Teacher`s Resource Pack

Teacher’s Resource Pack
The1890HouseMuseum
Your house, your history
The front entrance of the Wickwire Residence, circa 1890
Image from 1890 House Museum Collection
Welcome to the 1890 House Museum
In order for you and your students to gain the most
from your visit to the 1890 House Museum, this pack
has been designed to provide you with extra
information to support the new ideas presented during
the tour.
In-Class Activities
A list of activities and activity worksheets have been included
which can be photocopied and used in class. These activities
relate to concepts brought up on the tour regarding
Industrialization, Women’s History, Immigration, and the
Progressive Era.
Contents
The Year is 1890…
Vocabulary Terms
Who was President of the United States? Who won the
Baseball National Championship? What books are we
reading?
During your tour to the 1890 House Museum, new terms
th
regarding the 19 century and Victorian and Gilded Age
architecture were presented to your students. We have
compiled a list of these key terms here with a brief
explanation of each.
Fact Sheet
Here are quick facts regarding the Wickwire family, the
Wickwire Factory, Cortland in the Industrial Age, and the late
th
19 century.
Further Reading and Resources
A list of books, websites, and other educational resources has
also been included. These resources cover topics regarding
the history of the Industrial Age and the Victorian Era. The
books listed are available in the 1890 House Museum
Research Library, which can be accessed by appointment.
Vocabulary Terms
Listed below are terms you will encounter on your
tour of the 1890 House Museum.
Patent: When the government grants a person or
industry the sole right to make, use and sell a specific
product for a set amount of time.
Cupola: A small structure on top of a roof.
Chester Wickwire took out a U.S. government patent for his
invention of the wire-weaving loom.
You can go up to the fourth floor cupola of the 1890 House
and look out at the hills of Cortland.
Gothic Revival: An architectural style popular in Europe
and North America throughout the 1800’s and early
1900’s that imitated the Gothic style.
The 1890 House, with its stone arches and castlesque turret, is
a prime example of the Gothic Revival architecture.
Immigrant: A person who leaves their home country to
live and work in a different country permanently.
The majority of workers at the Wickwire Factory were made
up of immigrants from Ireland and Italy.
Industrialization: When a society or locale transforms
its everyday working life from that of agricultural-based
to industry (factory) based.
Philanthropist: A person who gives time and money to
make life better for others around them.
Chester Wickwire was considered a philanthropist because he
gave generously to the community, such as donating money
for the Cortland County hospital. His son Charles donated
money for the Wickwire Pool in Suggett Park.
Progressive Era: A period of social activism and reform
that occurred in American society and politics from the
time period of 1890 to the 1920’s. Changes made
during this era were a reaction against the excesses of
the Gilded Age, and thus sought to create better labor
conditions, inclusive voting laws, and other kinds of
reform to make life better for more Americans.
During the Progressive Era, women’s groups came together
to promote prohibition, child welfare, and universal women’s
suffrage.
Industrialization in Cortland County came about slowly in the
late 1800’s, as more and more people moved into the city to
work at regional factories producing goods like clothing,
corsets, carriages, and woven wire.
Urbanization: When society transforms from a ruralbased, low-population village into a city with multiple
industries and increasing population all in a centralized
area.
Industry: Economic activity where products are made
by way of machine or factory.
When more and more people started to move into the City of
Cortland to live and work at the city’s various industries,
urbanization occurred.
The Wickwire Brothers Co. Factory was an industry located on
South Main St. that manufactured woven wire and screen
products.
Inglenook: A corner of a house near an open fireplace,
often with benches or seating.
The inglenook of the 1890 House is a cozy spot for visitors to
sit, with its warm lights and curved walls.
Victorian Era: In England, the period characterized by
the reign of Queen Victoria (from 1837 to 1901); in
America, the time period was slightly later (from postCivil War Reconstruction to about 1915).
The 1890 House was built during the Victorian Era, and thus
reflects many styles and ideals of the time.
Interior of the Wickwire Factory
Image from 1890 House Museum Collection
Fact Sheet

The Second Industrial Revolution, also known as
the Technological Revolution, occurred from
the mid-19th century to World War I and was
characterized by railroads, iron & steel
production, widespread use of machinery in
manufacturing, use of oil, and the beginnings of
electricity.

