Oil on canvas; 26” h. x 21” w. (sight size). < Back Frank C. Bensing (American, 1893-1983), Portrait of Stephen Tyng Mather First Floor - Keeping Room Fine Art Oil on canvas; 26” h. x 21” w. (sight size). Stephen Tyng Mather (1867-1930), Industrialist, Conservationist A founder and the first Director of the National Park Service. Half length portrait of a mature gentleman in suit and tie, against a dark ground. Signed in red UL: Frank C. Bensing. Framed in a contemporary gilded frame. Condition is good. Previous Next

A CHRISTMAS STORY This story, published in 1884 and discovered on the bookshelves of the Mather Homestead, was written by Massachusetts author Mrs. Sophia P. Snow, and published in this book of Christmas stories by Henry Floy, Stephen Tyng Mather's brother-in-law. It tells the delightful story of two young children on Christmas Eve who had lost their mother and whose father had lost Christmas in his heart. We hope that this story brings you a smile this Christmas season! Annie and Willie's Prayer by Mrs. Sophia P. Snow ‘Twas the night before Christmas: "Good-night," had been said, And Annie and Willie had crept into bed. There were tears on their pillows, and tears in their eyes, And each little bosom was heaving with sighs; For to-night their stern fathers's command had been given That they should retire precisely at seven-- Instead of at eight-- for they trouble him more With questions unheard of than ever before. He had told them he thought this delusion a sin, No such creature as "Santa Claus" ever had been; And he hoped, after this, he should never more hear How he scrambled down chimneys with presents each year. And this was the reason that two little heads So restlessly toss'd on their soft, downy beds. Eight, nine, and the clock on the step toll'd ten; Not a word had been spoken by either, till then; When Willie’s sad face from the blanket did peep, And whispered, "Dear Annie, is 'ou fast aseep?" "Why no, Brother Willie," a sweet voice replies, "I've long tried in vain, but I can't shut my eyes; For somehow it makes me so sorry because Dear papa has said there is no 'Santa Claus.' Now we know there is, and it can't be denied, For he came every year before mamma died; But, then, I've been thinking that she used to pray, And God would hear everything mamma would say, And maybe she ask'd him to send Santa Claus here With the sack full of presents he brought every year." "Well, why tan't we pay, dust as mama did den, And ask Dod to send him with pesents aden? "I've been thinking so too," -- and with out a word more Four little bare feet bounded out on the floor, And four little knees the soft carpet press'd, And two tiny hands were clasp'd close to each breast. "Now Willie, you know we must firmly believe That the presents we ask for we're sure to receive; You must wait very still till I say the 'Amen,' And by that you will know that your turn has come then." 'Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and me, And grant us the favor we're asking of thee. I want a wax dolly, a tea-set, and ring, And an ebony work-box that shuts with a spring: Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see That Santa Claus loves us as much as does he: Don't let him get fretful and angry again At dear brother Willie and Annie. Amen." "Pease, Desus, 'et Santa Taus tum down to-night, And bing us some pesents before it is 'ight; I want he sood div' me a nice 'ittle sed, Wid bight shinin 'unners, and all painted 'ed; A box full of tandy, a book, and a toy, Amen. And den, Desus, I'll be a dood boy." THEIR REST Their prayers being ended, they rais'd up their heads, And, with hearts light and cheerful, again sought their beds. They were soon lost in slumber, both peaceful and deep, And with fairies in dream-land were roaming in sleep. Eight, nine, and the little French clock had struck ten, Ere the father had thought of his children again: He seems now to hear Annie's half suppress'd sighs, And to see the big tears stand in Willie's blue eyes. "I was harsh with my darlings," he mentally said, "And should not have sent them so early to bed; But then I was troubled; my feelings found vent?; For bank-stock to-day has gone down ten per cent. But of course they've forgotten their troubles ere this, And that I denied them the thrice-ask’d-for kiss: But, just to make sure, I'll steal up to their door-- To my darlings I never spoke harshly before." So saying, he softly ascended the stairs, And arrived at the door to hear both of their prayers; His Annie's "Bless papa" drew forth the big tears, And Willie's grave promise fell sweet on his ears. "Strange-- Strange -- I'd forgotten," said he, with a sigh, "How I long'd when a child to have Christmas draw nigh." I'll atone for my harshness," he inwardly said, "By answering their prayers ere I sleep in my bed." Then he turn'd to the stairs and softly went down, Threw off velvet slippers and silk dressing-gown, Donn'd hat, coat, and boots, and was out in the street-- A millionaire facing the cold, driving sleet! Not stopp'd he until he had brought every thing, From the box full of candy to the tiny gold ring; Indeed, he kept adding so much to his store, That the various presents outnumber'd a score. Then homeward he turn'd, when his holiday load, With Aunt Mary's help, in the nursery was stow'd. Miss Dolly was seated beneath a pine tree, By the side of a table spread out for her tea; A work-box, well fill'd, in the center was laid, And on it the ring for which Annie had pray'd; A soldier in uniform stood by a sled "With bright shining runners, and all painted red." There were balls, dogs, and horses; books pleasing to see; And birds of all colors were perch'd in the tree; While Santa Claus, laughing, stood up in the top, As if getting ready more presents to drop. Now as the fond father the picture survey'd, He thought for his trouble he'd amply been paid; And he said to himself, as he brush'd off a tear, "I'm happier to-night than I've been for a year; I've enjoy'd more true pleasure than ever before; What care I if bank-stock falls ten percent. more! Hereafter I'll make it a rule, I believe, To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas Eve." So thinking, he gently extinguish'd the light, And, tripping down stairs, retired for the night. THE MORNING As soon as the beams of the bright morning