Christmas Mansion Tour Part Two

A bench on either side of the door greeted me at the Bingham-Waggoner house in 

Independence, Missouri, the Queen City of the Trails, as it is called. 

I love how the benches were decorated this year.  I could not stop at the bottom of the stairs to take a picture, as it was raining.  I had the camera safely protected. 

The theme this year was "All Wrapped Up". 

A vignette from one of the two front parlors of the house... this one was used as an 

office by the Waggoners.  

The painter George Caleb Bingham owned this house before the Waggoners, at the time of the Civil War. 

The front hallway, the two parlors are to the left... the stairs lead to the second and third floors... and that's the dining room to the right... and the east entrance of the house. 

That's the original wood-burning stove in the kitchen... the Waggoner's cook and her daughter 

inherited this beautiful house after the last Waggoner son died.  They subsequently sold it 

to the Historical Society, thank heavens, so we can all enjoy it. 

The butler's pantry just outside of the kitchen. 

The dining room was awash in a sea of red and gold. 

The table is massive. 

There are 8 bedrooms on the second floor, and this, the Bingham room, was one of the 

originals, built when the house was orignally constructed.  The Waggoners added onto it. 

I loved the simple tartan theme. 

It is set up right now as an office.  

Those are Bingham lithos on the walls and over the fireplace.  

That looks like "Order Number 11" on the wall, that incited this area of 

Missouri to riot during the war. 

Next bedroom over, a man's bedroom... you see the frieze on the wall... there is a different one in 

each bedroom. 

This bedroom is set up as a nursery. 

I was told by a tour guide a long, long time ago that the last Waggoner son, (I believe Harry) used 

this small bedroom, because he could let his dogs out on the balcony through this door. 

A detail of a frieze.  

One of the bedrooms is used as an office, and I have been privileged to see that bedroom in it's un-restored state... the paint rather faded but the frieze still in great shape. 

Looking down the hallway from north to south... see the clothes press in the wall?  On the 

left you can also see the call box, for the owners to call downstairs to the kitchen or housekeeper as they needed.  The restored frieze goes clear around the house in the hallways. 

This is one of the servants rooms on the third floor.  The person using this room had a reading niche there in the window... and a dresser just out of sight to the right. 

There were four servant's rooms on this floor, and a capacious bathroom for them to use, 

as well as a large day room, that is set up for hot chocolate and cookies during the Christmas season. 

I think those who worked in the Waggoner's household were probably pretty happy with their jobs.  

I enjoyed my trip back through time to Christmas past... but I think I am going to skip next year's visit... and go in a couple of years.  It's a long, tiring drive for me... 

and I'd like for Keith to see the houses, too. 

I was able to see my son Jeff for a bit after I finished, and take him home from work.  It was nice to visit and catch up with him, and we'll be seeing him again at Christmas time in a few weeks.  He has lived in Independence for many years,but does not drive and does not have a phone. 

Who doesn't have a phone?????  

I accept it, though, for what it is!  

It was a good day, but I am still tuckered out from this cold, I admit it.  

Still trying to finish our decorating here, as well!  

How are you all coming along?