Ohio's Yesterdays : Scott Hayes

Showing posts with label Scott Hayes. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

A Mother’s Love: Hayes Children Eagerly Await Lucy’s Return

Curator of Manuscripts Julie Mayle shared this touching letter written by Scott Hayes (7 years old) and his sister Fanny (11 years old ) to their mother First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes. President Hayes and Lucy's two youngest children lived with them in the White House from 1877 to 1881.

Scott wrote this heartfelt letter in March of 1878, telling his mother how lonely he and sister Fanny were without her. Lucy had gone to Chillicothe, Ohio to visit Cook family members. Lucy's kindness, compassion and caring ways not only endeared her to her own children, but to those of friends and relatives.

Scott wrote this letter in pencil on White House stationery. Julie has prepared a transcription of the letter below that also includes a short note from Fanny. The letter is part of the Rutherford B. Hayes Papers located at the Rutherford B. Hayes Museum and Libraries.

Executive Mansion, Washington

March 21

My dear mama

I was so glad to get Aunt Phoebe’s letter telling all about you. We want to see you so much for it is so lonely without you. We want you to come home very soon. Fan has got hurt on her poor knee and can’t walk without her leg getting stiff. We are all in a great hurry for you to come home. Are you not ready to start? I’m going to see Joe Potter to-day. Fan and I went last Saturday and had a good time. I hope you will send me an answer very soon. Love to all.

Your loving Scott

Dear Mama

I hope that you will answer my letter as soon as possible, now as this is Scott’s letter I will stop.

Love to all, I am your loving Fanny

p.s.

Rud will be at home on Friday

Fanny

March 28^th 1878

This picture of Lucy in the White House conservatory was taken by artist Theodore Davis. Fanny stands behind Lucy while Scott is seated to her right. Next to Scott is Theodore Davis' daughter, Carrie. This photograph was taken in 1879.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Mouse Island and the Hayes Family

View of Mouse Island by Platt Studios
Charles E. Frohman Collection

Cabins ca. 1912

“There is something romantic in that idea of having an island all to one’s self. Ex-President Hayes felt it years ago when his children were young, for he bought a mile or so off the [Catawba] Peninsula, a small island ” …. so wrote Henry Howe in his history of Ohio. Howe further described the island as "a very small affair, so small one might someday take a fancy to pick it up, slip it in his vest pocket as he would his watch and walk off with it.”

In 1874, then Governor Hayes purchased Lake Erie’s Mouse Island jointly with Fremont attorney Ralph Buckland and Dr. L. Q. Rawson. The private island, sometimes called Hat Island in early records, was acquired from Ira Dutcher of Catawba.

Hayes believed it would be a great spot for his family to camp, boat, swim, and especially fish (Lucy’s favorite past time). When Hayes returned to Ohio during his presidency, the family spent time on the island. In 1879, Hayes purchased Dr. Rawson’s portion of the island. And at the turn of the century, the Bucklands exchanged their portion of Mouse for land Hayes and the Bucklands owned jointly in Omaha, Nebraska.

Through the years, Hayes had numerous opportunities to sell the island, but his children and their friends continued to enjoy time spent each summer on the heavily wooded island. President Hayes’ son Birchard and his children Webb, Scott, and Walter, built two cabins, a boat house, dock, ice house, tennis court, and a hand ferry to shore. They also supplied the island with water.

The brothers worked each summer to repair damage brought on by the previous winter’s storms. But time and weather continued to take a toll on the island’s structures. With Scott’s move to Los Angeles and Admiral Webb Hayes away much of the time, there were fewer opportunities for the Hayes grandchildren to visit the island. Even though time spent at Mouse became rare, it was not until 1966 that they finally decided it was time to part with the “emerald isle” the family had enjoyed for more than 90 years!