sun Put the darkness to flight, and the stars by one, Four little blue eyes out of sleep open'd wide, And at the same moment the presents espied; Then out of their beds they sprang with a bound, And the very gifts pray'd for were all of them found. They laugh'd and they cried, in their innocent glee, And shouted for papa to come quick, and see What presents old Santa Claus brought in the night, (Just the things that they wanted!) and left before light. "And now," added Annie, in voice soft and low, "You'll believe there's a Santa Claus, papa, I know;" While dear little Willie climb'd up on his knee, Determin'd no secret between them should be. And told, in soft whispers, how Annie had said That their dear blessed mamma, so long ago dead, Used to kneel down and pray, by the side of her chair, And that God up in heaven had answer'd her prayer. "Den we dot up and pay'd dust well as we took, And Dod answer'd our payers; now wasn't he dood?" "I should say that he was, if he sent you all these, And knew just what presents my children would please. (Well, well, let him think so, the dear little elf; 'Twould be cruel to tell him I did it myself.") ____ Blind father! who caus'd your stern heart to relent, And the hasty words spoken so soon to repent? 'Twas the Being who bade you steal softly up stairs, And made you his agent to answer their prayers. Sophia P. Snow

Mather hits the road to learn about other places of interest! Past field trips have included: Weir Farm, Connecticut's only National Park. Setauket, Long Island, home of the Culper Spy Ring. Tour of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Elizabeth Kornhauser, the Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture FIELD TRIPS Mather hits the road to learn about other places of interest! Past field trips have included: - Weir Farm, Connecticut's only National Park - Setauket, Long Island, home of the Culper Spy Ring - Tour of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Elizabeth Kornhauser, the Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture - Tour and lunch at Fraunces Tavern, New York UPCOMING EVENTS Past Field Trips Fall Harvest Festival, Presented by BMW of Darien Oct 24, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Fun for the whole family! Join us for pony rides, hay rides, face painting, crafts, treats, live music, lots of pumpkins, and - new this year - ride-on farm equipment. This annual celebration is a beloved tradition and great way to support The Homestead! Kids under one year old free. Buy Tickets Lecture from Former National Park Service Director Chuck Sams and the Official Unveiling of the Stephen Mather Plaque Oct 29, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM “National Park Service: Rising to the Challenge.” How do we protect America’s public lands? Drawing on his experience leading the Park Service and his Native American heritage, Sams brings a rich perspective to the challenges of the past - and those that lie ahead. Lecture begins at 6:15 PM. Buy Tickets Election Day Camp for Young Creators, K-5 Nov 03, 2026, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Spend the day creating art inspired by the original WPA National Parks posters. Children will go home with four gorgeous projects as well as a little knowledge about our National Parks, the WPA, and how The Mather Homestead is part of the National Parks story. For students in grades K-5. Buy Tickets Field Trip to Hamilton Grange National Memorial Nov 12, 2026, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM As part of our celebration of the National Parks, we venture to an NPS site and historic home commemorating one our Nation's original great leaders, Alexander Hamilton. Join us for coffee and pastries at the Mather Barn before we drive to 414 West 141st street. Buy Tickets Holiday Ornament Homesteading Finishing Class Nov 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM With Lauren Keena's guidance, come learn how to finish the project you have started so it is ready to gift to a friend or hang on your tree. Extra kits are available for $50 and pick-up at the barn if you missed our October 8th class. Price for November 15 includes finishing kit and refreshments. Buy Tickets Our National Parks: Past, Present, and Future Panel Discussion Nov 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Join us for a discussion with Tiernan Sittenfeld, President and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association. Discuss the past, present, and future of park conservation and discover how each of us can help support and strengthen these places for generations to come. Refreshments included. Buy Tickets Holiday Wreath Making at 5:30 PM or 7:30 PM Dec 02, 2026, 5:30 PM Gather your friends and join us for an evening of creativity and holiday cheer! We’ll provide everything you need to craft a magazine-worthy wreath—and table reservations include champagne to toast the season. No experience necessary, but we do appreciate if you bring your own clippers! Buy Tickets Watch The Mather Legacy: An American Story Multiple Dates and Times Upcoming Screenings: October 28, 10a: Darien Men's Association November 16, 6:30p: Darien Public Library January 22, 10a: New Canaan Men's Association Details Book a Tour T-Th 9a to 2p Tours are available Tuesday through Thursday, 9a to 2p or by appointment. Book your tour here or email us at info@matherhomestead.org. Please note: We are unable to offer tours the week of July 6, 2026 through July 10, 2026. Enjoy the Fourth of July Holiday! Happy 250, America! Buy Tickets Vinyasa Yoga with Mary Ann Wednesday/Saturday 9:30a Join us Wednesdays and Saturday mornings at 9:30a! Buy Tickets Vinyasa yoga with Mary Ann - Purchase a Ten-Pack Ticket Here Date and time is TBD Refresh your mind and energy with this revitalizing practice to uplift and restore your entire system. Enjoy a well-paced flow that will offer you just the right amount of challenge while encouraging strength, resistance, and flexibility while reducing tension in the hips, back and shoulders. Buy Tickets Exhibit - Bertha Mather McPherson: Visionary Preservationist By appointment This exhibit will look at Bertha Mather's legacy as preservationist of home, family and community. Opening June 2025 and open by appointment through the summer. RSVP Exhibit: Stephen Mather and the National Parks by appointment Learn about the life and legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather (1867-1930), the first Director of the National Park Service and the owner of the Homestead from 1906 to 1930. Exhibit geared towards adults PLUS "kids corner" for kids of all ages. Open hours Thurs. 6 to 7:30, Sat. 11 to 1, Sun. 1 to 3 RSVP Past Field Trips

