A visit to the McConnell Mansion in pictures

Photo courtesy of BJ Swanson, showcasing the Mansion's new roof - Sept 2019

A few weeks have passed since the Latah County Historical Society staff have begun working remotely, and there is one thing that I'm really starting to miss (aside from my delightful coworkers and our many awesome volunteers of course), and that is the McConnell Mansion. So I would like to take this opportunity to share a few of my favorite elements of this lovely old girl. One of the fun things about the house is that there is always something new to discover. Almost every time I go in, I see a new detail. Like these cool feet on a table in the gift shop. I was working for LCHS for six months before I noticed them!

And it was another six months before I saw these cool feet on the piano chair in the family parlor...

Which mimic the claw feet of the bathtub.

Speaking of the bathtub. How relaxing would it be to end a long day soaking in this bathroom?

The door hardware in the Mansion is one detail that rightfully gets a lot of attention. Each of the hinges and doorknobs throughout the house are of an intricate, artful design that I feel is sadly missing from the plain, mass-produced items of today. Pictured below is the lock and pull hardware on the pocket doors between the formal and family parlors.

A few more details:

Sound controls on the pump organ in the family parlor

The lock on "Caddie Woodlawn's Trunk"

As someone who enjoys taking photographs, the numerous bay windows and the varying kinds of light they permit throughout the day are a continuing source of inspiration and learning.

And finally, the visual brilliance of the Victorian Christmas:

We can't wait to be able to share the McConnell Mansion with you again! In the meantime, keep an eye on this blog and our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) for more interesting and informative content.

Elaina Pierson LCHS Office Coordinator

All photos courtesy of Elaina Pierson unless otherwise noted.