John Maxim Lee - A Tribute

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of John Maxim Lee on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020 at the age of 93. Jack, as he was known throughout his life, was the first grandchild of Frances Glessner Lee, and the eldest great-grandchild of John and Frances Glessner. Being eight when John Glessner died, he was also the last of the line to have distinct memories of his great-grandfather, thus forming a link to the earlier generation that is now broken. This tribute to Jack is a bit more personal than most of my articles, for in addition to recording the facts of a life well lived and one worthy of celebrating, I also wish to record my personal memories of him and my gratitude for the opportunity to get to know him over the past nine years.
                                                 Bill Tyre, Curator & Program Director

Notation of John Maxim Lee's birth in

John J. Glessner's pocket calendar for 1927

John Maxim Lee was born in Hartford, Connecticut on April 5, 1927 to John Glessner and Percy Maxim Lee, who were residing in Amityville, New York at the time. His parents had accomplished careers and will be the subject of future blog articles. His father, John Glessner Lee, at his retirement, was the director of research at United Technologies (formerly United Aircraft Corporation), was one of the six men who designed the well-known Ford tri-motor plane, and was a co-founder of the University of Hartford. Mother Percy Maxim Lee served as president of the National League of Women Voters from 1950 to 1958, working with several U.S. presidents in various roles with the League from the 1940s into the 1960s.

Jack with his sister Percy, May 1930

Jack with his mother and sister Percy, 1932

By the time Jack was nine, he had been joined by three siblings – sisters Percy and Frances (Nan), and brother Hamilton (Tony). 

Applethorne, the Lee family home in Farmington, CT, circa 1936

The Lees built their new home, Applethorne, in Farmington, Connecticut in 1934; it was designed by the well-known Hartford architect Carl J. Malmfeldt. It would remain the family home for the next forty-one years.

Jack with his grandfather, Blewett Lee, at left, 1936. Jack's father,
John Glessner Lee is at right.

Jack was proud of his Glessner heritage, but also the other lines from which he was descended. This included his paternal grandfather, Blewett Lee (who married Frances Glessner in 1898), a distinguished attorney, general counsel for the Illinois Central Railroad, and the only son of General Stephen Dill Lee, the first president of Mississippi State University.

Jack and Percy at the Maxim summer home, Bill Hill, in Lyme, CT, September 1931.
His mother noted on the back, "Jack is flying a glider, hence the attitude."

His middle name, Maxim, was his mother’s maiden name. Her father's father was Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim, the inventor of the Maxim machine gun, and her mother’s father was William T. Hamilton, governor of Maryland from 1880 to 1884. Her father, Hiram Percy Maxim, invented the Maxim silencer and motor cars/horseless carriages. Jack spent part of his summers at the Maxim summer home, Bill Hill, in Lyme, Connecticut. Built in 1766, it was one of the oldest houses in the state.

Jack, being held by his father at right, holding the

left cuff of the coat of his great-grandfather, John J. Glessner,

at The Rocks, August 1932. Jack's sister Percy stands

in front of John Glessner.

Jack also spent time at the Glessners’ summer estate, The Rocks, in Littleton, New Hampshire, and it was here that he came to know his great-grandfather. His clearest memory was of John Glessner peeling an orange at the dinner table, holding it on a fork at its base, and then removing the peel in one long piece, after which he distributed the sections on separate forks to each person around the table.

In 1937, the Lee family purchased land on Mason’s Island in Mystic, Connecticut and this became an important part of Jack’s world for the remainder of his life, instilling a passion for sailing.

Jack presenting the Maxim trophy at a gasoline model plane meet,
July 1936. His father, John Glessner Lee, looks on at left.

Jack had many memories of “Grandmother Lee,” i.e. Frances Glessner Lee. As a child, he proudly helped produce maple syrup at The Rocks, and then gave some to his grandmother. Soon after, he heard his parents discussing the fact that all her hair had fallen out, and he feared his maple syrup was the culprit! (It was not). He also remembered seeing her diligently at work on her Nutshell Studies, and he treasured the drill press he used, which had come from her Nutshell workshop.

Drill press in Jack Lee's workshop, originally used

in the construction of the Nutshell Studies

As World War II was raging in Europe, the Lee household was suddenly expanded. Anne and Daphne James, the daughters of an Oxford University professor were sent to the United States and lived with the family until the war ended. Additionally, the Lees also took in the Wohl family, who had escaped Nazi Germany.