< Back Book Club: "The Cause" by Joseph Ellis Thurs., Jan 20, 7 pm, parlor, free The Mather Homestead book club explores a variety of books, from fiction to nonfiction, from historical to covering other topics such as the environment and National Parks in honor of Stephen Tyng Mather. Discussions are led. Join us even if you haven't read the book. A culminating work on the American Founding by one of its leading historians, The Cause rethinks the American Revolution as we have known it. In one of the most “exciting and engaging” (Gordon S. Wood) histories of the American founding in decades, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Joseph J. Ellis offers an epic account of the origins and clashing ideologies of America’s revolutionary era, recovering a war more brutal, and more disorienting, than any in our history, save perhaps the Civil War. For more than two centuries, historians have debated the history of the American Revolution, disputing its roots, its provenance, and above all, its meaning. These questions have intrigued Ellis―one of our most celebrated scholars of American history―throughout his entire career. With this much-anticipated volume, he at last brings the story of the revolution to vivid life, with “surprising relevance” (Susan Dunn) for our modern era. Completing a trilogy of books that began with Founding Brothers, The Cause returns us to the very heart of the American founding, telling the military and political story of the war for independence from the ground up, and from all sides: British and American, loyalist and patriot, white and Black. Taking us from the end of the Seven Years’ War to 1783, and drawing on a wealth of previously untapped sources, The Cause interweaves action-packed tales of North American military campaigns with parlor-room intrigues back in England, creating a thrilling narrative that brings together a cast of familiar and long-forgotten characters. Here Ellis recovers the stories of Catherine Littlefield Greene, wife of Major General Nathanael Greene, the sister among the “band of brothers”; Thayendanegea, a Mohawk chief known to the colonists as Joseph Brant, who led the Iroquois Confederation against the Patriots; and Harry Washington, the enslaved namesake of George Washington, who escaped Mount Vernon to join the British Army and fight against his former master. Countering popular histories that romanticize the “Spirit of ’76,” Ellis demonstrates that the rebels fought under the mantle of “The Cause,” a mutable, conveniently ambiguous principle that afforded an umbrella under which different, and often conflicting, convictions and goals could coexist. Neither an American nation nor a viable government existed at the end of the war. In fact, one revolutionary legacy regarded the creation of such a nation, or any robust expression of government power, as the ultimate betrayal of The Cause. This legacy alone rendered any effective response to the twin tragedies of the founding―slavery and the Native American dilemma―problematic at best. Written with the vivid and muscular prose for which Ellis is known, and with characteristically trenchant insight, The Cause marks the culmination of a lifetime of engagement with the founding era. A landmark work of narrative history, it challenges the story we have long told ourselves about our origins as a people, and as a nation. Source: Amazon Please buy local! Books available at Barrett Bookstore. Previous Next

St. Nicholas visited the Homestead for the second time. Children enjoyed a visit with Santa and lots of fun stations with games & crafts (and candy!) < Back A Visit from St. Nicholas - December 11, 2021 St. Nicholas visited the Homestead for the second time. Children enjoyed a visit with Santa and lots of fun stations with games & crafts (and candy!) Previous Next

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Connecticut During the American Revolutionary War < Back Brown Bag Lecture featuring Past Presented - November 9, 2023 Connecticut During the American Revolutionary War Previous Next

The Mather Homestead has an extensive collection, spanning several centuries and multiple continents. A list of all individual items can be found here. MH Collection Filter items by room Select room Filter items by category Select category Corner Chair Massachusetts, 1755-1785. Maple, including striped maple; 27 ½” h. x 24” w. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Molded Slat Side Chair Southwestern Connecticut, probably Milford area, 1750-1800 Maple, ash stretchers, rush seat; 39" h. x 18 ½" w. x 18" d., seat 13" Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Open Armchair England, 1875-1925 Mahogany; 35” h. x 25” w. x 21” d. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Side Chair South-Central Pennsylvania, 1775-1800. Mahogany, unidentified secondary woods; 38" h. x 20 ⅜" w. x 20" d. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Table with One Drawer Northeastern United States, 20th century Mahogany, white pine; 27 ¾" h. x 30" w. x 15 ⅜" d Location: First Floor - Entrance Hall Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Tavern Table New England, 1720-1750. Maple, white pine; 24" h. x 27 ⅛" w. x 17 ¼" d. (top) Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More “York” Side Chair Coastal Connecticut, 1775-1810. Maple, tulip poplar, ash, rush seat; 40 ½" h. x 19 ¾" w. x 15 ¾" d. Location: Second Floor - Entrance Hall Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Alexander Spinell Clark (American, 20th c.), Portrait of Bertha McPherson Oil on canvas; 27 ¼” h. x 21 ½” w. (sight size). Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Fine Art Read More American Hooked Rug of a Blue Jay, Wool and Cotton 2’ 4” x 3’ 2”. Late 19th/early 20th century. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More American Hooked Rug with Cat and Two Kittens Wool, cotton, burlap; 2’ 4” x 4’ 6” Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More American Joint Stool Southern New England, ca. 1700 and later. Cherry; 21" h. x 18" w. x 11 ½" d. