‘Lincoln Flag’ spurs special events

By SANDY LONG

MILFORD, PA — The Pike County Historical Society (PCHS) Museum features many fascinating artifacts, including a mysterious glass case containing preserved birds possibly linked to John James Audubon. But by far its most popular relic is the large American flag stained with blood and displayed in a custom-crafted archival box in the beautiful building’s Lincoln Room.

The flag was brought to Milford by Jeannie Gourlay, who was an actress in the play being performed the night of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The flag was used as bunting to decorate the box where Lincoln and Mary Todd, and their guests Major Rathbone and Clara Harris, were seated.

According to museum director Lori Strelecki, the flag was used to cushion the President’s head as he lay on the floor awaiting transport across the street to the Peterson House, where he later died.

“The crowd was going berserk, ripping chairs out of the aisles, taking wallpaper off the walls,” said Strelecki. “There were five flags in the theatre that evening. All five disappeared. Thomas Gourlay, actor and part time theatre manager, took the flag stained with Lincoln’s blood.”

Gourlay eventually gave it to his daughter, Jeannie, who moved to Milford in 1888. When she died in 1914, she left the flag to her son, Vivian Paul, who donated it to the museum in 1954 along with three stage costumes and other artifacts belonging to his mother. A first-ever opportunity to view the costumes will occur on Presidents Day (see sidebar).

“The line of possession, and ‘provenance,’ of the flag, is solid,” said Strelecki. “But there have been people who just don’t want to believe that such an item could end up in Milford. We know for a fact that it is human blood on the flag, but we cannot prove, through science, that it is Lincoln’s, as we have nothing to compare it to. I have come to believe it is one of the most important flags in history and I think it is fabulous that it is right here in Milford.”

Strelecki also points to the intrigue of a “curse” on the President’s Box. “The fate of the folks there that night is remarkable,” she added. “Lincoln was shot; Mary went mad; Major Rathbone later married his date, Clara Harris, and stabbed and shot her to death, then turned the gun on himself, failed to end his life and was institutionalized.”

The flag will embark on a special journey this month, when it will leave Milford in its protective case and travel to New Jersey, where The Lincoln Association of Jersey City meets every year on the anniversary of Lincoln’s birth on February 12. The group first met shortly after Lincoln’s death and its successors have never failed to gather annually since.

The flag has been housed in the museum, known as The Columns, located at 608 Broad Street in Milford, since 1983. Lending an air of completion to the event is the fact that the stately 1904 neo-classical home was built as a summer residence for Dennis McLaughlin, who moved to Jersey City in 1850 and enjoyed successful political and business careers there.

McLaughlin died in 1912 and the home remained in the family until the 1930s, ultimately coming into the possession of the PCHS after changing hands several times. The flag will leave Milford on February 11 and return to Milford on February 13.

PCHS celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2010, and is scheduling various events throughout the year. On March 12, a Speakeasy will be hosted to revisit the political climate in the Tri-State area eight decades ago when Prohibition was in effect. Visit pikecountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

Celebrate Presidents Day at the PCHS Museum

The Pike County Historical Society’s Columns Museum will celebrate Presidents Day, February 15, with a luncheon and historical exhibition. For the first time ever, the museum will display the three stage costumes given to PCHS by Vivian Paul Struthers in 1954, which belonged to his mother, Jeannie Gourlay. Gourlay’s “Stars and Stripes” costume was worn by the actress at Ford’s theatre the evening of President Lincoln’s assassination. The costumes need much restoration work, and it is hoped that the public showing will spur financial support of a campaign to restore them.

Cost for the lunch is a $10 donation and it starts at 12:00 noon in the Foundation Room of the Columns Museum, located at 608 Broad Street in Milford. Call 570/296-8126 for reservations.