In 1941, Jack was admitted to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. It was here that he met his future wife, Rosalie Benton, the daughter of his Latin professor. He graduated in May 1945, just days after V-E Day, earning a $50 prize for showing the most improvement during his four years at the Academy. He immediately joined the Army Air Corps, being stationed at Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, and then at Buckley Field in Denver, Colorado. This was most convenient, as Rosalie Benton was by this time a sophomore at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He was promoted to sergeant shortly before being discharged in November 1946.

He applied for, and was admitted to, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the GI Bill, and on February 11, 1948 he and Rosalie were married in Boulder. He earned a BS in economics and chemical engineering and it was during this period that his first two children, Virginia (Gigi) and Stephen were born. His sister Percy recalled an amusing incident:

“It was when Jack was at MIT that Grandmother Lee pulled up in front of Jack and Rosalie’s little army house in what my mother called ‘her 27-foot-long Packard.’ She said it took up the whole street and was very impressive, but embarrassing, I think, for Jack and Rosalie. But they had tea . . . Grandmother always sat in front with the chauffeur because it was too bouncy in the back.”

Rosalie recalled on one of these visits that Grandmother Lee brought a box of chocolates as a gift, but requesting that Rosalie return the white quilted liner paper atop the chocolates, as she thought it would work well for the ceiling in one of her Nutshells.

Jack presenting a gift to his grandmother, Frances Glessner Lee,

on the occasion of her 80th birthday, March 25, 1958

In 1951, Jack accepted a position with the DuPont Corporation in Wilmington, Delaware, working as an engineer specializing in developing a process for extracting refractory metals from their ores. In 1954, the Lees’ third child, a daughter Martha (Molly) was born. It was also during this time that Jack and Rosalie were invited to attend a luncheon of the Harvard Associates in Police Science, as a surprise for Grandmother Lee. She was surprised indeed, and they noted the enormous respect that the police officers had for her.

After a short stint at the National Research Corporation working on vacuum processes and equipment, Jack accepted a new position with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, Connecticut, remaining there until his retirement 30 years later. He worked on the development of alternative energy systems such as solar, wind, and thermal conversion, but his most significant work was with the space program. In 1960, Pratt & Whitney became involved in the planning and development of the Apollo Fuel Cell program to land a man on the moon. Jack worked on the development, design, manufacture, and testing of the fuel cells, being promoted to the Program Manager of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Fuel Cells, which provided power for the Command and Service Modules on all the Apollo missions.

Apollo fuel cells

Later, Jack also led the development of the fuel cells used for the space shuttle. One day, while looking at a framed photo of the space shuttle in his home, I asked about this work. His comment was that he remembered vividly the day that the last space shuttle mission ended successfully, noting with pride that the fuel cells had performed perfectly on every single mission.

Fuel cell for the space shuttle

Throughout these years, Jack was actively involved in his community, serving as a corporator of the Renbrook School, and as the first president of the Board of Friends of Public Television. He also served as the president of the Hartt School of Music and on the Mystic Harbor Commission.

Upon retirement, Jack and Rosalie were able to fully pursue their passion for sailing. They spent four years sailing the Caribbean in their ketch, Aurora, both becoming Commodores in the Seven Seas Cruising Association. They then spent five years aboard their motor sailor, Aurora II, exploring the rivers and canals of Europe.

In 2002, they built a home on Mason’s Island in Mystic on a portion of the property his parents had acquired in the 1930s.

Jack at the 2011 groundbreaking ceremony

My first opportunity to meet Jack and Rosalie took place on June 1, 2011 when they traveled to Chicago for the recreation of the groundbreaking ceremony for Glessner House, which had occurred exactly 125 years earlier to the day. The original ceremony in 1886 included his grandmother and her brother George each digging a shovel full of dirt to officially start the construction of the house. Jack, using a special spade, dug two holes before a large assembled crowd, into which were planted heirloom roses.

Rosalie and Jack Lee (bottom row, 4th and 5th from left), with
Glessner family reunion attendees, August 2012

Jack and Rosalie returned to Glessner House the next year for a Glessner family reunion. He was one of seventeen direct descendants of the Glessners to attend from around the country, many of the attendees having never met previously.

Rosalie and Jack at their home in Mystic, CT, April 14, 2013

In April 2013, exactly seven years ago this week, I headed to The Rocks estate with Glessner docent/board member John Waters. The Lees had invited us to visit them at their home in Mystic, and we were warmly welcomed, enjoying their hospitality overnight before continuing our journey. We were fortunate to return to Mystic for visits in 2015 and 2017.

