Henry Wadsorth Longfellow
Trivia
Henry's grandfather, Peleg, was a general in the American War for Independence.
In the Pejobscot campaign in Maine, Peleg led the only successful part....the
retreat. In this same campaign Paul Revere was nearly court-martialed.
When Peleg wished to use the ships for the retreat, Revere refused with
thoughts of keeping the ships and getting into privateering.
Henry was named after his mother Zilpah's brother who died in Tripoli in
the first decade of the 19th century.
Henry's father Stephen helped to found the Maine Historical Society.
His first known written work is a letter to his father in Massachusetts
asking for a bible for his sister and a toy drum for himself.
Henry's first published poem, under a pseudonym, when in his early teens
was met with vast criticism. Henry was devastated and made no attempt to
publish anything again for years.
Henry's father had a law office in their home with its own entrance for
clients. When not in use, Henry would use this room to relax and be alone.
When Stephen's law office was moved elsewhere in Portland, the little room
was turned into a china closet and Henry was personally wounded by the
change. He wrote a letter to his parents suggesting that since that room
had been turned to a china closet, he (Henry) had lost all poetic inspiration
whatsoever. Henry could be a bit melodramatic at times.
He didn't like loud noises. A family story told by his brother, Samuel,
suggested that one 4th of July, Henry had the maid put cotton in his ears
so that he wouldn't have to listen to the cannons.
One day Henry and his brother, Stephen, went out hunting together. Whilst
out on their travels, Henry shot a robin. He came back to his mother in
tears and isn't known to have ever used a gun again.
Henry was the first American Writer who could support himself entirely
on the profits from his writing.
The story of Evangeline was offered first to Nathaniel Hawthorne. Henry,
Nathaniel, and a third individual were sitting around a table in a pub,
and this third man mentioned a story he had heard and suggested that Nathaniel
should write a book about it. Nathaniel decided that such a book would
never sell and passed on the idea. Henry then suggested that if it was
all right to put it into poem form, he would write the story.
One of Henry's sons (Charles, I believe) went and joined the north in the
American Civil War (against Henry's wishes) leaving behind his pet dog.
The dog decided to claim Henry at that point and the two spent vast amounts
of time together. Often Henry would fall asleep in his chair while the
dog slept in front of the fire. Henry, however, snored and so the dog would
jump on him to wake him up. As soon as Henry was awake and the room was
quiet once more, the dog would return to his place and lay back down to
sleep.
Henry's sister, Anne, wanted to leave the Wadsworth-Longfellow house to
Maine historical Society, and for quite some time they refused to take
it, not wishing to get into property (Till that time they were a gentleman's
club with offices in Bowdoin College). It took several years of negotiating
but they did finally agree and in 1901 when Anne died, Maine Historical
took over the house. There were 3 conditions which I know of. First, they
had to move their offices to the property, and so in 1905 they built their
administrative building. Second, it must remain open as a museum for at
least 50 years (It's has been now for over 90). Third, (and this is very
important) the society is not to move the portrait of George Washington
which hangs in the parlor.
In Westminster Abbey in London, there is a section with memorials to all
of the greatest British authors. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is the only
non-Brit to be represented. Such was the importance of his work.
These bits of trivia were written entirely
from memory. Any mistakes, therefore, are completely my own. Most of the
information presented is available at Maine Historical Society in the form
of letters, tours, and books by Henry's grandfather, brother, and son;
all filled with fascinating stories. The rest comes from artifacts and
travels which I have examined or made. I highly recommend a trip to the
Wadsworth-Longfellow House if you're interested in the subject. You should
call ahead, however, as the House tours are fairly limited in season.
For more information call or Write to...
The Wadsworth-Longfellow House
Maine History Gallery
489 Congress St,
Portland ME 04101
207-879-0427
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