Global Posts Rotating Header Image

November 21st, 2009:

Whitman’s Carriage Step

Nov 21st, 2009
by joelemagne.
Comments are off for this post

Walt Whitman House

Carriage stoop

Whitman’s Carriage Stoop

 

      In his later years in Camden, Walt Whitman began receiving many generous gifts and loans. Throughout Camden, Philadelphia, and Southern New Jersey, his network of rich, gift giving, friends had grown very large. For example, his Camden house, at 328 Mickle Street, was purchased for $1,750, of which $1250 dollars came from book royalties, but the other $500 was a loan from his friend George W. Childs. (Reynolds 546) And another generous gift, in May 1887, the journalist and author William Sloane Kennedy started a summerhouse fund for Whitman. The fund came to Whitman in the amounts of $323 dollars and then another $465 sent later. However, Whitman never used the money for a summerhouse; instead he added the money to his personal savings. (Reynolds 554) In 1885, Whitman’s horse and buggy was another, overwhelmingly generous, gift.

      The horse and buggy was quite significant. Whitman was 66 when he received the carriage. It was a particularly thoughtful gift. Although, there were means of public transportation available, for example, Justin Kaplan specifically notes the noise and proximity of the trains and ferries that were close to the Mickle Street residence, “night and day trains of the Camden and Amboy Railroad puffed and rattled along about a hundred yards away from the house. It was also earshot of factory whistles, shipping on the Delaware, and the ferry terminal.”(Kaplan 14) As Whitman aged, he began to express troubles with traveling around in the growing city of Camden. The carriage provided a source of an easier, personal transportation.

      Prior to the carriage, Whitman was nearly a forced shut in. Being house ridden was especially criminal to a poet like Whitman, who was inspired through his surroundings whether they were rural like his child hood in Long Island or urban like his experiences in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or his then current city, Camden. The adventurous poet could not have been very inspired with out means of exploring his environments.  

      The rumor of Whitman’s distress started to make its way around his social circles. His network of friends reacted with considerable aid. Thomas Donaldson, a Philadelphia lawyer, had previously obtained free ferry passages for Whitman, a noteworthy gesture, since it was obvious that Whitman enjoyed ferry trips, a better-known Whitman poem is “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry”. The free passages were also Whitman’s only way into Philadelphia, since the Ben Franklin Bridge was not opened for another 40 years or so in 1926. It was also Thomas Donaldson who eventually secures the horse and buggy for Whitman. It arrives in front of Whitman’s 328 Mickle Street residence on September 17, 1885. Whitman immediately takes a liking to his new carriage. He seemed to have enjoyed the speed so much that he sells his first horse Frank for a faster one named Nettie. He used the carriage often until his second stroke in 1888, when he gave the horse and buggy up for good. (Reynolds 553)

     The carriage step must have been installed into the front sidewalk of the Mickle Street residence sometime between 1885 and 1888, which places its age around 121 years old. It is certainly surprising that the stoop stayed so undisturbed for such a considerable amount of time. The picture above shows the clear engraving of Whitman’s initials. The stoop remains in front of the house as a reminder of Whitman’s need for adventure and the generous friends he held around the Camden area.

Works Cited

Dooley, Joseph S. Whitman Carriage Step. Digital image. 21 Nov. 2009. Web.

 

Kaplan, Justin. Walt Whitman a life.

           New York: Perennial, 2003. Print.

 

Midnightdreary. Walt Whitamn House in Camden. Digital image. Wikimedia Commons.

Wikipedia.org, 13 Oct. 2007. Web. 21 Nov. 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhitmanHouse-CamdenNJ1.jpg.

 

Reynolds, David S. Walt Whitman’s America A Cultural Biography.

            New York: Vintage, 1996. Print.

Mary Davis: Housekeeper or Personal Assistant?

