Hermann-Grima Front Bedroom

Although it seems odd to have a bedroom located at the front of the house, the building contract for the Hermann-Grima House specifies two downstairs bedrooms.  When the house was built, the Hermanns were in their late 50s and may have desired a more accessible bedroom.  A downstairs bedroom would also have been cooler than an upstairs bedroom, since heat rises. 

When the Grima family moved into the house, Felix's widowed mother used this room.  She was 90 when the family moved in and 96 when she passed away, so a downstairs room would have been more appropriate for her.  After his mother passed away, Mr. Grima used this room as his office and study for many years.  Later, Dr. Victor Grima used it as a private office.  According to the 1880 inventory, this room was also used as a dining room for a period of time.

The house did not have plumbing until the 20th century, so the bedrooms would have also functioned as bathrooms to a certain extent.  In each, there would have been a pitcher and basin that the slaves would have filled several times a day with fresh water so that the family members and their visitors could cool off.  Ladies would have completed their toilet in the bedrooms as well.  These two bottles would have held cologne for Mrs. Hermann.

Pink/Green Perfume Flasks; c. 1830;
signed “JP” for Jacob Petit, the maker;
owned by Mrs. Hermann.