Mark Twain's Letterbox LbNA #12293
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Add Location| Owner: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Nov 21, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Hartford |
| County: | Hartford |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | MayEve
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|---|---|
| Found by: | SherlockMiles |
| Last found: | Nov 5, 2019 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Nov 21, 2004 |
MARK TWAIN'S LETTERBOX
The sixth child of John and Jane Clemens, Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on November 30, 1835. Little did they know that their son would become known as Mark Twain, one of America's most famous writers.
As a youngster, Samuel was kept indoors because of poor health. By age nine, however, he seemed to recover from his ailments and joined the rest of the town's children outside. Sam was a mischievous boy, the prototype of his own character, Tom Sawyer. By the age of nine he learned to smoke and headed a small band of pranksters. Most of all, he detested school and at age 12 quit when his father died to become a printer's apprentice. Samuel found that he enjoyed writing while working for his brother Orion's newspaper as a printer and editorial assistant. Rising to sub-editor, he indulged in the humor that flourished in journalism at the time: tall tales, satirical pranks, and jokes.
At 17, while working in St. Louis as a printer, Clemens became a river pilot's apprentice. He became a licensed river pilot in 1858. Clemens' pseudonym, Mark Twain, comes from his days as a river pilot. It is a river term which means two fathoms or twelve feet when the depth of water for a boat is being sounded. "Mark twain" means that it is safe to navigate. In 1861, Twain's piloting days ended with the onset of the Civil War.
The years that followed consisted of various articles, lecture circuits, and relocations between San Francisco, New York, and Missouri. But the years were highlighted with his first introduction to Olivia Langdon (Livy), whom he married on February 2, 1870. In November of the same year, their first child, Langdon Clemens, was born prematurely. Two years later, Susan Olivia (Susy) was born. The Clemens' joy was shattered with the death of Langdon as a result of Diptheria. In 1873 the Clemens' elaborate $40,000.00, 19-room house on Farmington Avenue in Hartford was completed.
Now settled into his own home in Hartford, Clemens devoted himself to writing novels and sketches, and performing the occasional lecture. It was the period of Clemens' greatest literary output. The house became a center for the City's social and literary scene, and attracted constant guests. Clara was born in 1874 and Jean in 1880. Life for the Clemens family was indeed good here at their Hartford home. Then in 1886, the Clemens' oldest daughter Susy (regarded as Sam's favorite child) was diagnosed with spinal meningitis and died. Livy never returned to the Hartford home, as it was too much for her to bear being in the place where her beloved daughter died.
In 1903, after living in New York City for three years, Livy became ill and Sam and his wife returned to Italy where she died a year later. Sam was devastated. Then in 1909, their youngest daughter Jean died from an epileptic seizure at the age of 29. Four months later on April 21, 1910, Sam Clemens died at the age of 74, some will say from a broken heart.
He had became a distinguished member of the literati, honored by Yale, the University of Missouri, and Oxford with literary degrees. Perhaps more than any other classic American writer, Mark Twain is seen not only as an author, but as a personality that defined an era.
***
DIRECTIONS: In Hartford, take Exit 46, Sisson Avenue, off I-84 East or West. At the traffic light, turn right onto Sisson and continue to the end. At the traffic light, turn right onto Farmington Avenue. Continue approx. 2/10 of a mile on Farmington and look for the sign on the right to the entrance to the museum's free parking lot. NOTE: The entrance to the parking lot is before The Mark Twain House.
http://www.marktwainhouse.org/
CLUES: From the parking area, you can admire the back of Mark Twain's House. Up the stairs to the Museum and Store. Just inside the doors you will see the Store on your right (very cool stuff inside, inluding some awesome walking sticks and logbooks). As you enter the Store, look down low on your left for Mark Twain's Letterbox which is being guarded by the Rabbit. The benches outside of the Store would be an ideal place to stamp in. Before leaving, be sure to roam the grounds to enjoy this Hartford treasure. Take the small paved path towards the front of the house before heading back to the parking area to view it's grand face. I hope you enjoy this Letterbox as much as I enjoyed making and planting it!
Blessings, MayEve (MayEve511@yahoo.com)
NOTE: You do not have to take a tour of the home or visit the Museum to participate in this letterbox, albeit a memorable experience!
