Photographs: Set of four stereoviews of Waldemere
Part of BM-MSS 002 box 3
1869 – 1875 (Date manufactured/created)
3.25 in H
X
6.75 in W
Set of four stereoview cards depicting the exterior and landscape of Charity and P. T. Barnum's third Bridgeport home, Waldemere, constructed in 1869. Stereographs are composed of two photographic images taken at very slightly different angles, which, when seen through a special viewer, makes the combined single image appear dimensional and lifelike. The albumen photographs are mounted on a deep yellow cardstock. Stereograph cards were made by Pomeroy and Wilson, c. early 1870s.
The first card offers a view of Barnum’s home Waldemere, taken from a slight left angle, with an expansive lawn in the front punctuated by an urn with flowers. The Victorian mansion is highly ornate with no plain surfaces visible. A flag flies atop the mansion's domed tower, which is four or five stories tall and would have provided excellent views of Long Island Sound. It is said that the flag would fly when Barnum was at home, meaning home for a time period, not in and out during the day. On the back are the words “Waldemere [?] the water.”
The second card is a view of Waldemere showing some of Barnum and Charity's grandchildren on the front lawn. From left to right the children are Carrie Hurd, Frances Thompson, Julia Hurd, and Helen Hurd. In the baby carriage is Clinton Seeley; he would later have a brother and sister, and the Hurd girls would later have a half-sister. Frances's younger brother, who was Barnum's namesake, died in 1868. On the back are the names of the grandchildren.
The third card features Waldemere's front entrance. A statue of a female figure is in the foreground. On the back of this stereograph is a list of "Views of Bridgeport and Vicinity, photographed by Pomeroy and Wilson, 275 Main Street." This is essentially an advertisement of stereograph sets available for purchase., because they were a popular parlor entertainment in this time period.
The final image is a view of Waldemere's front entrance with a lawn ornament of a dog standing in foreground. Photograph is taken from a slight left angle. On the back is a list of various stereograph cards available for purchase through Pomeroy and Wilson.
The first card offers a view of Barnum’s home Waldemere, taken from a slight left angle, with an expansive lawn in the front punctuated by an urn with flowers. The Victorian mansion is highly ornate with no plain surfaces visible. A flag flies atop the mansion's domed tower, which is four or five stories tall and would have provided excellent views of Long Island Sound. It is said that the flag would fly when Barnum was at home, meaning home for a time period, not in and out during the day. On the back are the words “Waldemere [?] the water.”
The second card is a view of Waldemere showing some of Barnum and Charity's grandchildren on the front lawn. From left to right the children are Carrie Hurd, Frances Thompson, Julia Hurd, and Helen Hurd. In the baby carriage is Clinton Seeley; he would later have a brother and sister, and the Hurd girls would later have a half-sister. Frances's younger brother, who was Barnum's namesake, died in 1868. On the back are the names of the grandchildren.
The third card features Waldemere's front entrance. A statue of a female figure is in the foreground. On the back of this stereograph is a list of "Views of Bridgeport and Vicinity, photographed by Pomeroy and Wilson, 275 Main Street." This is essentially an advertisement of stereograph sets available for purchase., because they were a popular parlor entertainment in this time period.
The final image is a view of Waldemere's front entrance with a lawn ornament of a dog standing in foreground. Photograph is taken from a slight left angle. On the back is a list of various stereograph cards available for purchase through Pomeroy and Wilson.
T 2016.060.003