Nov 21st, 2009
by lisar.
Comments are off for this post

Recently I’ve been reading Walt Whitman in Mickle Street, a short book published by Elizabeth Leavitt Keller in 1921.  Keller wrote this account Whitman’s life in Camden after serving as a nurse to him just before he died.  Keller’s observations and chronicling of the happenings at 328 Mickle Street make one feel as if she were some kind of documentary director in the making.  In her Preface, she claims to have written the book after being asked many times to discuss the particulars of Walt’s final days with the press and his friends.  An interesting aspect of the book, however, is her focus on the role of Mary Davis, who, according to Keller, lived a life “of self-sacrifice and devotion to others” (2).  Mary Davis, whose name is also the title of the book’s first chapter, is painted by Keller as constantly giving and nurturing, despite Walt’s particular preferences about household matters and the “messiness” of his surroundings.  None of this is all that surprising; we know that Walt kept piles of paper around his room, refused to let Mary empty the trash can, and, due to illness, had no role in the general upkeep of the house.  A somewhat new aspect of Mary’s portrayal, though, is her role as (what we’d call today) a personal assistant.

According to Keller, when Whitman’s illness “anchored” him at home in 1888, the number of visitors to the small Camden row house increased greatly.  People were eager to see Walt and, because he could not come to them, they made their best attempts to visit him.  Unfortunately, many of these visitors were unaware of the poet’s private health problems and his disinterest in constantly entertaining guests.  When people would arrive unannounced to see Walt, Mary’s role became that of a secretary “screening calls” as it were.  Keller writes:                                             

Strange that these were often the days when visitors would flock there, the great majority of whom would leave deeply disappointed, and for this cause the inoffensive housekeeper—she who had to bear the brunt of everything—incurred the displeasure, even the enmity, of some people.  …She invariably met each individual pleasantly and never spoke hastily or abruptly to anyone; she always gave civil answers to their questions; often went to Mr. Whitman to intercede for them; and it was through her influence along that many were admitted to his presence.  But if he was not disposed to yield, her best efforts would be in vain, and the only alternative left her was to offend others instead of him. (116-117)

Essentially, Mary became a sort of public relations manager for Walt.  She was often responsible for the way others perceived him and would do her best to make both Walt and his visitors happy.  When Walt refused to see visitors, however, it was Mary who was left to endure their complaints, frustration, and disappointment.  If Walt and Mary were at 328 Mickle Street in the late twentieth century, I think Mary would be running around the house with a cell phone in one hand and a pager in the other.  The vacuum would probably be running, much to Walt’s anxiety about losing any important piece of paper, and there would likely be some kind of intercom system installed to prevent the constant running up and down the stairs to inform Walt of his guests’ arrival.  In reading about Mary’s life with Walt in Camden, I cannot help but see them as a sort of business team.  It seems as if her role was more akin to a modern celebrity’s personal assistant than to today’s housekeeper. 

328 Mickle Street today (The Walt Whitman House)

328 Mickle Street today (The Walt Whitman House)

Mary Davis: Housekeeper or Personal Assistant?

Nov 21st, 2009
by lisar.
Comments are off for this post

Recently I’ve been reading Walt Whitman in Mickle Street, a short book published by Elizabeth Leavitt Keller in 1921.  Keller wrote this account Whitman’s life in Camden after serving as a nurse to him just before he died.  Keller’s observations and chronicling of the happenings at 328 Mickle Street make one feel as if she were some kind of documentary director in the making.  In her Preface, she claims to have written the book after being asked many times to discuss the particulars of Walt’s final days with the press and his friends.  An interesting aspect of the book, however, is her focus on the role of Mary Davis, who, according to Keller, lived a life “of self-sacrifice and devotion to others” (2).  Mary Davis, whose name is also the title of the book’s first chapter, is painted by Keller as constantly giving and nurturing, despite Walt’s particular preferences about household matters and the “messiness” of his surroundings.  None of this is all that surprising; we know that Walt kept piles of paper around his room, refused to let Mary empty the trash can, and, due to illness, had no role in the general upkeep of the house.  A somewhat new aspect of Mary’s portrayal, though, is her role as (what we’d call today) a personal assistant.

