Most of the photos here at Rabbit Run Cottage
can be enlarged just by clicking on each one!
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Saturday, April 16, 2011

A Grand Tea In Xenia...

...Xenia, Ohio at Edith Mae's to be exact!
Edith Mae's Tea Room & Gift Shop is inside the beautiful Eden Hall mansion.

 John Hivling, was a prominent early settler in Greene county who had eleven daughters and two sons. Eight of the daughters married and as a wedding present Mr. Hivling gave each one a cameo pin, a gold watch and chain, and a new house. It is said when his son Abraham was married his father refused to give him a house. John Hivling is said to have told Abraham, that he would have to build his own house. “All right” said Abraham, “than I will build a bigger house than any of the girls have”.




With the design expertise of Mr. Hiram Brown the mansion was constructed. Abraham Hiviling was a prominent business man in Xenia, and no expense was spared. The brick for Eden Hall were made on the premises. The mansion's massive 9,400 square feet of living space is surrounded by three feet thick brick. A formidable structure indeed; Iron fence surrounds the lawn and beautiful gardens. The original carriage house still remains on the property.


Abraham and his family lived here until 1881. The house was then sold to Abraham's niece and her husband; Mr. And Mrs. John Allen. Mr. and Mrs. Allen purchased the home for their daughter Mary Catherine Kinney who was Mrs. Coates Kinney.He wrote the “Ode to Ohio” in 1888 and delivered it at the Coliseum in Columbus for the Ohio Centennial. The Kinney's had three daughters. Their daughter Clara married a doctor, Lawrence Shields. Dr. and Mrs. Shields lived in Eden Hall until 1972. The house was then purchased by Paul and Evelyn Cozatt in 1973, and remained in their possession until 2003 when Rick and Tracy Gerhardt purchased the home. The Gerhardt's have been restoring the home and grounds ever since. Eden Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places.


The Mansion was Sally Cochran Rouch's home in “And The Ladies of the Club”, Helen Hooven Santmyer's novel. It is also rumored that Eden Hall was part of the underground railroad. The owner's are continually studying and updating the history of the mansion. It is said that this Mansion is home to "other" entities. In the book "Haunted Ohio II" the Mansion's ghostly beings are discussed. We looked & listened and looked but, *sigh*, we didn't see or hear a thing!

Entering the home...


Peeking up the stairs...

Greetings from the ever so sophisticated duo...Grace and her lovely BFF!

Miss BFF's beautiful Mother and Grandmother!

The girls with my mother...
 It was so special spending the afternoon with 2 sets of 3 generations!

There were so many delicious sweet and savory items from which to choose!

Shall I pour you another cuppa?

Oh were there hats!
Hats, hats and more hats!





As we waltz out of Edith Mae's we say farewell....

....and we hope you had a lovely time! We surely did!


14 comments:

Jo said...

Did you know I live w/ in walking distance to that house? Also friend w the lady who owns it....I've never had tea there but love the store

SmilingSally said...

Ah, Susie, you must have had SUCH a great time! What a beautiful place, and your Grace is blossoming.

Lucky you, with a mother to hug!

GardenOfDaisies said...

So fun! I love everyone's hats. Such a special place to go fro tea!

Anonymous said...

Hi Susie! Oh, what a wonderful house to tour! And...what beautiful hatted ladies! I'm sure the mommies and grammies had a lovely time as well as the young ladies! Love the hats.
I just can't believe how Gracie is growing up so fast! She's so cute.
Thank you for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Salmagundi said...

Love the story, love the house, love the hats, love, love the pictures. Is your mother doing better - glad to see her out and about. Enjoy the upcoming week with Easter blessings! Sally

Lynilu said...

Oh, that looks like so much fun! And the house is gorgeous! Imagine living in that!

Unknown said...

What a grand day for all and the memories, priceless!!

Brown English Muffin said...

I love the background on that house...and god for him for building a bigger house!!! LOL

But why oh why would someone have that many kids!!! LOL

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

cute post!!!

love that hats and the tour!!!

xxoo

Laurie - Lolo So Retro said...

You are always doing the most FUN things!

Laurie S.

Sandi McBride said...

You tell a complete story in photo ops, and am I glad to be able to have a history lesson as well! Great Post!!!
hugs
Sandi

Desert Dreaming said...

Love your post...I was born in Xenia, and moved to Fairborn, then Centerville and on to Utah and now Florida. At the time of the tornado, my husband was in the National Guard, and we moved a few years later, upon my return one year, I hardly recognized the town for which I was born. So, glad so many years have gone by and it's just as beautiful as it was before the tornado. I haven't been back there in almost 17 years, but I still have a lot of family that lives there, and the surrounding area. Just a lovely post, I really enjoyed it.

Joni

Kelly said...

Looks like so much fun! Great photos!

shelli919 said...

I used to help Mrs Cozatt clean before her tours of the home..around 1993-1995ish. My parents helped her alot there for several years. I used to love sitting up in the attic where she had this "fainting couch" I called it. Ive heard many of Evelyns stories of the hauntings. Evelyn spent much of her time in a down stairs room she calles the fern room. Its was very green. & had alot of ferns. :) she'd hear music in the attic & feel whisps of air going by her. There had been a fire in the attic long ago. The place was so beautiful. Is the elevator still there? The long closed in patio caught fire once. My mom washed & washed the curtains trying to get the smoke smell out. I was always fascinated by the basement. Spent some time down there. I think about the mansio often & wonder what it looks like now.