ATLANTApix: The Original Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear at Bulloch Hall

The creation of the Teddy Bear was inspired by an act of compassion by President Theodore Roosevelt. 

In 1902, the President traveled to Mississippi for a hunt where a small bear had been captured. When he arrived, he refused to shoot the bear. A famous cartoonist published a depiction of the incident in the Washington Post.

As the story goes, Morris and Rose Michtom, novelty store owners in Brooklyn, New York, were so impressed with the President's act of compassion that they created a stuffed bear to sell in their shop and wrote to ask the President for permission to call the creation "Teddy's Bear." 

The President responded in the affirmative and the Teddy Bear has been enjoyed by countless children and Teddy Bear enthusiasts since.

An early original Teddy Bear is today part of the Smithsonian Institution's collection. This replica (photo) resides in Bulloch Hall, the childhood home of Mittie Bulloch, mother of Teddy Roosevelt. Bulloch Hall is in Roswell, Georgia, just northwest of Atlanta.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Roosevelt's Owl

President Roosevelt Owl

I'm constantly amazed at the significant historical stories I hear that took place in Georgia...the Wren's Nest being one of the places to provide quite a few.

The owl in the above photo was a gift to Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Brer Rabbit tales and the first Georgian to be nationally recognized as an author of children's stories, from President Teddy Roosevelt. 

Interestingly, Harris turned down the President's initial attempts to extend the hand of friendship. Well, Presidents being the persistent type that they often are, Roosevelt was not one to take no for an answer. As it worked out, the two of them, Harris and Roosevelt, became quite good friends...evident by the photos and other artifacts on display at the Wren's Nest, including the owl overlooking the music room.

Personally, I'm very much looking forward to a return visit to the Wren's Nest for their Saturday afternoon storytelling. Depending on the weather, storytelling may take place inside the house (near the porch where Harris wrote many of the stories) or in the garden.

ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!