...moving on...

May 15 10:30 AM
Arrived at boyhood home of Thomas Woodrow Wilson..it is a handsome traditional appearing 3 story red brick house on a corner lot, with a somewhat similar appearing house on the next lot.
Both homes are part of the Historic site with the adjacent home being identified as the Lamar Home. He was a Pastor of another denomination of the Protestant faith, as well as Woodrow Wilson's father who was Presbyterian minister...they lived next to each other just about at the same time, and each of thier son's became close friends.

It was necessary to enter the basement of the Lamar house to gain entrance to the Wilson home, and as we paid our entrance fee to the woman there, she informed us that she would act as our personal guide. I'm certain that you noted that President Wilson's first name was Thomas...and we learned that his mother's maiden name was Woodrow.

He lived in this home from age 1 until age 14, which of course were the formative years that helped mold his character...and just what information I was seeking! His minister father father obviously had a great influence in his rearing since he evidently instilled discipline and the need for education early on. In an upstairs bedroom which had been utiilized somewhat as a Family room, we were shown an inverted chair which his father, while being seated on the floor would lean back on it's back to support himself as he read nightly from the Bible as well as the Classic novels to all the children for thier entertainment and enlightenment...
The house was owned by the church and provided to the family, with the church at which he was Pastor was an impressive huge building on the opposite diaganal corner. He obviously was very devoted to his father, but apparently also had a strong maternal feeling...since when he was President, he was responsible for making the 2nd Sunday in May...an Official "Mother's Day"!
When he was 4 years of age, we were told, as he stood near the front fence he overheard 2 men who were passing by of the election of Abraham Lincoln as President and the fact, "that that meant war"! He dashed indoors to inquire what that meant and it was explained to him...The family being in the South had black slaves at the time. As the Civil War progressed it served to have great impact on Woodrow in his development. There being a railroad depot just up the street from the house, it was used to transport wounded Union soldiers into the church grounds for medical assistance...and when the city was siezed and the church grounds were used to billet some of the Union army. it posed a problem...At one point he, and the son of the Pastor next door were given a severe reprimand by his father when it was discovered that the 2 boys had visited and become friendly with some of the Northern soldiers!
To further corrobate the validity of the house , we were shown a pane of glass in one of his parent's bedroom on which he had etched with one of his mother's pieces of jewelry his name...It was a roughly scratched"TOM"!
I took several pictures, and having been given more information about his rearing at that location, it was time to leave. It had been a very worthwhile stop!

We then drove to Columbia, Georgia where President Wilson moved when he was about 14 since his father had accepted another Ministry there. We found the location and it was a pretty large, gray framed house trimmed in white with rectangular columns. Unfortunately, it was not open for inspection since it was closed for repairs...but pictures were taken and we had been made aware that the house had been built by Woodrow's father and it was the ONLY house he ever owned! . It was time for dinner and bed.

Now it was time to try and locate Andrew Jackson's birthplace...It was supposed to be in Waxhaw...either South or North Carolina!...so we set the GPS for Waxhaw and took off! We were aware that both towns claim Andrew Jackson as one of thier own, as to his birthplace! But as we drove merrily alongs we noted that the terrain became much more rugged and forested...and as we drove on the winding road we also noted that it was identified alternately as either being in North or South Carolina! The story we recieved that at the time of Jackson's birth this frontier area had relatively unmarked border markings. They in fact were boulders or stones set in somewhat random fashion demarcating the lines, hence today's confusion. Further we were informed that when Andrew's mother went into labor during his birth that she did so in thier house on the South Carolina side..but walked over to her sister's place on the other side and had little Andrew there!....It's "your nickel...and your choice"! at any rate when we finally reached the site, we entered the park and entered the visitors center. There were just a few artifacts and material related to President Jackson there, and on the grounds were a small group of what appeared to be reconstructed buildings simulating how the farm had appeared.
We further were informed that there was a somewhat similar tourist location on the other side of the border about 2 1/2 miles away.....but we were satisfied we had seen the "real" one!
Official North Carolina statements are made that 3 USA Presidents were born in North Carolina..Andrew Johnson, James K. Polk and Andrew Jackson..That was good enough for me!

The next drive was to the birthplace of James K. Polk. It was located in Pineville, North Carolina which had of course been on the frontier. It is now a small bustling little town, somewhat affluent appearing, with the usual stores in it's various shopping malls. Just beyond the center of town in a park-like area, up a winding lane they are in the process of refurbishing Polk's birthplace. It was constructed of rough hewn boards in a cabin fashion and had about 5 window apertures. A local carpenter, who spoke and looked the part of a "local" was busy plyiong his trade on it...and explained to me that even tho this house appeared to be so primitive, it really demonstrated that it was of a more affluent style than most which generally only had 2 windows! It was placed in a setting where they were also building reproductions of other structures such as a blacksmith shop, livery stable etc. so as to give the appearance of a small village. Pictures were taken and we left. It seemed so unlikely after these visits to such primitive and remote locations that these men could have been elected to such a prestigious office...and how much they did to serve in the development of the United States...( I hope that my book will identify adequately how this was accomplished)...We then drove out of town for about an hour until we located a suitable motel and dining facilities. Would you bellieve the best we could find was an IHOP!