USA > Illinois > Menard County > Petersburg > Record of the restoration of New Salem, New Salem State Park near Petersburg, Illinois, 1932-1933 > Part 6
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Waddell's residence was located on the north side of Main Street and the basement measures 25' north of the north line of Main Street. All other cabins are much closer than this to Main Street, and it is quite likely that an additional room was added to the south of this main room, which would bring the south wall of the residence closer to the street line.
There is no evidence of a room existing to the north of the base- ment and probably if there were any original footings and other indica- tions of an additional room they have long since been washed away be- cause a ravine has been formed running through the location of this residence. It is almost certain that the first floor level of this cabin was approximately on a level with the street : otherwise, storm water would have washed down the slope and into the house, so that considerable fill was necessary in this location to bring the cabin floor up to the required height. To support this fill, continuous foundation walls have been built.
Waddell's family was quite large and the sleeping accommodations in the main room would not have been adequate, and no doubt an extra
72 Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 118.
73 T. G. Onstot, Lincoln and Salem, 1. 154.
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bed was placed in the south room. This room probably was also used as Waddell's shop, and may have contained a bench for his work.
The fireplace would have been inadequate for the boiling of the wool, for which he used his large kettle, and no doubt this kettle was placed just outside the cabin and the wool was boiled there. This being a year-round occupation, it is quite likely to suppose that he had a porch on the east, sheltering him from the cold west winds and snow and rain, under which he boiled his wool or piled his wood with the fire just east of the porch.
The fireplace has been shown on the south side of the basement because bricks, mortar and similar materials were found at this point during the excavation. This would heat the main room and. the back of the stone fireplace, being warm. would heat the south room. Because of its location between the two rooms, the chimney and main body of the fireplace has been shown of stone. Because of the brick found in the basement. the hearth has been made of brick.
Martin Waddell was not one of the richest men in town and prob- ably could not afford the luxury of a plank floor so the puncheon type floor has been used for this residence. The door probably had wood hinges and wood lock. and the sash was probably fixed in place, sealed with glass.
There were no indications of an outside entrance to the cellar; hence, a trap door to the basement has been provided.
Two small windows have been shown in the living room in the west and east walls close to the fireplace. The door from the living room has been shown on the east wall about the center of the room. This leaves the north portion of the room available for beds and other furniture. A door has been provided leading from the south room to the porch to allow the hatter to leave his bench and take care of the fire under the kettle without going the longway around through the living room.
A bed was probably located in the southwest corner of the small south room, and a window has been located in the south wall toward the east, under which the bench was probably built. This arrangement of doors and windows leaves the north wall, with the greatest exposure. windowless: and the west wall, which also has considerable exposure to the severe winter weather, with only one small opening which is pro- tected by a hinged battened shutter.
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THE RUTLEDGE TAVERN
James Rutledge and his nephew, John Camron, entered the tract of land upon which New Salem was subsequently located, July 29, 1828. Previously these two millwrights had planned to erect a mill about seven miles north on Concord Creek, but the water supply there was not what they had anticipated and the plan was abandoned. Searching for an- other site they finally found a spot to their liking seven miles south of their first location and on the Sangamon River. They entered this land, including the hill to the west of the millsite and applied to the State Legislature for permission to build the dam and mill. Feeling certain this permission would be granted they lost no time and during the late summer of 1828 they moved over from Concord Creek and began the erection of their homes upon the hill. Undoubtedly they had visualized the founding of a town and Rutledge foresaw the need of a tavern. and chose a site for his combined home and tavern at the bend in the "Springfield Road" where it turned to the east after com- ing up the hill from the south. Camron chose a spot southeast of the "Tavern" site and erected his home near the south slope of the hill. No doubt they were nicely settled for the winter when news came that on January 22. 1829 the Legislature had granted them permission to pro- ceed with the dam. The following spring and summer was spent in erecting the dam and mill. and surveying the town. Reuben S. Har- rison recorded his survey October 23, 1829 and we find that he states the new town was to be called New Salem.
When the new grist and sawmill began to operate, settlers came from miles around to patronize it and very soon many lots were sold and New Salem became a busy little settlement with a few stores, many cabin homes and a Tavern.