Presenting Jack and Rosalie with a certificate honoring
Frances Glessner Lee, from the Chicago Chapter, DAR, April 2015

Jack examining the "Three Room Dwelling" Nutshell Study,
Baltimore, MD, October 28, 2015

In 2015, the 70^th annual Frances Glessner Lee Seminar in Police Science was held in Baltimore at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland. I was asked to come and speak on the life and career of Frances Glessner Lee, and Jack and Rosalie, along with other family members came for the day, enjoying the opportunity to see the famous Nutshell Studies. We were all treated to a fine dinner that evening, reminiscent of the elaborate banquets Frances Glessner Lee would plan for the seminar attendees.

Jack Lee at the dinner following the opening of the "Murder is Her Hobby" exhibit
at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., October 19, 2017.
Top row (L-R): sister Percy Lee Langstaff, brother-in-law Richard Heminway,
sister Frances Lee Heminway, wife Rosalie Lee.

October 2017 found Jack and Rosalie and many other family members gathered in Washington, D.C. for the opening of the exhibit “Murder Is Her Hobby: Frances Glessner Lee and the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death” which opened at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.  What a special day that was, seeing how much interest people took in Frances Glessner Lee’s career, and her amazing craftsmanship of the Nutshells. A family dinner followed, and I was honored to be invited, the only non-family member included in the festivities.

Bronze medal awarded to Warder, Bushnell & Glessner
at the 1900 Paris Exposition

During these visits, Jack and Rosalie generously donated several items to the house. These included wonderful pen and ink sketches of Glessner house and Blewett Lee’s ancestral home in Columbus, Mississippi, executed by John Glessner Lee. A bronze medal awarded to the Warder, Bushnell & Glessner company at the Paris Exposition of 1900, and several books including one which was the assembled patents issued to John Glessner Lee over the decades, were among additional donations.

Soon after the 2017 exhibit opening, Jack and Rosalie, aided by their daughter Virginia, made arrangements for Fanny’s bed, which had been used by generations of their family, to be returned to Glessner House, and thus the project to restore her bedroom was begun.

My last visit with Jack and Rosalie took place in October 2019. I was quite surprised and pleased when they announced their intention to return the remaining three pieces of furniture to complete Fanny’s bedroom – two side chairs and a side table – and I was most relieved to find that they all fit into my car! Although Jack’s health had declined since I last saw him in 2017, I was still able to enjoy his gentle nature, sharp mind, and quiet sense of humor.

One of the two side chairs returned by Jack and Rosalie Lee,

as it appeared after reupholstering, April 8, 2020

Ironically, the two side chairs for Fanny’s bedroom were returned from the upholsterers on April 8^th, and I immediately took pictures of the room and sent them off to Jack, who by this point was at a skilled nursing facility. I do not know if he saw the pictures before he passed away just four days later. But I do remember specifically how pleased he and Rosalie were that the pieces were coming back home to Prairie Avenue, where they would be cared for and appreciated by visitors.

Jack died on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, exactly one week after his 93^rd birthday. By coincidence, his great-grandfather, John Glessner, died one week before his 93^rd birthday, so Jack outlived him by just two weeks. He leaves his wife of 72 years, Rosalie, his two daughters, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Jack and Rosalie in the main hall of Glessner House, June 2011

I will always consider one of the highlights of my years with Glessner House to be the opportunity to have known Jack and to have shared many happy times with him and Rosalie here in Chicago, at their home in Mystic, and in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. He first came to me as a descendant of the Glessners, but over the years, I came to have a great deal of respect for his character, his many accomplishments both in his career and in service to his community, and for the fine family he left behind. I mourn his loss, but celebrate a life well lived.

Mattie Williamson returns to Glessner House

Last week, we took a close look at the life of Mattie Williamson, the Glessners’ beloved cook, who served the family from 1892 until her retirement in 1912. In this article, we will look at the events celebrating her “return” to Glessner House in early March. The recreation of Mattie was the result of intensive research into her life here at the house, including an examination of over 100 cookbooks and Frances Glessner’s menu books, combined with detailed knowledge of historic cooking methods at the turn of the 20^th century. Our deepest thanks to Ellie of ElliePresents, for her dedication in bringing the character of Mattie to life for all those who had an opportunity to participate in our special events on March 8^th and 12^th.

