Lexington - Stonewall Jackson House

The last thing that Ms. Edwards and I did today was to visit Stonewall Jackson's House in Lexington. We weren't able to take pictures of the house. We were able to see the basement and the first floor of the house. We were unable to see the second floor. We started our tour in a room in the basement. There was a small display about Jackson's life and career. We also watched a short video over Jackson's life while he lived in the house pictured above.

Some interesting things we learned about Jackson:

• This was the first historical site that we visited that referred to him as Thomas Jonathan Jackson and not General Jackson or "Stonewall" Jackson.
• Jackson did not grow a beard until the Civil War. He was generally a clean shaved gentlemen.
• Thomas's sister ws born the day after his father died (Laura)
• Jackson was a slave owner. He has servents in his house and three that worked a farm outside of Lexington.
• 1842 - Jackson entered West Point. During the first year he placed towards the bottom of the class. By the time he graduated he was 17th. He graduated in 1846.
• Jackson was not a popular teacher - he memorized his lectures and was not able to answer students questions. (Virginia Military Institute)
• He taught Sunday school classes at a Presbyterian Church
• Jackson and his second wife (Mary) lost a baby before having their daughter.
• Jackson purchased his house in Lexington in 1859.
• Jackson died at the age of 39.

The house had a lot of interesting artifacts that were connected to the Jackson family. Surprisingly the Jackson's bedroom was on the first floor and all the guestrooms were on the second floor. Jackson liked to keep to a strict schedule while in Lexington. He was also very concerned about the types of foods he ate. He liked to keep a very bland diet.

I was really surprised at how old Jackson was when he died. He seemed a man who was extremely wise for his age. He was also a man who had a lot of responsibilites on his shoulders and a lot of deaths to deal with. He appearance makes him look order then 39. It is really surprising what he accomplished in his too short a life.


Below is a picture that was taken of Jackson. It shows that he liked a clean faced look.



ooo
(__)