Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home

Hildene bill itself as “the Lincoln Family Home” – no, not that Lincoln, but his eldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, and this home in Manchester, Vt., wasn’t even built until 1905, so neither of Robert’s parents ever visited the home.

Robert, born in 1843, was the only of Abraham and Mary’s four children to reach adulthood, but he lived a long life (82 years) and was very productive. He had a successful law practice and grew wealthy representing corporate clients.

The Parlor. The wood is local Vermont poplar stained to look like mahogany.

In 1897 Robert was named president of the Pullman Company (up until then, a client of his), the largest manufacturing corporation in the country at the time and maker of railroad cars.

He was later named chairman of the board, serving until 1924, shortly before his death in 1926. His wealth grew immensely during this time.

Lincoln also served as the United States Secretary of War (under President Garfield) and as the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain (under the Harrison administration).

Hildene was built as a summer home for Robert, his wife Mary Eunice Harlan, and their three children in the scenic mountains of southern Vermont.

The Georgian Revival home is 8,000 square feet in size and has 24 rooms and 8 bathrooms. It originally sat on more than 400 acres. In 1908, Robert had a paper-roll driven 1,000-pipe organ installed as a wedding anniversary present for his wife, which is the oldest residential organ in the U.S.

Robert had a 1,000-pipe Aeolian organ installed in the entrance hall as his 40^th wedding anniversary gift to Mary. The pipes can be seen at the top of the landing; the organ itself is not pictured here, but can be seen in the dining room picture. It was played during our visit.

The house remained in the family until 1975, when Mary Lincoln Beckwith (known as “Peggy”) passed away. Peggy was one of Robert Todd Lincoln’s granddaughters who inherited the house in 1938. Upon her death, her brother Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith declined to take over the estate and so it was put up for auction.

Fortunately, the home was rescued by a non-profit organization created by local citizens, who restored and opened the home to the public. As Peggy did not change much of the interior during the 40 years she lived alone in the house, Hildene remained furnished with Lincoln family originals . Other Lincoln memorabilia is also on display, including one of Abraham Lincoln’s stovetop hats and Robert’s copy of his father’s Gettysburg Address.

Today, besides welcoming visitors to the house and grounds, the estate maintains a herd of Nubian goats and a cheese-making facility.