It's always fun when the whole family can get together and visit. Our children do not live in our city. Our daughter lives in New Hampshire and our son lives in Richmond. Our daughter, Noel, came for a visit this past weekend. Our grandson that lives with us is her son. So you know she wanted to see him. While she was here she asked if we could visit Kenmore. Kenmore is the home of Betty Washington Lewis and Col. Fielding Lewis. Betty Washington was George Washington's sister.
This is actually the back side of Kenmore. This 1300 acre plantation was built in the 1770's. It is a fine Georgian style manor home. Fielding Lewis loaned the state of Virginia guns and ammunition to support The Revolution. He was never repaid for his efforts. Mary Ball Washington (the mother of George Washington) is buried on the original property of the plantation. After leaving her home in Ferry Farm she lived in a home behind Kenmore.
 |
| Mary Washington Monument and Grave site |
Corn, tobacco and wheat were grown on the fields of Kenmore. They had more than 80 slaves that worked the plantation. Kenmore was used as a hospital during the Civil War as were many large plantations of the south. There is a canon ball that is lodged in the back entrance of the home.
In 1922 the Kenmore Foundation bought the property and began plans to restore the property. The landscaping was restored by Charles Gillette in 1924.
Kenmore is still being refurbished on the interior. The plaster ceilings have all been repaired and bought back to life. They are quite exquisite! The same plasterer that worked on Mount Vernon worked on Kenmore ceilings. Original paint colors and wall coverings are used in the home. No photographs are allowed inside the home except the kitchen. Check out their website to see the plastered ceilings. http://www.kenmore.org/kp_home.html
As you are facing the front of the home the kitchen is on the right and the laundry is on the left.
It was a great early spring day to tour the lovely Kenmore and her gardens.
I'm glad your daughter asked to visit Kenmore while visiting you!
ReplyDeleteI know it looks odd, but I like how the cannon ball is left where it hit, for it is so much a part of the history of the building.
I have gone weak at the knees at the sight of the beautiful treenware caddy, which may have been used to carry cutlery? I have one, but not in as good a condition as that, which I use to contain my tools on the table when sewing.
~~~Deb in Wales
Deb, during restoration work on Kenmore in 1989 a shell was found in the attic. Had the fuse not failed on the shell, surely a fire would have started and destroyed the home.
DeleteHow lucky you are to have a treenware caddy for your sewing notions. They go for a pretty penny on ebay!
We always love to have our daughter come for a visit. She loves history maybe even more than her Mom and Dad! ♥
There must be a historic home on every corner in your community. I had never heard of this home nor even of George Washington's sister. Wonder why George did not make certain that his bil was paid back for his help during the War. I suppose the burden would have been great in the early days of the country making it nearly impossible to pay people back. Going back to see those plastered ceilings.
ReplyDeleteVee, there really is much history in my area. We are so proud of our heritage that we take great pains to make it available to all. Virginia history is taught to all forth graders in our state. As far as Lewis not having been repaid--I feel many patriots of the day sacrificed much for the cause of liberty. ♥
DeleteMartha Ellen, you are such a great tour guide! I hope when people "Google" places you've blogged about they'll come across your write-up about the place. :-) I love the idea of the two little houses on either side of the big house to house the laundry and kitchen more than for the fire safety issue. It made for a much quieter house I'm sure and since they had servants to do the work, it was not an issue of convenience.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy. One interesting thing I learned about the kitchen on this particular tour, was that the sugar was kept in Betty Washington Lewis' bedroom under lock and key. The cook would come to her when it was needed. Sugar was so expensive it had to be guarded. I guess that's why they didn't eat very much of it. ♥
DeleteWhat a beautiful day it looks like you had for this visit. A lovely Georgian example and just like the kind of place we would visit. Maybe someday!
ReplyDeleteIt was a beautiful day, Dotsie! A little chilly, but the sunshine felt so good! ♥
DeleteThank you for another lovely and informative tour, Martha Ellen!
ReplyDeleteI know that you enjoyed your family time. It just goes too fast, doesn't it?
Cheryl, time with family does pass by too quickly. I thought my daughter had just gotten here and then yesterday we took her back to the train station. We were blessed with a wonderful visit. ♥
DeleteThat must have a been a lovely day, visiting a historical place with your family. I do like seeing the details of their every day life, but shudder for a woman who has to cook in the kitchen. We've come a long way!
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Amalia, the kitchen must have been quite a challenge for the servants back then. I know sometimes we romanticize life in the 1700's. It must have been very, very hard on everyone! I do enjoy knowing what it was like--the bad and the good. ♥
DeleteBeautiful tour Martha, I loved each and every picture! Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteThis would be a place that I would love to visit someday, for I just love reading anything that has to do with George Washington!! :-)
How nice to gather family together!! The best-blessed times!!
Many Blessings and much warmth, Linnie
Linnie, you must come to VA---It is the land of George Washington. You would love visiting all the historical sites in my area. ♥
DeleteOh, I have enjoyed my four so much! I do enjoy touring an old historic place. Looks like a great time. Thanks so much for popping in to see me.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia :)
Shelia, so glad you enjoyed the tour! ♥
DeleteSuch a beautiful home, with so much history! Many thanks for taking us on a field trip to Kenmore, Martha Ellen! I love visiting historic homes. I have fallen in love with the kitchen! Just imagine what a hard job it was to cook in the big fireplace, especially dangerous while wearing a long skirt! Just a few blocks away from our house, there is a lovely street named Kenmore with some beautiful old homes. From now on, it will always remind me of the Kenmore plantation. Happy Springtime! ♡Dawn
ReplyDeleteDawn, I'm so glad you enjoyed Kenmore! It is a special place in our city. The gardens are quite lovely and I hope to go back over and take some photos to share as the garden blooms. Cooking in a kitchen with an open flame surely presented a lot of dangers. How easy we have it nowadays! Have a lovely week! ♥
Delete