My grandson Charlie Morgan attended a week of history camp at Ker Place, the headquarters of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society.
Presented by the
Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society, http://
www.kerplace.org the seventy attendees at the historic
Ker Place Museum in Onancock, Virginia had the opportunity to tour spectacular
Eastern Shore historic homes, enjoy a gourmet dinner in an early 18th century home and gather the wisdom of eight nationally acclaimed experts on diverse subjects related to the historical theme of this symposium. Friday, the first day of the symposium, was dedicated to touring five of
Virginia Eastern Shore’s very special
Chesapeake Bay area homes, both historic and new, to see the many different ways that folks live a modern life with history. Emphasis was placed on architectural features and their preservation and restoration, the interior design components that showcase their owners’ lifestyles and the landscaping that enhances the exterior features of the homes and environment. After a full day of lectures from the experts on Saturday, the attendees were treated to dinner at Vaux Hall (cir. 1710) located on Warehouse Creek, a colorful saltwater inlet from the Chesapeake Bay, only a few miles outside the historic town of Onancock. This early Georgian colonial home is believed to be the oldest two-story residence on the Eastern Shore and features beautifully preserved wood paneling, moldings, doors and heart-pine floors. On Sunday, the program finished with three more lectures of very special interest. To see a full program of this wonderfully educational event go to
http://www.kerplace.org/symposium.pdf . The Eastern Shore of Virginia has many properties with 17th and 18th century homes, some with accessory buildings that date as far back as the 1670’s, and many more homes dating from the 19th and early 20th century. With such a rich collection of historic homes in our relatively small geographical area, a peninsula which is literally surrounded by water, it is indeed fortunate that we have a historical society so dedicated towards education and appreciation of our heritage. Anyone who loves the Eastern Shore, residents and visitors alike, should not pass up the opportunity to tour the amazing Ker Place Museum in Onancock, headquarters of the Eastern Shore Historical Society.
Although I was unable to attend the symposium’s house tour and dinner, I made an effort to attend several of the lectures on both Saturday and Sunday. As a REALTOR who has had the privilege of handling the sale and restoration of dozens of historic homes, I wanted to expand my knowledge base to better help me serve my clients and customers, and ultimately the unique historic properties I represent. In particular, I wanted to gain a better understanding of the history and architecture of a historic home that Blue Heron Realty Co. has listed for sale located on sixty acres of land near Machipongo, Virginia. This property, known as “Prospect Hill”, is only a few miles from my own home on the Eastern Shore. In its heyday, it was once a thriving farm and the grand old house, believed to be circa 1790-1820, offers great promise for restoration and renovation to bring it up to 21st century standards. If this old house could talk, what would she say? I have many questions for her and would love to share the answers with a prospective buyer who has to consider restoring and then living in this old house. ( To see details and photos of this property visit www.blueheronva.com/historic_real_estate/ and look for “Prospect Hill.”
"Prospect Hill" cir. 1790 awaits a new owner who will love and cherish her wonderful, charming heritage.
The first lecture I attended was a talk by Matthew Webster, the Director of Historic Architectural Resources of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He emphasized methods for indentifying the signs that reveal the architectural history of old buildings, a subject that interested me hugely. He spoke about examining the wood framing for saw marks, checking the joinery of posts and beams, looking for different layers of paint, identifying the fastenings of the structure such as nails, dating the types of windows, and determining the type and bonds of brick masonry. Also, he gave a study of different types of houses according to the time period of their construction which would be exemplified by certain styles of architecture such as Georgian 1720-1780, Federal 1780-1820 and Greek Revival 1820-1850. Accompanying his lecture with projected photographs, he distinctly pointed out the different characteristics of which he spoke.
The second lecture was given by Chris Ohrstrom, a founder and co-owner of Adelphi Paper Hangings, LLC. They specialize in reproducing antique wall papers and he gave a wonderful illustrated talk about their special process that revives the old tools and craftsmanship of the industry from the 18th and 19th centuries. I was mesmerized by the old techniques, his descriptions of their factories and tooling, and the examples of wallpapers his firm manufactures. I learned that wallpapers were meant to be only a shortlived wallcovering that imitated much more expensive wall decorations.
