A Room-by-Room List of the Furnishings in Carlisle’s “Mansion House Hotel” in 1836

On March 16, 1836 an inventory and appraisement were taken of the goods & chattles, rights and credits of Barnet Aughinbaugh, Esq., late of the Borough of Carlisle, deceased. At the time of his death, he was the proprietor of the “Mansion House Hotel” and Stage Office on the southwest corner of West High and Pitt streets. Fortunately, the people who took the inventory identified each room they were in and then listed the items in each of those rooms. Consequently, it provides a rare picture of the furnishings of a Carlisle hotel in the first half of the 19^th century.

Although it might be more interesting to begin in the bar room or the dining room, the following list begins where the inventory begins, in the stable, and follows the inventory takers as they go from room to room. The value of each item is not given here but can be seen in the original.

(In the Stable) 1 horse, 1 saddle and bridle, 1 gig and harness, 18 horse halters, 2 horse buckets, broom, shovels, and rake, etc.

½ ton hay (supposed), Lot of oats (say 47 bushels), Lot of hay in Stage stable, and Lot of straw in Stage stable, Lot of manure, Lot of straw (in Back stable) 4 hogs, Lot of stove coal (Say 3 ton), 1 axe, clothes line and reel, Lot of rain water casks, 1 pair of steps, 1 washing machine (Patent), 1 large brass kettle & 1 large iron kettle, Lot of tubs, and 2 old washing machines, Lot of kitchen utensils (in Wash House), 1 rotary cooking stove and apparatus, 2 brass kettles (small)

(In Kitchen) Lot of tin ware, 4 candlesticks, Lot of skimmers and ladles, 1 meat saw, Lot of ware in kitchen dresser, Lot of ware in kitchen cupboard, 1 coffee urn, 3 kitchen tables, 2 milk cows, kitchen dresser, corner cupboard in kitchen, 3 stone jars and slop bucket

(In Back room) 1 coal grate, coal shuttle, shovel and pokers, Lot of waiters, 5 brass candlesticks

(In small Back room) Lot of dishes, plates, etc. in cupboard, 1 large silver ladle, 1 corner cupboard, table linen and towels, 1 doz. Chairs (light color), 2 arm chairs, 1 breakfast table, 1 work stand, 1 looking glass, 15 yards carpeting (Rag), 1 slaugh [sic] knife, toaster and salt box.

(In Dining Room) 1 ½ doz. Chairs, Settee & cushions, Pine side board, 3 waiters and lamp,  ½ doz. silver table spoons, 2 doz. silver tea spoons, Lot of plates, cups, & saucers in Side board, 3 doz. Knives & forks & 3 carving knives and forks, 1 gilt looking glass, 1 eight-day clock, 1 stove & pipe, 4 table cloths, carpet in Dining Room

(Cupboard Furniture in Dining Room) 3 castors, 21 tumblers, Lot of plates & salt sellers

(In Small room back of Bar) 1 walnut table, 1 centre table & cover, Jackson’s "Proclamation", 4 pictures framed & map, 1 small gilt frame looking glass, 1 pair brass andirons, 7 chairs, lamp & pulleys & 4 hand lamps, shovel, tongs & waiter, carpet in room

(In Wash House) 22 Japanned Lamps, 1 bucket, 2 wash basons & sundries

(In Bar Room) 1 coal stove & pipe, 7 chairs, 1 settee, 1 lamp & pulleys, 41 pictures framed, bar furniture, Liquor in bar

(In Cellar under Bar Room) 1 barrel Huckelberry Bounce, 1 barrel vinegar, 1 barrel whiskey (damaged), 1 barrel cider, 1 barrel still burnt whiskey, 1 barrel wine, 16 bottles Champaign [sic], 1 keg with oil, 1 empty barrel, 2 loads wood, 20 pair slippers.

