1886 New Hampshire Log Playhouse Built for Fanny Glessner Still Welcomes Visitors

In 1886, a custom log cabin playhouse was constructed for eight-year-old Fanny Glessner at her family's summer estate, The Rocks, near Bethlehem, New Hampshire, according to the Society of Architectural Historians. Unlike simple toys, the structure featured child-sized furnishings and a working stove, allowing the young girl to practice homemaking skills such as hosting tea parties and making jellies.

The Glessner Family and The Rocks

According to the Forest Society, Fanny's father, John Jacob Glessner, a Chicago businessman who later helped found International Harvester, initially brought the family to New Hampshire's North Country in 1878 to seek relief for her brother George's hay fever. After purchasing land, the family completed their main residence, known as the Big House, in September 1883. Architect Isaac Scott, a family friend who designed multiple buildings on the estate including a carriage barn and a gardener's cottage, created the properties.

Historical Context of Elite Playhouses

Elaborate children's playhouses were common on rural estates in Britain and America from the 1850s to the mid-1930s, as detailed in the book *Playhouses and Privilege*. Comparable structures of the era included:

• The Swiss Cottage erected in 1853 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Osborne.
• A children's cottage built in 1886 on the grounds of Cornelius Vanderbilt's Newport house.
• A log cabin built by the Sears family in Chicago during the 1880s, which now survives in Kenilworth, Illinois.

From Childhood Play to Forensic Science

Fanny Glessner grew up to become Frances Glessner Lee, recognized as a pioneer of forensic science. In the 1940s, she constructed the *Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death*, a series of highly detailed, miniature crime scenes used to train homicide investigators. While there is no direct evidence linking her childhood playhouse to her later career, her adult work involved meticulously crafted small-scale environments based on real case records.

Current Status

The historic log cabin has been relocated several times and is currently maintained by the Forest Society at The Rocks, which operates as a Christmas tree farm following a 1978 land donation by the Glessner grandchildren. Visitors planning a trip to Bethlehem, New Hampshire, can view the historic playhouse, though travelers are advised to verify visiting hours and guest information with the Forest Society beforehand.