Mount Pulaski Courthouse hosts intimate birthday celebration for Mary Todd

 

[December 18, 2019] 

Mary Todd was born on December 13th, 1818, in Kentucky to a very well off family. She was nine years younger than her future husband, Abraham Lincoln, and born in the same year that Illinois became a state. Last Friday, December 13th, the Mount Pulaski Courthouse hosted an intimate little birthday party in honor of Mary Todd Lincoln’s 201 birthday.

Courthouse director Barbara Stroud-Borth greeted guests as they arrived at the party and enticed them with the popular Mary Todd cake.

The cake is made with almond flour and was a special recipe that Mary Todd reportedly used it to win over the heart of her husband-to-be when they were courting.

However, the story also goes a little further. The Todd family was well-to-do and rubbed elbows with influential people that included the Marquis de Lafayette. When Lafayette came for a visit to the Todd’s Lexington, Kentucky home, Mrs. Todd (Mary’s mother) commissioned a French chef to create the cake in honor of their guest.

The recipe was delicious and so well received that the Todd women begged the chef to share his recipe, and he did. For years later the cake was baked for special occasions, including a special dinner Mary Todd prepared for Lincoln during their period of courting.

It is said that Lincoln proposed to Mary because he didn’t want her to bake for anyone but him.

When Lincoln was elected President, the recipe went to the White House with the Lincoln’s. However, the White House chef was not impressed with the simple presentation of the cake, so he decided to turn it from a sheet cake to a triple layer cake. He added raspberry jam between the layers, frosted the cake with a French meringue and embellished it with fresh raspberries.

Last Friday, Stroud-Borth had both the sheet cake and the layer cake on hand. Guests came in and she happily sliced up the layer cake so that everyone could sample the cake that would have been served at White House dinners.

Those who came for the party enjoyed a time of visiting with Stroud-Borth and courthouse volunteers, with much of the topic being centered on the wife of the 16th President.

In addition to sharing stories about Mary, there was also talk about the Christmas trees that are on display at the courthouse.

The small tree that was part of the cake table was originally made by Nancy Saul when she was serving as interim director of the Logan County Tourism Bureau. The tree was made and donated to the Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation for the annual Christmas Tree Fundraiser auction.

The tree sold for a hefty price at the auction and was purchased by someone local. Later the tree was returned to the courthouse by the buyer as a gift to be placed on display during the holiday season.

A second tree is in the first room on the right as guests come into the courthouse. That tree contains ornaments that were made by the Mount Pulaski High School students. Some of those ornaments in addition to celebrating the courthouse, also celebrate the late Harry Hahn who was the beloved portrayer of Abraham Lincoln in the Mount Pulaski area and beyond for many, many years.

The courthouse is one of the sites where the young lawyer Abraham Lincoln practiced as a circuit rider. The building is a valued piece of history.

There were no electric lights or glittery ornaments in the days when Lincoln would have been in the courthouse. The courthouse is charmingly decorated period appropriate in boughs of evergreen, garlands, bows and candles (modern electric).

For those who made their way to the Mount Pulaski Courthouse on Friday, the afternoon was quite enjoyable. Along with the cake, punch was served and plenty of hot coffee. Guests were in no hurry to leave the comfortable setting, and all enjoyed spending time together in honor of the late First Lady.

[Nila Smith]