The Tavern as originally erected was a two room log structure about 20' x 40' in size, and included a well to the south and a cold cellar to the east. As the town grew the Rutledge Tavern grew with it, and later it was found necessary to add two extra frame rooms on the south side of the log structure. We are not absolutely sure that these rooms were added by Rutledge, because in late 1832 or early 1833, Rutledge moved to a farm in Sandridge, seven miles north and sold the tavern to Nelson Alley, and it is possible (but not probable) that he may have erected one or both of them.74 Alley, however, did not occupy the tavern himself until later, but rented it to Henry Onstot, the cooper, who lived there and ran the tavern as well, until the spring of 1835 when he built a new home in the western portion of town and moved out. Nelson Alley then moved in and operated the Tavern for a year or so, and later Michael Keltner is known to have been its keeper.
74 See Page 64, last paragraph.
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Nelson Alley sold the cabin and land to Jacob Bale in 1837 and from this time on it ceased to be the Tavern, at least no record exists of Jacob Bale's Tavern license, or that he operated a hotel. The Bale family removed the two south rooms and continued to live there for many years, and long after the rest of the town had disappeared. this old house stood alone and was known to those who knew little of the carly history of New Salem as the "Bale House". It finally fell to the ground about 1880. and only the well marked the site of the old Tavern. "James Rutledge is said to have been a man of medium size, with fair skin and blue eyes. He was a native of South Carolina. From there he migrated with other members of his family to Georgia; from Georgia to Tennessee : from there to Kentucky and from Kentucky to Illinois. He was descended from that Rutledge who signed the Declara- tion of Independence. . . . The Rutledges were of English stock. James Rutledge was a man of high character and possessed of a fair education. He was quiet in manner. of good habits and dignified car- riage. He was elected chairman of the debating society at New Salem (winter of 1831 and 1832) and was accustomed to preside at most of their community meetings. His word was as good as his bond. . . . Some time during the early part of the year. 1833. James Rutledge moved with his family onto this tract of land, owned by John McNamar (Note: Farm at Sandridge north of New Salem). It was here that Ann and he both died. the former on August 25 and the latter on December 3. 1835. Early in 1836 his widow with the family. except David, moved to Fulton County, Illinois, and the next year they moved to VanBuren County. Iowa."75
The Rutledges had nine children, three born in Kentucky and six in Illinois. John Camron, partner in the New Salem venture, was the son of Mrs. James Rutledge's sister, thus Rutledge was Camron's uncle by marriage.
James Rutledge is thought to have owned a store in New Salem.77 No records exist to indicate that a building was occupied but it is thought some merchandise owned by Rutledge and Sinco was sold or traded, and this accounts for the theory they were store keepers at one time.78
This historic structure was about 51 years old when it finally fell to the ground. During its span of years many families and persons later to become famous, found shelter under its roof. Its span of years was crowded with interesting history and important associations. Lin- coln boarded and roomed here : slept in the attic story and many a time. far into the night told varns to his fellow boarders. Here he met and courted Ann. His life at New Salem cannot be told without constantly mentioning the Tavern. It was the first to be built and the last to remain.79
75 Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 98-99.
17 Tarbell, Life of Lincoln.
78 Reep. Lincoln at New Salem, P. 45.
19 The historical sketch as outlined above has been questioned by many. It is claimed that the "Bale House", the last house to remain, was really built by Jacob Bale and not by James Rutledge. They claim the Tavern was built to the north and slightly to the west and that it was demolished along with the balance of the town, when it moved to Petersburg in 1839 and 1840. For a complete discussion of this subjeet refer to the Appendix.
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The following quotations regarding the plan and arrangement of the cabin are given to show how many descriptions there are, and to explain how the plan of the restored structure was established.
Thomas P. Reep:
"Originally, the building had three rooms below and one large room upstairs. It was made of logs and covered by clapboards and was a story and one-half high. Its long way extended east and west with a fireplace at each end. Later Bale built a partition, making two rooms upstairs and five rooms in the house." ( Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 125.)
