Attention Little Birdies In Tennessee

Bird House For Rent or Lease.... CHEAP!

My little eleven year old daughter (soon to be twelve), Sidney, made and painted this cute little bird house. We placed it outside our patio. These pictures were taken today (April 15). I don't know what kind of tree this is, but the leaves are a burgundy. 

We had three birds come to view today. We do not know if they were lookie-loos, a bird real estate agent, a bird land-lord, or a bird buyer/renter. Whomever they were, we hope they get the chirp around so that we have bird residents quickly.

Job Opportunity At Historic Jamestowne

Copied directly from their facebook page

JOB OPPORTUNITY! Preservation Virginia seeks part-time Guest Services Associates to provide exceptional customer service at the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center. Successful candidates will work in a team-oriented environment assisting guests with ticket purchases and orientation to the historic park. The Guest Services Associate welcomes guests, provides information about ticket options, serves as a cashier handling cash, check and charge transactions as well as directs and orients visitors to the historic park.

Associates can be scheduled to work 16 - 28 hours per week. Hours will vary weekly. Weekend and holiday work is required. The Visitor Center hours are Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Candidates should have flexibility to accommodate this schedule. Candidates must be able to stand for extended periods of time during their shift. A federal background check will be required for employment. High school diploma or G.E.D required. This is a part-time position and provides no benefits.

To apply for this position, send a resume and contact details for three professional references to hjadmin@preservationvirginia.org. No phone calls please.

Castles In The Air

What the heck?

http://dailstrug.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

So, I have never heard of this saying before. Now, I have seen it twice within a month.

I am reading a great free book that I got for my Kindle. It is an old book that is on public domain. It is a book on nineteenth century etiquette 'cause I want to act like a real lady someday. Suddenly I come across this...

"The exaltation of the whole scene favours its development, and it can hardly be wondered at if both parties leave judgment out in the cold while enjoying each other's society, and possibly already pleasantly occupied in building 'castles in the air.' Whatever may eventually come of it, the fair one is conscious for the nonce of being unusually happy."[1]

The first was from the book that I am reporting on for Pilgrim housing, A Little Commonwealth by John Demos.

“William Bradford writes of one group of settlers who came to Plymouth in 1623 that they ‘looked for greater matters than they found or could attain unto, about building great houses and such pleasant situations for them as themselves had fancied; as if they would be great men and rich all of a sudden. But they proved castles in the air’.”[2]

So, what the heck does this mean? Is it a real building that God lives in? It is blatantly understood by Demos’ line, but Routledge does not make it clear at all. Perhaps he thought that everyone knew what that meant. Did everyone in the nineteenth century understand this? There is even a song by Don Mclean called Castles in the Air. (can be heard and seen on Youtube).

Dictionary.com says:

Cultural Dictionary

castles in the air definition

Extravagant hopes and plans that never [will] be carried out: “I told him he should stop building castles in the air and train for a sensible profession.”[3]

And another great one from Wiktionary, this time it includes an origination date (of which you know I always like). It says:

Etymology

The first term dates from the late 1500s. The variant, castles in Spain (or châteaux en Espagne), was recorded in the Roman de la Rose in the 13th century and translated into English around 1365.

Verb

build castles in the air

1.      (idiomatic) To imagine visionary projects or schemes; to daydream; to have an idle fancy, a pipe dream or any plan, desire, or idea that is unlikely to be realized. [4]

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[1] George Routledge, Routledge’s Manual of Etiquette. (London: George Routledge and Sons, 1860), Kindle edition, Location 1822

[2] John Demos, A Little Commonwealth: Family Life in Plymouth Colony. 3^rd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.), 27.

[3] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/castles+in+the+air?s=t

[4] http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/build_castles_in_the_air

Day At Historic Rock Castle 4/12/13

Research Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I didn't get to continue with costuming today. So, while I was waiting to find out what would be a good thing to help out with, I did some research for my paper. WOW, HOW I LOVE RESEARCH! I wonder why I want to do anything else?

What I found out today: I looked at many primary and secondary documents, including photographs. There was a picture that we think is the creek behind the house before the lake was put in. There is a house off in the distance that does look like RC. So, we can only guess. The river was damned in the 1950's, creating the lake. And, this was a very old photo, so it certainly can be. However, this is just speculation because it cannot be verified due to distance of the house in the photo.

 

I held in my hand three very important primary documents.... at least they were to me. There were two bills of sale for slaves. The transactions occurred in 1833. The other was General Smith's will, leaving his house, lands and slaves to be divided up between his heirs in certain order. I have read these things before. However, this is the first time that I have held actual - REAL- documentation in my hands.

