Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-07-20
EX-PRESIDENT HAYES'S HOME.
Its Historical Associations and Treas
ureS

=
B. Hayes, eX-president of the United
States, have offered their old home
known as SPECIAL Grove, near Ere
mont, O., to the Ohio state archeologi-
cal and historical society, on condi-
ton that permanent fund of S25,-
600 be raised, the income thereof to be
used for the proper care and preserva-
ton of the buildings and the historical!
treasures now contained therein.
Spiegel Grove is wooded tract of %
acres near the lower falls of the San
dusky river, and is a point of great
historical interest. 1t is an old Indian
reservation, and was so occupied for a
long period prior to the Revolutionary
war. Just before the war of 1872
Fort Stephenson was built, and be-
came famous through Maj. George
| Croghan's gallant defense of it against
the combined attack of naval and land
| forces of Great Britain under Proctor
and Indians under Tecumseh in
| August, 1913.
The tract at the time of the Indian
| occupancy was uncleared and much of
it Doggy. The dampness gave a pc
culiar luster to the soil, and there
| were many places where one could see
the reflection of his face almost as
clearly as in water This excited the
superstition of the Indians, and le-
gends hung thick about the woods.
These were handed down long after
the cause for them had disappeared,
and when the tract came into pos
session of Silas Birchard he named it
Spiegel Grove-"spiegeI" being the
German word for mirror Silas Biz
chard was the uncle and guardian of
President Hayes, and he occupied the
place for many years. When Pres-
dent Hayes retired from the White
House he enlarged the house and it
became the family residence, and con-
tinued so until his death, and has
since been sort of summer home for
the children and their families.
Spiegel Grove and it's surroundings
are in a perfect state of preservation
and all the valuable historic effects of
President Hayes remain there intact
President Hayes was a great reader
ments. He acquired one of the finest
libraries of American history owned
by private individuals, and during his
public life he preserved all papers and
memoranda in an orderly and ac-
cessible form.
There are precious old prints and
presentation photographs, authors
nf 70 sc
volumes of Americana, seals used by
Lincoln and Andrew Jackson, Wash
ington's rings, cups from Farragut's
flagship, priceless autographs, and
paintings Of rare merit and historical
interest. All of this material will be
at the service Of students and schol-
ars if this plan of the society can be
carried out 1t is certainly a rare
opportunity, such as seldom comes to
any state or organization.
President Hayes's delight in the
place was very great. While a boy
he had become acquainted with every
tree and shrub. After his retire
| ment from the presidency he set out
choice varieties of shrubs sent him
from China, Japan and other distant
countries. He gathered rare plants
from everywhere, and delighted to
speak Of them. Here he would show
| a weeping willow with a famous pedi-
gree, its ancestors running back to
| WashingtOn's grave at Mount Vernon;
another to Napoleon's grave at St.
Helena; farther on a sapling from an
| Of bn vi oh in nt
| places old giants under which Grand
father Webb camped during the war Of
| 1912, or to which was tied a captive
maid by the Indians, while swift run
ner started for Detroit to obtain her
release. Here also he set out the
Lucy Hayes chapel in young walnut
trees in memory of his wife.
If the archaeological society should
be able to arrange for the required
fund to care for the property, the
heirs propose to return to the house
all the rarer relics, which, for greater
security, have beein placed in the
Birchard library, founded by Mr..
Hayes in the city of Fremont. If a
fireproof room is provided the almost
priceless library Of Americana also
will be brought there.
The only reservation made by the
heirs to absolute control and occu-
pancy by the society, is that, on &C
count of family association, so long az
any of the children live they may oc-
cupy a portion of the building as a
summer residence, if they see fit al
any time to do so.