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The Fairfield Heritage Association
105 E. Wheeling Street, Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Phone: 740-654-9923, Email
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Student Page
Conestoga Wagon
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The Conestoga Wagon was a large,
four-wheeled wagon used by American pioneers. The horse-drawn wagons carried
freight and settlers westward until about 1850.
The wagon's wheels
could be removed and the wagon bed could float like a boat. |
Early Square Grand Piano circa 1830
 In the Music Room-Library is an early square Nunns Clark & Co.
of New York Grand Piano.
The piano originally came from the
Lucas-Sullivant family, founders of Franklintown (Columbus and an ancestor of
Mrs. Russell Rising.
The piano came to Ohio by way of a Conestoga
Wagon.
 Manufacturer's name on the front of the
piano.
Turned legs with brass casters manufactured by
Robert Nunn Clark & Company.
Several musical instruments, including the dulicmer,
clavichord, and the harpsichord, were forerunners of the piano.
The
piano as we know it was the result of a gradual evolution. Ancient people
developed the harp and lyre in which they plucked strings with their fingers.
Later people in the Middle East developed the dulcimer in the wires are struck
with mallets. Europeans developed the Clavichord and harpsichord which was
among the first string instruments with a keyboard.
The keyboard was invented in 1700 by Bartomeo
Cristofori, an Italian.
The keyboard on the 1830 piano pictured on this
page only contains 73 keys. There are forty three white and thirty black.
Today's pianos have 88 keys. The early composers did not require a keyboard
instrument that could exceed the traditional five octaves in
range.
Until 1803 ev en Beethoven's music did not exceed tis range. By 1818 Beethoven was composing music that exceeded 6 octaves in range. Beethoven, through his composing forced piano makers into developing instruments capable of greater range.
Jonas Chickering is credited with improving the piano
and had the first American Piano Company, established in Boston in 1823. This
was the dominate force in American piano production and the first to market
quality grand pianos.
In 1856, Henry Steinway had immigrated to New
York from Germany, started building grand pianos. By 1860 Steinway expanded his
factory to an entire block in Manhattan.
Thus, the 19th century was the
age of innovation and style.
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