My wife and I took a trip down to St. Peter on July 15th to visit the E. St. Julien Cox House for the event being hosted on that day, “Changing Times-The Cox Daughters and the Progressive Era.”
Firstly, we were astonished by the level of craftsmanship and artistry apparent in the restoration of the house. The authenticity is incredible, even down to the recreated wallpaper that graces the walls there. Each and every room had a story to tell in the history represented by the settings, furniture, and displays evident therein.
My wife and I opined that we have rarely seen such a complete, clean, and authentic feel to a restored historic site on our drive home…and we have seen many historic sites. I’ve volunteered for a few!
What a gem of a house it is!
Bravo to you and your staff (Kathryn Roberts, site manager, and the knowledgeable reenactors) for an interesting event about the temperance movement, the suffragist movement, a bio of the Cox family. Also, there was a wonderful dissertation by Kathryn Roberts on etiquette and manners of the time and how societal expectations changed as women ventured out into the business, judicial and political world of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
We were welcomed warmly to the house and felt like we knew a little more history as we drove home and might have to do some more reading of the settlement of the St. Peter/Mankato area during the 1800s.
I am sure that we will return, and hope that in the future, the economics at historical sites in general will improve and allow sites to be open more days to further enhance young people’s knowledge of their ancestry.
But in the meantime, thank you for the wonderful job that you have done at E. St. Julien Cox House!