May 02, 2021 Ulysses S. Grant - National Historic Landmark History Salvaged, LLC Direct: 848-992-6117 Info@HistorySalvaged.com History Salvaged, LLC Press Release Final Home of 18th President – Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Landmark - Grant Cottage West Creek, NJ – May 1, 2021: History Salvaged, LLC and The Friends of the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage have partnered to create a comprehensive line of handcrafted heirloom gifts and collectibles made from original Witness Wood®, literally history you can hold, sourced from maintenance, repair and/or restoration of the U.S. Grant Cottage Historic Site, Mt. McGregor, NY, the final home of Ulysses S. Grant in 1885. The History Salvaged and Grant Cottage partnership - the last home of the Commanding General of the U.S. Army & 18th President, Ulysses S. Grant – was formed to create an exclusive collection of Grant Cottage heirlooms from Witness Wood® and other original materials removed during maintenance, repair and preservation of Grant Cottage. The Grant Cottage pens are functional pieces of history and art that along with our other heirlooms should be “Used, Collected and Gifted” as each along with the story they contain helps “Keep History Alive®”. Built in 1872 as a hotel, the cottage was moved in 1882 to make way for the new 200 guest, state of the art, Hotel Balmoral that featured electricity. In 1885 the Grant Family’s stay at the Cottage was enhanced by amenities provided by Hotel Balmoral. While at the Cottage, Grant wrote his memoir, welcomed guests including Mark Twain (his friend and publisher) and died on July 23, 1885 just days after completing one of the world’s most critically acclaimed memoirs and thus securing his family’s financial security. Opened as a Historic Site in 1890 the Cottage remained, though a fire destroyed the Balmoral in 1897, and has survived multiple manifestations of the surrounding property that has included a sanatorium, NY State Prison and more. In 1989 The Friends of the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage was formed to operate and maintain the last residence of this beloved American figure. Initial offerings include, but are not limited to, fine writing instruments, pens, ornaments and bookmarks and will be available on site at The Friends of Ulysses S. Grant Cottage Gift Shop (Open May 1, 2021- October 2021) as well as in the online stores at both the Grant Cottage Official website (GrantCottage.org) and History Salvaged websites (HistorySalvaged.com, HistorySalvagedOnline.com) ABOUT GRANT COTTAGE The Mount McGregor Memorial Association was established to take care of the cottage after Grant's death. The cottage opened as a historic site in 1890 with a live in caretaker. The Hotel burned down in 1897 and was not rebuilt. The property was eventually sold to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1910. They constructed a tuberculosis sanitarium, which was formally dedicated in 1914, and by 1918 twenty buildings had been constructed. In 1945 the sanitarium was converted into a veterans rest camp. New York State eventually dissolved the law chartering the cottage and took ownership. In 1960 the VA camp was repurposed and annexed as the Rome State School for developmentally disabled children. In 1976 the property was again repurposed as a New York State Department of Corrections minimum-security prison work camp. In 1981, medium security prisoners began to be housed in the facility. The prison was closed permanently in 2014. In 1985, New York State announced its plans to close the cottage at the end of the season. Pressure on the State reversed their decision. The Friends of the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage was formed in the fall of 1989 to operate and take care of the cottage. ABOUT HISTORY SALVAGED History Salvaged began with a simple goal: the reclamation, salvaging and repurposing of wood and other natural materials from historic sites throughout the United States that would otherwise be discarded and lost to history. We work primarily with Witness Wood® and timbers removed from historical buildings and sites during the renovation and preservation of existing structures as well as with trees and branches that have fallen in storms, or are removed for safety reasons or expanded construction. With the challenges facing all of us in the 21st Century and as the Greatest Generation and Baby Boomers age, the relationship with our fore fathers and national identity seems to be fading. We are committed to preserving our national identity and preserving sites, buildings and materials that have not only witnessed but have been part of that national identity.
