Brochure re Barbara Fritchie:
FREDERICK "GREEN-WALLED BY THE HILLS OF MARYLAND"
Barbara Fritchie House and Museum
154 W. Patrick in the heart of historic Frederick.
[House pictured] - The historic spot whereon were enacted
the stirring scenes that made Barbara Fritchie renowned
throughout the civilized world.
TROUGH BARBARA FRITCHIE'S HOME
From the street you enter, first, the Souvenir Shop.
This was once the storeroom of Barbara husband, John Casper
Fritchie, who was a glove maker. Barbara Fritchie candy,
cards, souvenirs and other items of interest are sold here.
Through the door to the right of your entrance, you pass
through into the Home proper. Perhaps the first object
to catch your eye is Barbara Fritchie's desk, at which you
are invited to register. The registers contain the names of
several hundred thousand visitors to the Barbara Fritchie
Home. While registering, you sit in one of Barbara's
diningroom chairs. It was at this desk that General Jesse
L. Reno, of the Union Army, is said to have penned a letter
home on September 12, 1862, - just two days before he was
killed in the Battle of South Mountain, 10 miles west of
Frederick. A monument has been erected to General Reno on
the South Mountain Battlefield and interesting artists'
sketches of the battle are here displayed.
Enclosed in the upright glass case are the dress, cap and
shawl of Barbara Fritchie which have been carefully preserved
by her heirs. The portrait of Barbara Fritchie, on the wall
facing your entrance, was painted from an original
daguerreotype and to the left of this painting is a small
picture of Barbara as a girl. The silhouette from which
this picture was made is to be seen in the large show case
in the rear of the room.
Items of interest connected with the Confederate occupancy
of Frederick, together with those relating to General
Stonewall Jackson, are displayed on the table beneath
Barbara Fritchie's picture and on the walls to the right
of the table. Here is also displayed the original letter
of Winston Churchill, who recited the poem, Barbara Fritchie,
in front of the Barbara Fritchie Home.
On the front of the Home is a plaque placed by the Frederick
County Historical Society to mark Mr. Churchill's visit on
May 17, 1943.
The American's Creed, in the author's own handwriting, is a
display item of considerable interest. William Tyler Page
was born in Frederick.
All of the furniture that you see in this room (except the
upholstered davenport and upholstered rocking chair) belonged
to Barbara Fritchie. Her favorite rocking chair attracts
much interest and is loaned by the estate of Mrs. Minnie H.
Brish, great-grandniece of Barbara Fritchie.
On the far side of the fireplace you find a pantalette
pattern cut by Barbara Fritchie from newspapers bearing
date of 1851.
The glass case on the table contains remnants of skins and
leather that were used by Barbara's husband in his craft as
a glove maker. The old trunk belonged to her husband and
originally contained these items of his craft. A paper in
this trunk is dated 1807.
Original papers connected with the estates of Barbara and her
husband are on display, also a photostatic copy of Barbara's
marriage license, her will and her husband's will - all from
the records of the Frederick County Court House.
A photo autographed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gov.
Theo. R. McKeldin, and Congressman J. Glenn Beall of Maryland
is on display. The picture was taken in front of the Barbara
Fritchie Home during their visit to Frederick Sept. 25, 1952.
The alcove is largely devoted to the Civil War Battle of
Monocracy, just southeast of Frederick - General Lew Wallace
commanding the Union Army. This battle is credited with
saving the Nation's Capital from Confederate occupancy.
The sword and other items are from this battlefield. Also
of interest is the demand of General Jubal Early made upon
Frederick City for $200,000.00 ransom money, which was paid
and for which Frederick has never been reimbursed. The
original letter of General Grant always attracts attention.
To the left of the above alcove is a display of original
documents connected with John Greenleaf Whittier, who wrote
the poem BARBARA FRITCHIE. There is here displayed the
only portion of the poem BARBARA FRITCHIE in Whittier's own
handwriting and signed by him that is now in existence, so
far as can be learned.
