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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> United States >> Presidential Houses in the United States >> Calvin Coolidge Homestead, Plymouth Notch, VT (July 2008) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Calvin Coolidge Homestead, Plymouth Notch, VT (July 2008)

John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. (1872 –1933) was the 30th President of the United States (1923–1929). His parents were from families that had settled the town of Plymouth Notch, Vermont after the Revolutionary War. Calvin's father ran the general store. Calvin, a Republican, became a lawyer and worked his way up the ladder of state politics, becoming governor of Massachusetts. In 1920, he was elected Vice President running with Warren G. Harding. While on vacation at his home in Plymouth Notch on August 3, 1924, Coolidge heard the news of the sudden death of President Harding. His father, the local notary public, administered the oath of office to him by the light of a kerosene lamp. Later in 1924, he was elected President in his own right, and gained a reputation as a small-government conservative. Coolidge restored public confidence after the scandals of the previous Harding administration, and left office with considerable popularity. He benefited from what was known as "Coolidge prosperity." He was known for his laissez-faire style of government. The political genius of President Coolidge, Walter Lippmann pointed out in 1926, was his talent for effectively doing nothing. Calvin was also famous for being a man of few words. His wife, Grace Goodhue Coolidge, recounted a story about her husband: a young woman sitting next to Coolidge at a dinner party confided to him that she had placed a bet that she could get at least three words of conversation from him. He retorted, "You lose." Calvin did not run again for President in 1928. He was lucky, for, by the time the Great Depression hit, he was in retirement. Calvin Coolidge died of heart failure in 1933.
Calvin Coolidge Homestead, Plymouth Notch, VT cover page
Calvin Coolidge Homestead, Plymouth Notch, VT cover page		 Photo of Calvin Coolidge. He was a shy and taciturn man.
Photo of Calvin Coolidge. He was a shy and taciturn man.		 Map of Vermont showing the town of Plymouth.
Map of Vermont showing the town of Plymouth.		 President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site Map.
President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site Map.
Entrance to the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site at Plymouth Notch.
Entrance to the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site at Plymouth Notch.		 The Aldrich House is the site’s office, was the home of Carrie Brown, Coolidge’s schoolteacher, who was, later, his stepmother.
The Aldrich House is the site’s office, was the home of Carrie Brown, Coolidge’s schoolteacher, who was, later, his stepmother.		 Sign as you enter the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site describing Calvin Coolidge.
Sign as you enter the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site describing Calvin Coolidge.		 Floor plan of the Coolidge family homestead.
Floor plan of the Coolidge family homestead.
View as I was approaching the Coolidge family homestead, where Calvin grew up.
View as I was approaching the Coolidge family homestead, where Calvin grew up.		 The Homestead is furnished exactly as it was when Calvin Coolidge took the Oath of Office, administered by his father.
The Homestead is furnished exactly as it was when Calvin Coolidge took the Oath of Office, administered by his father.		 Comfortable rocking chairs on the front porch of the Coolidge Homestead.
Comfortable rocking chairs on the front porch of the Coolidge Homestead.		 Colonel John Coolidge, the President’s father, kept two horses in the barn, one for farm work and the other for transportation.
Colonel John Coolidge, the President’s father, kept two horses in the barn, one for farm work and the other for transportation.
The Kitchen where the family meals were eaten. The table is set the same way it was in 1924 when Calvin took the oath of office.
The Kitchen where the family meals were eaten. The table is set the same way it was in 1924 when Calvin took the oath of office.		 The small narrow shed bedroom. Calvin learned to make quilts when he was a boy.
The small narrow shed bedroom. Calvin learned to make quilts when he was a boy.		 Sign for the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation and Library.
Sign for the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation and Library.		 The Union Christian Church was built in 1840 and dedicated as a Congregational Church in 1842. It is in the Greek Revival style.
The Union Christian Church was built in 1840 and dedicated as a Congregational Church in 1842. It is in the Greek Revival style.
Coolidge was born in the house attached to the back of the general store, which his father ran.
Coolidge was born in the house attached to the back of the general store, which his father ran.		 The Wilder Barn and Horse Barn, which were reconstructed in 2003, are a recreation of the original 1875 barn that was torn down.
The Wilder Barn and Horse Barn, which were reconstructed in 2003, are a recreation of the original 1875 barn that was torn down.		 Sign for the Plymouth Cheese Factory, built by Colonel John Coolidge, James S. Brown and three other local farmers in 1890.
Sign for the Plymouth Cheese Factory, built by Colonel John Coolidge, James S. Brown and three other local farmers in 1890.		 It closed in 1934, but was reopened by Calvin’s son, John, in 1960. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation owns it now.
It closed in 1934, but was reopened by Calvin’s son, John, in 1960. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation owns it now.

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