Riley May Restoration

Windsor burned on this day in 1890. My grandmother’s Aunts Nannie and Carrie Hughes married Smith Daniell III and Thomas Daniell, sons of the builder. Nannie wasn’t at the house when it burned, she passed away in 1887, but her son Smith Coffee Daniell IV was there that day. His recollections from a Clarion Ledger newspaper story from 18 July 1965. “Standing off to one side and pointing into the sky between two of the 45-foot tall columns, Smith Coffee Daniell IV proved to us he knew the house well. "That's where I was born", he said, indicating a spot that would have been a corner room on the third floor.

He used to ride his velocipede 'round and 'round the wide veranda that encircled the main portion of the house. He remembers the odors from the kitchen and his visits with the cooks and helpers in the vast food preparation hall. He admits he often stood before the floor-to-ceiling mirrors in the parlors and gazed upon his youthful countenance. He even contemplated the day when he would be able to swim in the huge tanks under the eaves that furnished running water to marble bathrooms below. Daniell can recall playing before some of the 25 marble fireplaces and being warmed by their glowing logs. From his parents and his grandmother, he learned the story of the house and the man who built it.

Freshest in his memory, though, is the day he stood high over the surrounding area, on the catwalk that was just outside the observatory, or fifth floor. That was a day of merriment at Windsor. There were many guests and a party was in progress. Minutes after his catwalk tour, he was playing on a piano in an upper hall when he heard a frantic cry to come downstairs. With others, he raced down the stairways, through the halls and across the porch. They climbed down the beautiful wrought iron steps in front and took refuge under the spreading boughs of a giant live oak. They watched Windsor burn to the ground.” https://clarionledger.newspapers.com/image/180511286/? Behind a paywall but you can sign up for trial subscription.

Another account of the day comes from the transcribed interview of Sam Magruder. It was from the Magruder family that the state of Mississippi would obtain the property. There is an error in the transcript, Katherine Crane Daniell’s middle named is written as Green. Katherine’s mother was a Crane, descended from Waterman Crane, one of the earliest settlers of Claiborne County.

“The next little thing I remember...my mother telling me when Windsor burned...that she was there...everyone rushed outside. Some carried...a few grabbed whatever they could get their hands on...the items existing today that came out of Windsor are rather astonishing. My great-aunt Priscilla got her diamond and she had a diamond cross that had seven diamonds in it. It went to my two sisters, and they have used it as engagement rings for their daughters-in-law or daughters, I guess. My sister Agnes Coleman has two vases, very pretty, though chipped some, and a fruit compote, I guess you would call it that, a large compote for fresh fruit, and also a chaise lounge that came out of Windsor. My mother recalled and told me a number of times about standing under the big live oak tree out front and weeping because her dolls were burning there in Windsor. These are the little things that I remember.”https://da.mdah.ms.gov/vault/projects/OHtranscripts/AU156_015932.pdf

Aunt Carrie was there the day Windsor burned. Her account is captured in my grandmother’s writings, The Autobiography of a Nonentity. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-KniSgbFH_KbrQhNLeO9-MmsJ4v-rYfG/view?usp=sharing This was mostly a collection of stories and letters about her maternal ancestors. She never finished; 10 children seem to have stalled the effort! She grew up with this material, some of the civil war letters between William Hughes and Mary Bertron are noteworthy. The originals are in the William Hughes Family collection at the Library and Archives in Jackson.

“After the war, many parties were held in the house. It was during one of these house parties that the house caught on fire. Many of the young people had gone for a walk. When they returned, they saw the house ablaze. A half-crazy woman passing by had seen the flames and had warned the occupants of the fire. Mrs. Daniell, instead of trying to save some of the beautiful things, went about wringing her hands looking for her grandson, (Smith). He all the while was safe out in the yard. Mr. Daniell (her son and my uncle by marriage) was unable to rescue anything much because he had to save from the burning building two old ladies who were staying upstairs.
My Aunt (Carrie) remembered that she had a black silk in the wardrobe which was locked. Her husband entered the burning building and unable to find a key, kicked a hole in the glass door of the wardrobe and rescued my aunt's black silk dress, one of the few things saved!
Some other unusual things were done while the house was burning: an old negro man, who had never played the piano, saw his opportunity. He went in and played the piano for a few minutes.
The cook had made some delicious pies for dinner, and not knowing what else to pick up, gathered up the pies and ran out in the yard.”

My grandmother Louise went to the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus where it seems she majored in tennis and boys. She married a local, my grandfather Owen, and remained in the area. SCD IV would visit on occasion, sharing stories of Windsor with all the children. My Uncle Will said he “talked like an old aristocrat”.



For more info on Windsor: https://theforgottensouth.com/mississippi-windsor-ruins/
https://betweenthegateposts.blogspot.com/2014/06/?m=1 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rt5iTU_SN30sOWiLg9Pn_nVGmDvsXLL6/view?usp=sharing

Recently completed ribbon stripe and crotch mahogany woodgraining on the doors of an 1830's house in downtown Franklin, TN.

Just installed this floorcloth at the Mary Todd Lincoln house in Lexington, KY. The design is from a late nineteenth century photograph of a hallway in an historic Indiana home. 15'x20'

Here are a few photos of a floorcloth I painted and installed for the Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington, KY. The design is from the Brussels carpet staircase runner already on site. Approximately 37'x8' More photos and info on my instagram page .

Painted staircase runner in a Tennessee farmhouse.

Oak leaf and acorn stenciling on a sunroom floor.

Floorcloth remnants found under the threshplate leading from the hallway to parlor at the Carter House in Franklin, TN.