News Flash

2017 News Archive

Posted on: October 4, 2017

Root House Museum Goes Into Mourning this October

root house

October 4, 2017

CONTACT: Trevor Beemon

Executive Director

678-594-4994

tbeemon@cobblandmarks.com

Root House Museum Goes Into Mourning this October

 

Marietta's antebellum William Root House will teach visitors about mourning practices of the 1850s by setting up a wake for a departed family member.

MARIETTA - During the 1850s, Hannah and William Root shared their home with their children and extended family. Hannah Root's father, Leonard Simpson, lived with the family and passed away on October 11, 1856. During the month of October, the Root House will be decorated for mourning as it would have been at the time of Leonard Simpson's death.  

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: During the 1850s, Antebellum parlors were used for guests, family gatherings, and special occasions such as weddings and funerals. During a funeral, the coffin would have been kept in the parlor with the feet of the body facing towards the door. Many of the items in the parlor would have been draped in a black fabric. The fabric, called crepe, was commonly used for funerals because it was inexpensive and had a matte, lusterless surface that was deemed appropriately solemn for mourning. It was also customary to have flowers for a wake. Lilies were the most commonly used flower at this time because, in the "language of flowers," lilies symbolize purity.

In the dining room, some of the furnishings would have been moved around according to need. During a funeral, furniture would have been moved to the side to make room for chairs for the ceremony. Funeral guests would have been seated across the hall from the parlor so they could view the ceremony through the doorways without being too close to the family and the body. They would be permitted to see the body one at a time after the ceremony. A traditional food for funerals was funeral biscuits. These were shortbread cookies made especially for funerals. They would have an image imprinted on the cookie, such as a heart, cherub, winged head, hourglass, or skull. It was customary to serve the funeral biscuits with beer or ale, and they were usually dipped in the ale before being eaten.

INFORMATION: 770-426-4982; roothousemuseum.com/mourning 

Daytime tours are included in the cost of general museum admission. Special night tours are offered Friday and Saturday nights from 7:00pm to 10:00pm through October. Night tour tickets are available in advance online at roothousemuseum.com/mourning. 

ABOUT THE WILLIAM ROOT HOUSE MUSEUM & GARDEN: Owned and operated by Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society, the William Root House Museum & Garden offers an authentic look at life for a middle-class Georgia family during the 1860s. The simple frame house is more typical of its time and place than the grand plantations and columned mansions people typically imagine when they think of the Old South.

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in 2017 News Archive

city hall

City Offices Closed for New Year's

Posted on: December 28, 2017
city hall

City Offices Closed for Christmas

Posted on: December 18, 2017
council chamber

Watch Latest City Council Meeting Online

Posted on: December 14, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet December 20

Posted on: December 14, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet December 11 and 13

Posted on: December 4, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet November 29

Posted on: November 21, 2017
PD sign

MPD Offers Helpful Holiday Safety Tips

Posted on: November 20, 2017
council chamber

Watch Latest City Council Meeting Online

Posted on: November 9, 2017
city hall

City Offices Closed for Thanksgiving

Posted on: November 9, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet November 6 and 8

Posted on: October 31, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet October 25

Posted on: October 16, 2017
council chamber

Watch Latest City Council Meeting Online

Posted on: October 12, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet October 9 and 11

Posted on: October 3, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet September 27

Posted on: September 18, 2017
council chamber

Watch Latest City Council Meeting Online

Posted on: September 14, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet September 11 and 13

Posted on: September 6, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet August 30

Posted on: August 22, 2017
city hall

City Offices Closed for Labor Day

Posted on: August 22, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet August 7 and 9

Posted on: July 31, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet July 26

Posted on: July 17, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet July 6 and 12

Posted on: June 29, 2017
council web thumb

City Council to Meet June 28

Posted on: June 19, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet May 24

Posted on: May 10, 2017
council chamber

City Council to Meet May 8 and 10

Posted on: May 1, 2017
council web thumb

City Council to Meet April 26

Posted on: April 18, 2017
council web thumb

City Council to Meet April 6 and 12

Posted on: April 3, 2017
city hall

City Offices Closed April 14th

Posted on: March 27, 2017
council web thumb.jpg

City Council to Meet March 6 and 8

Posted on: February 28, 2017
City Hall_thumb.jpg

City Council to Meet February 22

Posted on: February 13, 2017
Marietta City logo_jpg_thumb.jpg

Watch Latest City Council Meeting Online

Posted on: February 9, 2017
City Hall_thumb.jpg

City Council to Meet February 6 and 8

Posted on: February 2, 2017
City Hall.jpg

City Council to Meet January 9 and 11

Posted on: January 5, 2017