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More American Needlework Sampler Mary Culbertson (dates unknown). Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, dated 1834. Silk on linen; 16 ½" h. x 16 ½" w. (sight), 18 ½" x 18 ½" frame. Location: Second Floor - Entrance Hall Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More American School Portrait, Bertha Jemima Mather (1844-1899) Oil on canvas; 24 ¾” h. x 20 ¾” w. (sight size); circa 1854 Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Fine Art Read More American School, Pair of Portraits, Edward Walker & Sophia Walker Edward Walker (1803-1879); Sophia Ann Shedel Walker (1802-1871). Parents of Bertha Jemima Walker Mather. Oil on canvas; 26 ½” h. x 21 ½” w. (sight size). Circa 1840-1845. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Fine Art Read More American School, Portrait of Michael Floy, Sr. (1775-1854) Oil on canvas; 33 ¾” h. x 26 ¾” w. (sight size). Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Fine Art Read More American Schoolgirl Needlework Silk-on-Linen, framed and glazed; 17 ¼” h. x 12 ¼” w. (sight size). Location: First Floor - Entrance Hall Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More American Schoolgirl Needlework 2 Wool-on-Linen, 16 ¾” h. x 16” w. (sight size). Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Apple and Pear Form Tea Caddies England, first half 19th century. Fruitwood, iron hinges and escutcheons, wooden stems. Pear: 6 ½" h. x 4 ½" d.; Apple: 5" h. x 4 ¼" d. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Arrow-Back Child’s Highchair Southern New England, 1820-1840 Maple, tulip poplar seat; 36 ¼” h. x 16 w. x 17 ¾” d. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Assembled Set of Nine Queen Anne Side Chairs Maple, rush seats; 1730-1750. New England; 40 ½" h. x 19" w. x 15" d. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Associated Pair of Painted Milk Glass Footed Vases Baluster shaped vessel with flared mouth; one painted on body with large pink rose, one painted with blue morning glories; scrolling vine around body; one numbered “2”, and one numbered “15” on the underside, otherwise unmarked. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Blanket Chest New England, late 18th century. White pine; 16 ¼" h. x 44 ¼" w. x 15 ½" d. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Blanket Chest New England, late 18th century. White pine; 16 ½" h. x 44" w. x 17" d. Location: Attic Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Block-Front Prospect Bureau Table (Kneehole Desk) Mahogany, white pine; Boston; 1750-1770; original brasses. 31" h. x 35" w. x 21 ½" d. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Camelback Sofa Possibly New England; 35 ½" h. x 64" w. x 30" d. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Carved Arched-Top Standing Watch Hutch with Pocket Watch 10 ½” h. x 2 ½” w.; circa 1810-1840. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Carved Ribbon-Back Armchair Cherry; 1780-1800. Connecticut or Southern Massachusetts; 37 ¾” h. x 21” w. x 17 ¾” d. Location: Second Floor - NW Sitting Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Carved and Painted Tulip-Form Watch Hutch with Elgin Pocket Watch Hanging bracket over scalloped top ‘tulip’ with circular glass window, and diamond-shaped stem; 8” h. (including hanging bracket) x 4” w; circa 1800, Pennsylvania. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Castleford Staffordshire Pottery Teapot with Swan Finial White with green and blue decorated triangular ‘hedge’ around rim, painted gold stars on rippled body form; 7” h. x 9” w. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Chest of Drawers New York or Southwestern Connecticut, 1805-1825 Cherry; tulip poplar; 43 ¼" h. x 45" w. x 20 ⅛" d. Location: Attic Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Chest of Four Drawers New England, 1725-1750 Cherry, maple, oak, white pine, poplar top; 38" h. x 38 ½" w. x 20 ⅛" d. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Chest of Four Drawers Connecticut, 1790-1810. Cherry, white pine, tulip poplar; 37 ½" h. x 37 ½" w. x 18" d. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Chest of Four Drawers England; 1760-1780. Figured mahogany, oak; 32 ½” h. x 34 ¾” w. x 17 ¾” d. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Chinese Export Porcelain Armorial Tea Service of Fifteen (15) Pieces Four teacups, 3 ½” d. Four saucers, 5 ½” d. Teapot with strawberry finial, twist handle, 5 ¾” h. x 8 ¾” w. Two plates, 9 ¼” d., and 7 ⅝” d. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Footed Punchbowl 4 ¼” h. x 10 ½” d. with a 1” foot-ring; unmarked; circa late 18th/early 19th century. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Chinese Export Porcelain Tea Caddy with Lid With sloped shoulders, a white ground with central polychrome flower spray and flower finial on lid; 5 ¼” h. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Chippendale Chest of Four Drawers Probably Connecticut; first quarter 19th century. Cherry, tulip poplar; 35” h. x 39 ¾” w. x 20” d. Location: Second Floor - NE Bedroom and Hallway Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Converted Arrow-back to Comb-back Windsor Rocking Chair Maple, pine; 36” h. x 18” w. Circa 1830-1850. Location: Attic Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Corner Chair Probably Massachusetts, 1760-1790. Birch, maple, rush slip-seat; 31 ¼” h. x 27” w. x 25” d. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Corner chair Probably Massachusetts, 1740-1780. Maple, rush seat; 30 ½” h. x 27” w. x 25” d. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Dining Table England, 20th century reproduction of an early 19th century form. Mahogany, oak; 29 ½” h. x 51” l. x 20 ½” w. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Dressing Table American, probably Southern New Jersey or farther south, 1790-1810. Walnut; resinous pine; 28 ½" h. x 30" w. x 19 ¼" d. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Dressing Table (or "Lowboy") Probably Eastern Massachusetts, 1730-1760. Walnut, white pine; 31” h. x 36” w. x 19 ¼” d. