Master Bedroom

 

 

 

·     The bedroom furniture originally belonged to Amelia’s sister, Sarah, and her husband Dr. William Crawford.

·     The cradle dates from 1854, and rocked all six of the Gorgas children.  It was sold by the Gorgas family, but later rediscovered and purchased for the museum in 1967.

·     At the foot of the bed is Amelia’s “prie-dieu” (a French term meaning “pray to God”) or prayer bench. Amelia was a devout Episcopalian and would kneel here to pray. The knee indentions from years of use are still visible.

·     The washstand in the corner of the room was a gift to the Gorgas family from Professor Ben Hardaway, as was the bedroom set in the neighboring bedroom.

·     The porcelain washstand set was given to Mary Gorgas by Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Allen Smith (for whom Smith Hall was named) upon the death of their daughter Julia. Julia and Mary had been good friends. The shaving mirror on the washstand belonged to John Gayle.

·     The Wilcox and Gibbs sewing machine dates to 1871.  The Gorgas family had a sewing machine that Amelia was forced to abandon during the Confederate evacuation of Richmond in 1865. She gave it to one of their servants, and the family later purchased this machine instead.