Decorated Clay Houses

I could easily spend my eternity going through every house/home/dwelling ever built!  I love architecture, the older, the better.  Particularly interesting are those home that have additions or different levels.  There are some gems in which stairways have actually been moved!  (Mind you, I couldn't live in one of these old homes - way too expensive!)

Wonderfully delicious are old homes decorated for Christmas!  This December, daughter #7, Marie and I toured two local estates, White Hall, the home of Cassius Marcellus Clay, near Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A., and Ashland, the home of Henry Clay here in Lexington, Kentucky.

White Hall is a four-story house, including basement, and even more tall and imposing in the pitch black dark of a December evening, on the top of a hill in the country.  Even though the long sidewalk from the parking area was lit, it was hard to find our way.  Marie's husband, Charles, accompanied us on the tour.  General Green Clay built this house, first called Clermont, in 1798-1799, passing it on after to his death to his oldest son, Cassius Marcellus Clay.  Cassius added on to the house in 1863.  The total number of rooms, counting closets and hallways, were forty-four (!), on nine different levels with ten thousand square feet of space.  The stairways were very unusual and at least one had been moved.

Cassius Clay was U.S. Minister to Russia; there are quite a few paintings and objects d'art brought back from his travels there or presented to him. Of course, in every room was a beautiful, unique fireplace, with lovely Christmas decorations.  There were Christmas trees of every height with different themes.  My favorite was a very small one in the children's nursery, decorated with small toys.

When we first entered the massive foyer, were were entertained by dulcimer music in the main 'drawing room' (living room).  The chandelier in this room was large and quite sparkling.  The entire house was grand in every way.  Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and showed such pride in this historic home.  After the tour, we were served a tempting array of cookies and hot apple cider.

Even though I've now lived in Lexington for more than thirteen years, I've never toured Ashland.  I've been saving it for a special time during Christmas.  Marie also loves these old homes; together we've toured quite a few.  The original Ashland was built by Henry Clay in 1806 on an estate originally 672 acres.  Henry Clay was a U.S. Congressman and three-time Presidential Candidate.

The ceiling lights fascinated me.  Some of them were originally candle lights, then gas lights, finally electrified.  Ashland had its own Gas Works since it was too far from the city of Lexington.

After Henry Clay's death in 1852, his son James demolished the house due to its poor construction and rebuilt in the present grand, solid style.  Again, the Christmas decorations were magnificent.  Marie and I could have sat down and talked with the guide for several days, I'm sure.

Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky, December, 2013.

 Photographs were not permitted in either of the two houses.  The Clays were cousins and shared many common practices.  Both family patriarchs were extremely good businessmen and traveled extensively.  I was touched that in both families were several who died of Tb. Both families owned slaves but gave them freedom before it was required.

FYI:  All these years when I heard these old homes had 'gas lights,' I assumed they found a way to pipe in natural gas.  Oh, no!  They had large tanks of gasoline and captured the vapors the piped that into the lights.  The Ashland guide said they had to be extremely careful of sparks!!

If you like history, architecture, and/or Christmas decorations, give yourself a treat and visit these homes!