According to Keller, when Whitman’s illness “anchored” him at home in 1888, the number of visitors to the small Camden row house increased greatly.  People were eager to see Walt and, because he could not come to them, they made their best attempts to visit him.  Unfortunately, many of these visitors were unaware of the poet’s private health problems and his disinterest in constantly entertaining guests.  When people would arrive unannounced to see Walt, Mary’s role became that of a secretary “screening calls” as it were.  Keller writes:                                             

Strange that these were often the days when visitors would flock there, the great majority of whom would leave deeply disappointed, and for this cause the inoffensive housekeeper—she who had to bear the brunt of everything—incurred the displeasure, even the enmity, of some people.  …She invariably met each individual pleasantly and never spoke hastily or abruptly to anyone; she always gave civil answers to their questions; often went to Mr. Whitman to intercede for them; and it was through her influence along that many were admitted to his presence.  But if he was not disposed to yield, her best efforts would be in vain, and the only alternative left her was to offend others instead of him. (116-117)

Essentially, Mary became a sort of public relations manager for Walt.  She was often responsible for the way others perceived him and would do her best to make both Walt and his visitors happy.  When Walt refused to see visitors, however, it was Mary who was left to endure their complaints, frustration, and disappointment.  If Walt and Mary were at 328 Mickle Street in the late twentieth century, I think Mary would be running around the house with a cell phone in one hand and a pager in the other.  The vacuum would probably be running, much to Walt’s anxiety about losing any important piece of paper, and there would likely be some kind of intercom system installed to prevent the constant running up and down the stairs to inform Walt of his guests’ arrival.  In reading about Mary’s life with Walt in Camden, I cannot help but see them as a sort of business team.  It seems as if her role was more akin to a modern celebrity’s personal assistant than to today’s housekeeper. 

328 Mickle Street today (The Walt Whitman House)

328 Mickle Street today (The Walt Whitman House)

Mary Davis: Housekeeper or Personal Assistant?

Nov 21st, 2009
by lisar.
Comments are off for this post

Recently I’ve been reading Walt Whitman in Mickle Street, a short book published by Elizabeth Leavitt Keller in 1921.  Keller wrote this account Whitman’s life in Camden after serving as a nurse to him just before he died.  Keller’s observations and chronicling of the happenings at 328 Mickle Street make one feel as if she were some kind of documentary director in the making.  In her Preface, she claims to have written the book after being asked many times to discuss the particulars of Walt’s final days with the press and his friends.  An interesting aspect of the book, however, is her focus on the role of Mary Davis, who, according to Keller, lived a life “of self-sacrifice and devotion to others” (2).  Mary Davis, whose name is also the title of the book’s first chapter, is painted by Keller as constantly giving and nurturing, despite Walt’s particular preferences about household matters and the “messiness” of his surroundings.  None of this is all that surprising; we know that Walt kept piles of paper around his room, refused to let Mary empty the trash can, and, due to illness, had no role in the general upkeep of the house.  A somewhat new aspect of Mary’s portrayal, though, is her role as (what we’d call today) a personal assistant.

According to Keller, when Whitman’s illness “anchored” him at home in 1888, the number of visitors to the small Camden row house increased greatly.  People were eager to see Walt and, because he could not come to them, they made their best attempts to visit him.  Unfortunately, many of these visitors were unaware of the poet’s private health problems and his disinterest in constantly entertaining guests.  When people would arrive unannounced to see Walt, Mary’s role became that of a secretary “screening calls” as it were.  Keller writes:                                             

Strange that these were often the days when visitors would flock there, the great majority of whom would leave deeply disappointed, and for this cause the inoffensive housekeeper—she who had to bear the brunt of everything—incurred the displeasure, even the enmity, of some people.  …She invariably met each individual pleasantly and never spoke hastily or abruptly to anyone; she always gave civil answers to their questions; often went to Mr. Whitman to intercede for them; and it was through her influence along that many were admitted to his presence.  But if he was not disposed to yield, her best efforts would be in vain, and the only alternative left her was to offend others instead of him. (116-117)

Essentially, Mary became a sort of public relations manager for Walt.  She was often responsible for the way others perceived him and would do her best to make both Walt and his visitors happy.  When Walt refused to see visitors, however, it was Mary who was left to endure their complaints, frustration, and disappointment.  If Walt and Mary were at 328 Mickle Street in the late twentieth century, I think Mary would be running around the house with a cell phone in one hand and a pager in the other.  The vacuum would probably be running, much to Walt’s anxiety about losing any important piece of paper, and there would likely be some kind of intercom system installed to prevent the constant running up and down the stairs to inform Walt of his guests’ arrival.  In reading about Mary’s life with Walt in Camden, I cannot help but see them as a sort of business team.  It seems as if her role was more akin to a modern celebrity’s personal assistant than to today’s housekeeper. 

