Ornament Parade- The White House Years

 Over the next few days, I will be rerunning posts where I featured ornaments from our Christmas tree. Like many of you, each ornament brings a special memory with it. These are good memories for me, but they can also bring a tear or two as I think about people from my past who are no longer with me. But with no further ado, here is the second set.

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 The White House Historical Association, founded by Jackie Kennedy in 1961 with a mission of protecting, preserving, and providing public access to the history of the White House, puts out an ornament every year honoring a certain President. We have five of these that were gifts from a coworker and friend of Ward's.

Each one comes with literature discussing the symbolism of the ornament, a bio of the President it commemorates, and what life was like with his family in the White House. Very interesting reading, and who doesn't want a history lesson while decorating the tree? :)

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James A. Garfield

Ornament 2005 honors President James A. Garfield. He was our 20th president and was elected in 1891. He served less than a year before he was shot and later died. The ornament's color scheme and wreath design are from art objects, including china, needlework, and historic frames from the family home in Ohio. The pattern on the box is also based on wallpaper from this house. The JAG monogram is from decorations at his inaugural ball, and the ceramic stone in the middle was inspired by a period engraving of the South Front of the White House.

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Chester A. Arthur

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Ornament 2006 honors Chester A. Arthur, our 21st president. Arthur became President in 1881 after the untimely death of James Garfield. The country was recovering economically during that time, and Arthur's White House was a luxurious one. The ornament design is inspired by several motifs in the White House during Arthur's residence, many of which were designed by Louis Tiffany.

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Grover Cleveland

2007--Front

2007--Back

Ornament 2009 remembers Grover Cleveland, who was our 22nd and 24th president. He was elected in both 1885 and 1893 and was the only U.S. president elected for two non-consecutive terms. Cleveland was also the only President married in the White House. The front of this ornament is a reproduction of an engraving of that event. The back is his bride, Frances Folsom's, monogram. 

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Benjamin Harrison

 Ornament 2008 honors Benjamin Harrison. Harrison was our 23rd president, elected in 1889. The ornament is based on the family's Christmas tree, the first recorded decorated tree in the White House. The toys beneath the tree are presents Harrison's grandchildren received for Christmas.

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Grover Cleveland

2009--Front

2009--Back, This ornament honors Grover Cleveland's second presidential term, which started in 1893. It features the south facade of the White House, where you can see a lit Christmas tree through the windows of the Oval Room. This was the first electric lights used on a White House tree. The back creates a scene from a tree trimming party that the Clevelands held annually for their children and those of the Cabinet members.

Tune in next time for more of the Ornament Parade.