The tom thumb house was originally an italianate villa with gothic detailing. Tom thumb was taken when the pair was in their early forties. The real tom thumb and the birth of celebrity bbc news. When stratton was 5 years old, barnum began exhibiting him as one of the wonders in his popular new york city museum. Barnums circus, general tom thumb and his diminutive wife lavinia made their home in middleborough. He said he believed the tom thumb house can be a tourist attraction. Tom thumbs house in middleborough middleborough, boston.
General tom thumb was the stage name of charles sherwood stratton january 4, 1838 july 15, 1883, a midget who achieved great fame under circus pioneer p. General tom thumb simple english wikipedia, the free. Middleborough historical museum, which exhibits a large collection of. Barnum called him general tom thumb and gave out that he was 11 years old and had just arrived from england. Reception of general tom thumb at lincoln white house. When lavinia warren, a glamorous little person who was almost incomprehensibly famous in the 1860s, married fellow circus performer tom thumb, their lavish wedding at. Vintage photo of general tom thumb and lavinia, around 1863. Barnum had the general under contract and lost no time in publicizing the event and arranging for the couple to be presented to chiefs of republics and royal sovereigns.
Barnum, the genius of hype, and it came in the depths of the civil war, when americans were eager for a moment of joyous distraction. On the left in each picture is the best man, george washington morrison nutt, known as commodore nutt, who had courted lavinia unsuccessfully. Following the wedding, they honeymooned at the white house and. He then married another dwarf named lavinia warren of massachusetts in 1863 in new york city see. He owned a house in the fashionable part of new york and a steam yacht, and he had a wardrobe. Doctorow, a barnstorming tale of an irrepressible, brawling, bawdy era and the remarkable woman who had the courage to match the unique spirit of americas gilded age. General tom thumb was a dwarf who achieved great fame as a performer under circus pioneer p. Around the world with general tom thumb first and foremost among the group of globetrotting midnineteenthcentury entertainers was a dwarf named charles s. Tom thumb house middleborough, massachusetts, his summer house. For anyone who loves the historical novels of sara gruen, geraldine brooks, and e.
Barnum, who operated an extremely popular museum in new york city and was known for exhibiting the diminutive superstar general tom thumb, heard about jenny lind and sent a representative to make an offer to bring her to america. One of middleboroughs most historically significant architectural treasures is the charles sherwood stratton house on plymouth street at warrentown. Tom thumb, the house was built on the historic warren farm opposite lavinias birthplace. Mercy lavinia warren and charles stratton general tom thumb on. The general tom thumb house at warrentown sideshow world. Thumb married lavinia warren in 1863, and continued to tour. Tom thumbs residence, sketch of the life of general tom thumb. Constructed in 186970 by charles sherwood stratton and lavinia warren better known as general and mrs. Barnum called him general tom thumb and gave out that he was 11 years. Tom thumb peter carlson it was americas first fullblown celebrity wedding, choreographed, publicized and staged by p. General tom thumb 4 january 1838 15 july 1883 was an american entertainer. White house downstairs upstairs non public areas grounds and entrance changes in the white house on february, 1863, a honeymoon party was held at the white house for charles s. See more ideas about my town, oliver house and general tom thumb.
The boy who was passed off as a young adult created a sensation at barnums american museum in new york city. Past or current residents of the thimble islands include president william howard taft, general tom thumb, and garry trudeau and jane pauley. Period pencil written identification on top front of mount reads. The middleborough historical museum houses the worlds largest collection of tom thumb memorabilia an interesting side note. In the midst of the civil war in 1863, a large crowd turned out at grace church in new york city to witness the wedding of a diminuitive couple, tom thumb of bridgeport, conn. Charles came back to america, invested in real estate in the growing area of east bridgeport, and built a house fitted to his unusual size at the north end of town. Tom thumb soon embarked on an american tour, followed by a tour of europe where he was commanded to appear before queen victoria. The information presented here comes from a variety of sources, some written on the photographs and some from reading numerous books and web sites.