Miss Luella Clark :
Miss Luella Clark, in a written communication by her in 1918. said: "In 1833, Charles JJ. F. Clark of North Wood, New Hamp- shire, came west as far as Illinois, stopping at New Salem. Here he boarded at the boarding house and Lincoln was a boarder there at that time. He said the men were all lodged upstairs, which was all one large room, and Lincoln would keep them awake until midnight telling them stories." She said she had heard her father make the above statement a great many times. (Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 125.)
Herndon and Weik :
"Rowan Herndon. with whom he had been living. having removed to the country. he (Lincoln) became for the first time a sojourner at the Tavern, as it was then called-a public-house kept by Rutledge. Onstot, and Alley in succession."
"It was a small log house", he explained to me in later years, "covered with clapboards, and contained four rooms. It was second only in importance to the store, for there he had the opportunity of meeting passing strangers, lawyers and others from the county seat, whom he fre- quently impressed with his knowledge as well as wit." (The above is taken from Herndon and Weik's "Abraham Lincoln", pages 100-101.)
The following quotation is added to show that Herndon knew the Tavern first-hand: "I knew him (Rutledge) as early as 1833 and have often shared the hospitality of his home. My father was a politician and an extensive stock dealer in that early day. and he and Mr. Rut- ledge were great friends." (Herndon and Weik. Abraham Lincoln, P. 120.) (Herndon must be mistaken about the date for in late 1832 or early 1833 Rutledge moved away from New Salem.)
T. G. Onstol :
"It was built in 1830 by James Rutledge, and kept by him until 1833. When Henry Onstot, my father, became landlord for two years. It was the stopping place for travel from the east through Havana and the western part of the State. It was 16' x 30', with an ell 16' x 20' and was two stories high.80 (T. G. Onstot, Lincoln and Salem. P. 150.)
J. McCan Daris:
"The only Tavern in New Salem in 1833 was that kept by James Rutledge-a two-story log structure of five rooms, standing just across
so Onstot, on page 22 of his "Lincoln and Salem", described the Tavern and it is a word for word description taken from Harvey L. Ross. (See Ross' descrip- tion. )
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the street from Berry and Lincoln's store. Here Lincoln boarded. (Note prepared by J. MeCan Davis for Ida M. Tarbell's "Lincoln", Mc- Clure's Magazine-February, 1896, P. 220.)
Harvey L. Ross :
. Mr. Lincoln boarded at the Rutledge Tavern, at which I also put up, as often as I went to New Salem. It was a howed log house. two stories high, with four rooms above and four below. It had two chimneys with large fireplaces, and not a stove in the house. The proprietor was James Rutledge, a man of more than ordinary ability, and, with his wife, remarkably kind and hospitable."
Ross also criticises Herndon's description as follows: "He says the Rutledge Tavern, where Lincoln boarded, was a one-story house with four rooms, when in fact it was a two-story, eight-room house. I only make these statements to show that he knew nothing of what he was writing ; that it was all guess work, and very poor guess work at that.""!
Mrs. Rachel Clarke ( widow of Judge C. J. F. Clarke) :
"It was builded of logs-the lower floor contained four (4) rooms; two on the front facing north, with an ell on the south, and a small room built in the angle on the east. The 'one large room upstairs' was a half-story over the two ground floor front rooms, and the house had a platform on the front north."82
"Mrs. Clark had been in the village when a young woman and after her marriage to Judge Clarke lived the rest of her long lite a little more than three miles from Old Salem. She was more interested in old places and things than any other person that I ever knew."83
Miss Ida Bale :
"The last house of the town of New Salem left standing on the hill was 20' x 40' and built of white oak logs, with clapboard roofing and windows and door facings of walnut. It consisted of two rooms facing the north, and the cast room was the larger. There were two large brick fireplace chimneys with rock hearths. one in each room, built on the east and west of the house. The house had two doors and two windows on the front (north). a door and window in each room, and the win- dows were set near the ends of the house, as was the custom when build- ing cabins, so as to give light near the fireplace. The doors were not far from the windows (leaving room for bedsteads against the partition) with the two doors on the south side opposite."
