Thanksgiving on Tulpehocken Street in 1886
Cornelius and Lucy Weygandt hosted the Weygandt family for Thanksgiving Day in 1886. The families of Cornelius’ brother George and sisters Sophie, Bessie and Tilda were all there as well…
Plum Pudding
Cookies, cakes and pies are the desserts most Americans associate with Christmas today, but back in the Victorian era, plum pudding was the highlight of the holiday feast. Even the…
Victorian Theatre: Behind the Curtain #4
THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES Our annual series of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes has become one of our most popular programs at the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion. We began with…
Sponge Cake
Simple, light and elegant, sponge cake was the quintessential cake of the Victorian era, transformed into endless style and flavor combinations. Some were served plain, garnished simply with fruit, whipped…
July Fourth on Tulpehocken Street in 1879
This entry provides an interesting glimpse into various aspects of life on Tulephocken Street in the 1870s. The Weygandt family at this time was renting a house (later demolished) a…
Victorian Theatre: Behind the Curtain #5
A DREAM OF SHAKESPEARE The Victorians couldn’t get enough of William Shakespeare. They loved to read his collected works, and on stage the plays were never more extravagant. As a…
Strawberry Shortcake
True strawberry shortcake incorporates a rich, crumbly, biscuit-like cake that is not too sweet – very similar to a scone. The biscuit dough can be shaped into one large cake…
Upper Middle Class Housing in the 19th Century Germantown
The family of Cornelius N. Weygandt lived in rented houses for the first twenty years of their residence in Germantown. It was fairly common for middle class families to rent…
Winter Salads
“Salads are supposed by a large class of people to be difficult to prepare; but such is not the case. They are really simple of construction, and one needs only…
Jelly Rolls
A perfect springtime treat, pretty, dainty Jelly Rolls conjure up images of ladies tea parties, bridal showers and fancy brunches. A Victorian era creation, these delicious confections are made from…