The “modern” Mattie made her first official appearance at Glessner House on Monday March 2^nd when she arrived (by way of the female servants' entrance) to be interviewed by Lee Ann Trotter, the entertainment reporter for NBC Chicago. Mattie arrived from the year 1902, stared at the cameraman, and immediately noted “Is that a motion picture camera . . . fascinating.” She proceeded to demonstrate how to make savory shortbreads, noting that she always included a bit of tarragon, which was a favorite of John Glessner. 

She then took Lee Ann on a tour of the house - a special treat, as Mattie would have rarely ventured outside the kitchen – pointing out such features as the silver closet in the dining room, and the bookcase in the library where Frances Glessner kept her cookbooks. Watch the full segment here.

Mattie’s official debut took place on Sunday March 8^th when she led a cooking demonstration showing all the steps necessary to make both savory and sweet shortbreads. Attendees enjoyed sampling the shortbreads during the presentation, and each person received a package with all the ingredients needed to make their own shortbreads at home.

The signature event of the week was the meticulous recreation of an eight-course dinner on Thursday March 12^th, based on actual menus recorded by Frances Glessner. All the recipes were pulled from cookbooks in the collection, and several recipes, including those for brown bread and gumbo, were in Mattie’s own handwriting. 

As would have been the case in 1902, some of the foods were prepared well in advance, so that Mattie could focus her efforts on the menu items that had to be prepared immediately prior to serving, such as the fish and venison. 

Three tables in the dining room were laid with an array of silver flatware – from oyster forks to gumbo spoons; etched vintage crystal stemware for water, champagne, and two types of wine; and gold-rimmed china similar to that used by the Glessner (minus only their beautiful monogram which was used to adorn the menus). Guests were seated at 6:00pm, at which time the footmen began table service.

The dinner began with oysters on the half shell, served by the Glessners at virtually all of their dinner parties, accompanied by Mattie’s brown bread, and champagne. The second course featured Mattie’s gumbo, served with sauterne. The first of the three entrée courses consisted of fillets of white fish, with home made tartar sauce, olives, pickles, and spiced pickled radishes.

The fourth course was a macaroni timbale served on an artichoke frond. Timbales, consisting of ground vegetables and meat set into various molds, were another favorite of Frances Glessner. 

The “main” course which followed included venison with a dark cherry and port wine compote, served with new potatoes, Brussel sprouts with chestnuts, and cooked cucumbers (common at the time). Claret was served with this course.

The sixth course consisted of tomatoes stuffed with a celery salad. It was typical for the salad course to be served at the conclusion of the meal, prior to dessert.

After two hours in the dining room consuming the first six courses, guests headed out the front door and turned the corner to the coach house, where they were joined by others who arrived for the two dessert courses and to “meet” Mattie Williamson. 

Tables were set with a variety of sweet treats including assorted bon bons, candied orange peel, and candied pecans, all served with hot tea. Individual pistachio cakes, a favorite of Frances Glessner, were served with vanilla ice cream featuring a four-leaf clover embossed design, reminiscent of the elaborately molded ice cream treats that were a staple of the Glessner table.

Once everyone had been served, Mattie Williamson, dressed in her “Sunday best,” made her grand entrance, and spent the next 40 minutes explaining what it was like to cook for the Glessners, and the elaborate preparations and careful scheduling required to pull off an eight-course dinner (while also having to cook and feed the live-in staff of eight). The presentation was videotaped and will be posted to our YouTube channel soon.

Once again, our deepest thanks to Ellie for her excellent presentation, and her outstanding preparation of all the food. The House of Glunz, Chicago wine merchants since 1888, donated the wines, and Flesor’s Candy Kitchen, established in 1901 in Tuscola, Illinois provided the delicious bon bons.

Mattie will return to Glessner House in the future - we hope you will have a chance to meet her in person!

Mattie Williamson, the Glessners' beloved cook

Mattie Williamson in the 1890s

During the second week of March, just before our world changed and Glessner House found itself closing for an extended period, we had the opportunity to celebrate Women’s History Month with a focus on the Glessners’ much-beloved cook, Mattie Williamson. We are fortunate to have rich archival resources about the live-in staff at Glessner House, allowing for an authentic and detailed interpretation of the real Mattie, her years in service, and exactly what it was like to be a cook in a large Chicago household during the Gilded Age.  In this first of two articles about Mattie, we will look at her life and service with the Glessners. In next week’s article, we’ll recap the events that took place during her “return” in March 2020.

