MORAVIA - One local historical organization celebrated former President Millard Fillmore's 209th birthday on Sunday in an attempt to change his nickname from the know-nothing to the know-something president.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Julie Fulton, and her friend's son, Josh Cochran, 13, of Moravia, look at the replica of the house where former President Millard Fillmore lived in East Aurora at Fillmore's birthday celebration on Sunday at the Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society in Moravia.
Julie Fulton, and her friend's son, Josh Cochran, 13, of Moravia, look at the replica of the house where former President Millard Fillmore lived in East Aurora at Fillmore's birthday celebration on Sunday at the Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society in Moravia.
“He is nicknamed the know-nothing president because no one knows (anything) about him,” said Joyce Hackett Smith, a member of the Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society. “We want to change that because he is the only president that was born in Cayuga County.”
While eating birthday cake and drinking punch, visitors toured the new Millard Fillmore Room at the society's History House in Moravia.
The exhibit includes photos and a painting of the 13th president, clothing, kitchenware and furniture from the White House in addition to a timeline of events that Fillmore was involved with.
“He started the Transcontinental Railroad, and no one knows that,” Hackett Smith said. “He is the only president that does not have a library or some kind of building dedicated to him ... He kind of got forgotten in history because both of his children died, and they are usually the ones who organize something.”
Roger Phillips, the society's treasurer, said it also didn't help that Fillmore was not liked by many politicians after he took office.
In an attempt to bring Fillmore back into the spotlight, Phillips said the society is talking to the United States Mint about having a ceremony in Moravia to celebrate the unveiling of a commemorative dollar coin to honor Fillmore. Each president will be featured on a dollar coin, and Fillmore's is scheduled to be released in 2010.
“He has done some major things in history and we want to let people know.” Phillips said. “He is known for stalling the Civil War by 10 years with the Compromise of 1850 and for opening trade with Japan. Japan didn't trade with anyone until Fillmore and William Seward negotiated with them.”
Tim O'Brian, of Auburn, said he was impressed by the exhibit even though it was smaller than ones he visited honoring presidents Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy.
“It is very important to maintain museums for all of our presidents,” O'Brian said. “I have been to some massive, federally and privately-funded libraries and museums for other presidents, and while this one is small, it's still nice. It kind of feels like it's more in step with the time period that (Fillmore) is from.”
Harriet Scarry, of Moravia, said she donated most of the items in the exhibits after her husband, Bob Scarry, passed away. Scarry's husband spent decades researching Fillmore and eventually wrote a biography about the president.
“My husband was an American history teacher when we moved here,” Scarry said. “No one was doing any research on him, so he got interested in doing it. After he retired, he wrote a biography about Fillmore. It's the only one that has ever been written about him.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
While eating birthday cake and drinking punch, visitors toured the new Millard Fillmore Room at the society's History House in Moravia.
The exhibit includes photos and a painting of the 13th president, clothing, kitchenware and furniture from the White House in addition to a timeline of events that Fillmore was involved with.
“He started the Transcontinental Railroad, and no one knows that,” Hackett Smith said. “He is the only president that does not have a library or some kind of building dedicated to him ... He kind of got forgotten in history because both of his children died, and they are usually the ones who organize something.”
Roger Phillips, the society's treasurer, said it also didn't help that Fillmore was not liked by many politicians after he took office.
In an attempt to bring Fillmore back into the spotlight, Phillips said the society is talking to the United States Mint about having a ceremony in Moravia to celebrate the unveiling of a commemorative dollar coin to honor Fillmore. Each president will be featured on a dollar coin, and Fillmore's is scheduled to be released in 2010.
“He has done some major things in history and we want to let people know.” Phillips said. “He is known for stalling the Civil War by 10 years with the Compromise of 1850 and for opening trade with Japan. Japan didn't trade with anyone until Fillmore and William Seward negotiated with them.”
Tim O'Brian, of Auburn, said he was impressed by the exhibit even though it was smaller than ones he visited honoring presidents Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy.
“It is very important to maintain museums for all of our presidents,” O'Brian said. “I have been to some massive, federally and privately-funded libraries and museums for other presidents, and while this one is small, it's still nice. It kind of feels like it's more in step with the time period that (Fillmore) is from.”
Harriet Scarry, of Moravia, said she donated most of the items in the exhibits after her husband, Bob Scarry, passed away. Scarry's husband spent decades researching Fillmore and eventually wrote a biography about the president.
“My husband was an American history teacher when we moved here,” Scarry said. “No one was doing any research on him, so he got interested in doing it. After he retired, he wrote a biography about Fillmore. It's the only one that has ever been written about him.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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chico wrote on Jan 9, 2009 10:49 AM:
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