It was sad and beautiful at the same time. These people were real, they had names, and they had lived here on these grounds. Let me be clear here. I am in no way saying that I agree with slavery. However, we must remember those people and recognize that they were part of the creation of our nation. To ignore this would be an insult to the Smiths and those that were in bondage. I can say that I honestly feel this

Other important documents that I got to see were land deeds and blue prints!

Here I am in the library, having a grand time pouring over all of the papers! Oh, how I love it!!!!

Museum Review: The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson

The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson, 

Visited on March 28, 2013

photograph taken by author

Review for Public History class, Masters in History program at University of Nebraska - Kearney. 

March 31, 2013

This is a review of the visit to The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson, which encompasses only the tour of the mansion itself. Many visitors choose to take the full tour, which includes an audio tour of the museum within the visitor’s center, as well as the grounds. This particular visit only included the mansion because of time constraints and interests of the author. The website encourages visitors to understand that “The Hermitage is much more than the mansion”.[1] However, this particular visit ensued on the same day as that the internship. So, time was of the essence, especially since the number of visitors there numbered extremely high. Indeed, this author wanted to leave before the museum closed!

            The mission statement is reduced down to three main words “Preserve, Educate and Inspire”.[2]  The number of students and other visitors that successfully come through ever year, means that this statement can only persevere if those three words are taken to heart by the staff and board members. The site does meet the mission statements points on all cases. Because this author is an intern and has numerous years in other locations, she has learned many of the things that are done at other sites (like the use moth balls to keep the snakes away), are not used here because of possible destruction to the buildings and/or artifacts. Education is also another point that the personnel undertake. There is a department of staff specifically for education, as well as the docent personnel. In fact, the docents are called “interpreters” because they do not just take people through the mansion. This leads to the third word in the mission. Inspiration is absolutely there because of the many questions that the excited and interested (as well as interesting) interpreters bring to the tour.

            The tour of the mansion begins by waiting in line as two interpreters give the official count for the next tour, and at the same time keep the waiting audience interested by giving the history of the construction of the house, the fire that gutted the building, and the fact that the house had only been lived in by Jackson family members. The number of visitors that were there the day of this visit was so numerous that this author had to wait in line for three “cut-offs” before being allowed within. Because it was cold outside, a winter coat was worn. However, underneath the interpreters were able to discern the “intern” badge, which allowed handshakes and warm welcomes, but no additional special treatment. The interpreters were so warm, welcoming and knowledgeable, that everyone felt special just to be there.

            Once inside the mansion, the interpreters described many objects and history of the Jacksons to the visitors. The house is sectioned off so that one interpreter has to hand the group over to another so that one will not have to do the full length of the tour through the overly large building. No canned speeches by these men and women, these people obviously knew each object, and spoke in a conversational tone. Each guide then asked for any questions from their audience. The most exciting items to this author were the color of the walls in “Junior’s office”, and in the dining room. These were original colors of peach and robin’s egg blue, respectively. The information appeared to be accurate because of how the interpreters spoke. However, this information is beyond this author’s knowledge, so it is taken as accurate purely on their presentation abilities. Interestingly, the interpreters made sure to include information on the slaves that had lived there, both before and after their emancipation. This made the tour feel very well rounded.

            Clear Plexiglas divides off each room of the mansion so that visitors only walk through the halls. This was done in the 1980’s according to one of the interpreters to help create a stable environment within the rooms.[3] Because the house is getting older, and people bring in moisture with their bodies, the glass creates rooms with constant temperature and humidity. This is to keep the artifacts from decaying, as quickly than if the glass was not there. However, with that glass, there also comes a feeling of elite attitude because no one is allowed within the rooms. This is only for the building itself because the interpreters make sure that the visitors feel like they belong there with their words and gestures. The glass makes it difficult when there are large numbers of people in each group because the space is crowded and many people push for their chance to peer into one room, and then another. It also makes it difficult to see items around the corner, specifically portraits that are on the adjoining walls. This is probably the worst part of the tour because this author wants to see everything. The lighting was absolutely adequate to see everything that was being presented on this particular day. This may or may not be so on an overcast day. The only way to know would be to visit another day.

            The visiting audiences are varied for this location. This is because of the man to whom this house belonged. There are visitors from all over the country, and many from within the state. There are the romanticists who have nostalgia for the Old South. There are the political inquisitors, as well as those who are just curious over an old building. There are many students of all ages that visit for school projects. There are even those that visit for the newest information on slavery. This museum absolutely includes all of these people within the tour of the mansion.

