A Bustling Household

Lindenwald seems quiet today, but when Martin Van Buren lived here there was a stream of family, friends and political colleagues constantly coming and going. There was also an ever-changing mix of agricultural and domestic employees. Some workers were native born, many were immigrants, most were white, some were black. Years of use by the domestic help left indelible wear patterns on the tower stairs just as surely as the different members of the household left impressions on one another.