328 Mickle Street today (The Walt Whitman House)

328 Mickle Street today (The Walt Whitman House)

Mary Davis: Housekeeper or Personal Assistant?

Nov 21st, 2009
by lisar.
Comments are off for this post

Recently I’ve been reading Walt Whitman in Mickle Street, a short book published by Elizabeth Leavitt Keller in 1921.  Keller wrote this account Whitman’s life in Camden after serving as a nurse to him just before he died.  Keller’s observations and chronicling of the happenings at 328 Mickle Street make one feel as if she were some kind of documentary director in the making.  In her Preface, she claims to have written the book after being asked many times to discuss the particulars of Walt’s final days with the press and his friends.  An interesting aspect of the book, however, is her focus on the role of Mary Davis, who, according to Keller, lived a life “of self-sacrifice and devotion to others” (2).  Mary Davis, whose name is also the title of the book’s first chapter, is painted by Keller as constantly giving and nurturing, despite Walt’s particular preferences about household matters and the “messiness” of his surroundings.  None of this is all that surprising; we know that Walt kept piles of paper around his room, refused to let Mary empty the trash can, and, due to illness, had no role in the general upkeep of the house.  A somewhat new aspect of Mary’s portrayal, though, is her role as (what we’d call today) a personal assistant.

According to Keller, when Whitman’s illness “anchored” him at home in 1888, the number of visitors to the small Camden row house increased greatly.  People were eager to see Walt and, because he could not come to them, they made their best attempts to visit him.  Unfortunately, many of these visitors were unaware of the poet’s private health problems and his disinterest in constantly entertaining guests.  When people would arrive unannounced to see Walt, Mary’s role became that of a secretary “screening calls” as it were.  Keller writes:                                             

Strange that these were often the days when visitors would flock there, the great majority of whom would leave deeply disappointed, and for this cause the inoffensive housekeeper—she who had to bear the brunt of everything—incurred the displeasure, even the enmity, of some people.  …She invariably met each individual pleasantly and never spoke hastily or abruptly to anyone; she always gave civil answers to their questions; often went to Mr. Whitman to intercede for them; and it was through her influence along that many were admitted to his presence.  But if he was not disposed to yield, her best efforts would be in vain, and the only alternative left her was to offend others instead of him. (116-117)

Essentially, Mary became a sort of public relations manager for Walt.  She was often responsible for the way others perceived him and would do her best to make both Walt and his visitors happy.  When Walt refused to see visitors, however, it was Mary who was left to endure their complaints, frustration, and disappointment.  If Walt and Mary were at 328 Mickle Street in the late twentieth century, I think Mary would be running around the house with a cell phone in one hand and a pager in the other.  The vacuum would probably be running, much to Walt’s anxiety about losing any important piece of paper, and there would likely be some kind of intercom system installed to prevent the constant running up and down the stairs to inform Walt of his guests’ arrival.  In reading about Mary’s life with Walt in Camden, I cannot help but see them as a sort of business team.  It seems as if her role was more akin to a modern celebrity’s personal assistant than to today’s housekeeper. 

328 Mickle Street today (The Walt Whitman House)

328 Mickle Street today (The Walt Whitman House)

Whitman’s Carriage Step

Nov 21st, 2009
by joelemagne.
Comments are off for this post

Walt Whitman House

Carriage stoop

Whitman’s Carriage Stoop

 

      In his later years in Camden, Walt Whitman began receiving many generous gifts and loans. Throughout Camden, Philadelphia, and Southern New Jersey, his network of rich, gift giving, friends had grown very large. For example, his Camden house, at 328 Mickle Street, was purchased for $1,750, of which $1250 dollars came from book royalties, but the other $500 was a loan from his friend George W. Childs. (Reynolds 546) And another generous gift, in May 1887, the journalist and author William Sloane Kennedy started a summerhouse fund for Whitman. The fund came to Whitman in the amounts of $323 dollars and then another $465 sent later. However, Whitman never used the money for a summerhouse; instead he added the money to his personal savings. (Reynolds 554) In 1885, Whitman’s horse and buggy was another, overwhelmingly generous, gift.

