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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. < Back American Needlework Sampler Second Floor - Entrance Hall Other Decorative Arts 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. The sampler displays three alphabets rendered in white (except for a “UVWZ” in blue) above a two-handled bowl with a stylized floral arrangement, flanked by two trees. A stylized floral vine borders the entire composition. Color fading. Bottom: Mary Culbertson’s work 1834 Shippensburg, September 8th 1834. Framed in modern frame. Previous Next

Back in the 18th century, some things were the same (three meals a day, sleeping and playing), but some things were VERY different! The family operated a farm and everyone had to help. They got up really early in the morning to do chores - like milking the cows and collecting the eggs. If kids were lucky, they went to school. They had toys, but definitely no video games - have you seen jumping jacks? the ball and cup? and marbles? Let's learn about the MATher Homestead! Why is this house so special? The Mather Homestead is a REALLY old home right here in Darien, Connecticut, where it borders New Canaan and Norwalk. It was built in 1778, back in the 18th century - that's OVER 200 YEARS AGO! The Mather Homestead today! The Mather Homestead 200 years ago... Spooky! The Mather Homestead today! 1/2 Click the arrows to go back in time! The house has lots of cool stuff inside that people used back then. Can you believe THIS is a toaster??? = Where we are on a map: The green line on the map is Stephen Mather Road, named after our main man himself! Norwalk Darien New Canaan Who is this Stephen Mather guy?? Stephen Tyng Mather was the grandson of Deacon Joseph Mather (who built the house.) He is very important in our country’s history because he created the N ational Parks System we have toda y. A National Park is land that is protected by our government so that is can be preserved and well maintained. You may have visited a national park before! Have you bee n to the Grand Canyon? That's a famous one! There are now 63 national parks but when Stephen Mather became head of the national parks th ere was just 14 . By the time he retired as Director of the National Park Service he had doubled the number! Because he did so much to conserve park s in our co untry, you'll see a plaque like this one in most national parks. The Mather Homestead is so important because Stephen Mather lived in many plac es around the country but always considered this house his true hom e ! Stephen Mather and his wife Jane enjoying time out in front of The Homestead! The Revolutionary war The house was built in the beginning of that Revolutionary War, when the American colonies were fighting to be independent from Britain. The Loyalists were the people who agreed with England, that the American Colonies should stay part of England. But the Patriots believed that America should become its own independent country. Watch this video from Schoolhouse Rock! Would you be a loyalist or a patriot? In the area of the Mather Homestead, more people were Patriots. But across the Long Island Sound in Long Island, more people were Loyalists. So the Loyalists would row across the sound and raid houses along the shore. The Mather Raid! The Loyalists came to the Mather Homestead looking for valuables. But the valuables had been hidden!!! Where would you have hidden valuables? Under the bed? In the ground? The Mather family hid silver and other valuables like clothes in the water well (they were found!) and one other place somewhere in this dining room where they were not found! Check out the dining room and take a guess where the valuables were hidden. Answer below. And can you believe that before the soldiers left, they made Mrs. Mather cook them dinner!! But, good news, they didn't hurt anyone. The Secret Hiding Place ... what did kids do back then? Back in the 1700s, when the homestead was built, the family operated a farm and everyone had to help. They got up really early in the morning to do chores - like milking the cows and collecting the eggs. If kids w ere lucky, they went to school. They had toys, but definitely no video games! have you seen jumping jacks? the ball and cup? and marbles? Click here to see lots of games that you can try! This game is called "rolling the hoop." It's a race to see who can get their hoop to the finish line first. The Secret Hiding Place ... The silver was hidden in the tall pie ce of wooden furniture which has been in the home since it was built. It is called a "high boy." The silver was hidden with leather straps that attached it to the inside top of the cabinet. You can still see the straps today! Boys and girls were treated really differently. Girls learned to do things like sewing, cooking and serving -- even making candles and soap! And boys were usually learning a "trade," which means a job. And their parents were very strict. You'd better pay attention to the rules or else! They did have treats, but no potato chips or pizza. Some of the treats were candied orange peel and marzipan. Believe it or not they were yummy! Mather Homestead ACTIVITY BOOK and ANSWER

Wool, cotton, burlap; 2’ 4” x 4’ 6” < Back American Hooked Rug with Cat and Two Kittens Second Floor - SE Bedroom Other Decorative Arts Wool, cotton, burlap; 2’ 4” x 4’ 6” From E.S. Frost* pattern, number 39. A yellow tiger cat and her two kittens within a center oval reserve, surrounded by border of red oak leaves, checkerboard and gray ground. *Edward Sands Frost of Biddeford, Maine pattern. Frost’s hook rug designs were produced and sold hook rug designs in the late 19th /early 20th century. This pattern is included in the Greenfield Village Henry Ford Museum 1970 publication, “Descriptive Catalogue of E.S. Frost & Co’s Hooked Rug Patterns.” Condition is good. Previous Next

The Mather Homestead Foundation appreciates the generosity of donors who appreciate the home's rich history and its mission of preserving the Homestead for historical education. THANK YOU! Thank you for donating to the Mather Homestead Foundation! Your support will enable us to fund our educational programs, the care and maintenance of our buildings and property and more. You are BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE!

