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Page 12
The Old Kentucky Home, cont.
John Rowan, Jr.
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who inherited Federal Hill, the estate of his father, and who was presiding as it's master at the time Stephen Foster was invited to the Old Kentucky Home. Rowan had just returned from Europe, which trip he made as the result of his appointment as minister in charge to the kingdom of the two Sicilies, and so to Italy he went to spend two years in the midst of art. On his return, he and his wife, the former Rebecca Carnes of Baltimore, brought added charm and prestige to the house on Federal Hill and it became the center of social and intellectual activities. In this atmosphere of culture, Foster wrote his memorable song.
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Bedroom of Stephen Foster
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when a guest in The Old Kentucky Home. Other notables who slept in this bed when guests of the Rowans, were: Marquis de Lafayette, Aaron Burr and the following Presidents of the United States: William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, James Monroe, John Buchanan, whose brother married Stephen Foster's sister, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy. All the rooms are loftily ceilinged and of noble proportions, with high French windows protected by Venetian blinds.
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The Old Kentucky Home Dining Room
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In 1825 Marquis de Lafayette, the French nobleman, was the guest of Judge Rowan at Federal Hill, and shortly afterwards presented him with this handsome set of chairs, thought to be the work of Phyfe. This room connects with the kitchen, large enough for hotel purposes. (Photo: Copyright Caufield & Shook, Inc.)
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The Old Kentucky Home
Reception Hall
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Judge Rowan evidenced his patriotism in various ways. Note the keystone in the center of the arch, representing Pennsylvania, the state of his birth. (Old woodcuts show the thirteen states represented in the form of an arch, with Pennsylvania occupying the position of the keystone.) Note the thirteen steps on the flight of stairs, symbolic of the thirteen states and patterned after Independence Hall. Off this hall, open the drawing and reception rooms. (Photo: Copyright Caufield & Shook, Inc.)
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The Old Kentucky Home Piano
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On which the first strains of the famous song were played. Someone who lived not far from the house tells the story that the song was composed on a night when there was a gay ball at the old home; that in the midst of the dancing, the strains of the new melody came to him, as it was sung by one of the young ladies who was a guest and it was accompanied by the composer. This relic of the piano house of S. M. Ambler was among the first pianos of this type made; it has mother of pearl keys and no doubt the inlay work is of the same material. (Photo: Copyright Sims Visual Music Co.)
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Portrait of Stephen Foster
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by William Clough, which was presented by Andrew Carnegie to the Fine Arts Department of Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa. Just at what period of Foster's life this picture was made, or whether the artist made it from memory, is not known; the fact remains that it depicts Foster at a much later time than the painting earlier in this biography. The poet and dreamer is readily to be seen from the sensitive expression of the face and the rather languid eyes, which at the same time, hold a frank and open look. Evidently this pose, leaning on the old fashioned piano, was Foster's favorite one. (Photo: Courtesy of Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa.)
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