The Mechanicsburg
Museum Association

Museum Hours
Wednesday - Saturday 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.
 

"Keeping Our History Alive"

2 Strawberry Alley
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
(717) 697-6088

Stationmaster's House
Virtual Tour

Welcome
Telegraph Office
Parlor
Kitchen
Master Bedroom
Small Front Room
Girl's Bedroom
Boy's Room
Follow-up Information

     How would a young girl feel to have her own bedroom at the Stationmaster’s House? E. Gertrude Zacharias, born in 1863, was a toddler when she moved with her family into the Stationmaster’s House. Since she was so young, she had little awareness that having her own room was unusual for a child. Typically, families in town had children share rooms due to a lack of space. Most likely, Gertrude had her own bedroom except when Uncle Charles, younger brother of Mr. Zacharias, came to live with them. Then, she may have shared the room with her brother since it was the larger bedroom, and siblings often shared rooms.

     Why does the “E” appear before her name? The few records that exist about her employ the “E” with her name, and there is no known record that spells out the full name. Some historians think she was named for her mother’s niece, Gertrude Riegel. The “E” in her name may have referred to her grandmother, Esther Brandt Riegel. She also had an Aunt Elizabeth, and the “E” may honor her as well. The name on her grave marker is E. Gertrude Riegel.

     Why does her room seem different from a child’s room of today? As you look around, you will notice how the room is sparsely furnished as was typical for the time, and there are no closets. In 1866, few rooms had closets. Instead, pegs were put on the wall for hanging clothing. For special outfits, she may have used the closet in the other bedroom, but it did not use hangers; instead pegs were posted in the closet. A closed closet door helped to keep outfits clean, for as the train passed through the station, dust and dirt, as well as strong odors, would fly in the air right into the back bedrooms. Gertrude must have spent a lot of time sweeping and dusting.

     What kind of clothing did Gertrude wear? Little girls often played the same games as boys, and their clothes needed to be sturdy. First of all, she wore cotton undergarments during the day. Items such as chemises, drawers, under-petticoats, and stockings served practical purposes for keeping her warm when needed, as well as for protecting the fabric of her clothing. Typically she would have several chemises. A chemise is a short-sleeved, loose, shift-like garment. Why do you suppose girls had more chemises than dresses? It was much easier to launder a chemise than a dress. In addition, girls wore drawers.

     How are drawers different from today’s underpants? Drawers consisted of two legs independently attached to a waistband and left open between the legs. The drawers extended to the knees and were not sewn together so that girls would not need to pull down layers or remove items when using a privy or outhouse. Sometimes the bottoms of the legs were decorated with embroidery. Stockings were generally thigh high and often knitted of wool. Colored stockings were also fashionable during this time.

     Where did she get her clothes? While many adult females in town were beginning to buy dresses, children typically had their dresses, skirts and blouses sewn by their mothers or a dressmaker. Skirt lengths had growth tucks, horizontal pleats near the hem that could be let out as the girls grew taller. Necklines tended to be wide, what is now termed a "boat neck". Girls wore this style of neckline until their teens. Bodices were usually gathered at the waistline (and sometimes the neckline) for a loose fit in the body, and they could be adjusted as girls grew. Girl's dresses were one piece, rather than a separate skirt and bodice, and they fastened up the back with buttons or hook and eyes. Aprons were worn during play to protect dresses from soiling. Girls wore aprons in several styles, the most common type having a one-piece bib that covered the bodice front to back. Older girls were dressed as little miniature ladies, with the look of the period for women's wear adapted to be more comfortable and allow for greater freedom of movement. These dresses had jewel necklines and long sleeves, and while often one piece dresses, they sometimes fastened up the front.

     Would she wear a corset? By school age, Gertrude would have worn jumps, a type of stay made with rope that was similar to a corset that shaped her waist. Skirts had plenty of fullness, for crinolines and corded petticoats gave structure to her dresses. Hoops were saved for fancy occasions.

     Where did Gertrude buy her shoes? Her Uncle Levi Riegel ran a shop that sold shoes, boots, gloves, and hats. His store was on Market Street, about a block from the Stationmaster’s House, and so Gertrude probably purchased fashionable shoes at his shop. Most likely she wore high button shoes, or boots that laced up the front, so as to cover the ankles. While most shoes had high heels, some were beginning to have flats.

     Did girls have many outfits? Most middle class girls had three outfits, as well as the outerwear of a cloak or cape, sometimes with a hood, and hat or bonnet. By the end of the Civil War, hemlines were beginning to rise several inches from the ground. What were the practical reasons for keeping hemlines 4 to 5 inches from the ground? Obviously hems stayed cleaner since fabric did not sweep through muddy streets or dirty floors. In addition, the fabric lasted longer since it did not fray as easily. Girls usually had color prints in their clothing due to the use of dyes. Quilts made in Cumberland County can suggest patterns and hues.