Martha L. Williamson, known as Mattie throughout her life, was born on October 23, 1859 in Inverness, a municipality in the Centre-du-Quebec region of the province of Quebec, Canada.  Her parents, John and Mary (Duff) Williamson had both emigrated from Ireland to Canada prior to their marriage in 1842 and chose this area of Quebec where many other English, Irish, and Scots were settling. Mattie was the seventh child in the family; she was baptized in the Inverness Wesleyan Methodist Church on December 19, 1859.

Baptismal record provided courtesy of Dale Wright

Just six years later, her mother died in childbirth and was interred at the Christ Church Cemetery in Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf, a town originally named Lower Ireland (Maple Grove having been known as Upper Ireland). Soon after, her father married Julia Ansly, 27 years his junior, and together they had four children, whom Mattie helped her stepmother to raise.

Julia and John Williamson in the 1880s

By the time Mattie was a young woman, her parents and siblings had relocated south into the United States, settling in the northern portion of Vermont and New Hampshire. Her brother Alex had settled in Littleton, New Hampshire, and in 1883 was hired, along with his wife Sarah, to manage the farm operations of the Glessners’ new summer estate, known as The Rocks. It was in this way that Mattie became acquainted with the Glessners, as she often stayed with her brother, and during the summer would sometimes help with tasks at The Rocks.

The Williamson's home at The Rocks;
Mattie is probably the young woman to the right of the tree

In August of 1891, the entire house staff of five abruptly quit after dinner. Frances Glessner noted in her journal:

“After dinner Fredrick appeared with a document signed by all five saying they would all leave as soon as they could be paid. John made out their accounts - the two men, Frederick and James, walked to town, bought out a dump cart and old white horse - they took their trunks and all five left the house at six o’clock - they got no travelling expenses - only their wages. We sent down for Mattie Williamson who came up to help us put of our trouble - bringing her little brother with her. We all helped get supper and wash the dishes. This morning we made beds, helped with the breakfast, dinner etc.”

 The next month, Mattie visited her parents in Vermont for a week, after which time she returned to The Rocks to accompany the Glessners back to Chicago. 

Originally hired as a maid, her opportunity to become cook came in early February 1892, after Frances Glessner was forced to dismiss her seventh cook in as many weeks, due to their inability to work with the new gas stove she had had installed:

“I dismissed my seventh cook last week . . . Mattie Williamson is going to try my cooking. I shall have her taught.”

Mattie's room as it appears today with photos of various family members

Mattie was given the room farthest to the east in the female servants’ wing. That room, restored in early 2009, was recently updated to incorporate several Williamson family photos and a photo of Mattie with the house servants, taken by George Glessner.

Mattie is seated at far left in this photo of the servants heading out for their annual picnic to the Flume, located near The Rocks, probably 1893

The Glessners developed a warm relationship with the entire family, and over the years, no less than eight Williamson family members worked for them, including three of Mattie’s siblings, her sister-in-law, a niece, and two nephews. In October 1893, the Glessners invited Alex and Sarah Williamson to visit Chicago for a week to see the World’s Columbian Exposition. They stayed in the corner guest room and were sent to the Auditorium to see a performance, and even visited John Glessner in his office. Mattie left service for a year starting in May 1897, although she appears to have stayed in Chicago as she helped out with a special dinner dance the Glessners hosted just before Christmas 1897, and also baked the wedding cake for Frances and Blewett Lee when they were married at the house on February 9, 1898. By May 1898 she had returned and accompanied the family up to The Rocks.

Frances Glessners’ menu books demonstrate what a highly skilled cook Mattie became. Elaborate eight-course dinners were common, requiring not only skills in cooking, but in time management as well, especially considering she was cooking and feeding the live-in staff of eight simultaneously.  She became well-known for her bread and rolls, winning awards at a competition held by the Women’s Club in 1900. The large collection of cookbooks in the Glessner library contains volumes with handwritten recipes in Mattie’s handwriting tucked inside, and Frances Glessner’s manuscript cookbook lists several recipes attributed to Mattie, including one for pastry.

Mattie's recipe for pastry, written out by Frances Glessner

In May 1909, Mattie, assisted by Fanny Tynan (who was employed by the Glessners on and off for over 20 years in various capacities), prepared a huge dinner:

“In the evening John gave a dinner to the Commercial Club here at our house. I have been arranging for this for weeks. We had sixty-three gentlemen here. We received them in the upstairs hall. When they came down to dinner I staid up . . . We had a fine dinner every bit of which was prepared in the house and cooked by Mattie and Fanny.”

