Wheatland (James Buchanan House) facts for kids
|
James Buchanan House
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Wheatland from the front lawn
|
|
 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1120 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Area | 10 acres (40,470 m2) |
| Built | 1828 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Northeast Lancaster Township Historic District (ID86000484) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000669 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 4, 1961 |
| Designated CP | March 20, 1986 |
Wheatland, also known as the James Buchanan House, is a historic brick house built in the Federal style. It is located in Lancaster Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, near the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This house was once the home of James Buchanan, who was the 15th president of the United States.
The house was built in 1828 by William Jenkins, a local lawyer. Later, it was owned by Thomas Fuller Potter, who sold it to William M. Meredith in 1845. James Buchanan bought Wheatland in 1848. He lived there for about 20 years, except when he was serving as an ambassador in Great Britain or as president.
After Buchanan passed away in 1868, his niece, Harriet Lane, inherited Wheatland. She sold it in 1884 to George Willson. In 1934, after a relative of Willson's passed away, a group of people bought Wheatland. They created a non-profit group to protect and preserve the house. Wheatland was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Today, it is part of the Northeast Lancaster Township Historic District. In 2009, the foundation that cared for Wheatland joined with the local historical society.
Contents
Where is Wheatland Located?
Wheatland is found just off Pennsylvania Route 23 (Marietta Avenue) in Lancaster Township. It is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the center of Lancaster city. The house sits on 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land. It shares this land with the Lancaster County historical society. You can find it where Marietta Avenue and President Avenue meet.
This area was originally home to the Susquehannock people. They were first met by John Smith in 1608. In 1680, William Penn received land from King Charles II to start Pennsylvania. Lancaster County was later formed in 1729.
The Story of Wheatland
In 1828, William Jenkins, a lawyer, had the house built. He named it "The Wheatlands." This name likely came from the wheat fields that were around the property. Jenkins later sold the house and some land to his son-in-law, Thomas Fuller Potter, in 1836.
William M. Meredith bought Wheatland in 1845. He mainly used it as a summer house for his family. His work as a lawyer in Philadelphia meant he could not live there all the time.
How James Buchanan Bought Wheatland
Meredith decided to sell Wheatland. Secretary of State James Buchanan became interested in buying it in 1848. The sale took some time because Meredith was unsure if he wanted to sell. Buchanan also did not want to rush him. Finally, in December 1848, Buchanan bought Wheatland. He moved in a few months later. He lived there with his niece, Harriet Lane, his nephew, James Buchanan "Buck" Henry, and his housekeeper, Esther Parker.
Buchanan ran for president in 1852 but did not win the Democratic Party's nomination. He was then appointed as the Minister to Great Britain. He did not return to Wheatland until 1856.
Buchanan's Presidential Campaign
Soon after returning to Wheatland, Buchanan was chosen as the Democratic Party's candidate for president on June 9, 1856. Instead of traveling, Buchanan ran his campaign from Wheatland. This was known as a "front porch campaign." He would meet with visitors and give speeches from his home.
Buchanan won the election. He won all the Southern states. Most votes in the Northern states went to the Republican candidate, John C. Frémont. Buchanan's support for the Kansas–Nebraska Act helped him win in the South. Pictures of Wheatland were printed and shared during the campaign. This showed Southerners that Buchanan, even though he was from the North, had a large estate like theirs.
After the Presidency
If my successor should be as happy in entering the White House as I shall feel on returning to Wheatland he will indeed be a happy man.
During his time as president, Buchanan visited Wheatland only a few times. He returned to live at Wheatland in 1861, after Abraham Lincoln was elected and his term ended. James Buchanan passed away in a room on the second floor of Wheatland on June 1, 1868. Thousands of people attended his funeral and the parade from Wheatland to the Woodward Hill Cemetery on June 4.
His niece, Harriet Lane, inherited the estate. She used it as a summer home. After her two sons and husband passed away, Lane sold Wheatland in 1884 to George Willson.
After George Willson passed away in 1929, his cousin, Mary Willson Rettew, inherited Wheatland. Rettew passed away in 1934. Her will asked for a "Willson Memorial Building" to be set up to keep her family's special items. She also wanted the Lancaster County Historical Society to use the building.
Wheatland and 4.25 acres (1.72 ha) of land were put up for sale. In 1935, the Junior League of Lancaster created the "James Buchanan Foundation for the Preservation of Wheatland." Their goal was to raise money to buy the house. On February 27, 1936, Wheatland was sold to the Foundation. It opened to the public on May 5, 1936. In October 1937, it was honored as a new "presidential shrine." Wheatland was named a National Historic Landmark on July 4, 1961. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. In 2009, the James Buchanan Foundation and the Lancaster County Historical Society joined together to form LancasterHistory.org.
How Wheatland Looks: Architecture and Decor
Wheatland is a Federal style house made of brick. We do not know who designed Wheatland. However, its design shows that someone skilled in classical architecture created it. Features like the half-moon shaped windows (called lunette windows) show the influence of popular architectural guidebooks from the early 1800s.
The inside of Wheatland is decorated to look like it did in the mid-1800s. Most of the furniture is original to the house. Wheatland has not been changed much over the years, except for modern lights and heating. This means it offers a true look at life during the Victorian era.
The house has a central part that is two and a half stories tall. It is "symmetrical" (the same on both sides). On each side, there are two three-story wings that are set back a little. The roofs of these wings are flat and slope towards the back. The front door of Wheatland has a portico (a porch with columns) supported by Tuscan order columns. The back entrance has a veranda.
Inside the House
Both main entrances of Wheatland open into a T-shaped hallway. The main part of the hall is 42 feet (13 m) long and 8 feet (2.4 m) wide. The cross-hall is 34 by 8 feet (10.4 by 2.4 m). The floor is covered with a special oilcloth. This cloth was painted to look like expensive tiles, which was a popular style in the Victorian era. The original cloth was covered by a red carpet until 1990. Now, there is a new covering that looks exactly like the original.
On the first floor, you will find the parlor, the library, two dining rooms, and the kitchen. One dining room, in the western wing, was used for smaller meals like breakfast. The kitchen is right next to it. The other dining room, in the front of the main house, was used for formal dinners. It also served as a sitting room where men would talk after dinner. The fireplace in this room was covered in marble when Buchanan bought Wheatland.
Across the hall from the formal dining room is the parlor. This is where women guests would gather after dinner. The library is in the east wing. The wooden parts, doors, and a bookcase built into the wall were painted to look like oak wood. Two mahogany bookcases in the library were passed down from owner to owner. Buchanan mainly used the library to meet with his guests.
Upstairs and Grounds
You reach the second floor by an oval-shaped staircase in the cross-hall. At the bottom of the stairs, there is a glass "peace stone" in the newel post. This stone symbolized the owners' "peace of mind" after paying off their house loan. The living areas for the people who lived at Wheatland were on the second floor. A bathroom with a bathtub, shower, and bidet was added in the west wing when the Willsons bought the house in 1884. The third floor was mainly for servants and has not been restored.
The land around Wheatland was originally 22 acres (8.9 ha). Over time, parts were sold off. When it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, only 4.25 acres (1.72 ha) remained. However, after the merger in 2009, the historical society's land was added. Now, the total property is almost half of Wheatland's original size.
Behind Wheatland, you can see an outhouse, a smokehouse, and a carriage house. There used to be a stable, but it was replaced by the carriage house in the late 1880s. An icehouse also used to be on the property but is no longer there. Today, the carriage house is used for meetings and events.
Wheatland is open to the public from mid-January through mid-November, Monday through Saturday. Tours are offered every hour.
See also