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Drop-Leaf Table with Circular Top Probably Massachusetts, 1740-1780. Maple, white pine; 27" h. x 30" w. x 10 ¾" d. (open 23 ½") Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Drop-Leaf or Pembroke Table Probably Connecticut, 1810-1825. Cherry, tulip poplar; 27 ¼" h. x 32" w. x 19" d. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Early American Portrait, Margaret Henderson and Letter-Book Archive Portrait: Pastel on paper; 18 ½” h. x 13 ¾” w. (sight size). Letter-book: Brown ink on wove paper, 6 ¼” x 8” sheets; 11 sheets, plus three stamped, folded, and postmarked family letters, 3” x 5”. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Fine Art Read More Easy (or Wing) Chair New England, 1790-1810. Birch; 43" h. x 31 ¾" w. x 26" d. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Household Equipment Including: Wooden yarn swift, 39” h. x 30” w. Two yarn winders, each with 26” wheels. Two spinning wheels, 42” d. and 44” d. wheels. Two butter molds, pineapple 3 ½” h., and flower, 5 ½” h. Three tin candle molds, 8, 12, and 16 candles, 10 ½” – 11 ¼” h. Two graduated tin pails. Three foot warmers, wooden frames with punched tin decorative cases, 6” h. x 8” l. Wrought iron strap hinge, 21” l. Cast iron boot scraper, 12” w. Location: Attic Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Eli Terry (1772-1852) Shelf Clock Plymouth, Connecticut. Mahogany, white pine, brass, iron, glass; 31” h. x 19” w. Circa 1825. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Empire Three-Drawer Worktable Mahogany and veneer; circa 1825-1840. American; 28 ¾” h. x 21” w. x 17” d. Location: Second Floor - NW Sitting Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More English 1821 “Adam and Eve” Sampler, Silk-on-Linen England, 1821. A formulaic/pattern work, well executed, featuring figures, animals, and biblical script. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More English Candle Box England, c. 1800 and later. Oak, European pine, paint; 16" h. x 5 ¾" w. x 4 ¼" d. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Famille Rose Chinese Export Porcelain Covered Tureen with Tray Tureen: 8” h. x 14” l. x 9 ½” d. (including lid with finial). Underplate or tray: 15 ¾” l. x 11 ¼” w. Circa 1780-1795. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Fireplace Cooking and Hearth Utensils and Tools Objects described date from mid-18th to mid-19th centuries (not including 20th century reproductions). Condition of all is good considering age and use. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Fireplace Implements and Tools Pair of lemon-top brass and wrought iron andirons, 20” h. x 18” l. Two double lemon-top brass and wrought iron fire tools, tongs, 34”, shovel, 31”. Pair of lemon-top brass jamb hooks, 3” d. Pierced brass fender, 7 ½” h. x 57” l. Pair of brass candle scones w/ punchwork, 10” x 3 ¾” (dining room) Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Footstool Mahogany; 10” h. x 12” l. x 12” w.; 20th century Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Four Upholstered Open Armchairs Probably England; likely modern in late 18th century style. Mahogany; two: 39 ½" h. x 27 ¼" w. x 23" d.; #105: 43 ½” x 22 ¾” 26 ½”; no. 118: 37 ¼” h. x 24 ⅜” w. x 24” d. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Four-Post Bedstead with Tester New England, 1850-1900. Maple, chestnut and tulip poplar tester; 77" h. x 77" w. x 48 ¾" d. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Four-Slat Armchair Southern New England; 1725-1775, Maple, ash, rush seat Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Framed 1797 Needlework, Silk-on Linen Dated LC: 1797; framed and glazed; 6 ½” h. x 4 ½” w. (sight size). Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Framed 1818 Needlework Sampler, Silk-on-Linen Size: 16 ¾” h. x 10 ¼” w. (sight size); framed and glazed. Location: Second Floor - NE Bedroom and Hallway Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Framed 1824 Needlework Bible Cover, Wool-on-Linen 7 ¼” h. x 5 ⅛” w. Framed and glazed. Location: Second Floor - NE Bedroom and Hallway Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Framed Needlework of Squirrel, Wool-on-Linen Probably American; late 18th century. 9 ¾” h. x 10 ¾” w. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Frank C. Bensing (American, 1893-1983), Portrait of Stephen Tyng Mather Oil on canvas; 26” h. x 21” w. (sight size). Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Fine Art Read More Gate-Leg Table with Oval Top Connecticut or New York, 1730-1760. Cherry; white pine. 26 ¾" h. x 16" w. (50” open) x 47" d. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Georgian Style Six-Arm Chandelier Brass; 19 ½” h. x 28” w.; late 19th century. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Grain-Painted Hanging Watch Hutch with Pocket Watch 7⅛” h. (including hanging bracket) x 3 ⅛” w. Pocket watch: 1 ⅞” d.; circa 1830-1840. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Hand-colored Memorial Print for Joseph and Sarah Mather D.W. Kellogg and Co., Hartford, Connecticut, dated 1843. Lithograph on paper, watercolor, ink 12 ⅜" h. x 15" w. (sight), 17" h. x 22 ¼" w. (frame) Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More High Chest of Drawers (or “Highboy”) Southwestern Connecticut or New York, 1760-1800 Cherry, whitewood; 73 ⅞" h. x 42 ¼" w. x 20 ⅝" d. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Lidded Blanket Chest Over Two Drawers Cherry, chestnut; 43 ½" h. x 44" w. x 18 ⅝" d.; New England, circa early 19th century. Location: Attic Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Lolling Chair Massachusetts, 1790-1815. Mahogany; 41 ½" h. x 24" w. x 21" d. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Looking Glass England, 1750-1780. Walnut, mirrored glass; pine; 32 ¾" h. x 16 ½" w. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Looking Glass England or Northern Europe, 1760-1800. Walnut veneer, pine, mirrored glass; 23 ½" h. x 12" w. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Looking Glass Probably England, 1780-1810. Mahogany, mirrored glass; pine; 31 ½" h. x 18" w. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Looking Glass Northern Europe, 20th century. Walnut, pine, mirrored glass; 31" h. x 13 ¼" w. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Looking Glass Northern Europe, 1825-1875. Painted and gilded pine, mirrored glass; 19 ¾" h. x 9 ⅞" w. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Looking Glass Probably England, 1750-1780. Walnut, pine, mirrored glass. 15 ½" h. x 9 ½" w. Location: Second Floor - Entrance Hall Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Looking or “Pier” Glass England, 1740-1770. Walnut, mirrored glass; pine gilding, original beveled glass. 41 5/8" h. x 15 ¾" w. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Molded Slat Back Side Chair Southwestern Connecticut, possibly Milford area, 1775-1810 Maple, rush seat; 44 ½" h. x 19 ⅛" w. x 14 ½" d. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Nineteenth Century Fireplace Equipment and Cooking Tools Including: Three pairs of wrought iron tongs, 21” – 27” l. Cast iron frying pan, 11” d. Cast iron griddle, 13” d. Cast iron toast rack, 17” l. Cast iron cooking grate, 15” l. Cast iron shovel, 22” l. Location: Attic Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Nineteenth Century Theorem Watercolor of a Fruit Basket Graphite and watercolor on paper; 3 ½” h. x 5 ¼” w. Location: Second Floor - NE Bedroom and Hallway Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More One Drawer Table Southern New England, 18th and 20th centuries Cherry, pine Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More One drawer stand New York or New England, 1835-1865. Cherry, tulip poplar; 26 ¾” h. x 16 ½” l. x 20 ½” w. Location: First Floor - Entrance Hall Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More One-Drawer Stand New England, 1810-1825. Maple, white pine; 28 ½" h. x 18" w. x 16" d Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Open Armchair England, 1875-1925. Mahogany; 36 ¾" h. x 24" w. x 26" d. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Oriental Rug Handmade 3’ 4” x 6’ 5”, circa 1925-1940. Location: First Floor - Entrance Hall Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Oriental Rug Wool-on-Wool, Ferraghan, handmade; 6’ 4” x 13’ 7”. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Oriental Rug Wool-on-Wool, Bokhara; handmade; 7’ x 11’. First quarter 20th century. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Oriental Rug, Wool-on-Cotton 4’ 6 ½” x 6’ 7” (not including cotton fringe). Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Oval-Top Candlestand with Inlay Walnut; 1800-1810. Probably Pennsylvania; 28 ½” h. x 20 ¾” l. Location: Second Floor - W Bedroom (Ted's Dressing Room) Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Painted Parrot or Cockatoo-Form Cast Iron Door Stop 14” h., unmarked; circa 1900. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Pair of Bedsteads with “Cannonball” Finials New England; first quarter 19th century. Maple; 44” h. x 42” w. x 79” l. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Pair of Blue and White Delft Wall Pockets England, mid-18th century Tin-glazed earthenware; 7 ½” h. x 5” w. x 2 ½” d. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Pair of Chinese Export Porcelain Vases Mounted as Lamps In the Mandarin palate with red and gold painted floral sprays against a crème ground; cylinder shape with flared rim and base, 8 ½” h. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Pair of Queen Anne Side Chairs Maple, rush seats; 18th century. New England; 38" h. x 19" w. x 15" d. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Pair of Side Chairs Southern New England, 1770-1800. Cherry, rush seat; 38 ¼" h. x 18 ¾" w. x 20" d. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Pair of Tall Post Bedsteads with Acorn Finials New England, first quarter 19th century, and 20th century. Maple; 43 ½” h. x 36” w. (headboards) Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Pewter Teapot Thomas S. Derby (c. 1786-1852; working 1812-1852). Middletown, Connecticut, 1835-1850 Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Pipe Box with One Drawer Probably Connecticut, 1750-1800. Tulip poplar; 18 ¾" h. x 6 ¼" w. x 4 ¼" d. Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Porringer Top Tea Table Rhode Island, probably Newport, 1760-1790 Mahogany; 27 ⅜" h. x 31 ¾" w. x 24" d. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Queen Anne Armchair Maple, rush seat. New England; 41 ½” x 22” x 16”; circa 1750-1780, and later. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Rectangular Table with Canted Corners Southeastern New England, 1780-1810 Mahogany; 27" h. x 28" w. x 20" d. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Rectangular Tray Top Tea Table New York, possibly New Jersey, 1750-1775. Mahogany; 23 ½" h. x 24 ½" w. x 16 ½" d. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Reverse Serpentine Chest of Four Drawers Hartford area, Connecticut, 1790-1800 Cherry, white pine; 34 ¾" h. x 42 ⅝" w. x 22" d. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Round Drop Leaf Table New York or Southern New England, 1760-1800. Cherry (possibly maple), tulip poplar; 27 ½" h. x 43" w. x 14 ¼" d. (42” open). Location: Second Floor - Entrance Hall Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Set of Staffordshire Pink Lustreware Tea Service Nine cups, 3 ¾” d. Eleven saucers, 5 ⅝” d. Waste bowl, 3 ⅜” h. x 6 ¼” d. Two under-plates or trays, 7 ¾” d. Footed milk pitcher, 4 ¾” h. Footed teapot with flower finial, repaired lid, 8” h. x 9 ½” w. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Sheraton One-Drawer Stand Maple, pine; early 19th century and later New England; 28 ¼” h. x 28” w. x 14 ½” d. Location: Second Floor - NW Sitting Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Single Bedstead with “Cannonball” Finials New England; first half 19th century. Maple; 43” h. x 40 ½” w. x 80” l. Location: Second Floor - NE Bedroom and Hallway Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Six-Board Chest England, 20th century Elmwood; 13” h. x 34” l. x 14” d. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Slant-Front (‘Governor Winthrop’) Desk Maple (possibly Cherry), white pine; last quarter 18th century. New England; 40 ¾” h. x 36” w. x 17 ½” d. Location: Second Floor - NW Sitting Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Slant-Lid Desk Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 1800-1820. Figured walnut and veneer, tulip poplar, resinous white pine 43" h. x 41" w. x 22" d. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Small Chippendale Dressing Table England; last quarter 18th century. Mahogany, oak; 28 ⅜” h. x 29 ½” w. x 17 ¾” d. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Small Chippendale Looking Glass with Applied Prince of Wales Crest England; mahogany and veneer; 25 ½” h. x 11 ½” w., first quarter 19th century. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Small Lidded Box New York or Southwestern Connecticut, 1810-1840. Tulip poplar; 8" h. x 15 ¾" w. x 7 ¼" d. Location: Attic Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Small New England Pedestal Candlestand Maple and cherry; 26” h. x 16 ½” d. Last quarter 18th century. Location: Second Floor - NE Bedroom and Hallway Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Square Inlaid Stand Connecticut, early 19th century. Cherry; 24 ⅜" h. x 13 ¼" w. x 13"d. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Square-Top Candlestand Cherry; 1790-1810. New England; 28” h. x 16” w. x 15 ¼” d. Location: Second Floor - W Bedroom (Ted's Dressing Room) Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Sterling Silver Dresser Set, Four Pieces Including: Shoehorn with repoussé work on handle, 6 ¾” l. Hand mirror with silver frame, 9 ½’ l. Brush with natural bristles, Sterling handle, 9” l. Nail file, Sterling handle, 6 ⅝” l. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Stool England, late 18th or early 19th century; Mahogany, unidentified secondary wood (possibly mahogany) Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Stool England; early 19th century. Mahogany; 17 ½” h. x 12 ½” w. x 20” l. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Stool Probably England, late 19th century or early 20th century. Mahogany; 17" h. x 19 ¼" w. x 15 ⅜" d. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Tall Case Clock Samuel Sturgeon (working 1811-1835) Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 1815-1825 Walnut, hard pine, brass movement, painted iron dial Location: First Floor - Keeping Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Tall Case Clock Probably Connecticut, 1790-1815. Tulip poplar, chestnut, brass movement, painted iron dial. 86 ½” h. x 21” w. x 10 ½” d. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More Theorem Painting on Silk Velvet 14 ¾’ h. x 14 ½” w. (sight size). Circa 1820-1840. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Three American Handmade Floral Pattern Hooked Rugs Including: Pink and yellow roses against a black ground; 3’ 11” x 6’. Semicircular with pattern of red roses and buds on beige ground; 33” x 16”. Circular with pattern of three center red roses with concentric polychrome ‘waves’ to brown and blue edge; 33” d. Handmade, wool and cotton; late 19th/ early 20th century. Location: Second Floor - SW Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Three American Hooked Rugs with Geometric Patterns Including: 1) Intricate pattern of interlocking striped straps/ squares; 4’ 4” x 5’ 4”. 2) Polychrome pattern of blue squares, green leaves, pink and white stars; 2’ 10” x 4’ 6”. 3) Polychrome pattern with octagons, pink, crème, and grey. Location: Second Floor - SE Bedroom Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Three Associated Pieces of Meissen Porcelain Including a cup and saucer, and 7” d. plate; early 20th century manufacture. Location: First Floor - Dining Room Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Three Matching Pieces Chinese Export Porcelain with Painted Enamels Large octagonal platter, 13” l. x 9 ¾” w. Two octagonal plates, 8 ½” d. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Read More Three Painted Cast Iron Door Stops Sizes range 11 ¾” h. – 7 ½” h.; early 20th century. Location: First Floor - Parlor Category: Other Decorative Arts Read More Tilt-Top Stand New England, 1820-1840. Mahogany; 28 ½” x 20 ⅜” l. x 15 ¾” d. Location: Second Floor - Guest Room Category: Furniture and Hard Furnishings Read More

Mather hits the road to learn about other places of interest! Past field trips have included: Weir Farm, Connecticut's only National Park. Setauket, Long Island, home of the Culper Spy Ring. Tour of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Elizabeth Kornhauser, the Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture Field Trips The Mather Homestead hits the road! Fraunces Tavern, October 10, 2023 We traveled to downtown NYC for a tour and lunch at Fraunces Tavern, a historical landmark and the oldest bar in the city. It was the watering hole for many of the founding fathers. George Washington gathered his troops there to thank them for their service after the British troops left America. Read More Metropolitan Museum of Art - May, 2023 A MH group enjoyed a tour of the American Wing led by Dr. Elizabeth Kornhauser, the Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, followed by lunch in the Met's dining room. Read More Setauket, LI - June, 2023 A MH group ferried over the Sound to Setauket, LI where we learned about the Culper Spy Ring. The spies were loyal patriots who provided critical information about the Redcoats (British) to General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Setauket native Anna Smith Strong, known in the Spy Ring as "Nancy," provided information via her clothes line! Depending on what color petticoat, or how many handkerchiefs Anna hung on the line, a different message was conveyed! Read More Weir Farm - 2021, 2022 We took not one, but two visits to Weir Farm (October 2021 and 2022) to learn about Connecticut's only National Park. Weir Farm is a National Historical Park located in Ridgefield and Wilton, Connecticut. It commemorates the life and work of American impressionist painter J. Alden Weir and other artists who stayed at the site or lived there, to include Childe Hassam, Albert Pinkham Ryder, John Singer Sargent, and John Twachtman. Set amidst more than 60 acres of painterly woods, fields, and waterways, Weir described his home as the "Great Good Place." Weir’s farm is a national legacy to American Impressionism, the creative spirit, and historic preservation. Read More

On the Trail is just back from their tour of the Netherlands, bringing us bluegrass to the Mather Homestead! < Back On the Trail - June 26, 2022 On the Trail is just back from their tour of the Netherlands, bringing us bluegrass to the Mather Homestead! Previous Next