You are now at the show case above which is a framed
certificate of authenticity in connection with relics
formerly owned by Barbara Fritchie are displayed in the
case. You will also see her family Bible, over two hundred
years old.
The check of Albert Ritchie, executor of Barbara Fritchie's
husband, John Casper Fritchie, made payable to Barbara
Fritchie in existence and this is one of them. Many items
in this case are loaned by Mrs. Henry H. Abbott and her
daughter, Miss Julia Abbot who is a great, great,
grandniece of Barbara.
Cake cutters, more than 150 years old, which were used by
Barbara Fritchie to make cookies, that were sold in her
husband's store room (now the souvenir shop), also a
collection of Barbara's chinaware loaned by the estate
of Mrs. Minnie H. Brish, of Frederick, Md., great-grandniece
of Barbara Fritchie; and other items of interest loaned by
Mrs. Wm. T. Delaplaine, of Frederick, also a relative.
The famous paisley shawl of Francis Scott Key, author of
THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER, over whose grave in Frederick the
American Flag waves night and day. This historic spot is on
U.S. 240, just 6 blocks from the Barbara Fritchie House and
is flood lighted at night. Francis Scott Key and Barbara
Fritchie were personal friends and together took part in
Memorial services held in Frederick on the occasion of the
death of General George Washington.
Passing from the case through the rear door, you come to the
back porch, where, in addition to obtaining a charming view,
you can see the spring in the little park across the creek,
from which Barbara obtained drinking water, and at which
soldiers of both armies often stopped. The bench on the
back porch was one of Barbara's belongings.
Returning to the house you ascend the the stairway to the
Gettysburg Room - many stop to study the detail exhibited
in Longstreet's charge at Gettysburg, also the original
requisitions issued from Frederick, Md., for the Battle
of Gettysburg.
From the Gettysburg room along the little hall is Barbara's
bedroom. It is her bed, her quilts, her sheets and pillow
cases, that you see in this room. The quilts were made by
her, and the sheets and pillow cases made from flax that she
herself spun. The long, narrow bed, loaned by Miss Julia
Abbot, is the one in which Barbara died December 18, 1862,
aged 96 years and 15 days.
Finally, you look out the window (which is directly in front
of the bedroom), from which she always kept her flag waving;
and, looking down, you see the very spot whereupon, more
than 90 years ago, were enacted those stirring scenes which
inspired Whittier's poem. The Confederates were approaching
from your right - coming on Patrick Street, moving westward
- when, "Halt! The dust-brown ranks stood fast!" - right
under the window out of which you are gazing. You know the
rest.
BARBARA FRITCHIE By JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER
Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,
The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.
Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach-tree fruited deep,
Fair as a garden of the Lord
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde,
On that pleasant morn of early Fall
When Lee marched over the mountain-wall, -
Over the mountains winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.
Forty flags with their silver stars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,
Flapped in the morning wind: the sun
Of noon looked down, and saw not one.
Up rose old Barbara Fritchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;
Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men hauled down;
In her attic-window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet.
Up the street came the rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.
Under his slouched hat left and right
He glanced; the old flag met his sight.
"Halt!" - the dust-brown ranks stood fast.
"Fire!" - out blazed the rifle-blast.
It shivered the window, pane and sash;
It rent the banner with seam and gash.
Quick as it fell, from the broken staff
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf;
She leaned far out on the window-sill,
and shook it forth with a royal will.
"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country's flag," she said.
A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came;
The nobler nature within him stirred
To life at that woman's deed and word;
"Who touches a hair of yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on!" he said.
All day long through Fredrick street
sounded the tread of marching feet;
All day long that free flag tost
Over the head of the rebel host.
Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well;
And through the hill-gaps, sunset light
Shone over it with a warm good-night.
Barbara Fritchie's work is o'er,
And the Rebel rides on his raids no more.
Honor to her! and let a tear
Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier.
Over Barbara Fritchie's grave
Flag of Freedom and Union, wave!
Peace and order and beauty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law;
And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town!
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation