[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 6 (Monday, February 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO JOHN AND JUDY RUTHVEN

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize John and Judy 
Ruthven, from my home State of Ohio, for their tireless work in 
restoring the U.S. Grant Homestead--the home of our 18th President, 
Ulysses S. Grant. This was the home Grant knew as a boy. He lived there 
from the time he was 1\1/2\ years old until he left for West Point.
  After years of admiring the home, the Ruthven's purchased it in 1977. 
When they took possession of the homestead, it was on the National 
Register. The Ruthvens would need to put in a tremendous amount of work 
before the homestead would become the National Historic Landmark it is 
today.
  The homestead, originally built in 1823, was already over 150 years 
old when the Ruthven's took ownership. It had a leaking roof, a 
collapsing side porch, a missing summer kitchen, a shed that was 
falling apart, a basement that leaked, chimneys that needed repair, and 
termites. The task to restore it was challenging, to say the least.
  The first thing the Ruthvens did was contact an architect to consult 
on the restoration. After many meetings, they began the long, arduous 
process of restoring the homestead.
  While challenges were abundant, the Ruthvens were meticulous about 
every detail and actually found great joy in the more difficult tasks. 
For example, they meticulously searched for Grant family artifacts and 
took painstaking measures to ensure that each new structure and piece 
of furniture matched pictures of the original home. They searched 
across the State of Ohio looking for old wood and glass for the 
floorboards and windows. In fact, the wood floors in the new kitchen 
came from an old 1820's building and the wrinkled glass was from a 
building being demolished in Lancaster, OH. They even used square-cut, 
hand-made nails in the process.
  After all of the structural work was completed, the Ruthvens and a 
network of friends scoured the State for furniture from the same time 
period. Judy was fortunate enough to locate a rocking chair at an 
auction that had been hand-made by Jesse Grant, Ulysses's father. They 
also have acquired--on loan from the Ohio Historical Society--a couch 
and a cradle that had belonged to the Grant family.
  In the end, the entire homestead had been scoured and cleaned, new 
plumbing and waterlines had been installed, old structures had been 
rebuilt and the homestead was decorated with period furniture. After 5 
years of reliving the life of the Grant family, the restoration was 
finished and the Ulysses S. Grant Homestead was designated a National 
Historic Landmark. Now, John and Judy Ruthven are in the process of 
donating the homestead to the State of Ohio, so that all of America can 
learn the history and enjoy the beauty of this home.
  John and Judy Ruthven are generous beyond words. They are a tireless 
team, giving so much of their own time and money and efforts to restore 
the Ulysses S. Grant Homestead. I thank them for all of their hard work 
and for their great gift to the State of Ohio and to our country.

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