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The Ham Chronicles

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The Ham Chronicles 

The history found at the Mathias Ham Historic Site is vast and the tales are plentiful. Here is where we hope some of those stories can live on. Shared from the perspective of our historians, enjoy journeying through the life once lived on Lincoln Avenue.   

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Chateau Dubuque

Each artifact within the Ham House has a unique story, providing a look into the past. Up the winding staircase is the master bedroom, adorned with objects once owned by a French emigrant family, the de Griselles. From a portrait that once hung in the Louvre to a beautiful piano with ivory keys, this room is filled with luxurious items.   Across the room, hanging unsuspectingly on the wall, is a map with “Chateau de Bois Renault” scrolled onto it. A layout of the estate... Read More
Posted by William Minnick at Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Behind the Hams

The release of the historical drama, Downton Abbey, brought a glimpse of the glamorous life of British aristocrats in the early 20th century, while equally telling the stories of the servants below stairs. The series’ return to Netflix has sparked interest in a juxtaposition of the elite and the common - the wealthy and those who serve them.  At the height of the Gilded Age, Dubuque was a city of fortunes. From families who made their money in meat processing or mining to the staf... Read More
at Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Dubuque County Historical Society Historic Site Mathias Ham Historic Site

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Saved from Demolition

Saved from Demolition  Every city has their claim to fame: Cawker City in Kans. has the world's biggest ball of twine; St. Louis, Mo. has The Gateway Arch, and Newport, R.I. has The White Horse Tavern, which is the oldest operating restaurant in the U.S. Here in Dubuque, we have the oldest existing log cabin in Iowa and west of the Mississippi River. Originally built around 1827-1828, the cabin was located in what is now downtown Dubuque. Built by L. Arriandeaux, a F... Read More
Posted by Victoria Cote at Tuesday, August 11, 2020
history Mathias Ham Historic Site

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Bummer Summer? Old-Fashioned Games To The Rescue!

Are your kids bored? Are you bored? Worried about too much screen time? Tired of playing board games? Frustrated with discovering you have lost one more puzzle piece?  We hear you, so we've delved down the rabbit hole and found some old fashioned games for you and your family to try.  Hopscotch or “Pots” No one really knows when or where Hopscotch began. It is believed that the earliest version was used for military training by the Roman Em... Read More
Posted by Victoria Cote at Thursday, July 23, 2020
Dubuque County Historical Society Mathias Ham Historic Site

Monday, July 13, 2020

Horn Furniture: Novelty or trend?

Horn Furniture: Novelty or Trend? Tucked between two settees in the Mathias Ham House is a tiny child-size chair. It is easy to miss because of its diminutive size, but it leaves a lasting impression on anyone who notices it. This small chair is made from longhorns.  Built in 1885 and owned by William Canfield Jr., the chair came from a Texas rancher through a purchase by a Dubuque butcher. The butcher then gifted it to William. The velvet seat is supported by three horns; th... Read More
Posted by Victoria Cote at Monday, July 13, 2020
Mathias Ham Historic Site The Ham Chronicles

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

The Case of Napoleon’s Sword

The Case of Napoleon’s Sword Hidden deep in our collection is a sword that is believed to have belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. Gifted to the museum by Genevieve Shannon, a descendent of General Perreau De Griselles, the sword's journey to Dubuque begins during the French Revolution. The Perreau family was one of the oldest families in France--titled and wealthy, a dangerous combination during the French revolution when the aristocracy was despised. In order to keep their land... Read More
Posted by Victoria Cote at Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Mathias Ham Historic Site The Ham Chronicles

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

The Revenge of Sarah Ham Part 3

The Wreckage  A quick recap of this sensational story: Miss Sarah Ham of Dubuque, after a thirty-year courtship and promise of marriage, accused George Potter of breaking his promise to marry her and of enticing her to a restaurant during the early days of courtship “where she was drugged and ruined.” Multiple times she attempted to leave him, but each time he persuaded her to come back to him with a combination of promises, threats, and hope.  After one ... Read More
Posted by Victoria Cote at Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Mathias Ham Historic Site The Ham Chronicles

Friday, May 22, 2020

The Revenge of Sarah Ham Part 2

The Truth Comes Out After years of false promises, on August 29, 1903, a Miss Sarah Ham of Dubuque filed a lawsuit against the millionaire George Potter, accusing him of breaking his promise to marry her. Sarah argued that George had robbed her of her reputation and caused her mental and emotional pain and suffering.  Potter answered her petition by calling her a spinster, accusing her of blackmail, being criminally familiar with men, and denied ever having promised to marry he... Read More
Posted by Victoria Cote at Friday, May 22, 2020
Mathias Ham Historic Site The Ham Chronicles

Thursday, April 30, 2020

The Revenge of Sarah Ham: Part 1

A Woman Scorned   This story begins as many romance novels begin.  A young girl meets a dashing, older man who sweeps her off her feet with a winning smile.  At the tender age of 17, Sarah met George Potter at her home, where her father, Mathias, had invited George from Duluth to discuss the lumber business.  It was love at first sight.  When George returned to Duluth, they began a passionate romance through letters. My Precious Sadie: I worked last night... Read More
Posted by Victoria Cote at Thursday, April 30, 2020
Mathias Ham Historic Site The Ham Chronicles

Friday, April 17, 2020

The Secrets a Chair can Tell

Today, I would love to introduce you to one of my favorite pieces in our collection – the conversation chair. This chair was considered to be the furniture piece during the Victorian era. You would have been able to find this chair in any formal establishment or parlor that was considered part of high society.  This particular chair belonged to the Ryan family who resided in the Ryan House here in Dubuque. It was donated to the Dubuque County Historical Society by James ... Read More
Posted by Victoria Cote at Friday, April 17, 2020
Mathias Ham Historic Site The Ham Chronicles

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

The Importance of an Easter Bonnet

I remember as a child every year my mother and I would purchase a new dress and “bonnet” for Easter Sunday. My mother would tell me stories of all the dresses and different hats that she and her mother had worn to Easter services. She would tell me how her mother would bobby pin her hat to her wig before she styled it, to ensure she would look perfectly coifed for church service. I would hear about ribbons and flowers, bonnets that were two feet tall with a goo... Read More
Posted by Victoria Cote at Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Mathias Ham Historic Site The Ham Chronicles

Monday, March 30, 2020

Kids Will Be Kids

"When I was younger, we didn’t…" We have all heard that phrase at one point in time. I know I heard it multiple times growing up (and still hear it much to my annoyance). It is a phrase that often comes after we did something that we thought was fun but maybe was dumb, or right before you were about to get a lecture containing the following adjectives: privileged, narcissistic, entitled, apathetic, or unrealistic. But let us be honest here, we have all done stupid... Read More
Posted by Victoria Cote at Monday, March 30, 2020

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