“Washingtoniana” on display in Carlisle in 1944

George Washington’s birthday on February 22 was commemorated in different ways in Carlisle in 1944. The Misses Penrose¹ chose to create a visual tribute to Washington with memorabilia in the window of their Antique shop on West High Street,² and the newspaper printed a description of the items.

“A most interesting collection of Washington items has been arranged in the window of the Penrose Antique Shop which arrests the attention of the passerby. Prominently displayed is a pastel portrait of George Washington as a young man in his blue and buff garb. Of more than passing interest, this portrait was purchased by the late Mrs. Charles Merchant at the James Hamilton³ sale years ago and once hung in the home of Judge Hamilton at High and Pitt Streets. A smaller picture shows a photograph of an oil portrait of Washington attributed to Gilbert Stuart, the original of which hangs in the parlors of the Penrose home.⁴

A bronze plaque showing the surrender of Cornwallis, two busts of the President, a bronzed one marked Utrecht 1861, and an attractive framed Italian cameo of Washington are additional items. An old print in prime condition presents a Revolutionary scene, possibly of the surrender at Saratoga.

Numerous other rarities complete the display. Fragile handless cups of black and white Liverpool china have Mount Vernon transfer decorations; an Empire clock has an eagle motif on its top, and a Schimmel carved eagle in the center of the exhibit further carries out the timely patriotic theme.” ⁵