            As stated earlier, The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson gives visitors audio tour equipment as they enter the visitor’s center, as well as having interpreters. The interpreters control guests entering the mansion, as well as give tours of the majority of the house. After the visitor has gone through most of the house, including the upstairs, they then exit the back of the mansion to see the kitchen, the pantry, and also the dining room. It is really necessary that the visitor have that audio equipment to fully understand these points of the house because there is no interpreter in these areas. Both the interpreters and the audio tours are great ways to get the visitor to understand the history of the house. The only point that could make it better would be to have an interpreter sign for someone who could not hear. However, this may be available, but was not offered due to lack of this disability.

            This is a very successful museum. It is obvious that this location has been a museum for many years because of the precision of the demonstration and the beautiful set spaces. People of all interests are able to find something to excite them. The interpreters were knowledgeable and friendly. The only thing that could have been better from a visitor’s point of view would be to be able to walk in the rooms. However, from their stand of preservation, this too, is acceptable. This author would give three words for this museum “beautiful, exciting, and educative.”

Bibliography:

“Membership” The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson. N.d.

https://secure.sitemason.com/www.thehermitage.com/support/membership. (accessed March 31, 2013).

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[1] The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson. N.d. https://secure.sitemason.com/www.thehermitage.com/support/membership. (accessed March 31, 2013).

[2] “Membership” The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson. N.d. https://secure.sitemason.com/www.thehermitage.com/support/membership. (accessed March 31, 2013).

[3] Interpreter, personal communication with author. March 28, 2013.

Internship Day At "The Hermitage" 4/10/13

Inside The Mansion

and

Working on Prints

Here's my walk from the visitor's center to the mansion...

I took the right path

This morning I began my day inside the "Gold Room". I was hoping that I would get to go in the "Lafayette Room", however that was not to be. It is called the "Lafayette Room" because when Lafayette visited, he supposedly stayed in that room. I did get to go in to retrieve the ladder, though. Yay me!

The room that I did work in was the "Gold Room". This is one of the bedrooms in the hallway upstairs, not off the upstairs landing, but literally in the hall to go to the back stairs. This wallpaper is original and has a very large gold pattern (thus the name of the room.) I asked Ms. Shirley who had stayed there, and she said that they also called it the "Boys Room", but she could not be certain who actually stayed in the room. The only original piece in this room, is a rocking cradle. This was made from hickory on the property. The baseboards have the original faux-painting. I really wish that I could take a picture. Alas, I cannot. 

The fireplace is of interest! The mantle is marble, and has three roundels. The one in the center is larger than the two on each corresponding sides. In the center of each roundel is an oval mirror, which is about an inch to an inch-and-a-half tall, and is shorter than long. I assume that the mirrors are original because they are all cracked. They possibly may not be original, of course. Another great point about the fireplace is that in the center of the hearth, there is a brick that has etchings in it. Ms. Shirley told me that the fireplace builders were so proud of their work that they signed a brick as their autograph. Unfortunately, this was illegible. I literally laid down on the floor to see if I could read it. It was to no avail! I think that I made out "III" at the end. So, the builder was a "Third". That is only a possibility, though. Shirley acknowledged that she thought so as well. 

Ms. Shirley. Assistant to the Assistant Curator

After lunch, I went back to the collections department to work on prints. Today, there were two interesting prints. One was of Dolly Madison that my supervisor, Ashley, thought was a man! Wonderful! Another one was a print of Mr. John Overton, of "Historic Traveler's Rest" fame, who was President Jackson's trusted friend and political adviser. "Why was this interesting?", you ask. Ok, so the donor, back in the 60's had tried to "remove the yellow" by either erasing, or literally removing part of Mr. Overton's face and shirt. How do I know this? Because the donor admitted it on the back! WOW! It would have been a cool picture, but with the removal of the parts, no, it was just strange. There was another "card" glued to the back, so that those areas that were removed, were actually the whiter card from beneath. I was just surprised when I figured out what he had done.

Me looking exactly like my mom, working on the Dolly Madison print. 

(Picture taken by my boss, Ashley Bouknight, Assistant Curator)

Ashley Bouknight, Assistant Curator, The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson

Not only is she beautiful, she is brilliant! I am learning so much working for her.

Product Tuesday - Hand Painted Fans

For Sale

Summer is coming, don't be left out in the heat without your fan!

Hand Painted Silk Fan. Loosely based off of a late 18th century fan.

This is the first one that I have done. The next ones will be priced almost double because it takes quite a long time to do.

 To purchase go here Hand Painted Silk Fan

If you are looking for a very inexpensive alternative, I have some for you! The following are only $3.50 each! To purchase, just click on the link next to the picture. Enjoy!

 Sandalwood Fan With White Flowers

  Sandalwood Fan with Yellow and Pink Flowers

Pink Flower Sandalwood Fan   

 Cherry Blossom Sandalwood Fan

 Rose Sandalwood Fan