*** Thanks again to my brother, Wild Rover for encouraging me to get this Letterbox "inside" AND for giving me the idea and inspiration for the Hartford County Stamp.
You ROCK!
The sixth child of John and Jane Clemens, Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on November 30, 1835. Little did they know that their son would become known as Mark Twain, one of America's most famous writers.
As a youngster, Samuel was kept indoors because of poor health. By age nine, however, he seemed to recover from his ailments and joined the rest of the town's children outside. Sam was a mischievous boy, the prototype of his own character, Tom Sawyer. By the age of nine he learned to smoke and headed a small band of pranksters. Most of all, he detested school and at age 12 quit when his father died to become a printer's apprentice. Samuel found that he enjoyed writing while working for his brother Orion's newspaper as a printer and editorial assistant. Rising to sub-editor, he indulged in the humor that flourished in journalism at the time: tall tales, satirical pranks, and jokes.
At 17, while working in St. Louis as a printer, Clemens became a river pilot's apprentice. He became a licensed river pilot in 1858. Clemens' pseudonym, Mark Twain, comes from his days as a river pilot. It is a river term which means two fathoms or twelve feet when the depth of water for a boat is being sounded. "Mark twain" means that it is safe to navigate. In 1861, Twain's piloting days ended with the onset of the Civil War.
The years that followed consisted of various articles, lecture circuits, and relocations between San Francisco, New York, and Missouri. But the years were highlighted with his first introduction to Olivia Langdon (Livy), whom he married on February 2, 1870. In November of the same year, their first child, Langdon Clemens, was born prematurely. Two years later, Susan Olivia (Susy) was born. The Clemens' joy was shattered with the death of Langdon as a result of Diptheria. In 1873 the Clemens' elaborate $40,000.00, 19-room house on Farmington Avenue in Hartford was completed.
Now settled into his own home in Hartford, Clemens devoted himself to writing novels and sketches, and performing the occasional lecture. It was the period of Clemens' greatest literary output. The house became a center for the City's social and literary scene, and attracted constant guests. Clara was born in 1874 and Jean in 1880. Life for the Clemens family was indeed good here at their Hartford home. Then in 1886, the Clemens' oldest daughter Susy (regarded as Sam's favorite child) was diagnosed with spinal meningitis and died. Livy never returned to the Hartford home, as it was too much for her to bear being in the place where her beloved daughter died.
In 1903, after living in New York City for three years, Livy became ill and Sam and his wife returned to Italy where she died a year later. Sam was devastated. Then in 1909, their youngest daughter Jean died from an epileptic seizure at the age of 29. Four months later on April 21, 1910, Sam Clemens died at the age of 74, some will say from a broken heart.
He had became a distinguished member of the literati, honored by Yale, the University of Missouri, and Oxford with literary degrees. Perhaps more than any other classic American writer, Mark Twain is seen not only as an author, but as a personality that defined an era.
***
DIRECTIONS: In Hartford, take Exit 46, Sisson Avenue, off I-84 East or West. At the traffic light, turn right onto Sisson and continue to the end. At the traffic light, turn right onto Farmington Avenue. Continue approx. 2/10 of a mile on Farmington and look for the sign on the right to the entrance to the museum's free parking lot. NOTE: The entrance to the parking lot is before The Mark Twain House.
http://www.marktwainhouse.org/
CLUES: From the parking area, you can admire the back of Mark Twain's House. Up the stairs to the Museum and Store. Just inside the doors you will see the Store on your right (very cool stuff inside, inluding some awesome walking sticks and logbooks). As you enter the Store, look down low on your left for Mark Twain's Letterbox which is being guarded by the Rabbit. The benches outside of the Store would be an ideal place to stamp in. Before leaving, be sure to roam the grounds to enjoy this Hartford treasure. Take the small paved path towards the front of the house before heading back to the parking area to view it's grand face. I hope you enjoy this Letterbox as much as I enjoyed making and planting it!
Blessings, MayEve (MayEve511@yahoo.com)
NOTE: You do not have to take a tour of the home or visit the Museum to participate in this letterbox, albeit a memorable experience!
*** Thanks again to my brother, Wild Rover for encouraging me to get this Letterbox "inside" AND for giving me the idea and inspiration for the Hartford County Stamp.
You ROCK!