playing reindeer games (yes, it’s a real thing)! Christmas came early to the farm this year, and gifted reindeer pair Moodolph and Mistletoe with a calf … the farm’s first. Baby Anderson loves attention and can’t wait to welcome visitors to his first Christmas season.
That season kicks off on November 17 and the farm will be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until December 17. It’ll then be open daily through December 23.
We’ll leave you with this fun fact: The lyrics from a Christmas classic – “up on the housetop, click, click, click” – doesn’t refer to hearing reindeer hooves on the roof. These animals have joints that click loudly as a way to alert the herd members to their whereabouts in the event of inclement weather. So, the next time you hear clicking on Christmas Eve, it’s just Santa’s sleigh-pullers communicating with each other through the snow.