(Mattie cooked an equally large meal when the Commercial Club visited The Rocks).

Mattie was a highly trusted servant, being sent to The Rocks each year about a week in advance of the Glessners, to help get the house ready and stocked, so that all was in order when they arrived. This journal entry from May 1903 is typical:

“Mattie had a nice supper for us. Mattie had been here a week and had everything pretty well in order for us.”

Rachel Williamson Cole, 1883

After getting the Glessners settled at The Rocks in May 1912, Mattie took off the summer to visit her sister, Rachel Cole, in Los Angeles. While there, she met a widower named William S. Prescott. When she returned to The Rocks in early August, she announced her intention to be married.  The Glessners gave her a gift of $250.00 (nearly $7,000 in today’s dollars) and The Rocks staff gave Mattie a great send-off:

“That evening the people on the place gave a great party for Mattie Williamson, our excellent & reliable cook for the last 20 years, who is soon to be married & go to California to live. They made up a purse of $44 & bought her a rocking chair, silver tea set, a tablecloth & dozen napkins. The party was held in the Electric Light Plant room; there were 57 grown persons & 2 children, & it was in every way successful & everybody was happy.”

Mattie Williamson and William Prescott were married in Los Angeles on December 26, 1912 and they moved into his bungalow at 417 W. Ortega Street in Santa Barbara. It does not appear the marriage was a happy one. In April 1913, Frances Glessner Lee was in California and wrote to her mother:

“I have an appointment with Mattie for tomorrow morning and will not leave her house until I have a full understanding of her affairs.”

417 W. Ortega Street, Santa Barbara, CA, as it appears today

In June of 1913, Mattie wrote to Frances Glessner from her sister’s home in Los Angeles, the letter opening as follows:

“Your nice letter received some time ago and was more than pleased to hear from you. Should have answered before but was undecided in my plans. You asked me to be open and tell you all, and I am going to do as you ask.”

She then goes on to note that she is not “contented” in Santa Barbara and would prefer to live near her sister in Los Angeles. Having found a nice lot in South Hollywood, her husband agreed to build a house, if Mattie would buy the lot:

“My money is all in Stocks and Bonds, the three bonds that Mr. George (Glessner) got for me some few years ago and the Stocks that Mr. Glessner got me last Spring. I could use the Bonds but would rather not .  .  . Now I should consider it a great favor if I could hire one-thousand dollars, of you and Mr. Glessner and if you wish, I could give you the Bonds as security until I could pay back the money.”

It is most interesting to note that both John and George Glessner helped Mattie invest her money, George in bonds, and John Glessner by purchasing $1,600 in Public Service stock the previous year.

She closed the letter noting:

“Have often thought of the beautiful place at The Rocks and the many pleasant times I have had. Would have been pleased to go back and work for you many years longer, but on account of my age, thought it would not be advisable to work over the hot stove.”

(Mattie was 53 at the time of her marriage.)

Mattie's signature on the letter sent to Frances Glessner

The house in South Hollywood was never built, possibly due to Mattie’s declining health. In February 1917, George B. Glessner and Jessie Chandler, two of John Glessner’s siblings, visited Mattie while driving through Santa Barbara:

“George and Jessie write from Santa Barbara that Mattie Williamson Prescott is threatened with serious heart disease and fears she may have to give up their housekeeping.”

5802 Lexington Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, as it appears today

Mattie died on March 27, 1919 at the home of her sister Rachel Cole, located at 5802 Lexington Avenue in Los Angeles. She was buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and was later joined in the same plot by her sister and niece.

Mattie’s will, filed just five weeks before her death, made the following provisions for her husband and sister:

“Third. My said husband, William S. Prescott being adequately supplied with money and property in his own right, to keep him in comfort during the balance of his life, should he outlive me, I make only a nominal provision of the sum of Five Dollars, to be paid him out of my estate.

“Fourth. To my sister, Mrs. Rachel W. Cole, who has cared for and assisted me in every manner possible, ministered to my wants during my present illness, I give and bequeath all of my silverware, one leather covered rocking chair, two fern dishes, two large vases, four pieces of Haviland china, three quilts, six sheets and six pillow cases and towels, pieces of embroidery, one chafing dish, one black leather grip and the ivory set that goes with it, two hand paintings and all my family pictures and all my clothing and personal belongings not otherwise disposed of, also I give to my said sister the sum of $1,000.00 or the equivalent thereto in property of my estate.”