      The horse and buggy was quite significant. Whitman was 66 when he received the carriage. It was a particularly thoughtful gift. Although, there were means of public transportation available, for example, Justin Kaplan specifically notes the noise and proximity of the trains and ferries that were close to the Mickle Street residence, “night and day trains of the Camden and Amboy Railroad puffed and rattled along about a hundred yards away from the house. It was also earshot of factory whistles, shipping on the Delaware, and the ferry terminal.”(Kaplan 14) As Whitman aged, he began to express troubles with traveling around in the growing city of Camden. The carriage provided a source of an easier, personal transportation.

      Prior to the carriage, Whitman was nearly a forced shut in. Being house ridden was especially criminal to a poet like Whitman, who was inspired through his surroundings whether they were rural like his child hood in Long Island or urban like his experiences in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or his then current city, Camden. The adventurous poet could not have been very inspired with out means of exploring his environments.  

      The rumor of Whitman’s distress started to make its way around his social circles. His network of friends reacted with considerable aid. Thomas Donaldson, a Philadelphia lawyer, had previously obtained free ferry passages for Whitman, a noteworthy gesture, since it was obvious that Whitman enjoyed ferry trips, a better-known Whitman poem is “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry”. The free passages were also Whitman’s only way into Philadelphia, since the Ben Franklin Bridge was not opened for another 40 years or so in 1926. It was also Thomas Donaldson who eventually secures the horse and buggy for Whitman. It arrives in front of Whitman’s 328 Mickle Street residence on September 17, 1885. Whitman immediately takes a liking to his new carriage. He seemed to have enjoyed the speed so much that he sells his first horse Frank for a faster one named Nettie. He used the carriage often until his second stroke in 1888, when he gave the horse and buggy up for good. (Reynolds 553)

     The carriage step must have been installed into the front sidewalk of the Mickle Street residence sometime between 1885 and 1888, which places its age around 121 years old. It is certainly surprising that the stoop stayed so undisturbed for such a considerable amount of time. The picture above shows the clear engraving of Whitman’s initials. The stoop remains in front of the house as a reminder of Whitman’s need for adventure and the generous friends he held around the Camden area.

Works Cited

Dooley, Joseph S. Whitman Carriage Step. Digital image. 21 Nov. 2009. Web.

 

Kaplan, Justin. Walt Whitman a life.

           New York: Perennial, 2003. Print.

 

Midnightdreary. Walt Whitamn House in Camden. Digital image. Wikimedia Commons.

Wikipedia.org, 13 Oct. 2007. Web. 21 Nov. 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhitmanHouse-CamdenNJ1.jpg.

 

Reynolds, David S. Walt Whitman’s America A Cultural Biography.

            New York: Vintage, 1996. Print.

Whitman’s Carriage Step

Nov 21st, 2009
by joelemagne.
Comments are off for this post

Walt Whitman House

Carriage stoop

Whitman’s Carriage Stoop

 

      In his later years in Camden, Walt Whitman began receiving many generous gifts and loans. Throughout Camden, Philadelphia, and Southern New Jersey, his network of rich, gift giving, friends had grown very large. For example, his Camden house, at 328 Mickle Street, was purchased for $1,750, of which $1250 dollars came from book royalties, but the other $500 was a loan from his friend George W. Childs. (Reynolds 546) And another generous gift, in May 1887, the journalist and author William Sloane Kennedy started a summerhouse fund for Whitman. The fund came to Whitman in the amounts of $323 dollars and then another $465 sent later. However, Whitman never used the money for a summerhouse; instead he added the money to his personal savings. (Reynolds 554) In 1885, Whitman’s horse and buggy was another, overwhelmingly generous, gift.

      The horse and buggy was quite significant. Whitman was 66 when he received the carriage. It was a particularly thoughtful gift. Although, there were means of public transportation available, for example, Justin Kaplan specifically notes the noise and proximity of the trains and ferries that were close to the Mickle Street residence, “night and day trains of the Camden and Amboy Railroad puffed and rattled along about a hundred yards away from the house. It was also earshot of factory whistles, shipping on the Delaware, and the ferry terminal.”(Kaplan 14) As Whitman aged, he began to express troubles with traveling around in the growing city of Camden. The carriage provided a source of an easier, personal transportation.

      Prior to the carriage, Whitman was nearly a forced shut in. Being house ridden was especially criminal to a poet like Whitman, who was inspired through his surroundings whether they were rural like his child hood in Long Island or urban like his experiences in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or his then current city, Camden. The adventurous poet could not have been very inspired with out means of exploring his environments.  