On Sunday, I was glad to hear the talk given by Ken Farmer, well-known antiques appraiser from the PBS series “Antiques Roadshow”, who has been collecting and selling the finest antiques from his shops in Radford and Charlottesville, Virginia. The gist of his remarks centered around the theme of “antiques are the epitomy of green – recycling”, informing his audience about how to find, evaluate, and purchase antiques. I learned that oftentimes one can purchase better quality used furniture while avoiding the higher cost of good quality reproductions that have a lower value.
The second lecture that Sunday was given by Jeffrey Price, the director of Sales and Marketing for Virginia Lime Works. His company specializes in reproducing mortars for the restoration of aged masonry construction, especially from the 18th and 19th centuries. His slide show presentation demonstrated the old techniques for making lime as well as how old handmade bricks can be damaged by the use of modern mortars, a risk that never occurred to me when I have examined restored colonial brickwork.
The final lecture was the most entertaining, given by Paul “Chip” Callaway, a certified landscape architect/owner of Calloway and Associates. His hilarious commentary that accompanied a voluminous slide show of his special projects, those restoring the gardens and landscape of historic buildings, kept the mood of his audience light, focused and amazed.
Handmade doors with mortise and tennon joinery open from the through passage to the living room in the earliest part of the home. Note the deep, paneled recess of the doorway, indicating a former exterior wall.
Now fortified with this interesting knowledge base gained from my attendance at the symposium, I again visited my listing “Prospect Hill” located on Seaside Rd. approximately 22 miles north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. I had previously guessed that the first section of the home was of Federal design and construction around the period of 1790-1810, the second, larger and more ornate addition in a Greek Revival tradition dated around 1830 and the third section, a one and one-half story addition containing the kitchen, was of the 1890’s period. Upon my next visit to the property, I used the tips from the symposium to confirm or deny my original assessments. First, up in the attic area and down in the basement, I examined the exposed beams and joinery for sawmarks and fasteners. Second, I studied the great wall of bricks and exposed chimneys for telltale signs of handmade bricks, like thumb and finger impressions. Third, I then closely examined the windows and glass. My post-symposium investigation revealed that the home was constructed with oversized handhewn, heart of pine beams with diagonal but straight sawmarks and plenty of mortice and tennon joinery. Also, I found square cut nails with machine cut heads, both indicating the first section was probably produced shortly after 1790. This part of the house was finished with interior wood paneling, fireplace mantel and cabinets distinctly styled from the Federal period, (cir. 1780-1820).
In the Greek Revival addition, handcarved wood panel wainscoting with marbellized baseboards - note fluted columns in panelling.
The second part, a larger more ornate addition was finished with elaborately decorated woodwork, especially the very fancy, intricately hand-carved fireplace mantels. Further, the marbellized paintwork on the baseboards and the fluted doorway surrounds confirmed the style of the Greek Revival period (cir. 1820-1850). This addition has a massive 3-brick thick, free-standing three story brick endwall laid in the Flemish bond pattern. The top three feet of the exposed chimney had been blasted by lightening and I found on the ground plenty of bricks with thick slabs of mortar. Close examination of the bricks revealed holes and thumbprints, indicating that these were handmade sometime prior to 1833.
One of three massive handcarved fireplace mantels of museum quality - note the marbelized paint on the baseboard below the wood panel wainscoting.
Lastly, off to the east of the home is an overgrown boxwood garden of formal design interspersed with crepe myrtle and one of the few cork trees on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The size of the boxwoods indicates an age of well over one hundred years and the garden certainly begs for restoration and rejuvenation.
The 1890's kitchen addition - note the floor-to-ceiling cupboard and tin ceiling.
As the listing agent, I have become very attached to this old house and her museum quality architectural features. Her situation on a sixty acre farm of fields and forest is ideal for a country estate property and a lovely 3/8 mile driveway approach draws one’s imagination back to the days of self-sufficiency and fox hunts. Many generations and all their attendant celebrations have graced this property and she now awaits a new owner who will love and cherish her spacious, well-appointed rooms that, if walls could speak, could tell many stories. For even more information on this home, call David Kabler at Blue Heron Realty Co., 757-331-4885 .