She also left $1,000 each to her sister’s three children including her twin sons, Raymond and Reynold, who were appointed executors of the estate.

Concluding portion of Mattie's will, dated February 17, 1919

Many years later, Frances Glessner Lee, in writing to her son, noted that Mattie had been a real part of the family and was “one of the finest people that ever lived.”

Next week: Mattie Williamson returns to Glessner House

Frances Glessner Lee - the early years

Today, March 25, 2020, marks the 142nd anniversary of the birth of Frances Glessner Lee, known as Fanny in her younger days. It was to be a day of great celebration - reopening her fully restored childhood bedroom after a two-year, $100,000 restoration made possible by the generosity of many members and friends of Glessner House and the dedicated work of several talented craftsmen.

In the near future, we look forward to rescheduling this milestone event in the history of the House, along with welcoming author Bruce Goldfarb for a talk and book signing of his new biography of Lee, 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics. Until we are able to do so, however, we present a selection of our favorite images of Fanny from the first decade of her life. These images were all taken between the time of her birth in 1878 and the move of the family into their new home at 1800 S. Prairie Avenue in December 1887, just a few months before her tenth birthday. Enjoy this step back into the days of childhood innocence - filled with wonder, excitement, and taking joy in the simplest of things. Hopefully you can find a few moments today to do the same.

The earliest photo of Fanny, taken June 26, 1878, age 3 months and 1 day.

Fanny, as she appeared at six months, taken September 22, 1878. What exactly was her mother feeding her??

Fanny, shown with her mother and brother George in February 1880. George was 6-1/2 years older than his sister. 

Fanny and George enjoying a moment in the garden of their home on West Washington Street at Morgan Street, circa 1881.

Fanny, age 5, taken March 1883.

This photo of Fanny was taken in June 1883. Her mother sent it to an artist in Florence, Italy, who created the crayon sketch shown below, which Frances Glessner presented to her husband as a Christmas gift that year.

This stereoview shows George and Fanny with their pet lamb, named "Fanny Lamb." The image was taken in September 1883, one month after the family moved into their new house at their New Hampshire summer estate, The Rocks. It was taken by Benjamin Kilburn, one of the country's largest producers of stereoview cards; his business was based in Littleton, NH.

Fanny's sixth birthday party, March 25, 1884. Fourteen neighborhood children attended the party and enjoyed a Punch & Judy show. Fanny's father "excused himself from the office" to attend.

Fanny in the library of her family home on Washington Street, circa 1884. She had three dolls which she named Ethel, Julia, and Isaac Scott, the last after a close family friend who was an important part of Fanny's childhood.

Fanny, enjoying a popular Victorian game known as hoop rolling, circa 1884.

Fanny with her mother, circa 1885.

Fanny in April 1886, age 8.

Fanny with her father, circa 1887.

Fanny in a reflective mood, taken the same day as the photo above.

55 Years Ago - Glessner House Fights For Its Life

Fifty-five years ago today, the Chicago Tribune ran a story sounding the alarm that the nationally and internationally significant Glessner House was up for sale and facing an uncertain future. Given the fact that most of the houses along Prairie Avenue had been torn down during the previous decades when the area transformed from a high-class residential neighborhood into a manufacturing district, the alarm was warranted. Businesses operating nearby, mostly connected with the printing and publishing industries, were still buying houses and tearing them down to provide more parking for their employees. (The two houses immediately south of Glessner House would be torn down in 1968 specifically for that purpose). Many people would have seen the 75 by 176 foot lot upon which the Glessner House stood, to have more value than the house itself.

The sale of the house by the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF), which had occupied the building since 1945, did not come as a surprise to those in the architectural and emerging preservation communities. In November 1963, a meeting took place between two senior staff members of GATF and Wilbert R. Hasbrouck (Chairman of the Preservation Committee of the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects), Joseph Benson (Secretary of the Commission on Chicago Architectural Landmarks), and Marian Despres (early Chicago preservationist and wife of Alderman Leon Despres, who drafted the city's first landmarks ordinance). It was at that meeting that GATF announced its plans to relocate operations to Pennsylvania and put Glessner House up for sale. Hasbrouck reported back to Jack Train, president of the Chicago Chapter AIA:

"Regardless of what final use is made of this building, I feel the AIA must take a major advisory role in its disposition. The Glessner House is too important a structure to go the way of the Garrick." (This was a reference to Adler & Sullivan's Garrick Theater, razed in 1961 after a significant battle that helped galvanize Chicago's early preservationists. A number of the individuals who fought to save the Garrick played a leading role in successfully saving Glessner House).