81 It is interesting to note that Ross, himself, made many mistakes. In his "The Early Pioneers and Pioneer Events of the State of Illinois", page 98, he says : "It was twenty miles northwest of Springfield (Note: speaking of New Salem), had some fifty houses about one-third frame and the balance log; there were four stores, post office, log tavern, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a carding machine and a water mill on the Sangamon River". Ross evidently had an exaggerated idea in after years of the old town. Undoubtedly it grew in his memory as time passed. We know there were never fifty houses, unless he included corn cribs, smoke houses, and similar structures. The Tavern also grew in his memory or else he is confused with some other Tavern. He was probably correet in stating that the first floor contained four rooms, but more authentic information leads us to believe the upstairs was one large room. There was only one frame building, and not "one-third frame" as he states. We have been unable to find in any edi- tion of Herndon's "Life of Lincoln" where he states the Tavern was a one-story structure ; however, Herndon may have stated this fact in the newspapers or in some treatise unknown to us.
82 This arrangement has been carried out in the restoration.
63 Letter from Miss Ida Bale-August 19, 1931.
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"On the south side of the log rooms there were no windows as the house had formerly had two rooms built of boards at the back. But the plan of these board rooms is unknown as they had been removed a num- ber of years before it was last occupied. And this log house stood with the door of the west room almost on a straight line with the well, and was far north of it. (The replica in the park is too far west and north.)"
"At the cast end of the house was an outside cellar or cave 'with just enough room for a path between the cellar door and the house' ".81
The foregoing statements and descriptions are summarized as follows:
Authority
Ground Floor
U'pper Floor One large room (A)
Miss Luella Clarke
W. IT. Herndon
Three rooms (B)
One room (B)
T. G. Onstot
Four rooms
Four rooms
J. McCan Davis
Four rooms (C)
One room (C)
Harvey Ross
Four rooms
Four rooms
Mrs. Rachel Clarke
Four rooms
One large room
Ida Balo
Four rooms
Footnote (D)
Ida Tarbell
Four rooms
One room
(A) This one-room attic is verified by a statement by Win Bale to Mr. Reep. He said a partition was erected by Jacob Bale, creating two rooms. This was done to separate the boys and girls. Perhaps Jacob Bale removed the two south ground floor rooms, added the partition and used the attic space as bedrooms. The south rooms may have been constructed in an unsubstantial manner. Rather than repair them he decided to eliminate them altogether.
(B) Herndon says the house consisted of four rooms. On the basis of one room upstairs, this would establish the number of ground floor rooms at three. Perhaps the fourth was added later or he forgot to mention the loft room.
(C) Davis says the house consisted of five rooms. On the basis of one room upstairs, the lower floor would contain four rooms.
(D) Ida Bale is describing the "last house to remain" or the "Bale House". Her description does not mention an upper floor. Perhaps her information was re- ceived from those who knew the house when it contained only ground floor space. A close examination of the drawing of this house in the Atlas reveals that the old roof probably was replaced by @ new one at a later date. The whole house must have gone through a "modernizing" process at some time, as evidenced by the remnants of furring strips and siding. It seems as though the top course or two of logs was removed when the new roof was added and probably the old second floor served afterward as a ceiling only. A trace of a former upper story is revealed by the small window in the gable adjacent to the chimney.
An analysis of the various descriptions shows that they have much in common and, in a larger sense. compare favorably. Ross and Onstot are the exceptions with their descriptions of the four-room second story. Onstot copied Ross word for word and the latter was surely mistaken. The above summary together with the information contained in the footnotes, forms the evidence for believing there were four rooms on the first floor and one large room upstairs.
Mrs. Chandler recalls her visit with Auntie Hill (Mrs. Samuel Hill) and remembers her saying that the Tavern was enlarged about the time Lincoln arrived in New Salem. This would account for the extra roms en the south. Mrs. Hill's explanation for the additions was-to add bedroom space on the first floor so the family could be together and
MA It will be noted that Miss Bale is describing the "last house at New Salem" and her description is not meant for the Tavern. However, Mrs. Clark does de- scribe the Tavern and, if the Tavern was later occupied by the Bales, the descrip- tions should have much in common. A comparison of the two descriptions discloses no conflictions.
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sleep downstairs. This would allow the loft to be occupied by the men guests. among whom was Lincoln.