Create your own CUTTING GARDEN with help from local gardening enthusiast, Ania Janis. This four-session program provided all the tips, instructions, plans and supplies you need to create your own cutting garden at home. Session 1: Wed., Feb. 16, 7 - 8:30 pm: Intro and Cutting Garden Basics: Sweet Peas, Session 2: Wed., Feb. 23, 7 - 8:30 pm: Pinching & Watering: Snapdragons, Stock, Session 3: Wed., March 9, 7 - 8:30 pm: Succession Planting, Hardening Off: Zinnias, Cosmos & Phlox, Session 4: Wed., April 6, 7 - 8:30 pm: Direct Sowing, Planting Out: Poppies & Sunflowers All supplies included. < Back Grow Along at Mather with Ania Janis - 4 classes Spring 2022 Create your own CUTTING GARDEN with help from local gardening enthusiast, Ania Janis. This four-session program provided all the tips, instructions, plans and supplies you need to create your own cutting garden at home. Session 1: Wed., Feb. 16, 7 - 8:30 pm: Intro and Cutting Garden Basics: Sweet Peas, Session 2: Wed., Feb. 23, 7 - 8:30 pm: Pinching & Watering: Snapdragons, Stock, Session 3: Wed., March 9, 7 - 8:30 pm: Succession Planting, Hardening Off: Zinnias, Cosmos & Phlox, Session 4: Wed., April 6, 7 - 8:30 pm: Direct Sowing, Planting Out: Poppies & Sunflowers All supplies included. Previous Next

SPRING SCHOLARS SERIES WOMEN + ARCHITECTURE This spring, we celebrate the impact of women in architecture with a special event series honoring Bertha Mather McPherson (1906–1993), a pioneering preservationist, and her contemporary, Theodate Pope Riddle (1867–1946). Both earned their architecture licenses in 1933, shaping the built environment and paving the way for future generations. Join us for one, two or all! March 27: Lecture by the authors of Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism (Princeton University Press, 2025 It will be followed by a panel discussion with four local women architects, including Mary Burr, Susan Lockwood, Amanda Martocchio, and Kate Perez. April 5 & May 10: Kids At Mather: Architecture Workshop and embroidery workshop May 14: Tour of the Hillstead Museum and Avon Old Farms School, designed by Theodate Pope Riddle; she and Bertha were among the 4 women registered in CT in 1933. May 15: Book Club Discussion: Dearest of Geniuses: A Life of Theodate Pope Riddle May 14-22 (TBD): Private reception in a Darien home designed by Bertha Mather McPherson June: Launch of the Bertha Mather McPherson Exhibit at Mather Homestead We appreciate the generous support of our sponsors (below). UPCOMING EVENTS Exhibit - Bertha Mather McPherson: Visionary Preservationist By appointment More info RSVP Thank You to Our Sponsors Diana Mikkidou Galik Joellyn and Kevin Gray Kate and Greg Perez Alison and Jamie von Klemperer Annie Roberts and Charles Ziga Become a Sponsor Sponsors will be recognized in the following ways: All sponsors will be listed by support level on the walls of the Bertha Mather room where the exhibit will be viewed for years to come. All sponsors will be recognized with company logo/name prominently displayed at all Women + Architecture events through signage and program. All sponsors will be recognized by level on our website and through dedicated email blasts to ~2,500 subscribers and boosted social media posts. $5,000 Preservationist Spring Scholars Series/Exhibit "presented by xxx" Private reception in a Darien home designed by Bertha Mather McPherson 8 tickets to all 5 Spring Scholars Series events 8 copies of Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism $2,500 Architect Private reception in a Darien h ome designed by Bertha Mather McPherson 4 tickets to all 5 Spring Scholars Series events 4 copies of Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism $1,000 Gardener 2 tickets to all 5 Spring Scholars Series events 2 copies of Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism $500 Historian 1 ticket to all 5 Spring Scholars Series events 1 copy of Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism

