This is the top floor of the ell extension added to the house and served as the quarters for the household staff. This room was dedicated to Persis Albee. Mrs. Albee’s husband went to jail because he embezzled money and she found herself a woman alone who had to support her family. She had a small store that already sold items from the California Perfume Co. (although based in NY, the owner thought “California” still sounded exotic to 1870 era Americans). Mrs. Albee went to the owner and said that she could probably sell more of the items if she went directly to her women neighbors. He loved the idea. The California Perfume Co. eventually became Avon and the company still recognizes Persis Albee as the very first “Avon Lady.”
This room contains the largest collection of Albee Awards (given to Avon top sellers) outside of the Avon Company. The figurines all bear Mrs. Albee’s likeness. The wedding dress, the satchel on the floor, and the woman’s breast coat (Minnie Hildreth, contemporary of Mrs. Albee) sitting on the arm chair are from Mrs. Albee’s era.
If you come down the back stairs, please be careful of your head. They were shorter in stature a hundred years ago.
Return to the Sheridan House Tour.
