Rob Morris Home facts for kids
The Rob Morris Home is a special old house in La Grange, Kentucky. It's located at 102 Washington Street, within the historic area known as the Central La Grange Historic District. This house was once the home of Rob Morris, a very important person in the history of Freemasonry. He was known as the second and last poet laureate of Freemasonry, which means he was a special poet for the group. He also started a group called the Order of the Eastern Star.
Rob Morris's Life in La Grange
Rob Morris first came to La Grange in 1860. He worked as a teacher at the Masonic University there. Before this, he was a leader for the Grand Lodge of Kentucky from 1858 to 1859.
His first house in La Grange was sadly burned down on November 7, 1861. This happened because Rob Morris supported the Union side during the American Civil War. Even though his house was destroyed, some of his important books about Freemasonry were saved by nearby Federal troops, though they were a bit damaged. At the time of the fire, Morris was away giving a lecture in Crown Point, Indiana.
Morris thought about moving to New York, but he decided to stay in Kentucky. He felt it was important because Kentucky remained loyal to the federal government. In 1862, he bought the house that is now known as the Rob Morris Home for $1,400. This house had been built in 1840. Rob Morris lived there until he passed away in 1888. His wife also lived in the home until her death in 1893.
Special Features of the Home
The Rob Morris Home is considered a very important house in the Central La Grange Historic District. It has unique architectural features. For example, the front doors have special windows above and beside them.
One very rare feature is the chimney on the west side of the house. This type of chimney is common in coastal North Carolina but is almost never seen in Kentucky. The house also has a "side hall plan," which is a specific way the rooms are laid out. Some parts, like a carport, were added later and are not original to the house.
The Home as a Museum
In 1918, the Kentucky Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star bought the home. Since then, they have kept it as a special place and a museum to honor Rob Morris. Inside the home, you can see furniture from the time Rob Morris lived there. Some of these items were even owned by Morris himself.
See also
- Eureka Masonic College