Stephen Mather, an avid conservationist and the first Director of the National Park Service, is the "father of the modern national park system." STEPHEN TYNG MATHER AND THE NATIONAL PARKS Numerous National Parks have a plaque dedicated to Stephen Mather. The inscription reads: "He laid the foundation of the National Park Service, defining and establishing the policies under which its areas shall be developed and conserved unimpaired for future generations. There will never come an end to the good that he has done." The National Park System traces its roots all the way back to 1864, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act, thereby protecting the Northern California landscape as California's first state park and one of the first such parks in the country. Eight years later in 1872, Yellowstone became the first National Park (Yosemite became a National Park in 1890). By 1915, there were nine parks in the system, but with little oversight and accessibility for the public. That's where Stephen Mather came in, determined to expand the system and make it accessible for the people. He lobbied for the creation of a National Park Service and became its first director in 1917. Under his direction, the US more than doubled the land in the park system and made the parks accessible to the people. Many consider Mather to be the "father of our modern national park system." Today, the National Park Service manages 431 individual units covering more than 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories. These include 63 National Parks such as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Acadia etc., plus other natural, historical, and recreational properties with various title designations. The NPS employs 20,000 people and has more than 279,000 volunteers. The agency is charged with preserving the ecological and historical integrity of the places entrusted to its management and with making them available for public use and enjoyment. The Yosemite Valley Grant Act 1864 In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act, creating California's first state park and one of the first such parks in the country, “upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation.” Yosemite National Park was designated a National Park by an Act of Congress on October 1, 1890, making it the third national park in the United States, after Yellowstone (1872) and Sequoia (1890). The Early National Park System est. 1872 The Yellowstone National Park Act, signed by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, established Yellowstone as the world's first true national park. It preserved two million acres of land in Montana and Wyoming to be "dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." It placed the park under the control of the Secretary of the Interior and gave the Secretary responsibility for preserving all timber, mineral deposits, geologic wonders, and other resources within the park. Antiquities Act 1906 The Antiquities Act, signed by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 8, 1906, grew out of a movement to protect the prehistoric cliff dwellings, pueblo ruins and early missions in the Southwest. It authorized Presidents to proclaim and reserve "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest" on lands owned or controlled by the United States as "national monuments." Devil's Tower (Wyoming) was the first National Monument to be created in 1906. By the end of 1906, Roosevelt had proclaimed three additional National Monuments: El Morro (New Mexico), Montezuma Castle (Arizona), and Petrified Forest (Arizona). The National Park Service est. 1916 The Organic Act, signed by Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916, created the National Park Service. This new agency's mission: "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Stephen Tyng Mather 1867-1930 The charismatic and energetic Stephen Mather lobbied for the creation of the National Park service and served as its new director. A self-made millionaire with a passion for nature and its conservation, Mather retired early from the Borax business where he coined the slogan "20 Mule Team Borax" and dedicated his life to preserving and protecting America's scenic landscapes. He is responsible for saving some of the best known national wonders such as Grand Canyon, Zion, Acadia, Shenandoah and more. He believed that the parks should be accessible to all Americans and worked to ensure access by building roads, lodging, and then publicizing the parks. "He laid the foundation of the National Park Service, defining and establishing the policies under which its areas shall be developed and conserved, unimpaired for future generations." Inscription on bronze plaques in National Parks MORE ABOUT STEPHEN MATHER Other important National Parks contributors: Roosevelt & Muir John Muir (1838-1914) Scottish-born American naturalist, writer, and advocate of U.S. forest conservation, Muir was known as "John of the Mountains," Muir's advocacy helped create several national parks, including Sequoia (1890), Mount Rainier (1899) and Grand Canyon (1908). He wrote “only Uncle Sam” could save our country's land for future generations to enjoy. He and other conservationists founded the Sierra Club in 1892. Stephen Mather said that meeting John Muir on a hike in Sequoia National Park in 1912 was one of the highlights of his life. Teddy Roosevelt (1858-1919) Theodore Roosevelt, often called "the conservation president," doubled the number of sites within the National Park system. As President from 1901 to 1909, he signed legislation establishing five new national parks: Crater Lake, Oregon; Wind Cave, South Dakota; Sullys Hill, North Dakota (later re-designated a game preserve); Mesa Verde, Colorado; and Platt, Oklahoma (now part of Chickasaw National Recreation Area). However another Roosevelt enactment had a broader effect: the Antiquities Act of June 8, 1906. The Antiquities Act enabled President Roosevelt and succeeding Presidents to proclaim historic landmarks, historic or prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest in federal ownership as national monuments. Roosevelt is pictured right with naturalist and writer John Muir, The National Park System Today Today, the National Park Service oversees 433 park units, more than 150 related areas, and programs that assist in conserving the nation's natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of current and future generations. The 433 park units include the 63 National Parks plus: 11 National Battlefields, 4 National Battlefield Parks, 1 National Battlefield Sites, 9 National Military Parks, 64 National Historic Parks (e.g., Weir Farm National Historic Park in CT), 75 National Historic Sites, 1 International Historic Site, 3 National Lakeshores, 31 National Memorials, 87 National Monuments, 4 National Parkways, 19 National Preserves, 2 National Reserves, 18 National Recreational Areas, 4 National Rivers, 10 National Wild and Scenic Rivers, 6 National Scenic Trails, 10 National Seashores, and 11 other designations. More at NPS .gov . Exhibit at the Mather Homestead: Stephen Mather & the National Parks In 2022, the Mather Homestead Foundation opened its first exhibit to explore the life and legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather. The images below were presented in the Elizabeth W. Chilton Center ("the barn") as 8 foot high panels along with many items from the Mather Homestead collection related to Stephen Tyng Mather including Stephen Mather's photo collections, his camera and more. The National Parks: America's Best Idea Dayton Duncan On September 11, 2022, the Mather Homestead welcomed Dayton Duncan for a lecture The National Parks: America's Best Idea. More about Dayton Duncan View lecture Passcode: v*v8mQJp Read transcript

