I was lucky enough years ago when I last visited Florida MO to have known the previous caretaker, John, and given the privilege to go into the birth home.

That was a thrill I will never forget :)
Jules






-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of =?windows-1252?Q?Kent_Rasmussen?=
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 6:21 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A date to remember

Thanks for that, Kevin. I figured you might reply. When I wrote my=20 original note, I was thinking of your terrific presentation on Stormfield=
=20
at Elmira and recalled your discussion of Clara's rooms.

Not much mystery about the room in which Mark Twain himself was born. The=
=20
recent Hannibal conference included a visit to the Mark Twain Birthplace=20=

Museum in Florida, where the house in which he was born is preserved. We=20=

could actually touch the outside of the house and stick our heads in it=20=

through the windows and doorways. The two-room house is so small, people=20=

reaching in through the windows on opposite sides could practically shake=
=20
hands. Incidentally, we also visited the original site of the house. Not=20=

much to see there now, but it was exciting merely to be at the site. (Mar=
k=20
Twain warn't kidding when he described Florida as "nearly invisible."=20 According to Henry, the town's present population is zero. Anyone born=20=

there now would increase the population by a a great deal more than 1=20
percent.)