      The rumor of Whitman’s distress started to make its way around his social circles. His network of friends reacted with considerable aid. Thomas Donaldson, a Philadelphia lawyer, had previously obtained free ferry passages for Whitman, a noteworthy gesture, since it was obvious that Whitman enjoyed ferry trips, a better-known Whitman poem is “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry”. The free passages were also Whitman’s only way into Philadelphia, since the Ben Franklin Bridge was not opened for another 40 years or so in 1926. It was also Thomas Donaldson who eventually secures the horse and buggy for Whitman. It arrives in front of Whitman’s 328 Mickle Street residence on September 17, 1885. Whitman immediately takes a liking to his new carriage. He seemed to have enjoyed the speed so much that he sells his first horse Frank for a faster one named Nettie. He used the carriage often until his second stroke in 1888, when he gave the horse and buggy up for good. (Reynolds 553)

     The carriage step must have been installed into the front sidewalk of the Mickle Street residence sometime between 1885 and 1888, which places its age around 121 years old. It is certainly surprising that the stoop stayed so undisturbed for such a considerable amount of time. The picture above shows the clear engraving of Whitman’s initials. The stoop remains in front of the house as a reminder of Whitman’s need for adventure and the generous friends he held around the Camden area.

Works Cited

Dooley, Joseph S. Whitman Carriage Step. Digital image. 21 Nov. 2009. Web.

 

Kaplan, Justin. Walt Whitman a life.

           New York: Perennial, 2003. Print.

 

Midnightdreary. Walt Whitamn House in Camden. Digital image. Wikimedia Commons.

Wikipedia.org, 13 Oct. 2007. Web. 21 Nov. 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhitmanHouse-CamdenNJ1.jpg.

 

Reynolds, David S. Walt Whitman’s America A Cultural Biography.

            New York: Vintage, 1996. Print.

Whitman’s Carriage Step

Nov 21st, 2009
by joelemagne.
Comments are off for this post

Walt Whitman House

Carriage stoop

Whitman’s Carriage Stoop

 

      In his later years in Camden, Walt Whitman began receiving many generous gifts and loans. Throughout Camden, Philadelphia, and Southern New Jersey, his network of rich, gift giving, friends had grown very large. For example, his Camden house, at 328 Mickle Street, was purchased for $1,750, of which $1250 dollars came from book royalties, but the other $500 was a loan from his friend George W. Childs. (Reynolds 546) And another generous gift, in May 1887, the journalist and author William Sloane Kennedy started a summerhouse fund for Whitman. The fund came to Whitman in the amounts of $323 dollars and then another $465 sent later. However, Whitman never used the money for a summerhouse; instead he added the money to his personal savings. (Reynolds 554) In 1885, Whitman’s horse and buggy was another, overwhelmingly generous, gift.

      The horse and buggy was quite significant. Whitman was 66 when he received the carriage. It was a particularly thoughtful gift. Although, there were means of public transportation available, for example, Justin Kaplan specifically notes the noise and proximity of the trains and ferries that were close to the Mickle Street residence, “night and day trains of the Camden and Amboy Railroad puffed and rattled along about a hundred yards away from the house. It was also earshot of factory whistles, shipping on the Delaware, and the ferry terminal.”(Kaplan 14) As Whitman aged, he began to express troubles with traveling around in the growing city of Camden. The carriage provided a source of an easier, personal transportation.

      Prior to the carriage, Whitman was nearly a forced shut in. Being house ridden was especially criminal to a poet like Whitman, who was inspired through his surroundings whether they were rural like his child hood in Long Island or urban like his experiences in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or his then current city, Camden. The adventurous poet could not have been very inspired with out means of exploring his environments.  

