Welcome to the main entry way into the Roedde House. The Roedde family would greet their guests in this room, and then usually lead them into the parlour for a visit.
The divided ceiling.
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The hall is full of woodwork along the walls and floors. Did you know that all the wood used in the house came from around here? It is all cedar and fir from local forests, which was abundant and inexpensive at the time. Both the wainscoting, which is the wood paneling on the lower half of the wall, and the mouldings, which divide the ceiling into sections, resemble the many fine details found in grander homes of the late 19th century. Very stylish, I think, with an incredibly Victorian feel to the hall. A feeling of comfort lives in this room along with a feeling of grandness.
It is unfortunate that the majority of the items in the house are not original to the Roedde family, but most of the items are from the same time period of 1880-1920. There are many examples of what might have been found in the Roedde household.
The Clock
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The grandfather clock that stands at the back of the front hall is a fine example of what people would display in their entrance hallways. Most people who moved to Canada from Europe would bring with them items such as this clock. It gave them a feeling of connection and allowed them to feel as if they had something of value that they could show to other people they met.
Also in this room, is one of the original decorative pieces that belonged to the Roedde family. I find her quite beautiful and she is something of a goddess, and I
don't mean that in a joke! She is Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn. She sits
on the newelpost at the bottom of the staircase. She lights the stairs with a torch
she holds above her head. Cast in an alloy, she was removed from Roedde House when
the family moved
away after living in Roedde House for thirty-two years. When the house became a museum, she was returned to the Roedde
House during the restoration.
A "tapestry" (really painted canvas) hangs in the front hall, titled "Musica." It is a
typical example of an object that would be found in a middle class family dwelling.
Such creations would have been done by young women, as most young women of
the  day were required to have many skills
that identified them as respectable. Other such skills that would have provided girls with the maturity of
"young ladies." are painting, drawing,
needle work, sewing, and music.
The hall table that is the focus of the room is a wooden table with a slate top. This table would most likely have been a washstand or a table that was refurbished sometime in its history.
Off to your left, you will see the two sliding doors that lead into the parlour, the most refined of these two entry rooms.
Slate Topped Table
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