This painting is displayed in the museum at Plymouth Notch, Vermont. The general store, with Calvin's birthplace in back, is at the left; behind it you can see the steeple of the church he attended; across the street and back is the Coolidge home; the white building nearer the right-hand edge of the picture is the hotel, and the red building is the Coolidge barn. This is how the town looked in the early 20th Century.

The general store is still open; mostly it sells tourist items. Calvin was born in a room attached to the back of this building.

I have a thing about old gasoline pumps. This type of pump was to be seen occasionally when I was a little kid. You'll notice the price was a bit lower in those days. The cheapest gasoline I actually remember myself was 7 gallons for a dollar, in the mid-1930's.

Calvin was born in this building, on July 4, 1872 -- the only president to be born on July 4.

Shortly after his birth, the Coolidges moved across the street to this house. This is also where he took the Oath of Office.

I knocked on the door, but Calvin wasn't home. I went in anyway.

Calvin became vice president as a result of the fame he received as a strike-breaker. He was usually a passive leader, but on this one occasion he exerted himself, which led to his nomination as Harding's veep. When Harding died, Calvin received a telegram, in the middle of the night. He put on his clothes and walked across the street to the town's only telephone, and called the Secretary of State, who told him to take the Oath of Office immediately. Calvin's father was a justice of the peace, so he administered the Oath in the living room. Calvin went back to bed.

This is the room Calvin slept in as a kid, and even when President, he slept here when he visited back home.

The house is a typical New England house, with all the different out buildings attached to the house. That way they don't have to go out in the cold so often. This is the woodshed. . .

. . . and this is the saddlery.

This is the laundry room.

Calvin was a member of the Union Christian Church all his life. Whenever he was home, even while president, he attended this church.

I liked the wood interior.

The flag stands by the Coolidge pew.

Calvin's mother died when Calvin was a teenager; his father married again, and Calvin grew to love and appreciate his stepmother. This is his stepmother's family's house, built in the New England style, with all the outbuildings attached.

The Coolidge barn is now a museum.

Among other displays, there is this elegant carriage; possibly Calvin rode in it or a similar one when he was a kid.

I'm pretty sure he rode on a sleigh similar to this for the first 25 or so years of his life.

The hotel and restaurant are still in business; I had a fairly good lunch here.

On the way back to civilization I passed this hillside with all its brilliant fall colors.


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All photos on this site ©Donald L. Mark 1973-2007

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