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MATHER HOMESTEAD Stories from the Attic Docent and Archivist Donn Smith has been busy poking around the attic of the Mather Homestead and he's found treasures abound! Check out his blogs which tell the stories of artifacts from six generations of Mathers including a bible from 1743, a girl's dress from the 1860's, Stephen Mather's camera, a love letter written by Stephen Mather to his wife and more! BLOG Educ ational Resources We have many sources for more information about the Mather Homestead and the life and legacy of Stephen Mather. 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 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 Multiple Dates Vinyasa yoga with Mary Ann Nov 19, 2025, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM 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 Multiple Dates Homesteading Workshop: 1776 Needlepoint Ornament - finishing Nov 19, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Needlepoint a 1776 flag ornament for your holiday tree. We’ll kick off on Nov 5 with stitching, then return on Nov 19 to finish the ornament. Buy Tickets Middle School Essay Contest! Dec 02, 2025, 5:00 PM Our 4th annual essay contest is open to middle schoolers (grades 6 to 8). Essays due Tuesday, Dec. 2 by 5 pm. Submit essay with name and grade to info@matherhomestead.org with "Essay Contest" in the subject line. Topic below. RSVP Multiple Dates Homesteading 101: Holiday Greenery - 5:30 and 7:30 pm workshops Dec 04, 2025, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Create your holiday wreath! We provide all the materials -- plus a holiday cocktail or two for inspiration. Bring clippers please! Click on "select different date" to register for the 2nd session. $95/$85 members Buy Tickets Merry Mather: Celebrate the Season and our Staff! Dec 07, 2025, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM With gratitude for our generous donors and members, we invite you to celebrate the season + our outgoing Executive Director, Heather Raker, plus extend a warm welcome to incoming Executive Director Samantha Gault. Festive cocktails, hors d'oeuvres & sweet treats! Details Colonial Christmas with a Visit from St. Nicholas Dec 20, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Family Fun presented by the Junior Board. Crafts, cookie decorating, live music and a visit from St. Nick! Plus festive bevs & sweet treats. Buy Tickets Afternoon Tea Jan 23, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM January is "hot tea month" and we are celebrating with a traditional tea by Carolyn's Absolutely Fabulous Events plus talk tbd. Buy Tickets American Girl Doll Parent Child Tea: Felicity Jan 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM January is "hot tea month" and we are celebrating with a traditional tea by Carolyn's Absolutely Fabulous Events. Bring your American Girl dolls! Buy Tickets Lecture featuring Kostya Kennedy: Paul Revere and the Ride that Saved America Jan 28, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Join acclaimed author and historian Kostya Kennedy for a talk on his new book about Paul Revere—the famed man of the midnight ride. With Kennedy's signature storytelling and fresh insights, this event will reveal the real Revere: artisan, revolutionary, innovator. Details Mixed Media Art with Lisa Thorén Jan 29, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM In celebration of our country’s 250th birthday, come join our creative mixed media workshop. Jasper Johns’s iconic work will inspire our collage making and painting. All art supplies are included plus wine, cheese & sweet treats for inspiration. Details The Art of American Independence: Beyond the Declaration Feb 11, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ArtScapades will look at how artists depicted the events that led up to the Revolution, the battles that raged during the conflict, the creation and signing of a Declaration of Independence, and images that reflect the early days of a new country Details America 250 Brown Bag Lunch with Eric Chandler Feb 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eric Chandler returns for a lively lunchtime lecture: Slaves, Freemen & Haitians in the American Revolution -Between a Rock and a Hard Place. BYO lunch. We'll provide bevs & dessert. Details Lecture featuring Cornelia Dayton: Snapshots of 18th & 19th Century American Women Mar 05, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM We celebrate Women's History Month by welcoming Cornelia Dayton, Professor of History at the University of Connecticut and author of Women's America: Refocusing the Past. She will dive into the history of American women in CT - focusing on the 18th and 19th century. Who were they? What did they do? Details Revolutionary War Reenactment May 02, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM We will welcome the 5th Connecticut Regiment for a Revolutionary War Reenactment. Earlier in the day, the Museum of Darien will host the 5th Regiment for Fifth Ct Regiment for colonial cooking and artisan demonstrations. Details Middlesex Parish Open House Day! Jun 13, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Celebrate America 250 with Middlesex Parish! Local historic museums and Revolutionary War sites will be open for tours and fun on Connecticut's "Open House" Day. RSVP Literary Evening: Washington Crossing the Delaware and the stories we’ve told since - in art, in poetry, and first hand Date and time is TBD Join MH Literary Guru Samantha Gault as we explore the many portrayals of George Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware on December 25, 1776 -- from art, to poetry and more. Details Fall Scholars Series: Revolutionary Voices (3 events) Sept 18, Oct 14, Nov 12 Join us for three events celebrating America 250 on September 18, October 14 and November 12. Please consider supporting our educational programming by becoming a Patron of this Series. Patrons will receive a special gift and be recognized at events. Thank you! Buy Tickets Vinyasa yoga with Mary Ann Monday & Wednesday 9:30 am 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 Load More Past Field Trips

