Mamie Eisenhower is Entertained at Rock Ford

By Samuel C. Slaymaker, Executive Director

Although the core of the mission of the Rock Ford Foundation is focused upon the preservation of Rock Ford and its collections while sharing the story of the life and times of General Hand, we also are blessed to have a sixty year institutional history with many stories of its own that are worth recounting. As we move towards the opening of the Snyder Gallery and the beginning of a new era, I would like to turn to the story of a great moment from the Rock Ford Foundation's illustrious past.

Although George Washington may have been entertained for tea at Rock Ford by Edward and Katherine Hand on the afternoon of July 4, 1791 during the First President's visit to Lancaster (the tea was held either at Rock Ford or at the Hands' rented residence in downtown Lancaster - the primary source materials leaves it unclear which home was the setting), Rock Ford has another Presidential connection that is far better documented. On June 18, 1971, former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower was the guest of honor at a black tie "Patriotic Dinner" for the benefit of the Rock Ford Foundation.

The genesis of the visit was with Lieutenant General Daniel B. Strickler, a Rock Ford Board member who had served under General Eisenhower during both World War II as Supreme Allied Commander and shortly after the War when Eisenhower headed NATO. As recorded by Keith Jones of the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, Strickler explained, "I saw Ike and Mamie when they came to Franklin and Marshall College a few years ago and suggested to them then that they see the Hand house, but they weren't able to fit it into their schedule. I thought that this would be a good time for Mamie to come down, and she agreed." President Eisenhower had passed away in 1969.

According to an article by Jack Moore of the Lancaster New Era, "Mrs. Eisenhower, accompanied by her ever-present Secret Service escorts, arrived in Lancaster in mid-afternoon and made her appearance at Rock Ford promptly at 6:30 p.m." She was welcomed by General Strickler and remarked to him "Dan, you look perfectly marvelous," as he was attired in his full-dress uniform. Later, while serving as Master of Ceremonies at dinner, Strickler stated, "The ladies insisted that I wear it, to prove that I had one."  As for the former First Lady, she was dressed in a pink and white chiffon gown.

After arrival, Mrs. Eisenhower was taken on a brief tour of the first floor of the Rock Ford mansion. She was heard to remark, "It's lovely. It's a terrible shame that we have let so many of our historic buildings go to waste. I'm glad to see that you are doing something about this one." Following the tour, she and her party were ushered to "one of two gaily striped tents which had been set in the front yard." She was seated in a large Chippendale armchair flanked by a small table upon which was placed a floral arrangement "highlighted by Mamie Eisenhower carnations, a white carnation with touches of red."

The evening's featured speaker was Clement E. Conger, White House Curator and Chairman of the Special Fine Arts Committee for the Department of State, who gave "an illustrated talk on Masterpieces of American furniture now in the diplomatic reception rooms of the new State Department building."

As the evening progressed and fireflies began to illuminate the darkening grounds, a dinner companion asked Mrs. Eisenhower, who had once been an accomplished pianist, if she still played the piano at her Gettysburg farm. She was heard to reply that "I try not to go downstairs that often when I'm there. It's too lonely. There's so much of my husband down there that I stay mostly in my bedroom."

On a more festive note, 233 sponsors who paid $100 each to dine with the former First Lady on a dinner of breast of chicken and ham, stuffed tomato, French string beans and almonds, strawberry shortcake and demitasse. In conclusion, Mamie Eisenhower commented on her visit to Rock Ford, "I came here because I live in Pennsylvania and because my husband's forebearers were Quakers from Elizabethtown. Sometimes I do things because I have to and sometimes I do them because I want to. This is a combination of both."