Prince
George's County, Maryland is rich in history. It surrounds its residents hidden
in plain sight and mostly ignored. With
hundreds of historic places (nearly 400), Prince George's County tells the story of an
unwilling partnership that grew together to build a state and a country.
Residential homes now keep open secrets of the men and women who struggled to
overcome social and economic barriers to eventually reach the White House and
the summit of American political power.
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| Henry Pickneys son Roswell Playing with Teddy Rosevelts son Rosevelt Quentin |
Fifty
years before Eugene Allen served his country and seven of its Presidents, Henry
W. Pinckney of Fairmont Heights, came from New York as the valet to Governor
and then Vice President Roosevelt. When Roosevelt became President (1901-1909,
Pinckney became the White House steward, and, later, messenger in President
Taft's administration (1909-1913). Mr. Pinckney's son, Roswell, the eldest of
the four children of Henry and Leonora Pinckney, played with Quentin Roosevelt,
youngest son of Theodore Roosevelt, and was one of his "White House
Gang" playmates. The 'White House Gang' was "...known for their
mischievous childhood pranks. Quentin Roosevelt later joined the Army Air
Service and was killed during combat in WWI (Delegado.
2013. History - Never to be Forgotten).
The
magazine section of the Breckenridge News describes Mr. Pinckney's day around
the Christmas Holiday celebrations:
Such marketing as is necessary to fill
out the menu for the President's Christmas dinner is done by Henry Pinckney a
colored man who holds the position of White House Steward and draws a salary of
1800 a year [$1800 dollars in 1905 had the same buying power as $46938.62 dollars
in 2013[1]]
from the government for managing the domestic affairs at the White House A day
or two before Christmas Steward Pinckney sets out in the unpretentious vehicle
which serves as the President's private market wagon and makes the round of the
markets for the White House patronage is not confined to any one merchant In
preparation for the Christmas dinner."[2]
Mr.
Pinckney travels with the President were reported regularly in the press including
his trip with Mr. Roosevelt and others to vote for the Republican ticket in
Oyster Bay, New York in the elections of 1902.[3]
Henry
Pinckney saw to more than meals. He oversaw travel arrangements attending to
the details of packing of personal items and the loading of them onto the
Magnet, the President's private train car. Newspaper accounts describe is role
in Presidential trips to places like Pine Knot in Albemarle County, Virginia.[4]
Henry
Pinckney along with other members of the Roosevelt White House was invited to
attend the wedding of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. in June 1910.
"Invitations to the ceremony
have been received by practically all those who were part of the White House establishment
at the time Mr. Roosevelt relinquished the presidential chair. The fact that
many of the servants were Negroes apparently has
made no difference in the issuing
of invitations for the marriage of "Mr. Ted." Charles Boeder, footman
on the White House-carriage in the former administration (McKinley), has
signified his intention of being present. Wilson Jackson, a household messenger
for the family, and Henry Pinckney, also a member" of the Roosevelt
establishment, have received invitations and are anxious to go to the wedding."[5]
When
questions arose about Roosevelt's "drinks" in Europe, the President
was vindicated through Mr. Pinckney's mint juleps recipe was reported by the Chicago
Day Book, May 28, 1913: Roosevelt "never
drank any mint juleps at all. He [just] bruised the mint. It was the late Henry
Pinckney, negro factotum of the Roosevelt's in the White House, who made the T,
R. juleps, and the recipe he left behind read: "A. lump of sugar, a
teaspoonful of water and some mint leaves stirred in with the liquid."[6]
In 1910 Mr.
Pinckney was caught up in the meat packing scandals made famous by Upton Sinclair's
novel, The Jungle. Headlines blared FORMER
STEWART STEWARD OF THE WHITE HOUSE DENIES CHARGES MADE BY MADE BY MEAT INSPECTOR DODGE.
"WASHINGTON Feb 8 Former President
Roosevelt was not fed on half putrid beef to keep him savage according to Henry
Pinckney who today denied yesterday's testimony of meat inspector Dodge
regarding the meat supplied at the White House. Dodge testified before the special
committee of the House which is in investigating the food question. Pikney
[sic] the steward at the White House under Roosevelt's administration is highly
indignant at the charge."[7]
Mr. Pinckney forcefully "declared that no unfit and
unwholesome meat ever gracedthe table of that president."[8] He
was answering the charge made before a special committee that was investigating
the cost of living in the District of Columbia.
From
typical over the top news reporting with which we are so familiar today as to
forget our long national history of ad
hominem attacks on public figures, we know that Bulbous Bill's White House (President Taft) paid Mr. Pinckney $1300.00
per year as a messenger.[9] This salary in 1910 had the same buying power
as $33900.12 current dollars.[10]
Fairmount Heights lost it famous
resident in April 2011. The obituary in the Washington Bee spoke of his
accomplishments and friendships to a diverse community over the early years of
the 20th century.
"The funeral of Mr. Henry W. Pinckney
late steward of the White House took place from the First Presbyterian Church
on last Sunday. A large crowd attended among whom were Major Brooks and many White
House attaches. Rev. T. J. Smith pastor of the church officiated with the
assistance of Rev. M. W. Clair of Asbury church. The floral designs were
numerous and beautiful among which was a handsome cross of lilies and roses by Mrs.
Alice Longworth. (daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt). The deceased was
esteemed by all who knew him especially the citizens of this section. Interment
was held at Woodlawn Cemetery; funeral director, Mr. J. W. Winslow. Resolutions were read from the Progressive
Citizens Association of this section, expressing loss."[11]
Mr. Pinckney's
house still stands in Prince George's County, silent sentinel of those who
worked so hard to enable the words of Thomas Jefferson to apply to all men of
all color and creeds. The Pinckney House was built for Henry Pinckney,
"who at the time of the 1910 census, was 48 years of age; he had been born
in South Carolina and lived in this house with his wife Leonora and their three
children. His dwelling was a large and substantial house; in its original form,
it would have been one of the most noticeable early buildings in the community
of Fairmount Heights (Patterson, 2009).
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| Henry Pickney House Fairmount Heights, Prince George's County, Maryland |
[1] Historical
Currency Conversions. [accessed August 14, 2013] http://futureboy.us/fsp/dollar.fsp?quantity=1800¤cy=dollars&fromYear=1905
[2] The
Breckenridge News., December 20, 1905, Magazine Section Part Two, Image 8.
Library of Congress.
[3]
Evening Star., October 31, 1902, Image 1. Library of Congress.
[4] The
Washington Times., May 17, 1907, Last Edition, Image 1. Library of Congress
[5]
The Broad Ax., June 11, 1910, Image 2. Library of Congress.
[6] The
Day Book., May 28, 1913, Image 6. Library of Congress.
[7] The
Daytona Daily News., February 08, 1910, Page 5, Image 5. Library of Congress.
[8] The
Enterprise., February 16, 1910, Image 6. Library of Congress.
[9] The
Labor World., January 15, 1910, Image 6. Library of Congress.
[10] Historical
Currency Conversions. [accessed August 14, 2013] http://futureboy.us/fsp/dollar.fsp?quantity=1300¤cy=dollars&fromYear=1910
[11]
The Washington Bee., April 15, 1911, Image 5. Library of Congress.
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