This year, as has been our habit for the last 10 or so years, we made a New Year’s Day trek to Williamsburg, VA to enjoy lunch and a leisurely walk through the Colonial Historic Area to admire this year’s door decorations. Fortunately it’s just a hop, skip and jump from the Eastern Shore of Virginia to Williamsburg….. Well, maybe more of a longish glide. As in glide smoothly over the incredible Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, sparkling blue waters of the merge point of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean swirling below, a sight that never ceases to amaze me with its ever changing face. Sometimes smooth as glass, other times presenting as long, undulating waves, yet again as wild angry chop, covered with foam, something different every time one goes across. Then gliding west on Rt. 64 which, on New Year’s Day, usually is a fat, low-key drive because most folks are likely trying to get the ole eyeballs focused after a rollicking New Year’s Eve. Anyway, it seems like no time at all and one is on Colonial Parkway, heading for Duke of Gloucester Street.
The Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg is an on-going restoration effort of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, was made possible by massive endowments by the John D. Rockefeller family, is a truly amazing place, a living history museum consisting of an entire town, replicated from the Colonial era. It’s like a time travelers dream, suddenly you’re back in the 1700’s, walking down cobblestone streets, past shops filled with long gone items like candles, bonnets, leather pockets, thick pottery, pewter mugs, etc., as well as replicas of the one and two page local newspapers of that era which are so amazing to read. Horse- drawn grand coaches clatter down the streets, young drummers from the Fife and Bugle Corps march purposefully towards the Governor’s Palace, drums counting the cadence, aromas of hot spiced apple cider waft through the air as folks from literally all around the globe visit during the holidays to see the Historic Area and the famous Christmas door wreaths and swags.
A quick lunch at one of the several taverns was in order before setting out to see this year’s crop of decorations. Taverns were public houses of that era and were places for visitors and travelers to eat and relax. The Foundation offers 4 authentic tavern experiences with menus offering foods similar to the dishes which would have been popular with folks like George Washington or Thomas Jefferson back in the day. At dinner, what would have been typical Colonial era entertainers stroll through the dining rooms, singing and accompanying themselves on lute and mandolin. Both the servers and the entertainers are in authentic costume, the lighting is by candle which creates an old-fashioned ambience. My favorite tavern for a quick lunch is Josiah Chownings, which was a real tavern, operated by a real Josiah Chowning back in the mid-1700’s. I especially look forward to their peanut soup appetizer which is served with long strips of chunky, very dry, crisp seasoned bread called “sippets”. Peanut soup probably sounds less than palatable but well made, with a good quality chicken stock and heavy cream, it is silky smooth and absolutely delicious. My husband often orders the Brunswick Stew which is a very old Southern dish, popular still, chicken stewed with corn, lima beans, tomatoes, herbs, etc.. The original recipe for Brunswick Stew called for squirrel instead of chicken, no squirrel for me, thanks anyway, but with chicken it is quite tasty.
Lunch enjoyed, we set out for a leisurely walk to view this year’s wreaths. Somehow, we never seem to tire of looking at these lovely, all- natural decorations. No matter how many times we have gone to Williamsburg over the holidays, it always seems that fresh and new ideas hang on each door. Every conceivable type of plant material is used in quite creative ways —- fresh cedar, pine, Frasier fir and boxwood sprigs are used to form the basic wreath which is then decorated with all sorts of colorful fruits, seed pods, magnolia leaves, grasses, dried flowers, pine cones, shells, etc. Over the years, these lovely wreaths become so famous that the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation finally published an elaborate hardcover book entitled “Christmas Decorations From Williamsburg” which gives step by step directions on how to make a Colonial style wreath at home. Order the book at http://www.Williamsburgmarketplace.com. I have the book but confess that somehow I’ve just never gotten around to making one myself although the directions are quite well illustrated. Maybe next year…..
