Salmon P. Chase Birthplace facts for kids
|
Salmon P. Chase Birthplace and Childhood Home
|
|
 |
|
 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Cornish, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1808 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000133 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | May 15, 1975 |
| Designated NHL | May 15, 1975 |
The Salmon P. Chase Birthplace is a historic house located in Cornish, New Hampshire. This house was the birthplace and childhood home of Salmon P. Chase, a very important figure in American history. He grew up to become a lawyer, a governor, a cabinet member, and even the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
This special house is about 8 miles north of Claremont. It stands as a reminder of where a significant leader began his life.
Contents
Discovering the Chase Birthplace
The house is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It was built around 1790. The house has an L-shape with several parts. The main front section faces west. It has five windows across and two windows deep. The front door is in the middle. It has decorative columns, called pilasters, on the sides of the door and at the corners of the house.
Two narrower sections extend from the back of the house towards the east. The first of these sections is also two-and-a-half stories tall and has two chimneys. The section furthest east is one-and-a-half stories. This part was once connected to a barn. The house is thought to be very well-preserved. However, it was moved across the street from its original spot around 1848.
Who Was Salmon P. Chase?
Salmon P. Chase was born in this house in 1808. He lived here until he was eight years old. After his father passed away, he moved to Ohio to live with relatives. Chase had a long and very successful career in law and politics.
Chase's Political Journey
Chase served as the Governor of Ohio. He even ran against Abraham Lincoln in 1860 to become the Republican Party's choice for president.
Lincoln later chose Chase to be his Treasury Secretary. This was a very important job during the American Civil War. As Treasury Secretary, Chase strongly supported ending slavery. He was known as a Radical Republican, meaning he wanted big changes, especially regarding slavery.
In 1864, President Lincoln appointed Chase to be the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. This is the highest judge position in the country. Chase held this important role until he passed away in 1873.
A National Historic Landmark
Because of its connection to Salmon P. Chase, this house is very important to American history. It was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1975. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in the same year. Today, the house is known as the Chase House Inn and operates as a bed and breakfast.
