Look who came to dinner
INTERESTING FACTS
Window Etchings of Woodville
One of Woodville’s most celebrated historical features is its collection of diamond-etched windows. A total of 48 panes across 10 of the house’s 23 existing windows bear intricate etchings, created by scratching the glass with a diamond ring. These markings are most commonly found on the lower sections of double-hung sash windows, particularly at the front of the house—suggesting they were meant to be seen by both family members and visitors.
The living room contains the highest number of etched panes, with 20 out of 96 (about 21%) featuring inscriptions or designs. However, the dining room holds the highest proportion of etched glass, with 16 out of 42 panes (approximately 38%) bearing some form of engraving.
The etchings range from practice sketches to meaningful inscriptions, including dates, weather observations (e.g., “March 16, Snowing and Raining”), and poetic quotations such as: “Farewell if ever fondest prayer”
“To live in the memory of those we love is not to die”
“The Devil’s in the bandbox, Don’t you hear him howl?”
In some cases, the engravers creatively incorporated natural imperfections in the glass, shaping them into artistic designs—such as a human face—adding to the charm and mystery of these historic windows.
DEEP DIVES
Explore the Etchings
AUGUST 15, 1824
Did Lafayette Etch Woodville’s Window?
A well-known legend about "Woodville" revolves around a pane of glass that supposedly bore the signature of the Marquis de Lafayette, a Revolutionary War comrade of Presley Neville. According to the story, Lafayette inscribed his name on the glass during his return visit to the United States between August 15, 1824, and September 9, 1825.
After stopping in Wheeling, Lafayette arrived in Uniontown at the end of May 1825 before making his way to Pittsburgh via Lawrenceville on May 30. His visit to Pittsburgh was filled with festivities, including parades, banquets, receptions, a tour of the Bakewell glasshouse, and even the christening of a child named Lafayette Fetterman. However, whether he found time to visit "Woodville" remains uncertain.
Historical sources offer conflicting accounts. Sarah H. Killikelly’s History of Pittsburgh does not mention a visit to "Woodville," while Leland Baldwin’s Pittsburgh, The Story of a City asserts that Lafayette did indeed stop there. If he did, the most likely date would have been May 31, 1825, as he departed Pittsburgh for Butler and Erie on June 1.
As for the legendary pane of glass, it has long since vanished. According to Wrenshall family tradition, the glass—once located in one of the dining room’s front windows—was accidentally broken by a maid working for Mary Wrenshall Fauset. The exact timing of this incident remains unknown, and no living members of the Wrenshall family recall ever seeing the artifact.
Did Lafayette truly visit "Woodville"? Records confirm that after his visit to Cincinnati on May 19–20, 1825, he met with Morgan Neville, Presley’s eldest son. However, while The Pittsburgh Gazette reported Lafayette’s visit to Pittsburgh on June 3, 1825, it makes no mention of "Woodville." Likewise, Auguste Lavasseur, Lafayette’s secretary, documented their travels in his 1829 journal, noting the meeting with Morgan Neville in Cincinnati but omitting any reference to "Woodville."
Thus, the question remains—did Lafayette ever set foot in "Woodville"? While the legend persists, definitive proof remains elusive.
