A Rocking Chair on The Potomac

A ROCKING CHAIR ON THE POTOMAC

As I sat rocking slowly in my chair gazing out at the Potomac River, the air which had been so still and hot began to move as a breeze stirred and I could not believe I was there at this magical place. I was actually sitting on the porch looking at the Potomac River in the same location as George Washington and as I sat there I kept thinking how many times Mr. Washington probably did the same thing, watching the river go by. It is shady and pleasant. I was also thinking I could not believe how big the river was.

I remember hearing a story of a time during the Revolutionary War while the General was off directing the troops a British War ship came up the river and demanded supplies, instead of denying the British their wishes, the manager of Mount Vernon gave them the supplies they wanted and they left without ravaging the place or setting it on fire. It’s possible that the captain didn’t know it was George Washington’s home but either way the house and farm was spared. Later when the manager told George Washington what happened the General was angry and said “ I would rather see my beloved home burned to the ground than serve the enemy one crumb of bread” Quote unquote ( I cannot say I have that statement 100% percent accurate but one of the things that stuck in my mind was how did that big ship get up that river and now I know, it a huge river!

I am glad that the manager saved the General’s home and it still exists to this day for people to see it..To see this place, to know George Washington lived here, loved this place and every stone he touched, and the desk he wrote at, it all brought it to life, the barns where he kept his horses and the very bed he slept in and where he died.

We went to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home on July 3^rd 2016. It was such an exceptional experience to walk up the hill and come around the corner and there the house sits surrounded by outbuildings and you cannot be sure what to think. It is both larger and smaller than you think it will be and one of the things I noticed it was not white! It is white when it is freshly painted but over time it becomes a more off white or creamy tan color. Even though it looks like its stone blocks the structure of the house it is actually post and beam with siding made to look like a masonry house. The house is painted with sand mixed in to give it the rough texture which resembles brick work.

The house sits on a slight hill above the Potomac river and the view from that side of the house is just spectacular. I can see why George Washington loved it so much there.

Surrounding the house is outbuildings such as the kitchen, various sheds and servants and slaves quarters and many many gardens. There is stables with some horse drawn vehicles inside, only a few actually belonged to George Washington. In truth much of the items in the home, etc. are reproductions of what the family might have had and as closely as can be reproduced based on what information is available such as records kept by George Washington himself.

The inside of the house was special but it is a guided tour and you are herded through much quicker than I thought, I so wanted to look at everything longer but it was unique to see where he had his desk and the bedroom where he slept and where he died. Unfortunately no one is allowed to take photos inside, of course, you can buy post cards and there is some photos on the internet to look at but I have chosen not to try to post those here.

If you take a trail from the house to a low lying area is a reproduction farm, to represent the actual workings of George Washington’s plantation and how it was worked. There is sheep and other animals and presentations of period crafts such as blacksmithing. There is also a round threshing barn, that was built as an exact replica of one that General Washington had on his place. The horses would walk on top of the wheat and go around and around and the wheat would fall through the slits in the floor and thereby separating the wheat from the chaf.

I enjoyed seeing the stables and walking around in the back  where the paddocks were, I could just imagine the horses running loose and Washington’s horse Nelson raising his head and nickering softly to his master.

I did not want to leave this special place but I had t continue on the amazing road trip we were taking.

THE HOUSE ON THE HILL

The House on the Hill

When Thomas Jefferson was a young man he would ride his horse to the top of a particular hill on his fathers’ property, often with his dear friend Dabney Carr and they would sit under a tree there and survey the view around them and look out toward the mountains; across all the hills and valleys. It was here that young Thomas determined he would build a house there when he was an adult and make his home in this beautiful spot.

He and his friend Dabney also made a pact that whoever should die first would be buried under their favorite tree down the hill from the house and ultimately be laid to rest next to each other.

It came to pass that the house did get built after Thomas was married, he designed the house himself and he did create a cemetery where both the friends could be buried together as well as their families.

But there is so much more to this story as we well know.

I had the great pleasure to get to see this home that Thomas Jefferson built, loved and that he called Monticello.

 

It is quite a sight when you come over the knob and it comes into view, It facade is stunning. On closer inspection it’s no wonder he wanted to build here it is so pretty and the view spectacular.

Thomas Jefferson is more than sprinkled throughout our early history and many people know he was the author of the declaration of Independence, that he became president and that he was very busy during the revolution but how many of us know the man?

Of course, we can only see him through the prism of years and what people have written about him and what he may have written himself over the years, but stepping into his home and seeing the rooms he lived in and slept in as well as his office and the desk where he did his writing really brought to life the man and what he was interested in.

Thomas Jefferson’s father died when he was still a very young which landed a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He went to college in Williamsburg, Va. at William and Mary college in which he studied a variety of subjects including law. When he enrolled he was already proficient in the classics and could read Greek and Latin. He had an incredible love of books and his collection at Monticello was huge even by today’s standards; he owned 6,487 books! His famous statement “I cannot live without books” couldn’t be more true.

The grounds around Monticello are stunning and there is a lovely lawn where they would play lawn games. Also, a large variety of flowers and shrubs to see along the edge. A lovely walking area

As you walk around you can tour the many aspects of life at that time including a cabin that slaves would have slept in. We went on a tour about slavery at Monticello and it was very interesting. I think Thomas Jefferson was for freedom but yet because of the times he lived in slavery was an engrained part of the culture at the time period he lived. We will never know for sure what he thought about it but I like to think that our father of the declaration of Independence might have been divided on this issue in his soul and wished to live at a different time or a more clear-cut way to change the world on it. Of course, that came less than 100 years later and it’s too bad it required a war to resolve it. But that is for another day.

Part of the areas you could tour was to go under the house, see the storage and wine cellar as well as the kitchens and other work areas that would be required to run such a house and feed so many people.

The garden below the house shows an example of some of the vegetables that would have been grown at that time, of course it would have had to be much bigger to feed all the people who lived on the estate and worked there.

The house itself is a tour led by a guide, who tells you information about the house as you go along, I will say depending on when you go, if its real busy the tour will move along faster than I would have liked. If you can go at a less busy time it would be much better. They do not allow photographs inside the house so therefore I only have some post cards.

Regardless, the house is a masterpiece and even though small by some of today’s standards for a mansion; the woodworking and overall details are exquisite and lovely. One thing I did find funny is Jefferson did not build a big staircase as he felt it was unnecessary and a waste of room, so the stairway is narrow and steep which is a steep contrast to the openness of the other rooms.

When you first come into the house is an entryway with many artifacts on the wall as well as maps. The idea was to impress visitors with things from all over the world. A very unique collection of items too.

I can go on and on about this visit and home but the bottom line to really feel Jefferson, to really get a glimpse of the man, you need to go here and experience it for yourself. The tickets are rather expensive unfortunately but the money does go to preserve the estate which is important overall.

If you ever have a chance to visit this architectural masterpiece nearCharlottesville, Virginia it is well  worth the experience.Whether you spend an hour or two or spend the whole day as we did.Take a step into the history of our nation, you will not be sorry you did.

Even my dog liked sitting on the steps of the great house and so did I. To think Thomas Jefferson and scores of other important people walked on these steps. Incredible!