In general, we have followed the description of Ida Bale, who we believe has recorded many authentic details. She, more than any one else. has been in a position to know the many minor details of this honse.
We believe the larger east room was the combined kitchen. dining room and guest sitting room. The smaller west room was the family sitting room and bedroom. Perhaps the occasional lady guest slept here also. The west lean-to room was the family bedroom, and the cast lean-to was the "summer-kitchen" for storage of wood, cobs. and the many other things which ordinarily, in other houses, would have been placed in the basement. In cold weather this no doubt served as a laundry. The loft or half story served as a large bedroom for the men and at times for the Rutledge boys.
In general, the construction details of the restored Tavern have been designed keeping in mind the fact that the house was built before the mill was in operation when sawn lumber could not be procured. The main portion of the restored house is constructed of logs, adzed both sides. The corner notches are of the dove tail type.85 The roof is re-constructed to give the maximum head room because the side walls were not high enough to permit the use of the trussed rafter construc- tion. The center partition does not carry up because it will be remem- bered the loft was described as being one room. A trussed rafter sup- ported at the center by a forked post with high cross collar beams carries the roof purlins.
The first floor is the puncheon type, and we have assumed that the loft floor boards and the two south rooms and floors of same were added after the mill was in operation. The drawing in the Atlas shows the house with no indications of these south rooms having been attached, so we believe they were built of sawn lumber and perhaps were built quickly, and in a short time. Having served their purpose during the height of the town's prosperity, they were torn down, probably by the Bales. We have constructed these south room additions as though the west room was built first and later the east "summer-kitchen" was added. The spacing of doors, windows and fireplaces, was determined by Ida Bale's description along with the Atlas drawing.
The construction of the entire Tavern has been designed keeping in mind the high character of the Rutledge family. Their home, according to all who knew it. was neat, well kept, well built and a true reflection of this energetic pioneer family.
All traces of the original footings have long since disappeared. All possible locations of the Tavern were excavated and not a trace of old footings nor evidences of an old basement were discovered. Mr. ('harles Olsen, who had charge of the excavations in 1918 for the "Old Salem Lincoln League", informed the author that no traces were dis- covered at that time either. The cabin site was located with reference to the cold cellar."" which was excavated during the fall and winter of 1932. The cold cellar excavations disclosed two separate units each
N5 This corner construction is shown on the drawing in the Atlas.
See Page 80, of Appendix,-Footnote 98.
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about 8'5" x 9'10" so that the over all dimensions of the two were about 9'10" north and south and 16'10" east and west. The east sec- tion was built first and evidently later on was found to be too small and a new section was added to the west toward the Tavern. The north and south walls were 41%" thick and the east and west walls were 81%" thick. The ceiling was a brick circular vault 4" thick and was covered with earth. The earth floor was about 4'10" below grade and the outside of the top of the vaulted ceiling was about 2'6" above the grade. The brick of both sections was handmade and similar to the brick found in the basements of the other cabins.87 'The well, about 34 feet deep. was cleaned ont in 1918. The inside diameter of the well measures 24 inches and the walls is of stone 12" thick.
The well head has been restored with information gleaned from the old turned wood windlass. bucket hoops and stave now on display in the Museum at the Park.
87 The brick of the second or west section had been burned longer, consequently each brick was harder and slightly smaller.
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APPENDIX
Report on Resurvey of New Salem
During the period from August 29, 1932 to September 10, 1932. Ray V. Tilly, member of the firm Wood, Walraven and Tilly, Civil Engineers, of Springfield, Illinois, with the assistance of Edward Mc- Kinnon and Irving Mansendick, employees of Wood, Walraven & Tilly, replatted New Salem, a village situated in the southwest quarter of Section Twenty-Five, Township Eighteen North, Range Seven West of the Third Principal Meridian in Menard County, Illinois, originally surveyed and platted by Reuben Harrison, Surveyor during the year 1829.
In order that those interested in the replatting and rebuilding of New Salem may understand the authenticity of the locations of the several lot corners and streets as reestablished by this resurvey, the writer shall endeavor to outline in detail the various steps taken and the reason for each decision made.
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