In a very real sense, Hearthstone was a house divided. It was divided in terms of the family and the servant sides. This means it was divided in terms of architecture, with a fancy side, which was all about showing off wealth, and a functional side, which was all about simply getting the work done.
But it was also a house divided in terms of ethnicity, religion, and language… The Rogers family, builders of Hearthstone, were rich, English speakers and Protestant;. The servants in the house were, almost invariably, working class, German speakers, and Catholic. Together, the two sides make Hearthstone a “haus” and home.
This tour chronicles the compelling stories of the Mary Deimer, the German speaking cook, and Theresa Moder, the German speaking ladies maid. These women lead marvelous lives that make poignant counterpoints to life of Kitty Rogers, the spoiled daughter of the Rogers.
In a broader sense, the tour reflects the history of Appleton and Wisconsin and how people from diverse backgrounds come together to form a gemeinschaft… the German word for community.
Please note:
Tickets for Haus and Home are $15 and are available on-line only using the ticket link. Tours are limited to just 12 guests per tour. Please allow for ninety minutes for completion of the tour.
You may also like the following events from Hearthstone Historic House Museum:
Also check out other
Workshops in Appleton.
