Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold
Not Their First Pandemic – Remembering the Spanish Flu
The Pardee Family and the Flu Pandemic of 1918 With no effective drugs or vaccines to treat the killer flue epidemic of 1918, citizens were ordered to wear masks, and schools, theaters, and business closed. … Read more.
Bristol News: March 1, 1897
One hundred and twenty-three years ago, on March 1, 1897, Marjorie Van Wickle was at the Jekyll Island Club in Brunswick, Georgia, with her parents Augustus and Bessie Van Wickle. While she was there she … Read more.
Household Staff at Blithewold
Blithewold and other large mansions of its era were designed on the assumption that there would always be a plentiful supply of servants. Bessie Van Wickle McKee could not have maintained her large residences without … Read more.
John DeWolf
John DeWolf, Blithewold’s landscape designer, was born in Bristol. He was intimately connected with the Blithewold property from childhood, his DeWolf ancestors having owned the land which, in the 18th century, ran from Mount Hope … Read more.
A Very Merry Christmas
Blithewold has thrown open its doors for the Christmas season, bringing the excitement of the season to all its visitors. After you have toured the elegantly decorated Mansion, soaking up the festive atmosphere within and … Read more.
Dole Pineapples
In January 1925, Marjorie Lyon accompanied her favorite relatives, Aunt Alice and Uncle Izzie Pardee and their daughter, Helen, on a three-month trip to Hawaii. Bessie had planned to go with them but had to … Read more.
Women’s Work
As we come to the end of our year celebrating the Pardee and Lyon families’ service to country, I offer one last reminder that the role of women during World War I was vital, though … Read more.
Labor Day Lunch
Marjorie Lyon was known for her gracious hospitality. Two of her favorite celebrations were July 4th and Labor Day, both of which were constant, unchangeable traditions for decades. Labor Day was Marjorie’s annual farewell to … Read more.
The Bristol Summerhouse
An Archives volunteer recently brought a magazine article to share with us. It was “Focal Points” by Garden Antiques dealer, Barbara Israel. She describes a visit to Winterthur to see an exhibit called “Follies: Architectural … Read more.
Early Days in Hazelton, Circa 1891
Marjorie Van Wickle was born in 1883 in Cleveland, Ohio, where her father, Augustus, was president of the South Mountain Coal company. Three years later they moved to Morristown, New Jersey so that Augustus could … Read more.
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