Day 2 - Williamsburg

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. 

 -  George Washington, Farewell Address

WOW!   There is no way I can begin to explain all the things we saw and did today in Colonial Williamsburg.  I did learn, however, that we sometimes use the word “Wow” incorrectly by implying that it means, “awesome,” “terrible,” “cool,” or “shocked” depending on the connotation of the expression.  Actually “Wow” is an Algonquin Indian word meaning: “Wonderful.”  Therefore, by using the word “Wow” I am accurately expressing all that we learned today and, at the same time, I’m speaking the Algonquin language.  Pretty neat.

Since I don't know how to put pictures side-by-side in this format, I will have to stack them.  Sorry for making you scroll so far down the page. 

We started the day by having a continental breakfast in the hotel and Ms Calvert and her mother where kind enough to pose for this picture. 



This is the map at the visitors center and shows all the buildings of Williamsburg, it is made of metal.



A form of baseball was first played in the 18th century, long before the MBL was established.  Here, Rebecca Parr stomps on the catapult (which is called The Trap Box) and launches the baseball into the air.  She swings a bat that looks like a cricket stick and hits the ball into the outfield.  If an outfielder catches the ball on the fly, the batter is out.  If the batter hits a grounder, the outfielder can pick up the ball and roll it back to the catapult and if the ball makes contact with the catapult, the batter is out.  If the ball misses, the batter gets one point.

This is the grand ballroom of the Governor's Palace.  It is long and narrow to accommodate the dancing method of the day.  You can see we were divided into a row of ladies and a row of gentlemen.  We learned by to bow and curtsy, so gentlemen - point your toe and show your calf !

Before video games, TV and movies, some of the wealthy Williamsburg residents played this game behind the Governor's Palace.  See who can get through the garden maze the fastest.

Walking down Duke of Gloucester Street which FDR called the "most historic avenue in all America" with the Capitol building in the background.  This is where it all began, the first colony to speak for American independence - you can feel the spirit of Independence and Liberty flowing down the street.

Once in a while, a horse and carriage will walk down the street. 

We had a traditional colonial lunch at King's Arm Tavern.  This is the ladies table where they were served a salad with roll, chicken pot pie and home-made vanilla ice cream.  It was "Wow!"

After lunch, we must have done something terrible, because our tour guide, Menzie Overton, threw us in the town jail!

The jail room is a cell that can hold about 20 prisoners.  If this was your first offense, you were branded with a hot iron in the hand or on the cheek.  The letter "T" for thief and the letter "M" for manslaughter.  Therefore, if you were accused of the same crime for a second offense - you were hung.  No "3 Strikes"  law in Williamsburg!

Nick is sitting on the "Throne" in the jail cell.  They call the toilet a throne because the King, when he died, was sitting on the toilet and, as we all know, the King always sits on this "Throne."  Hope he finished his paperwork.



Group picture in front of the Capitol Building, also called the House of Burgess. 
This building housed the oldest American elected representative assembly.  In this building Patrick Henry delivered his "Caesar-Brutus" speech against the Stamp Act on May 29, 1765.  President Ronald Reagan, during his 1985 vistit to Williamburg said, "...through long hours of great debate in the capitol behind me, the people of the colony evolved irresistibly from British subjects to American patriots."



Inside the Capital Building there are three main rooms, The House of Burgess (this room), the Joint Conference Room and the General Court Room.  The chair in the middle of the House of Burgess room is the Speakers Chair and is only reserved for high ranking elected officials and royalty.  President Ronald Reagan, conducted the Ninth Annual International Summit of Industrial Nations here in May, 1983.  President Reagan sat in the Speakers chair.



In the General Court Room, the prosecutor (Mr. Overton) has charged Mrs. Brewer with a crime and the defense attorney (Mr. Parvex) is defending her.  The 12 individuals to the right of the prosecutor are the jurors.  Mr. Overton had Mrs. Brewer put her right hand on the bible and raise her left arm to a square, showing her palm.  He then check to see if she was branded with a "T" or a "M" - if she was, it was short trial and she goes straight to the gallows!  I saw Mrs. Brewer on the bus later in the day, she must have been acquitted.



In the cabinet making shop, Amanda was privileged to play a replica of a 18th century harps-a-cord. 



All the young men are in line for a wig fitting.  They had to select the type of  hair they wanted in the wig, namely, horse hair, goat hair, yak hair or human hair.  Some of these wigs would cost about a year's worth of wages.  White human hair was the most expensive because the hair would come from young girls, ages 13 to 17 years old.  How many white haired young ladies are there?  To be fitted for the wig, the gentlemen would shave their heads.  At this point we thanked the wig maker for her time and made a quick exit for the door!

When we toured Williamsburg, we were divided into two groups.  This is picture of our group with our guide, Menzie Overton.

Watch out guys, the General is coming.

It started to rain, just as we were finishing for the afternoon and heading to the bus.

After dinner, we were invited to the Capital Building for an evening of colonial dancing inside the Burgess Room.  The colonial dancers showed our group how to do many popular 18th century dances.  Because the room was lit only by candlelight, we were not permitted to take pictures inside.  However, in the hallway after the event, Michelle was able to posed with her handsome dance partner.