About Connections: Love it or hate it, history is a map. Those who hate history think it irrelevant; many who love history think it escapism. In truth, history is the clearest road map to how we got here: America in the twenty-first century.
Whistler’s mother is coming to The Berkshires. That is, James Abbott McNeill’s painting of his mother is coming. The painting is heralded as a great work of art for its composition and subtle coloring. Anna has been called the iconic American mother, and her image has graced everything from postage stamps to greeting cards. This summer, it will grace the walls of the Clark Art Institute. She is dressed as she is not because she is one of our Puritan mothers but because her son was creating “Arrangement in Gray and Black # 1” (no extra charge for the touches of white).
Anna McNeill Whistler was, by all accounts, a charming lady, devoutly religious, and a devoted mother. She also was a woman of talents. An excellent housekeeper and adept hostess, she was a celebrated cook.
Her hand-written recipes and special instructions for entertaining are reprinted as “Whistler’s Mother’s Cookbook.” It offers 89 recipes from what Anna called her “Bible.” In addition, it has details of their household and living arrangements taken from letters between Mother and son. It is illustrated with prints and drawings by Whistler.
While the cookbook is a fascinating glimpse into a household from another century, the demand may not be overwhelming for “collard eels” prepared by “God’s will” without step-by-step directions. On the other hand, there are recipes for pastries and muffins that might be fun to make and look as if they’d be tasty.
Whistler is more than a summer visitor to the Berkshires; she is the grandmother of two Berkshire Cottagers. Anna was George Washington Whistler’s second wife so while James had three brothers, he also had two stepbrothers and a stepsister.
It is in that first set of Whistler children that we find the Berkshire connection. With his first wife Mary Roberdeau Swift, George Washington Whistler had three children: George William, Deborah, and Joseph Swift Whistler. Joseph died at fifteen years old. In honor of his dead brother, George William named his son Joseph Swift Whistler. He named his other son Ross Winans Whistler in honor of his father-in-law.
The two brothers, Joseph and Ross, came to Lenox and purchased Berkshire Cottages. Joseph lived at Plumstead Cottage, and Ross bought Hidden House. They were less than a mile apart in a straight line through the center of Lenox. Plumstead is on Old Stockbridge Road just south of town hall and Hidden House (now the Whistler Inn) is across the street from the Church on the Hill.
Much, it would seem, is hidden at Hidden House in Lenox. There is the haunting of course: the cold spots, the creaks and groans, and oddly, the water. Water? Yes, pipes break and puddles appear without apparent cause. Who is the ghost? Who knows, but there are three suggestions.
After her husband died, Mrs. Ross Winans Whistler was left alone in the rambling house on 13 acres with a single female servant. That servant, Nancy Hedival, complained to her mistress and pressed to be allowed to bring her sister and brother-in-law into the house to round out the staff. Paul Anthony could serve as chauffeur and gardener — perhaps footman — should the need arise. Nancy’s sister, Helma Hedival Anthony, could assist her cleaning and cooking. Mrs. Whistler, Theo to her friends, agreed.
Nancy had an ulterior motive. She was in love with her sister’s husband. Paul was not indifferent. Helma and Paul arrived at Hidden House and the ménage a trios continued upstairs downstairs and in my lady’s attic.
Running between the bedrooms of his wife and his sister-in-law, Paul died suddenly at a young age, probably from exhaustion. Although each time I retell this story I wonder: did one of sisters tire of the game, redirect her anger, and poison him? The sisters continued to live in Hidden House and serve Mrs. Whistler. With equanimity? One can only guess. The three are buried across the street at the Church on the Hill — side by side — literally the eternal love triangle. One or all three could be haunting Hidden House but you would think they needed the rest.
Plumstead was a 20-room cottage. There, art critic and collector Joseph Swift Whistler maintained a calmer household. Not a breath of scandal lingers, if any occurred. Although the New York Times did report that an otherwise dull season was enlivened by a Prince and Princess, royalty, arriving at Plumstead. Unclear if the reporter was too dazzled by the royal personages to recall that the princess was Joseph’s Aunt Deborah or if it just made a better story to leave the fact out.
Joseph was also a member in good standing of the Patriarchs of the Zeta Psi Fraternity. Founded at Harvard in 1847, the proud members celebrated annually. Joseph maintained his membership even when he failed to graduate from Harvard, and was host to the gathering in Lenox in 1903. He entertained them at a dinner at the Aspinwall. Other Berkshire Cottagers who were members included the Griswolds, Walter Cutting, Samuel Frothingham, David Dana, and John Greenleaf.
So welcome to the Berkshires, Mrs. Whistler, or is it welcome back? Did either grandchild ever entertain their famous grandmother in Lenox or their famous Uncle James? Not out of the question but neither is such a visit documented.
