Calvin Coolidge

30th President

1 term

1872-1933

Republican

Became President when Harding died

Helped to restore honesty to the government

Believed the government should not interfere with private business

Restored relations with Mexico

"Silent Cal" was a cunning man of few words. Once, at a dinner, a woman bet him she could get him to speak more than two words, and he simply replied, "You lose."

President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site

The Calvin Coolidge S.H.S. in Plymouth Notch, Vermont includes 20 things in the village that have ties to Coolidge's life.

Visitor Center: Plymouth Notch, VT

The Calvin Coolidge Visitor Center, built in 1972, houses a museum and a gift shop.  The exhibits change periodically.

Wilder Horse Barn: Plymouth Notch, VT

This is a 2003 replica of the original barn which was demolished in the 20th Century.

Wilder Barn: Plymouth Notch, VT

An original barn built around 1875.  It now holds a collection of many farming tools used during the turn of the century.

Wilder House: Plymouth Notch, VT

This home, built around 1830, was the childhood home of Victoria Coolidge, Calvin's mother.  It is now a restaurant.

Homestead: Plymouth Notch, VT

This was his boyhood home.  It was here that he took the oath of office.  The Carrie Brown Coolidge Garden, opposite the Homestead, was started and maintained by his stepmother.

Cheese Factory: Plymouth Notch, VT

The Plymouth Cheese Factory was built by Col. John Coolidge.

School: Plymouth Notch, VT

This One-Room Schoolhouse, next to the Cheese Factory, was built in 1890.  It replaced the old stone schoolhouse that Coolidge graduated from in 1885.  Stones from that building were used in the present school's foundation. 

Azro Johnson Farm: Plymouth Notch, VT

This old farmhouse was built about 1845.  The stone used to build it was taken from a quarry southwest of the home.

Coolidge Farm Shop: Plymouth Notch, VT

The shop, built about 1870, was used as a farmer's workshop for the homestead.

Carrie Brown Coolidge Garden: Plymouth Notch, VT

The garden was started by Carrie Brown, who later became Coolidge's step-mother.  Some of these flowers are descendents of ones planted by Carrie Brown herself.

Union Christian Church: Plymouth Notch, VT

The Coolidge family worshiped here for many generations.  They paid $31.00 for pew 17.

Birthplace: Plymouth Notch, VT

Calvin was born here on July 4th, 1872.  He was born in the first floor bedroom of his father's General Store.

General Store: Plymouth Notch, VT

Built during the 1850's, this store was owned by John Calvin Coolidge, Sr. from 1868-1917.

"Summer White House": Plymouth Notch, VT

The large vaulted room above the store was used by Coolidge as his Summer White House in 1924.

Plymouth Post Office: Plymouth Notch, VT

Located in the old Carrige Barn attached to the store, this is an operating Post Office.

Aldrich House: Plymouth Notch, VT

The office of the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, this was the home of Carrie Brown, Calvin's teacher and stepmother.

Cabins: Plymouth Notch, VT

The "Top of the Notch Cabins" are located in the village as well, the middle cabin is open as an exhibit.

Brown Farmhouse: Plymouth Notch, VT

The farmhouse, at the southern part of the village, was built in 1869.  It was under the care of James S. Brown.  The garden area in front of the house was the location of an older homestead of the Brown Family, and is enclosed by a white picket fence.

Home: Northampton, MA

In 1905, the Coolidge family moved here.

The Story

After visiting the Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, we decided to try to scope out the locations of Calvin Coolidge's homes.  I had no addresses written down, so we were pretty much on our own.  This home is a private residence and is not open to the public.

This plaque is located on the house.

Library and Museum: Northampton, MA

This Library contains works by or on Calvin Coolidge.  The museum contains artifacts and exhibits on him and his life.

The Story

On April 8, 2010; my family decided to visit Springfield, Mass. to see the many museums located there.  We also agreed to visit the Calvin Coolidge-related places in Northampton.  Our first stop was at the Springfield Science, History, and Art Museums (in order), as well as the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden.

After visiting those, we headed to Northampton, Massachucetts to visit the Coolidge Library, as well as the homes he lived in in Northampton.  His Presidential Library is actually located inside of Forbes Library in a special room.

Plaque

This plaque is located outside of the Coolidge room in Forbes Library.

Bust of President Coolidge

Chair used by President Coolidge

 

Baseball signed by the New York Yankees.

Gavels recieved by President Coolidge.

This hat is one of the more interesting pieces a a case full of campaign items.

Native American Headdress given to President Coolidge.

Desk used by Coolidge in his law office.

The door to Coolidge's law office, located in the museum.

Portrait of Calvin Coolidge located in the museum.

Portrait of Grace Coolidge.

Union Station Restaurant

This restaurant now sits on the site of his law office.

The Story

After visiting the Coolidge Library and home, we tried to find the Coolidge law office.  I had written down the address, but when we arrived at the site, we saw only the Union Station Restaurant.  I realized after we returned home that the restaurant sits on the site of his law office, which was demolished.

Grave: Plymouth Notch, VT

My story

2 days after the major trip through New York state, we decided to see Calvin Coolidge's grave in Vermont.  Our original plan was to visit it after my math final exam on June 13th, but the exam took longer than expected, and it was delayed until June 20th.  This trip was probably the least memorable, due to the fact that there were no major relics or a museum that would catch my memory.  The cemetery was very quiet, and had many older headstones.  His grave looked as if it had been replaced only a few years earlier.

Me standing at Calvin Coolidge's Headstone

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