"Livingston House"

 

"Livingston House"

HISTORY OF THE “Livingston House” 

This painting was commissioned by the Historical Society.  The “Livingston House” 1864- 1865 – 1792 Graham Road was accepted into the National Register of Historical places.  Alexander W. Livingston has been known as the “man who developed the tomato.”  His contribution to tomato culture lay in quality and varieties with a specific purpose   He introduced more new, stable varieties of tomato that any other individual or group.  In the Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture, an article calls attention to the fact that of the 40 varieties tomato that had attained a distinct status prior to 1910, one-third were introductions by the Livingston Seed Company.

Mr. Livingston was a well-known as a Sunday school teacher at the Ohio Penitentiary.  He had a seed wagon, built as a Conestoga wagon with wood boxes built in to display seeds.  Under these boxes were open areas where slaves were hidden during the days of the Underground Railroad.  It was called the “ark”.

Mr. Livingston was just as particular about his house as he was his plants.  He paid over $1.50 extra per 1,000 board feet so he could personally select siding free from knots.  He employed Nathan Orcutt, a cabinetmaker by trade, to build his house in 1864-1865.  Orcutt was the finest of workmen, strict about the exactness of fit between two pieces of wood.  When he was done, the house had a “furniture finish”.

The original siding was wide strips and there also remains, built the same, a milk house with stone floors and shake roof.  There were seven bedrooms, a pantry and a kitchen; and on the east, a summer kitchen.  The parlor, a room of great elegance is generously trimmed with molding.  There is a beautiful hand-carved wood staircase with the two banked curves in the oak handrail.  The large windowpanes are mostly original glass, a little wavy with small bubbles in it.  Two small porches provided safety from the rain.

This Victorian style farmhouse is a rich wine color with beige trim.  Its setting is perfect as there is a lot of open space that has preserved the feeling that you are, indeed, in a farm location.

A kitchen garden has been maintained by the Marabar Garden Club.  Some of the plants used in the garden were obtained by a horticulturist from the National Seed Depository and were actual Livingston Seeds.

A floral cutting garden provided a beautiful view from the homes front door and is the second category the home is registered under as a historical site.  It is an authentic 1800 era garden and members of the four Seasons Garden Club, have spent hours maintaining its beauty.  Ohio Association of Garden Club judges have provided expert help.  Many citizens have donated plants from their great grandmother gardens.

The original painting SOLD to Betty Montgomery, who was serving as Ohio Attorney General at the time.  Betty gave the painting as an award to Jo Ann Davidson, while she was holding the position of Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives.

"Livingston House" is a limited edition, signed and numbered reproduction which is almost sold out. 

Image size: 14 1/4" x 18 7/8"