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March 13, 2012

a new blacksmith’s apprentice

Posted by Jennifer under Colonial Williamsburg, history, people | Tags: |
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I learned this morning (through the Two Nerdy History Girls blog) that Colonial Williamsburg’s blacksmith has a new apprentice.*

Coincidentally (well, not really, given its location), I had visited the blacksmith’s shop during our CAA / CWF International Carriage Symposium in January and thought this would be a good time to share a few more photos of the shop.

First, a photo of the front of the Deane Shop, home of Williamsburg’s wheelwrights, which I took on the freak-snowstorm Saturday during our 2010 CAA / CWF International Carriage Symposium. The blacksmith’s shop is in the lean-to at the left.

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Next, the back door to the blacksmith’s shop (in the white building at the left), as seen from across the wheelwrights’ yard during our visit earlier this year:

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And several shots of the interior of the blacksmith’s shop, from our late-afternoon visit in January:

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* You can see more photos of Aislinn’s new outfit on the FB page of Williamsburg’s milliners’ shop.

 

March 7, 2012

a learning opportunity

Posted by Jennifer under Lexington & KHP, people | Tags: |
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Today was the official grand opening of the Kentucky Horse Park’s new Kids’ Barn. It’s a few steps from the front door of the CAA’s building, in the former draft-horse barn. A variety of equine organizations have each taken over a standing stall and outfitted it with educational horse-related games, activities, learning tools, etc. At one end of the barn are four box stalls, and each of these has a horse or pony it.

Today’s opening featured a ribbon cutting, and then a group of third graders from Russell Cave Elementary were set loose to have fun.

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in one stall, kids can learn how to tie a lead rope ...

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... use a variety of curry combs and brushes ...

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... and brush a horse's tail

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In the CAA’s stall, kids can sit in a (dismantled) carriage and get a feel for “driving,” using weighted reins. A large photo of a horse, taken from the vantage point of the driver, helps complete the illusion.

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The kids all seemed to have a great time this morning, exploring the entire barn and pretending to “drive” in our (very popular) CAA stall …

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all these kids and more were clamoring to get into the carriage in the CAA's stall

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February 29, 2012

running footmen

Posted by Jennifer under history, people | Tags: |
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You’re probably already well aware — from movies and costume dramas, if nothing else — of the role that footmen played in the lives of great houses. They typically stood at the back of coaches, always at the ready to open the doors and lower the steps for the vehicle’s occupants. And, among other tasks, they helped serve dinner in these house’s very elegant dining rooms. They were usually attractive young men in fancy livery, who acted as a sort of status symbol for the family.

But did you know (I certainly didn’t) that there were men who served as “running footmen” in the days before roads were improved enough to allow for faster, more reliable carriage traffic?

You can read more about these athletic men in a recent blog post at Two Nerdy History Girls.

 

February 23, 2012

little fluffy dogs

Posted by Jennifer under history, people | Tags: |
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As we’ve all heard by now, a Pekingese named Malachy won Best in Show at this year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Here’s a look at another Pekingese:

John Fullerton sent this photo to Barry Dickinson, who sent it to us. The judge in this photo (at a Detroit horse show in 1935) was Mrs. Gerken, daughter of Francis Ware, who wrote Driving. Can you see the fluffy little Pekingese in the carriage?

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February 20, 2012

Happy Birthday, Mr. Washington

Posted by Jennifer under history, people, travel / destinations | Tags: |
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Today, all over Alexandria, Virginia, are parades, parties, and celebrations in honor of George Washington’s 280th birthday. And, if you visit Washington’s beloved Mount Vernon today, you won’t have to pay to get in.

Way back when I used to live in Old Town Alexandria, about a dozen years ago, I would sometimes ride my bike or take a drive along the G.W. Parkway, from my apartment building down to Mount Vernon. The scenery and the views of the Potomac along the way are lovely, but I was rarely tempted to stop at Mount Vernon itself because it was always so packed with tourists. I do remember touring the house a few times in the decade I lived in the area, for special occasions or when they had free admission (and no crowds) on  Christmas day.

But next time I’m in Alexandria, I plan to make a point of visiting some of these interesting-looking areas of George Washington’s estate. These have either been renovated / opened in the fifteen years since I was last there, or I just never paid enough attention to what was available. There’s Washington’s whiskey distillery and gristmill, a sixteen-sided barn, beautiful gardens and a hiking trail through a centuries-old forest, heritage-breed farm animals, and more … all in addition to the house itself. Definitely worth a visit, I think.

 

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