Victorian Mourning Rituals at Jacksonville’s Historic Beekman House

The Victorians created elaborate rituals around the passing of a loved one. Join Historic Jacksonville at the 1873 Beekman House between 11am and 3 pm on Saturday or Sunday, October 3 and 4, 2015 to explore how Jacksonville’s most prominent pioneer family honored the dearly departed in the late 1800s.

The historic Beekman House, located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville, will be decorated as a Victorian home in mourning. One hour docent led tours beginning every 15 minutes will talk about proper Victorian mourning etiquette for home décor, clothing, funerals, and social behavior as well as superstitions, séances, mementos, and a few popular practices of the time that we would find bizarre today. Tour admission is $5 for adults; $3 for seniors and students.

For the Victorians, death was an integral part of life. Despite all of the medical and technological advances of the Victorian era, people were still very much surrounded by death. Infant mortality was incredibly high while life expectancy, especially in some major cities, was frightfully low.

So death was considered part of life’s texture, giving it essential meaning. Religion played a role in this attitude, and evangelical revivals early in the 19th century reinvigorated the tradition of a good death. Dying was something to be watched — a triumph even.

Most people died in their homes, often the home they were born in, often the same home where they watched their parents die. It was natural not only to see death, but also to see the full decline of someone towards death.

Both Cornelius and Julia Beekman died in the Beekman House, and their daughter Carrie was at their sides as they declined and passed. Their younger daughter, Lydia, had died in 1873, shortly before the house was completed.

Although Beekman was already prominent when Lydia died, he had not yet reached the peak of his wealth and power. He had come to Jacksonville in 1853 as an express rider carrying mail, packages, and gold over the Siskiyous to Yreka. From this humble beginning, Beekman built a business empire of banking, insurance, mining, and real estate interests. He was also a dedicated public servant. He had already served as Chair of the School Board, Mayor of Jacksonville, and Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge. Yet to come were Republican candidate for Governor of Oregon, and Regent of the University of Oregon.

The 1873 Beekman House was built and lived in by only the one family and all the contents are Beekman possessions accumulated over their 60+ years’ occupancy, a rarity when most historic homes are furnished with period pieces. It also makes the Beekman House a unique historical treasure—one that Historic Jacksonville hopes to preserve for years to come.

The C.C. Beekman House is located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville. Parking is available on site. Victorian Etiquette tours are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students. For additional information, call 541-245-3650 or 541-488-8395, or visit www.historicjacksonville.org.