June 2: Francis Folsom Cleveland

On this date in History ... June 2, 1886:

21-year old Frances Folsom marries 49-year old President Grover Cleveland in the White House, becoming the only president and first lady to be wed in the White House and making her the youngest first lady (a record previously held by 24-year old Julia Gardiner when she married 54 year old President Tyler in 1844).  

She was the only First Lady to be wed and to give birth in the White House. 

When Cleveland was elected back to the presidency after a four-year gap, she became the only first lady to return to the White House. When Cleveland died in 1908, Frances became the first presidential widow to remarry (in 1913). 

At her death in 1947, she had lived longer after leaving the White House than any other former first lady. 

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May 10: First Phone in the WHite House

On this date in History .... May 10, 1877:

President Rutherford B. Hayes has the White House's first telephone installed in the mansion’s telegraph room. President Hayes embraced the new technology, though he rarely received phone calls. In fact, the Treasury Department possessed the only other direct phone line to the White House at that time. The White House phone number was "1." 

It would be 50 more years until President Herbert Hoover had the first telephone line installed at the president's desk in the Oval Office.

April 8: Beer for the White House

On this date in  History .... 1933:

When Pres Franklin Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison Act on March 23rd,  allowing the manufacture & sale of 3.2 beer & light wines during Prohibition, he made his famous remark; “I think this would be a good time for a beer.” The Cullen-Harrison Act became law on April 7, 1933, and on April 8, 1933, Anheuser-Busch sent a team of Clydesdale horses to deliver a case of Budweiser to the White House.  

December 29: First Gas Lights in White House

On this date in History .... 1848:

President Polk turns on the first gas lights in the White House. 

 

Polk had eighty gas light installed outside the White House while every single light inside was replaced by gas light with one exception.  Mrs. Polk insisted that one chandelier remain candle-lit.  She thought the chandelier in the Blue Room, believed to have been owned by Napolean, looked better in candlelight. 

 

She was vindicated when on the first night of using gas lights, the gas ran out and all rooms went dark except for her candle-lit one.

 

Electric lights were installed by Pres. Benjamin Harrison in 1891.

 

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