Turning back the clock 55 years to January 31, 1965, if you were to have picked up the morning edition of the Chicago Tribune and turned to page S3, you would have read the following article about the house. It may well have also been your first introduction to John and Frances Glessner, whose names had slipped into obscurity after their deaths three decades earlier.

Old Show Place on Prairie Avenue Haunted by Shaky Future; Now for Sale
Architects Hope to Make It a Museum
by Sylvia Shepherd

Granite block old home of late J. J. Glessner at 1800 Prairie av.,
was built in 1886 and has survived decline of once-fashionable
south side gold coast. Fate of house worries history-
conscious Chicagoans.

The uncertain destiny of the old J. J. Glessner house, built almost 80 years ago at 1800 Prairie av., has aroused the fears of several history-conscious Chicagoans.

The house, one of the show places of the original south side gold coast, now holds the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation. This research organization has moved most of its operations to a new headquarters in Pittsburgh and wants to sell the Glessner building.

Richardson's Last Work
William Hasbrook (sic), one of those interested in preserving the building, said the Glessner house "would make a small museum of architecture." Hasbrook is chairman of the committee for preservation of historical buildings for the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Hasbrook believes the house is the only remaining residential work of the late Henry Hobson Richardson, famous Boston architect, in this city.

"Chicago is known thruout the world for architecture - not only of the past but of the present," said Hasbrook. "Material on architectural history is scattered around the city - in bits and pieces. This house could become a central spot for this material."

Mrs. Leon DePres (sic) wife of the 5th ward alderman, said, "Anything could happen to the building. There's no protection for it."

"We must see what we can do to preserve it," she added. "It could be a future attraction for tourists."

A City Landmark
Also interested in preserving the building is the Commission on Chicago Architectural Landmarks. Joseph Benson, commission secretary, said his group is "very concerned" about the fate of the house, which is one of 39 official landmarks in the city.

Richardson built the house in 1886 in what came to be known as "Richardsonian Romanesque." Because the architect believed beauty to be found in strength, granite blocks were used in the construction. He died three weeks after completing the house.

John J. Glessner was born in Zanesville, O., and came to this city as a young man. When International Harvester company was founded in 1902, he was a founder and became a vice president.

Glessner and his wife, Frances, were social leaders for 60 years. The house was famous for architectural significance and hospitality.

Glessner was a board president of Rush Medical college, a director of the Chicago Relief and Aid society, and a trustee of the Chicago Orphan asylum, the Chicago Orchestral association, and the Art Institute.

Society Rendezvous
His wife's Monday Morning Reading class was a feature of south side society for 50 years. Most of the fashionable women of the city began gathering at 10:30 a.m. until a class of more than 40 was assembled in the long library.

It was to their home that the Chicago Symphony orchestra members came once a year for a party.

Mrs. Glessner once was quoted as saying, "For all its granite, this home is wonderfully elastic. You can squeeze as many as you want into it."

In 1924, Glessner announced that the house would be given to the American Institute of Architects after the deaths of himself and his wife. His will asked for its maintenance as "a museum, library, gallery, and educational institution, including a school of design for legitimate architectural assemblages."

Rich Social Background
By 1925, a reporter wrote, "The antennae of business have encroached all round and about the dignified granite residence." Already changing was the neighborhood which once housed the George M. Pullmans, the Marshall Fields, T. B. Blackstone, the elder Philip Armours, and Dr. Frank Billings.

Mrs. Glessner died in 1932 at the age of 84. Her husband died just before his 93d birthday in 1936.

Conforming to the request in Glessner's will was deemed too costly in 1937 by the A. I. A., which estimated remodeling expenses at $25,000. It returned the home to the Glessner estate, whose heirs decided in 1938 to give the building to the Armour Institute of Technology.

"It is still in excellent shape" said Hasbrook, "and a choice piece of property."

Corrections to 1965 article:

• Henry Hobson Richardson died in April 1886, three weeks after completing the design for the house. The house itself was completed in time for the Glessners to move in on December 1, 1887.
• The Glessners invited the entire Chicago Symphony Orchestra for dinner on three occasions. Smaller dinners for the music director, selected orchestra members, and visiting soloists were held frequently.