Whitman Stafford House

This house is a beautiful addition to the Walt Whitman collection of memorabilia, history, and soul-filled spaces of the great poet. A highly talented and deeply devoted collection of local citizens banded together to save this valuable resource of literary history. The Walt Fest they have each year is a tribute to their hard work, and the extraordinary life of Walt Whitman our Native Son. We are so fortunate to have people of strong values who want to see this piece of history preserved for years to come. The artifacts here are exceptional, they are displayed with loving care and in their historic fashion.nnI Find It Fittingnnfrom my Mincing Words with Whitman - the second half of IN THE SAME PLACEnnI find it fitting,nWalt, that a hawknsits sentinel aboventhe dust younhave become - thisndirt we all bequeathnto them above.nnIt screams enoughnto let you knownthat I have comento sit, to loaf, to leanninto the day, the day itself.nnOn this spectacularnof summer days,nthe granite blocks strewnnabout your grave arenthe only seats a manncan find to sit his soulndown to mull, and musenand ponder the sufferingsnof this life.nnNo church is unlocked,nnor temple is unbarred.nNo amphitheater left opennsave the truest Colosseum -nwhere everything sits outnunder this marvelous sky.nnHow is it that we havenweedled contemplativenloafing out of our humannagenda and desire?nIt is a sadder daynfor sure. How have wenseen it fit to ordernevery moment of our days withnan endless list of tasks? Itnis untamable at best.nnIt is grandnthat we have not -nas of yet - learnednhow to keepnthe messy acorns fromnfalling. It is gloriousnthat the weeds havenlearned to mock usnwith their tenaciousngift of towardnessnand lifing.nnSome things will outneven if we preynon them and seek thendesolation of their being.nnBut here, sittingnwhere no man or womannhas a vote, where nonquorum is possible at all;nhere, where no take-overnor no buy-out approachesnthe lips of those plantednhere in this soil - themnthat abide here. Here,nmy hope is once againngiven wing that thenmadness of our humannego will one day rest.nOne day a calmnwill prevail. Oh,nthat men would tastenit before the ground.nOh, that women wouldntouch it beforenthe grave.nnIt is here,nin this presentninstant and ancientnhunger to learnnand loaf and love thenallness of all there is.

I grew up in laurel springs. The Whitman Stafford House is always a nice trip and it's well maintained. I love the events thrown there.

Quiet,laid back area tucked away in historic Laurel Springs. Now I want to take the tour!

We were there for geocaching found it. The house was closed.

I love it here around the holidays