FALL SCHOLARS LECTURE Featuring Edward O'Keefe author of The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt Thursday, September 25, 2024 The Mather Homestead, 19 Stephen Mather Road Help us Bring History to Life! We are honored to welcome the renowned author and historian Edward O’Keefe, who will discuss his recent book, The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President . This book is a “dazzling and lyrical look at the making of one of America’s most remarkable presidents. It celebrates five extraordinary yet unsung women – his mother, sisters, and wives who opened the door to the American Century and pushed Theodore Roosevelt through it.” “With meticulous research... [and] perceptive insights... O’Keefe has performed a most valuable service by reminding us how much Theodore Roosevelt, the most virile of presidents, owed to the brilliant women in his life.” - The New York Times Edward O’Keefe is the CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation. He previously spent two decades in broadcast and digital media at ABC News, CNN, and NowThis, during which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for his work with Anthony Bourdain, two Webby Awards, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and a George Foster Peabody Award for ABC’s coverage of 9/11. A former fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, he graduated with honors from Georgetown University. This book is of particular interest to the Mather Homestead: Theodore Roosevelt and Stephen Mather shared a profound commitment to conservation, both finding solace and purpose in the natural world. Roosevelt, known for his vigorous advocacy for preserving America's natural landscapes, established five national parks and numerous national monuments, thus laying the groundwork for the modern conservation movement. Inspired by Roosevelt's vision, Stephen Mather became the first director of the National Park Service, dedicating his life to protecting and expanding the national parks. Both men believed in the restorative power of nature and worked tirelessly to ensure public access to these natural treasures, safeguarding America's natural beauty for future generations. Like the loves of Theodore Roosevelt, Bertha Mather McPherson, Stephen Mather's daughter was an unsung hero. Bertha was one of the first female architects in Connecticut, a founding member of the Darien Historical Society, and Bertha McPherson, applied for and successfully received the designation of the Mather family homestead as a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The homestead was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, again thanks to her efforts. Scholars Lecture featuring Edward O'Keefe September 26th, 2024 6 - 9 PM The Mather Homestead, Darien, CT Mint Julip Welcome Reception in the Mather Homestead’s Sunken Garden Presentation featuring Edward O’Keefe in the Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center Dessert Bar and Champagne Toast honoring Bertha (Mather) McPherson and all of the Women Who Inspire Each of Us In the weeks leading up to O’Keefe’s presentation, The Mather Homestead will bring “history to life” through exciting excursions to National Historic Sites in New York City and the Long Island shore that will offer a deeper understanding of Roosevelt's world and the remarkable women who influenced him. We hope you will join us for a visit to Teddy Roosevelt's birthplace as well as his summer home, Sagamore Hill . The Mather Homestead is a museum dedicated to historical education, aiming to inspire a deeper appreciation for America’s past. We hope you will join us for this extraordinary journey, offering important new insights into Teddy Roosevelt’s life and legacy. We ask for your support of this event which will be our sole fall 2024 fundraising event. Event Patron levels (below) honor both Bertha Mather and the contributions of Teddy Roosevelt's mother, Mittie, his sisters Bamie and Connie, his first wife, Alice, and his second wife Edith, all shaped and supported Roosevelt, contributing significantly to his success as one of America's most influential presidents. We encourage you to make your contribution in honor/memory of one of the many women who influenced your life. All levels will receive event tickets and autographed books. Ticket quantities and additional offerings will vary based on level. Event proceeds will benefit The Mather Homestead Foundation’s 1778 Home Restoration Project. Donations are tax-deductible _____$10,000 The Bertha Mather Sponsorship Special recognition at the event 10 VIP tickets and autographed books Teddy Roosevelt excursion to his birthplace in NYC Mather Homestead membership ______$5,000 The Mittie Roosevelt Sponsorship (Teddy’s Mother) Special recognition at the event 10 VIP tickets and autographed books Mather Homestead membership ______$2,500 The Bamie Roosevelt Sponsorship (Teddy’s Sister) Eight event tickets and autographed books Mather Homestead membership ______$1,000 The Connie Roosevelt Sponsorship (Teddy’s Sister) Six event tickets and autographed books ______ $500 The Edith Roosevelt Sponsorship (Teddy’s First Wife) Four event tickets and autographed books _______$250 The Alice Roosevelt Sponsorship (Teddy’s Second Wife) One event ticket and one autographed book The Mather Homestead Foundation is a 501 ©(3) dedicated to preserving the Mather Homestead, established in 1778 and home to seven generations of Mather descendants, as a treasured place for historical education and enjoyment.

< Back Quilting with Denyse Schmidt, the "mother of modern quilting" Sat., Oct. 1, 11 am to 3 pm, Barn, $125 Denise Schmidt will lead a workshop on patchwork quilting by hand. No experience required! At the end of the workshop, you will leave with a finished .... or almost finished ... quilt! $125 includes instruction and materials. Stay tuned for sign up. Email with questions. About Denise: Denyse Schmidt is one of the leading quilters of the 21st century. Known as a “modern” quilter, she actually draws much of her creative vision from quilts of the past. In Denyse Schmidt: Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration, Schmidt pays homage to the quilters and quilts that came before her. Take a peek if you are interested in learning about Denyse ahead of the workshop! Previous Next