Cultural Landscape Report Documents Received from Heritage Heritage Materials received 10/28/23 Progress memo Draft history chapter Site Existing Landscape map Site Existing Landscape map 2 MH Documents History National Register of Historic Places Listing The Story of the Mather Homestead as told by Gordon Hastings The Story of the Homestead - find this document Anne McPherson report on homestead 1956 Letter from Selleck 1878 Letter from the "old homestead" 1877 House Bertha's album chronicling house history (see bottom of this page) Ownership of the home over the years MH ownership 1778 TO 2017 Donn's Blog: Ah, had the Deacon lived another 182 years... A look at the Last Will and the estate of Deacon Joseph Mather. Donn's Blog: From the Deacon to Stephen... Tracing the ownership of the Homestead from 1840 to 1905. 2021 McPherson donation of land Garden Walter Burlei gh Griffith plans 1909? Pictures of STM's garden - find Lillian Egleston plans 1938 - find APS Final Condition Assessment Surveys - 2021 - 2021 The Mather Homestead Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the Mather Homestead, built in 1778 and enjoyed by seven generations of Mather descendants, as a treasured place for public education and enjoyment. The Foundation is committed to raising awareness of the Homestead’s unique history, dating back to the Revolutionary War, and Stephen Tyng Mather’s legacy as an important conservationist and the founder of our modern National Parks System.

American Vistas - from the Hudson River School to the National Parks < Back ArtScapes Robin Hoffman - Jan. 18, 2023 American Vistas - from the Hudson River School to the National Parks Previous Next

The Mather Homestead Foundation is working on an "Oral History" project to interview members of the community who have a history with the Mather Homestead and its inhabitants, particularly Bertha Mather McPherson (1906-1993). We welcome your stories! TESTIMONIALS The Mather Homestead Foundation is working on an "Oral History" project to interview members of the community who have a history with the Mather Homestead and its inhabitants, particularly Bertha Mather McPherson (1906-1993). We welcome your stories ! Instructions : Please record your experiences with the Mather family and home/property for 2 to 5 minutes by using the link below (coming soon). Areas of interest : 1) The Mather family Did you know Bertha Mather McPherson? In what context and when? What stories do you remember about her? If not Bertha, please feel free to elaborate about other family members who lived at the Homestead. 2) The Mather Homestead and property What memories do you have about the buildings and property? E.G., features of the property that are no longer there? Experiences you had on the property or in the house? 3) Importance of the Mather Homestead in Darien's and our nation's History The Mather Homestead is thankful for Dr. Fiona Vernal, Associate Professor, University of Connecticut, and Connecticut Humanities for making this project possible!