Category: Postcards From Another Millennium

This is an image of the carriage used by Jackson while President of the United States, both for ceremonial purposes and for travel.

The description states:
General Jackson’s Carriage at THE HERMITAGE, Home of General Andrew Jackson, Seventh President of the United States. This coach, bought by General Jackson in 1831, was used by him at the White House for state, ceremonial and social purposes and for several trips to the Hermitage. This trip took 30 days time. Located at Hermitage, Tennessee, near Nashville.
–It is indicative of the still primitive nature of national development that an overland journey to mid-Tennessee from Washington D.C. would require an entire month. However, within a couple of decades the development of train travel would reduce such travel times significantly.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

This log building on the left in the image is the original residence at the Hermitage, used by Jackson only until the more elaborate mansion was created. Once vacated by the Jacksons it was converted into slave quarters.

The description states:
THE HERMITAGE
Nashville, Tennessee
House on the left is remains of two-story building which was the center of a group of log houses comprising the original Hermitage, home of General Jackson, Seventh President of the United States.
–The building was built as a two-story structure but was reduced in size when converted for Jackson’s slaves. There are other buildings nearby which are under reconstruction and renovation.
This postcard likely dates from the 1950s.

This image shows the gazebo which protects the funerary monument dedicated to Andrew Jackson and his wife, both buried here.

The description states:
The tomb of THE HERMITAGE, Home of General Andrew Jackson, Seventh President of the United States. Built by General Jackson at the time of his wife’s death. Nashville, Tennessee.
–In addition to the couple buried here, there are additional family graves nearby. A couple of the headstones are barely visible in the right background. This card likely dates from the 1950s.

This image shows the nursery, or children’s room, of the Hermitage of Andrew Jackson. The crib is a rocker, and very high off the ground for a rocker design, likely to facilitate placing and removing the baby. It may have been unstable with a larger, more active infant.

The description states:
The Nursery of
THE HERMITAGE
Home of General Andrew Jackson
Seventh President of the United States
Nashville, Tennessee
–The ceramic containers in the rear of the picture appear to be a water pitcher, a washing bowl, some powder shakers or ointment jars, and a chamber pot on the floor.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

This image shows the bed and associated furnishings for the General’s bedroom as it would have appeared during his lifetime.

The description states:
Bedroom of General Andrew Jackson in
THE HERMITAGE
Home of General Andrew Jackson
Seventh President of the United States
Nashville, Tennessee
–The beds of this time were often high off the ground, and evidence of this is the step adjacent to the bed at the right of the photo. It was typical to build a cabinet below the bed for storage of bed linens, or to have a second bed roll out from one side to accommodate additional sleeper.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

This image shows the inside of the house looking back towards the front door, and highlighting the elaborate curving staircase to the next floor.

The description states:
The Hall of the Hermitage, Home of General Andrew Jackson, Seventh President of the United States. The paper represents the legend of the travels of Telemachus and was imported by General Jackson in 1835. Hermitage, Tennessee, near Nashville.
–The word ‘paper’ in the description refers to the wallpaper decoration which covers the entire hallway. The heating vent in the center of the floor appears to be a later modification. In addition, the upper left corner of every door frame has a decoration, an unusual feature.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

This image shows President Jackson’s home office, with a reading table in the foreground and a writing desk in the background.

The description states:
General Jackson’s Office at
THE HERMITAGE
Home of General Andrew Jackson
Seventh President of the United States
Nashville, Tennessee
–The numeral on the chair is likely an indicator to the guide for visitors. The lights reflecting on the glass at several points are indicative of the lighting used for the photograph, and not of lights typical of the home.
The card likely dates from the 1950s.

This image shows the parlors of Andrew Jackson’s home, the Hermitage, as they would have appeared during his life.

The description states:
The Parlors at
THE HERMITAGE
Home of General Andrew Jackson
Seventh President of the United States
Nashville, Tennessee
–The visible chandelier is filled with candles as there was no electricity or gas at the time. As a result, the house would have been quite dark after sunset in rooms that did not have generous lighting such as this.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

This image shows an almost identical view of the Hermitage from the previous posting, but with the benefit of people included to give a sense of scale to the building.

The description states:
THE HERMITAGE, the home of President Andrew Jackson is located 12 miles east of Nashville on U.S. 70 N. The handsome old estate has been preferred and appears just as it did in the days of “Old Hickory”.
–This card was used and is dated 17 June 1961.

This image shows the front of the mansion known as The Hermitage, built and owned by President Andrew Jackson.

The description states:
THE HERMITAGE – Home of General Andrew Jackson, Seventh President of the United States, Hermitage, Tennessee, near Nashville. Standing today just as it stood when he left it over 100 years ago is the class home of “Old Hickory”. Built in 1819, this historic shrine has successfully defied time and nature for 134 years. Although it was damaged by fire in 1834, it was restored immediately as it stands today.
–A calculation of the dates from the description above indicates this card dates from the 1950s.