Tom thumb house middleborough, massachusetts wikipedia. General tom thumb bio, facts, family famous birthdays. A photo from one of general tom thumbs successful tours in europe. Stratton was a son of a bridgeport, connecticut, carpenter. Dressed in military regalia, general tom thumb took to the stage like a fish to water and the public absolutely adored his charm, quips and showmanship. He was the first major attraction promoted by the circus impresario p. The autobiography of mrs tom thumb is a fictionalised account of a true story. General tom thumb gets married the saturday evening post. Available in the museums gift shop are historical maps, a variety of books on tom and lavinia thumb and local history, as well as childrens items. The little queen of beauty agreed to marry general tom thumb and the world was completely riveted by their socalled fairy wedding on february. Merry lavinia warren bump stratton was 2ft 8 ins tall, perfectly formed, ambitious and intelligent. The middleborough historical museum, more commonly known by locals as the tom thumb museum, opened its doors in 1961. See more ideas about general tom thumb, human oddities and circus performers.
General tom thumb went on extended american and world tours and made an enormous amount of money. Mill house two has a reproduction of the peirce general store, which operated in middleboro for the greater part of the 19 th century. He toured europe, appeared before royals, and returned to america rich. Barnum born to parents of normal stature, charles stratton ceased growing at the age of six months and remained 25 inches. Charles sherwood stratton january 4, 1838 july 15, 1883, better known by his stage name. The deborah sampson war room, named for another middleboro. Middleborough, ma tom thumb collection roadside america. This is a reenactment of the ceremony staged by photographer mathew brady after the feb. Tom thumb and miss lavinia warren the queen of beauty. General tom thumb charles sherwood stratton, january 4, 1838july 15, 1883 was an unusually small man who, when promoted by the great showman phineas t.
It has second empire architecture, including a mansard roof, paired brackets in the cornice, and paired columns supporting the porch. The fairy wedding of general tom thumb charles stratton and lavinia warren. Lincoln gave a reception for tom and lavinia at the white house. Run by an allvolunteer staff in partnership with the middleborough historical association, the middleborough historical association and museum is comprised of a total of 7 buildings located on jackson street in the historic. Stratton tom thumb was 24 years old, 32 inches high and weighted. For the first 6 months of his life, charles continued to develop normally. Charles sherwood stratton january 4, 1838 july 15, 1883, better known by his stage name general tom thumb, was a dwarf who achieved great fame as a performer under circus pioneer p. Tom thumb died in 1883 of a stroke at age 45, six months after narrowly escaping a disastrous hotel fire at the newhall house in milwaukee that killed 71 people. Tom thumbs command performance for queen victoria gave barnum years of publicity, and made them both very rich. Barnum in 1842 and became famous the world over as general tom thumb. The middleborough historical museum houses the worlds largest. Since its construction, a front porch and secondfloor balcony have been added. Middleborough museum exhibit recalls celebrity little. Under barnums management, stratton became a wealthy man.
This page added 122005 visit a page of photographs of other special people in our collection. General tom thumb, historys smallest superstar duration. Barnum as general tom thumb at the age of five, amassing fame and fortune that later allowed him a lavish lifestyle and business partnership with barnum. The tom thumb house is a historic house at 351 plymouth street in middleborough, massachusetts. Tom thumb house middleboro, massachusetts landmark. Incredible craftsmanship throughout w original woodwork you dont see in current construction. Charles sherwood stratton aka general tom thumb and his. General tom thumb, pseudonym of charles stratton, born january 4, 1838, bridgeport, connecticut, u. Stratton and livinia warren, who had beenread more.
That one time abraham lincoln threw a wedding reception. General tom thumb was the stage name of charles sherwood stratton january 4, 1838 july 15, 1883, a midget who achieved great fame with lavinia. At age four charles sherwood stratton became general tom thumb. Barnum performer charles stratton wasnt his height but his heart. Around the world with general tom thumb matthew wittmann. He owned this island, cutintwo island east, in the thimble island chain of connecticut. Tom thumb, the house was built on the historic warren farm opposite lavinias birthplace and became a welcome retreat for the couple between grueling months of touring. Lavinia, and minnie bump aka minnie warren, lavinias. Barnum, was known to the world as general tom thumb. His parents were sherwood edward stratton and cynthia thompson. Charles sherwood stratton aka general tom thumb and his circle.