Chester F. Wickwire was born in 1843 in
McGraw, NY to a farming family. He moved to
Cortland in 1865 when he was 22.

Chester was paid a carpet loom in exchange for
a good he sold at his Cortland Hardware Store.
Using his innovative skills he converted the
loom to weave wire instead of cloth, patenting
his wire loom invention.

The Wickwire Residence took 18 months to
build and at the time cost $75,000.

The term “Gilded Age” was coined by famous
American author Mark Twain.

The term “Robber Baron” was a negative term
for the wealthy and powerful 19th century
American businessmen (Captains of Industry)
who used unfair practices. These practices
included paying extremely low wages,
squashing competition by acquiring competitors
in order to create monopolies and eventually
raise prices, and schemes to sell stock at
inflated prices.

Factory workers in the late 19th century were
paid 20 cents an hour and a typical work week
was around 60 hours.
Chester F. Wickwire with one of his wire looms
inside the Wickwire Factory
Image from 1890 House Museum Collection

Workers at the Wickwire Brothers Factory
earned $10 a week during the late 19th century.

In the late 19th century, Cortland was home to
three large industries: Cortland Corset
Company, Cortland Wagon Company, and the
Wickwire Brothers Factory.


The Wickwire Brothers Factory on South Main
Street was built in 1873. At the height of
production it was around 40 acres in size.
By his death in 1910, Chester F. Wickwire was
worth $1,677,498.12.

Cortland’s population grew from 6,000 to 9,000
between 1882 and 1886 due to its industrial
growth. By 1928, the population reached
10,000—one tenth of which worked for the
Wickwire Brothers Factory.

27.5 million immigrants from Europe arrived in
America between 1865 and 1918.