      The rumor of Whitman’s distress started to make its way around his social circles. His network of friends reacted with considerable aid. Thomas Donaldson, a Philadelphia lawyer, had previously obtained free ferry passages for Whitman, a noteworthy gesture, since it was obvious that Whitman enjoyed ferry trips, a better-known Whitman poem is “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry”. The free passages were also Whitman’s only way into Philadelphia, since the Ben Franklin Bridge was not opened for another 40 years or so in 1926. It was also Thomas Donaldson who eventually secures the horse and buggy for Whitman. It arrives in front of Whitman’s 328 Mickle Street residence on September 17, 1885. Whitman immediately takes a liking to his new carriage. He seemed to have enjoyed the speed so much that he sells his first horse Frank for a faster one named Nettie. He used the carriage often until his second stroke in 1888, when he gave the horse and buggy up for good. (Reynolds 553)

     The carriage step must have been installed into the front sidewalk of the Mickle Street residence sometime between 1885 and 1888, which places its age around 121 years old. It is certainly surprising that the stoop stayed so undisturbed for such a considerable amount of time. The picture above shows the clear engraving of Whitman’s initials. The stoop remains in front of the house as a reminder of Whitman’s need for adventure and the generous friends he held around the Camden area.

Works Cited

Dooley, Joseph S. Whitman Carriage Step. Digital image. 21 Nov. 2009. Web.

 

Kaplan, Justin. Walt Whitman a life.

           New York: Perennial, 2003. Print.

 

Midnightdreary. Walt Whitamn House in Camden. Digital image. Wikimedia Commons.

 Wikipedia.org, 13 Oct. 2007. Web. 21 Nov. 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhitmanHouse-CamdenNJ1.jpg.

 

Reynolds, David S. Walt Whitman’s America A Cultural Biography.

            New York: Vintage, 1996. Print.

Whitman’s Carriage Step

Nov 21st, 2009
by joelemagne.
Comments are off for this post

Walt Whitman House

Carriage stoop

Whitman’s Carriage Stoop

 

      In his later years in Camden, Walt Whitman began receiving many generous gifts and loans. Throughout Camden, Philadelphia, and Southern New Jersey, his network of rich, gift giving, friends had grown very large. For example, his Camden house, at 328 Mickle Street, was purchased for $1,750, of which $1250 dollars came from book royalties, but the other $500 was a loan from his friend George W. Childs. (Reynolds 546) And another generous gift, in May 1887, the journalist and author William Sloane Kennedy started a summerhouse fund for Whitman. The fund came to Whitman in the amounts of $323 dollars and then another $465 sent later. However, Whitman never used the money for a summerhouse; instead he added the money to his personal savings. (Reynolds 554) In 1885, Whitman’s horse and buggy was another, overwhelmingly generous, gift.

      The horse and buggy was quite significant. Whitman was 66 when he received the carriage. It was a particularly thoughtful gift. Although, there were means of public transportation available, for example, Justin Kaplan specifically notes the noise and proximity of the trains and ferries that were close to the Mickle Street residence, “night and day trains of the Camden and Amboy Railroad puffed and rattled along about a hundred yards away from the house. It was also earshot of factory whistles, shipping on the Delaware, and the ferry terminal.”(Kaplan 14) As Whitman aged, he began to express troubles with traveling around in the growing city of Camden. The carriage provided a source of an easier, personal transportation.

      Prior to the carriage, Whitman was nearly a forced shut in. Being house ridden was especially criminal to a poet like Whitman, who was inspired through his surroundings whether they were rural like his child hood in Long Island or urban like his experiences in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or his then current city, Camden. The adventurous poet could not have been very inspired with out means of exploring his environments.  

      The rumor of Whitman’s distress started to make its way around his social circles. His network of friends reacted with considerable aid. Thomas Donaldson, a Philadelphia lawyer, had previously obtained free ferry passages for Whitman, a noteworthy gesture, since it was obvious that Whitman enjoyed ferry trips, a better-known Whitman poem is “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry”. The free passages were also Whitman’s only way into Philadelphia, since the Ben Franklin Bridge was not opened for another 40 years or so in 1926. It was also Thomas Donaldson who eventually secures the horse and buggy for Whitman. It arrives in front of Whitman’s 328 Mickle Street residence on September 17, 1885. Whitman immediately takes a liking to his new carriage. He seemed to have enjoyed the speed so much that he sells his first horse Frank for a faster one named Nettie. He used the carriage often until his second stroke in 1888, when he gave the horse and buggy up for good. (Reynolds 553)

     The carriage step must have been installed into the front sidewalk of the Mickle Street residence sometime between 1885 and 1888, which places its age around 121 years old. It is certainly surprising that the stoop stayed so undisturbed for such a considerable amount of time. The picture above shows the clear engraving of Whitman’s initials. The stoop remains in front of the house as a reminder of Whitman’s need for adventure and the generous friends he held around the Camden area.

