By Jeffrey Larry, Preservation Manager In 1985 renowned paint
historian Matthew Mosca visited Lincoln’s Cottage, then known as
Anderson Cottage, to assist the Soldier’s Home in identifying
significant wall and trim finishes that could be dated to the
Lincoln era of occupation. Among his many findings was evidence
of decorative painting on the walls of the Cottage vestibule
that appeared to imitate black walnut paneling. Mosca suggests
in his report that the finishes in the vestibule may have been
part of the “repairs, and refitting & furnishing” that Mary
Lincoln requested and are listed in an 1864 invoice as totaling
over $3000.00 The Soldiers Home however did not have the
resources to follow up on this discovery and at some point the
walls were covered with protective metal panels. Twenty two
years would pass before the decorative painting was rediscovered
when the metal panels were removed during the National Trust’s
interior restoration of the Cottage. Robert Lautman, 2000 The
landscape surrounding Presid