     What was the hairstyle? Hairstyles emphasized a soft, well-kept appearance. Hair was washed infrequently, and so it needed to be kept in place. Gertrude’s hair might have been braided for day-to-day activities, or brushed back off the face, gathered or fixed by a ribbon. Some girls wore a fringe—what we call bangs--but only young girls wore fringe. For specials occasions, girls enjoyed having their hair curled. Mrs. Zacharias would have placed importance on appearance since they lived in the public eye, and so her daughter’s presentation reflected her competence as a homemaker. Moreover, since the town looked with pride on the Stationmaster’s House, it was important for the family to uphold a favorable image.

     How would Gertrude prepare for bedtime? Since there was no indoor plumbing, she used the pitcher to fill her basin, and then wash off from her daytime activities. Aside from the typical dirt and grime, she might take extra care with her fingers, especially if she had been practicing her penmanship. Legible penmanship was a prized skill during her schooling years. In fact, the local newspaper, the Cumberland Valley Journal, often ran advertisements for special classes offering penmanship. Undoubtedly, Gertrude’s fingers would get stained with ink while doing her homework. She might have used soaps that her father gave her from the railroad. Surely he brought his children treats, and railroad soaps would have been much enjoyed, just as children today enjoy receiving hotel soaps from parents who travel. After washing and cleaning her teeth, she would be ready for bed. For sleeping, she wore a cotton nightdress.

     What does it mean to sleep on a tick? Instead of a firm mattress as is used today, a bed had a tick which was a cloth cover usually filled with straw or feathers. The room contains a Spool Rope Bed that was typical for the time when the Zacharias family lived at the Stationhouse. You can see how the rails attach to the head and footboard, but unlike typical modern bed boards, rope was used to support the bed.

     What if she had to go to the bathroom during the night? She would use the chamber pot. During this time period, when going to the bathroom involved a walk to the outdoors, people who needed to go to the bathroom at night would use the chamber pot, and empty it in the morning. Most likely, Mrs. Zacharias emptied them when her children were young, but as Frank grew older, the chore may have been handled by him. Mrs. Zacharias probably cleaned the chamber pots, for the task was akin to cleaning one of today’s toilets, and for many middle class families, the woman does the task. Thus we make similar conclusions for Mrs. Zacharias.

     Where did Gertrude keep the chamber pot? The ceramic chamber pot fits under the bed, the common place to keep for placement, for it was convenient and easy to find in the dark. Remember the Zacharias family did not flip a switch for light, nor did they have nightlights as some children have in their rooms today. The basic design of a chamber pot involves a pot deep enough to hold urine without splashing, and a secure lid. Usually, a chamber pot has handles so that it can be carried easily. Sometimes chamber pots had decorations on the outside, but the inside was left smooth. During the mid 1800’s, some people had close stools, pieces of furniture designed to conceal a chamber pot. In many cases, the close stool had a bench with a lifting lid, allowing females to sit comfortably while they used the chamber pot.

     Can you think of how a type of chamber pot gets used today? Chamber pots have largely disappeared except in the form of bedpans used for invalids. Yet the concept of chamber pots continues with the slang for a child's training toilet, or potty. Some children’s potty seats or training toilets resemble the close stools from the past, since they allow the user to sit and evacuate waste into a bowl below.

     Would she use a chamber pot during the day? No. During the day, members of the household would be expected to use the privy or outhouse, unless they were ill. The chamber pots from the night before would be emptied and scrubbed before being replaced in the bedrooms. Commonly, chamber pots would have been emptied into the privy, but some households simply threw the contents out the window, to the misfortune of anyone below. This practice came to be frowned upon because it fouled the streets.

     What in the room was used for play? You will notice the dolls, cradle, and miniature stove. Her play reinforced roles she was expected to assume as an adult. Gertrude spent many hours playing dolls, perhaps fashioning clothing. While commercially produced cloth dolls were available in the nineteenth century, many women and girls liked to make cloth dolls and also sew clothes for them. Note the large dolls. They would have to be purchased, and we can assume Gertrude had a bisque doll. In the 1850’s, an unglazed china known as bisque was introduced to the manufacture of dolls. By the 1870’s, bisque dolls had become extremely popular, and were made with such sophisticated features as glass eyes and swivel heads. Some dolls with a bisque head featured a jointed body made up of individual hollow wooden parts. These enabled the arms and legs to bend in a variety of directions. However, she would have to treat dolls gently, for the heads could break if dropped on the hard floor.

     How else might she spend her time? Most likely, Gertrude enjoyed reading, and the books in the room were popular with children. Her family valued education, and so she undoubtedly spent a fair amount of time studying and reading. Surely her mother read to her, and taught her prayers and hymns. Gertrude may have read The Little Pilgrim, a very popular children’s magazine. In fact, the newspaper ran advertisements for the publication. Some of the short stories were written by Sophie May, and she featured the famous series characters, Prudy and Susy Parlin and Dotty Dimple. The stories showed how daily activities reinforced moral behavior and good manners. An example "Dotty's Beads and Tea," was published in The Little Pilgrim in early 1866. Mrs. Zacharias may have also read the magazine, published from 1853 – 1868. After that time, The Little Corporal absorbed the original publication.

