THOMASTON — The ambiance in four of the rooms at Montpelier in Thomaston have special resonance this year, representing Lucy Knox’s heritage and the possessions she gave up coming from an upper class family when she married Gen. Henry at the onset of the American Revolution.

For several months, the Lady Knox Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Rockland has been planning this special holiday tribute, especially to honor the namesake of their chapter.

Chapter Regent Mary Kay Felton said that the chapter incorporated a loan exhibit of 18th century blue and white porcelain dishes dating from 1770-1775, representing those that would have been used in Lucy’s family home. They also tied in the period china with a patriotic theme to recognize both Lucy’s British heritage and Henry’s military service in the Continental Army, United States Army, and finally as the first secretary of war in President George Washington’s cabinet.

The four rooms decorated by the Lady Knox Chapter include the dining room, withdrawing room, the Society of Cincinnati Room and the Knox bedroom. The patriotic theme is especially prevalent in the Society of Cincinnati Room, which includes a tribute to the “missing man” with a dining table set with various symbols to recognize soldiers who were killed or missing in action during a military conflict. Felton said that visitors to the room will have the opportunity to write the name of a loved one on a special card that will be placed on the tree to honor veterans or those currently serving in the armed services. 

Felton explained that there are many period details they have been included in their decorating, even the bittersweet on the tree, which represents the “bittersweet union” of Henry and Lucy. Although they remained truly in love for many years, they came from vastly different backgrounds, including Lucy’s Loyalist parents.

This is the fifth year the Lady Knox Chapter has been involved with helping to decorate Montpelier for the holiday season, and although it took several months of planning and a week of making and placing decorations in the four rooms, Felton said that it was a privilege to share this history with the community, especially since the DAR is an educational, patriotic and historical preservation organization recognizing those who served in the American Revoluntionary War.

Docents from the Lady Knox Chapter will be available in the decorated period rooms at Montpelier in Thomaston to highlight and share the historical details of their exhibit during the museum’s holiday open house celebration, with free admission, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and Dec. 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be also a ticketed celebration with spirits and light fare Friday evening, from 5 to 7, and more information for that event can be found on the museum's website, knoxmuseum.org. 

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com