The Wickwire Factory provided a large amount
of jobs which created an ethnic workforce of
German, Irish, Italian, and Slav workers.
.
In Class Activities
Captains of Industry
Researching Personalities
Have your students research well-known Captains of
Industry during the 19th Century. Compare and contrast
these individuals to Chester F. Wickwire and
industrialization in Cortland County compared to the
rest of the United States. Discuss their backgrounds and
social standings. What was happening in Cortland
County in the late 19th century compared to what was
happening in the United States?
J.P. Morgan (1837-1913)
Steel
John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937)
Oil
Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919)
Railroad
First Impressions
In the Victorian Era, first impressions were highly
important. Victorian Americans were aware of the
power of first impressions. They knew that what people
saw first had a disproportionate impact on the
formation of opinions and judgments. During your tour
at the 1890 House Museum your students saw firsthand
architectural focal points that illustrate this point of
view. Why would Chester Wickwire want a house like
this? Was this house a reflection of the Industrial Age in
the United States? What rooms were public versus what
rooms were private? How can you tell?
Philanthropic Efforts of the late 19th Century
There was a drastic increase in the number of wealthy
families in the United States towards the end of the 19th
Century; from 100 or so millionaires in the 1870s to
4000 in 1892. According to Andrew Carnegie’s Gospel of
Wealth, the wealthy owed a duty to society that called
for them to become philanthropic, giving back money to
their communities (hospitals, colleges, libraries,
museums, religion, etc.). Andrew Carnegie was a selfmade man, a true “rags to riches” story who wanted to
give what resources he could to the community. What
comparisons can be made from him to Chester F.
Wickwire? How did Chester follow Carnegie’s Gospel of
Wealth? How was Chester philanthropic to Cortland
County? Encourage your students to work in groups to
discuss how philanthropic efforts of Chester Wickwire
have helped their community. Who are the major
philanthropists in the community today? Are their
donations publicly recognized? Have the groups discuss
how their community as a whole benefits from
philanthropic gifts.
Different Lives, Same World
During your tour, students were introduced to the
different lives of the Wickwire family to that of their
servants. With industrialization and urbanization, a new
working class emerged during the Gilded and into the
Progressive Era. Divide your
class into two groups: high
society and working class
society. Have your students
discuss
their
different
occupations,
transportation,
housing, leisure activities, and
fashion. Discuss the differences
between the wealthy and the
working class citizens who lived
during this time.
Andrew Carnegie
Chester F. Wickwire
Activity Sheet 1: The American Dream
Cortland County was home to three large industries: Cortland Corset Company, Cortland Wagon
Company, and the Wickwire Brothers Factory. These factories led to an increase of immigration to
Cortland County. Using the photo of Wickwire Factory workers below, describe what these men &
women hoped to achieve by immigrating to America and working at a factory like this? What was their
concept of an “American Dream?” What new technologies of the 19 th century allow them to travel to
Cortland County? Did these technologies improve or worsen their working life? Describe what life
would be like for a factory worker in Cortland County.
Men & women workers at the Wickwire Brothers Factory
Images from 1890 House Museum Collection
Wickwire Brothers Factory at South Main
Street, Cortland New York
Image from 1890 House Museum Collection
Activity Sheet 2: The Ideal Victorian Woman
Victorian Women had a duty to look beautiful at all times but they must also ensure that "...they make
it look like there was no effort at all..." Ardell Wickwire was expected to live her life in the domestic
sphere. A docile wife meant a stable household. In contrast, the Victorian domestic servant was held
to their own expectations. Using the image below of Ardell in her carriage and a housemaid at the
window, what comparisons can you draw about these two women? Despite their different social
class—were they held to the same moral standards?
Chester and Ardell Wickwire in carriage at their
residence at 37 Tompkins Street, Cortland
Image from 1890 House Museum Collection
During your tour you saw both living quarters of Ardell Wickwire and of the Wickwire servants.
Draw conclusions about what kind of activities each would do day to day.
Activity Sheet 3: 19th Century Inventions
Many new technologies emerged in the 19th century. Here are a few pictured below. Using the
images, write what you think they are. Next write down which person would benefit the most
from that particular invention. What inventions like these did you see on your tour at the 1890
House Museum?
Late 19th Century Inventions
Zipper, 1893
Although the design for a zipper-like closure had been in the
works for decades, the first person to successfully market the
“Zipper” was Whitcomb Judson. A friend of Judson’s came to
him with a problem: he couldn’t tie up his shoes due to a bad
back. Judson, who loved to tinker, created a fastener that
could be closed with one hand and voila! The “Universal
Fastener” was born. About 20 years later, the design was
reformed and improved upon by Swedish-born engineer and
Universal Fastener employee Gideon Sundback. In 1923, the
F.B. Goodrich Company then used the fastener on a line of
their boots, and coined the name Zipper, making it universally
popular.
Paper strip film & Personal Camera
1884 (film) & 1888 (camera)
In 1884, George Eastman of Rochester patented film that
could be rolled up into a camera, thus allowing the
photographer to take multiple shots before developing.