     Did she visit with relatives? She spent time with her relatives for many lived in Mechanicsburg. Her aunts and uncles were very civic-minded, and so Gertrude probably heard their stories about the importance of helping others. Surely she would have learned how women helped during the Civil War. An article published in the Cumberland Valley Journal on November 14, 1861, mentions how a Miss Gertie Riegel attended a meeting to help wounded. Soldiers. Another family member, Mrs. John Riegel was president of the “Association of Loyal Women for the Relief of the Sick and Wounded Soldiers of the Army of the United States.” While both men and women attended the meeting, only women filled the committee. They used the post office for storing contributions. Another aunt, Mrs. Levi Riegel, helped manage the supply depot. The newspaper praised how all churches worked together for this purpose, and appealed to the public to help. Undoubtedly Gertrude grew up learning the importance of civic duty.

     Did Gertrude go to school? She probably walked to school with her brother, Frank, where they attended classes with other white children from the town. Farm children attended a rural school, and African-American children attended a separate school. At that time, Pennsylvania law required children to attend elementary school, but not high school. Thus it is a testament to the family’s emphasis on education that Gertrude is said to have graduated in 1881. Her mother was also a student until she was eighteen; she attended the Cumberland Valley Institute, but it ceased operations by the time Gertrude started school. Her Uncle Levi Riegel served on the Mechanicsburg School Board, and later in life, her father served, as well. Gertrude did not attend classes in a high school building, such as we would expect to see today. In fact, the first Mechanicsburg High School, on the northeast corner of High and Simpson, was not even built until 1892. Most likely Gertrude attended a four room school that was built in 1858 on the south side of West Locust Street between Frederick and High Streets. The school house backed up to the land and residence of her relative, Samuel Zacharias. Prior to that time, students attended the “Brown Brick School,” named for the locally fired brown clay bricks. Built on the northern half of the Union Church lot, “The Brown Brick School” provided instruction for primary and elementary levels. It could not accommodate the population explosion that happened from 1850-1860, and so the four room school was built on Locust Street. The new school also included instruction for advanced and elective subjects, what we consider part of today’s high school curriculum. Although upper level classes were taught, recognition was not given until 1875, when the first student finished the required subjects. However, the graduating exercises were deferred until 1876 when five other students finished the course. Their diplomas were awarded in Franklin Hall. Interestingly, Franklin Hall, built in 1866, about the same time as the Stationmaster’s House, became the site for all high school graduation exercises until 1926 when the Simpson Street High School was built. Thus, we can gather that in 1881, Gertrude received her diploma at Franklin Hall, as well.

     What did Gertrude do after high school? Her adult life remains something of a mystery. In 1878-79, while she was still in school, her father left his position as Stationmaster. Obviously the family moved out of the Stationmaster’s House. Mr. Zacharias went west to Harper, Kansas with hopes of starting a farm, and Frank joined him. Records indicate that Gertrude remained in Mechanicsburg with her mother. Even though many people from Cumberland County moved to Kansas during the late 1870’s to 1880’s, the fact that Gertrude and her mother stayed behind was not unusual. Living conditions in Harper, Kansas were very primitive, and she and her mother were accustomed to the comforts that came from living in town. Moreover, Gertrude was still in school, and her parents may have felt it was important for her to graduate, and thus a reason to stay put. Had things worked out for her father, she and Mrs. Zacharias might have joined him. However that was not the case. Her father returned in the 1880’s and the family lived in town. Frank, however, stayed in Kansas and prospered.

     Did Gertrude have a job? Her name is not listed in tax records, but she could have worked in one of her uncle’s shops, especially since she did not marry. Some historians conjecture that she may have been sickly, and that is why she remained single. Others wonder if she was influenced by early Suffragettes visiting the area, and thus rejected the hard work of marriage. During that time period, women began to expand horizons whereby they were not as defined or bound by marriage. Gertrude was educated and probably read books by two prominent female authors who remained single. Louisa May Alcott wrote several novels, and the most popular included Little Women (1868) and Little Men (1871). Sarah Orne Jewett published stories in widely circulated magazines, including the famous “White Heron” (1886).

     What caused Gertrude to die at the age of 51? We can only guess. The supposition of fragile health is supported by the record of her death in 1916. However, she may have been relatively healthy and a victim of disease. An early form of the deadly pandemic influenza of 1918 swept through the country in 1916 and caused many deaths. The respiratory ailment was very hard to diagnose. Few details are known other than the fact that E. Gertrude Zacharias died before her parents. Her burial stone is placed with her family in the Chestnut Hill Cemetery.

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