Works Cited

Dooley, Joseph S. Whitman Carriage Step. Digital image. 21 Nov. 2009. Web.

 

Kaplan, Justin. Walt Whitman a life.

           New York: Perennial, 2003. Print.

 

Midnightdreary. Walt Whitamn House in Camden. Digital image. Wikimedia Commons.

 Wikipedia.org, 13 Oct. 2007. Web. 21 Nov. 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhitmanHouse-CamdenNJ1.jpg.

 

Reynolds, David S. Walt Whitman’s America A Cultural Biography.

            New York: Vintage, 1996. Print.

Whitman’s Carriage Step

Nov 21st, 2009
by joelemagne.
Comments are off for this post

Walt Whitman House

Carriage stoop

Whitman’s Carriage Stoop

In his later years in Camden, Walt Whitman began receiving many generous gifts and loans. Throughout Camden, Philadelphia, and Southern New Jersey, his network of rich, gift giving, friends had grown very large. For example, his Camden house, at 328 Mickle Street, was purchased for $1,750, of which $1250 dollars came from book royalties, but the other $500 was a loan from his friend George W. Childs. (Reynolds 546) And another generous gift, in May 1887, the journalist and author William Sloane Kennedy started a summerhouse fund for Whitman. The fund came to Whitman in the amounts of $323 dollars and then another $465 sent later. However, Whitman never used the money for a summerhouse; instead he added the money to his personal savings. (Reynolds 554) In 1885, Whitman’s horse and buggy was another, overwhelmingly generous, gift.

The horse and buggy was quite significant. Whitman was 66 when he received the carriage. It was a particularly thoughtful gift. Although, there were means of public transportation available, for example, Justin Kaplan specifically notes the noise and proximity of the trains and ferries that were close to the Mickle Street residence, “night and day trains of the Camden and Amboy Railroad puffed and rattled along about a hundred yards away from the house. It was also earshot of factory whistles, shipping on the Delaware, and the ferry terminal.”(Kaplan 14) As Whitman aged, he began to express troubles with traveling around in the growing city of Camden. The carriage provided a source of an easier, personal transportation.

Prior to the carriage, Whitman was nearly a forced shut in. Being house ridden was especially criminal to a poet like Whitman, who was inspired through his surroundings whether they were rural like his child hood in Long Island or urban like his experiences in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or his then current city, Camden. The adventurous poet could not have been very inspired with out means of exploring his environments.

The rumor of Whitman’s distress started to make its way around his social circles. His network of friends reacted with considerable aid. Thomas Donaldson, a Philadelphia lawyer, had previously obtained free ferry passages for Whitman, a noteworthy gesture, since it was obvious that Whitman enjoyed ferry trips, a better-known Whitman poem is “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry”. The free passages were also Whitman’s only way into Philadelphia, since the Ben Franklin Bridge was not opened for another 40 years or so in 1926. It was also Thomas Donaldson who eventually secures the horse and buggy for Whitman. It arrives in front of Whitman’s 328 Mickle Street residence on September 17, 1885. Whitman immediately takes a liking to his new carriage. He seemed to have enjoyed the speed so much that he sells his first horse Frank for a faster one named Nettie. He used the carriage often until his second stroke in 1888, when he gave the horse and buggy up for good. (Reynolds 553)

The carriage step must have been installed into the front sidewalk of the Mickle Street residence sometime between 1885 and 1888, which places its age around 121 years old. It is certainly surprising that the stoop stayed so undisturbed for such a considerable amount of time. The picture above shows the clear engraving of Whitman’s initials. The stoop remains in front of the house as a reminder of Whitman’s need for adventure and the generous friends he held around the Camden area.

Works Cited

Dooley, Joseph S. Whitman Carriage Step. Digital image. 21 Nov. 2009. Web.

Kaplan, Justin. Walt Whitman a life.

New York: Perennial, 2003. Print.

Midnightdreary. Walt Whitamn House in Camden. Digital image. Wikimedia Commons.

Wikipedia.org, 13 Oct. 2007. Web. 21 Nov. 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhitmanHouse-CamdenNJ1.jpg.

Reynolds, David S. Walt Whitman’s America A Cultural Biography.

New York: Vintage, 1996. Print.

← Earlier Posts
Skip to toolbar