Several years later, his invention of the Kodak camera (the
first to specifically use roll film) made photography available
to the masses.
Carpet Sweeper, 1876
Anna and Melville Bissel lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and
Anna began noticing that no matter how often she beat and
cleaned the rugs, they were never quite clean!
Typewriter, 1868
The first commercially successful typewriter was invented in
1868 by Americans Christopher Latham Sholes, Carlos
Glidden and Samuel W. Soule in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The
working model was made by the German-born machinist and
clockmaker Matthias Schwalbach. The team sold their patent
for $12,000 to Densmore and Yost, who teamed with E.
Remington and Sons to produce it. It had the familiar
QWERTY layout, which later became adopted by other
manufacturers. It was named the Sholes and Glidden TypeWriter, and the first one ever produced came out of Ilion, NY
(near Utica) on March 1, 1873.
Telephone, 1876
Although Alexander Graham Bell is credited with the
invention of the telephone, there are several before him who
also contributed to its creation. In 1871, Italian immigrant
Antonio Meucci filed a caveat (an announcement of
invention) for the talking telegraph or telephone, but was
never able to follow up on an official patent. Elisha Gray
went to the patent office on February 14, 1876 but was 34
spots too late to file his telephone patent….it had been
awarded to Bell earlier that morning.
Flour Sifter patent by Chester F. Wickwire, 1877 one of the
many inventions developed after he industrialized wire
weaving.
Image from 1890 House Museum Collection
Activity Sheet 4: All Things Victorian
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
dresses
9
hopscotch
10
nanny
Industrial Revolution
Queen Victoria
letters
manners
rocking horse
Thanksgiving
Down
 1. Victorian families celebrated the same holiday we do with turkey and oysters
 3. The Victorian Age was named after this woman
 6. This word for good behavior was extremely important to Victorian people
 7. Victorians didn't have technology so they had to use the post office to send these
 9. Victorian baby boys wore this unexpected piece of clothing
 10. This toy that children rode on was very popular in Victorian times
Across
 2. Victorian children liked to play this game in the street
 4. These women often took care of wealthy Victorian children
 5. This family lived in the 1890 House
 8. This era occurred at the same time as the Wickwires lived
Wickwire
The Year is 1890
The President of the United States is Benjamin
Harrison.
There are 62,979,766 people living in the United States.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is writing the first Sherlock
Holmes story “A Scandal in Bohemia” for Strand
Magazine to be published in 1891.
On January 25, American journalist Nellie Bly completes
her round-the-world journey in 72 days.
On March 8, Bram Stoker begins work on Dracula.
Artist Vincent Van Gogh dies on July 29 but not before
he paints an impressive 70 paintings in the month of
May in the outskirts of Paris.
Yosemite becomes a National Park.
Photographer Jacob Riis publishes How the Other Half
Lives, documenting the horrible living conditions
immigrants faced living in New York City’s tenements.
Now imagine you are living in Cortland County at
the end of the 19th century. Are you a factory
worker? Are you an Immigrant? Do you live on
Tompkins Street? What activities do you do?
Answer the questions below.
1. What is your name?
a.
2. Where are you from?
a.
3. Where do you work?
a.
4. Where do you live?
a.
5. What do you do for fun?
a.
6. What new technologies do you use?
a.
7. How would you travel to the west coast?
a.
8. What is your favorite book?
a.
9. Can you vote?
a.
10. What do you eat for dinner?
a.
11. Draw the house you live in.
Wyoming and Idaho are admitted as the 43rd and 44th
states in July.
Popular music: The Commodore Song, Star of the East,
and You’ll Miss Lots of Fun When You’re Married.
The Louisville Colonels (American League) tie the
Brooklyn Dodgers (National League) three games each
for the Baseball National Championship.
Future 34th United States President Dwight D.
Eisenhower is born on October 14.
Irish writer Oscar Wilde publishes The Picture of Dorian
Gray.
The Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota occurs
on December 29.
12. Draw yourself…what kind of clothes do you
wear? How do you style your hair?
Further Reading and Resources
These resources cover topics regarding the
history of the Industrial Age and the
Victorian Era. The books listed are available
in the 1890 House Museum Research
Library, which can be accessed by
appointment.
Online
Industrialization in America
http://wwwtheusaonline.com/history/industrialization.
htm
Print
Top 10 Industrial Revolution Inventions
http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inve
Stories of Cortland County, Bertha Eveleth Blodgett
The Elegant Woman, Gertude Aretz
ntions/5-industrial-revolution-inventions.htm
BBC Victorian Britain: An introduction
Death in the Dining Room, Kenneth Ames
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/vict
Victorian Fashions & Costumes from Harper’s Bazar
orian_britain/introduction/
1867-1989
The Victorian Woman, Suzanne Cooper
BBC The Victorians
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/
Victorian Home Building, E.C. Hussey
The World of Victoriana, James Norbury
US History: Victorian Values in a New Age
http://www.ushistory.org/us/39d.asp
Dining in America 1850-1900, Kathryn Grover
Book of Etiquette Vol 1 &2, Lillian Eichler
The Great Nineteenth Century Household Guide
Industrial Revolution
http://www.history.com/topics/industrialrevolution
Other helpful sites
http://www.gilderlehrman.org
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/
This Teacher Resource Pack was made possible with funds received from the
Cortland Community Foundation.
The 1890 House Museum
37 Tompkins Street, Cortland NY 13045
T: (607) 756-7551 E: the1890house@gmail.com W: the1890house.org