Community Corner

Happy 125th Wedding Anniversary to the Clevelands

President Grover Cleveland and Frances Folsom tied the knot on June 2, 1886.

Going to the White House and we're gonna get married ... 

U.S. President Grover Cleveland was a bachelor when he arrived at the White House in 1885. But later that year, a visitor—the daughter of his friend Oscar Folsom—would catch his eye and capture his heart.

Cleveland married Frances Folsom on June 2, 1886 in the Blue Room with about 40 guests present. He remains the only U.S. President to be married in the White House, and at the age of 21, Folsom is the youngest-ever First Lady.

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In Caldwell, the Grover Cleveland Birthplace's most popular artifact is a piece of fruit cake from the Cleveland wedding. The cake is packaged in a Tiffany's box and has been preserved over the years by its sugary coating.

According to Sharon Farrell, the birthplace's director and curator, it is one of about 140 boxed pieces of fruit cake which were prepared for the wedding, 40 for the guests and an additional 100 for friends and family members who were not present that June day. Farrell said the favors cost $20 a piece.

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A fruit cake favor is an Irish tradition. The Irish say if you are single, you should sleep with the fruit cake under your pillow and dream about the person you wish to marry.

The Clevelands would go on to have five children: Ruth, Esther, Marion, Richard and Francis.

The 22nd and 24th president, Cleveland is distinguished as the only U.S. President to be born in New Jersey and the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms


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