(In Hall - First floor) 2 sociables, 1 settee, 2 maps (PA & World’s), carpeting lot, Hall lamp,

(In the Back Parlour) 1 Side Board (Mahogany), side board furniture, 1 dining and 2 smaller tables, 12 chairs, carpet & hearth rug, 1 gilt frame looking glass, 1 pair brass andirons, fender, shovel & tongs, 1 pair bellows, hand brush & spitting box, 7 waiters, 2 snuffer trays, 1 pair glass lamps & 1 pair plated candlesticks, Lot preserves & sundries in Cupboard

(In Front Parlour) 1 sett Dining tables, 1 work table, carpet, and hearth rug, 12 chairs (dark), 1 pair brass andirons, 1 gilt frame looking glass, 1 gilt frame mantle glass, 1 brush & 5 waiters, 1 pair Venetian window blinds

2 Lamps on sign post, sign & sign post, Lot of stair carpeting on 2^nd & 3^rd stories, 32 stair rods, 1 brass mounted coal stove, drum & pipe on 3^rd story.

(In [Room] No. 10) 2 double bedsteads, beds & bedding, 1 table, wash stand & dressing glass, 2 chairs, Lot of rag carpeting

(In No. 11)  1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 single bedstead, bed & bedding, 2 chairs, 1 table, washbowl & looking glass, Lot of rag carpeting, 1 sheet iron fender

(In No. 12) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 single bedstead, bed & bedding, 4 chairs, 1 table, dressing glass, & wash stand, bowl & pitcher, Lot of carpeting, 1 pair brass andirons, iron fender & tongs

(In No. 13) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 single bedstead, bed & bedding, 2 chairs, 1  dressing table, glass, & wash stand, bowl & pitcher, Lot of carpeting

(In No. 14) 1 single bedstead, bed & bedding, 3 chairs, dressing glass, & wash stand, bowl & pitcher, Lot of matting, 2 maps (U. S. & PA)

(In No. 15) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 2 chairs, 1 small table, washbowls, pitcher & looking glass, Lot of carpeting

(In No. 16) 2 beds and bedding, 6 chairs, 2 tables, washbowl & pitcher & looking glass (gilt), Lot of carpeting & Oil cloth mat, 1 pair andirons, fender, shovel & tongs

(In No. 17) 1 single bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 chair and piece of carpet

(In No. 18) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding

(In No. 19) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 single bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 wash stand bowl, pitcher, table & looking glass, 1 chair, Lot of carpeting

(In No. 20) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 single bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 wash stand bowl, pitcher, table & looking glass, 2 chairs, iron fender, 1 Lot of carpeting

(In No 21) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 2 chairs & 1 Walnut table, 1 wash stand bowl, pitcher, & dressing glass,

(In No. 22) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 single bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 wash stand bowl, pitcher, & dressing glass,

(In No. 23) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 table, wash stand, bowl, pitcher & looking glass, 1 chair & Lot of carpeting

(In No. 24) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 wash stand, bowl, pitcher, looking glass, chair & Lot of carpeting

(In No. 25) 1 double High Post bedstead & bedding, 1 wash stand, bowls & 2 chairs, 1 pair small andirons & shovel & tongs

(In No. 26) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 wash stand, bowl, pitcher, stand & looking glass, 2 chairs & Lot of carpeting

(In No. 27) 1 single bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 chair

(In No. 28) 2 double bedsteads, beds & bedding, 2 chairs, Table & looking glass

(In room adjoining No. 18) 1 double bedstead, bed & bedding, 1 Walnut Secretary, 1 pine table, dressing glass & arm chair, 1 pair brass andirons, Lot of carpeting

(Upstairs in Back Building) 2 double bedsteads, beds & bedding, 1 Walnut bureau (curled), 1 Walnut bureau (small), 1 toilet looking glass, 3 chairs, Lot rag carpeting, 1 Bureau (plain), 1 Walnut table, toilet table & stand, 4 chairs, 3 Common bedsteads, beds & bedding, Tin cooking stove (old), Lot of hand soap, 3 hams, 1 large chest

Lot of Salt meat & vessels in Cellar, Lot of empty barrels in Kitchen cellar, Lot of meat in Smoke House (supposed), stone water vessel & stand

When including the $95 cash on hand, the total of the inventory was $1268.63 ¼ cents. One dollar in 1836 is equivalent to the purchasing power in 2023 of $32.62

The last page of the inventory included: “The following articles are claimed by the children living with intestate at the time of decease, under the Act of Assembly.” 1 cow, 2 beds with necessary bedding, 2 hogs, ½ ton hay, 30 bushels of oats, Household furniture amounting to $20, 100 lbs. of meat, 1 stove & pipe, 2 loads wood, 1 ton coal for a total of $125.05. ¹