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The Little Red Cottage
The Little Red Cottage, the home of Rev. John Whittlesey, was also known as the Methodist Tavern because of the great hospitality shown here. This is the oldest house in Salem, and is still standing.
Oramel Whittlesey
In the early 1830's, Oramel's reputation as a teacher was already growing. In 1835, two young women knocked at the door and invited themselves in, stating they had come to recieve instruction, and hence, Music Vale was born. Oramel was so well liked…
Henry Packwood Whittlesey
The youngest son of Rev. John and Sally Whittlesey was Henry Packwood Whittlesey, born October 26, 1812. Henry was in partnership of manufacturing pianos with his older brothers, John Whittlesey, born January 27, 1806, and Oramel, who started to…
Two Pianos made by the Whittlesey brothers
Two pianos made by the Whittlesey brothers are seen here. The pianos were made of rosewood and mahogany with ivory piano keys that had been sawed by hand and mother-of-pearl inlay letters and ornamentation. On the inside of every Whittlesey piano was…
Elizabeth (Eliza) Maginnis
The eldest daughter of Oramel and Charlotte, Elizabeth (Eliza) Maginnis (nee Whittlesey), born October 5, 1826, was a teacher and later vice principal at Music Vale. After her husband John's death in 1864, she started a school of music called…
Surviving Barn at Music Vale Seminary
Only the barn is left at the once thriving music school. A sign near Route 85 states rather unobtrusively: Music Vale Seminary. In the foreground is the cellar of Music Vale Seminary filled with water. -Cindy Lee Corriveau
Sarah Victoria Whittlesey
The second daughter, Sarah Victoria Whittlesey, born May 23, 1831, also taught at the Music Vale Seminary. On July 31, 1858, she married lawyer George Pratt of Norwich, where they lived for many years before moving to Kansas City, Missouri. Sarah and…
Sarah Victoria Whittlesey, Age 82
Bela Lyon Pratt, one of Sarah's sons, was born December 11, 1867, in Norwich. At 16, he attended Yale School of Fine Arts and later became a teacher at the school of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He is credited with 175 impressive sculptures,…
Charlotte Maconda Maginnis
Charlotte Maconda Maginnis, daughter of Jeanette, was born March 12, 1863. She became known as the prima donna in New York, where she studied and performed in famous operas until she married William Wellington Walters of New York City. Pictured is…