Slavery

Papa’s World – Harper’s Ferry – Brewery – a little history.

/ Tom / Leave a comment
GOOD MORNING

As the birthday celebration of my wife Sherry continued –

Hosted by our daughter Debby and her husband Mike –

We drove to Harper’s Ferry in W.V.

along with the three oldest grand daughters.

Sarah gazing at the river

We were going to hike a trail to the summit of a over look !

However – it was HOT !

Like 95 degrees HOT and very humid – no breeze.

Ella – Maddy – Debby and Sherry

We gathered before walking across the rail road trestle –

Knowing it was going to be a lot harder than we thought-

They ( the family ) had done this before –

in much cooler weather.

On the trail

After crossing across the river –

we hit the trail along side the remains of the old canal.

Along the old canal

This part was mostly flat – but in full Sun.

While this was hot – it was easy walking –

we walk three miles every day –

but stick to the shade as much as we can.

At the beginning of the climb

We started up the mountain – in the shade – but no breeze !

Climbing

We walk upward for a half hour –

Sweat – no air movement – we had climbed over a mile –

View from the rail road trestle

After a pause – checking our heart rates –

We – Sherry and myself decided

before heat stroke set in –

to turn around and walk the two plus miles back to the trestle.

It was just so hot and no air.

On the trestle – we watched dozens of tubers floating down the river.

Ella – Sherry and Maddy

It was the right choice –

even back in the town – it got hotter –

in the high 90’s !

We walked around and explored the streets –

having been here a couple times before –

we went to the train station to cool off in the AC.

Sherry and Sarah went to the wax museum

The Brewery

Looking for a place to have lunch – we decided to drive out of town –

and go up into the mountains to –

HARPER’S FERRY BREWERY –

Harper ‘s Ferry Brewery

This actually occupies the same area

as the rentals for the tube rides and rafters.

Buses take them down to the river

here they float down and through the rapids.

Hundreds of people stop on the big rocks in the middle of the river –

We could see them as we looked from the brewery.

Maddy – Ella – Sherry – Sarah and Debby

There were two food trucks – the regular one and a guest one –

From our area called FORD’S FISH SHACK –

a very popular place to eat – esp. sea food !

I counted over 30 taps for their beer in the brewery –

And we did a beer tasting flight of six of them

Debby – Ella – Taylor -Maddy – Sherry – Sarah and Mike

Then it was the trip back to the house at Lake Holiday –

Where Tammy – Marcus – Taylor – Cassidy and Bode –

drove back from their vacation in Maine –

to surprise Sherry !

Cassidy and Bode

The three oldest had made Swedish horses out of cement and tile for Sherry

As stepping stones in her flower beds

Having painted them and in different sizes according to their own age.

Blue – Maddy Orange – Sarah Red – Ella

They actually inlaid these with different tiles.


Lake Holiday

Today it will be back to the beach two at Lake Holiday –

where we can swim and cool off !

Beach Two

It has been a great birthday celebration

Family gathered

It is coming to a end

Harper’s Ferry – The Brewery – Lake Holiday

All organized by Debby & Mike

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

If you wish to read more – just type in the following

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

For my email fitztdf@aol.com

For HEALTH

Sherry – certified health coach

http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

email ssherrylynn49@aol.com

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

Papa’s World – James & Dolly’s – MONTPELIER

/ Tom / Leave a comment

” IF MEN WERE ANGELS – THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR GOVERNMENT”

MONTPELIER
GOOD MORNING

Those words were spoken by the man –

who framed the Constitution –

And was the Architect of ” THE BILL of RIGHTS ” !

James Madison – President – of the United States –

And perhaps the most famous first lady that ever lived – Dolly Madison.

James and Dolly Madison
” LITTLE JIMMY “
As she called him.

We celebrated our belated anniversary –

by taking a day trip to Orange Va.

Where a few miles outside of town –

sits the estate of MONTPELIER –

Still on its original 2600 acres granted by the King of England.

First Lady Dolly Madison –

actually knew and talked to the first 13 Presidents

Having met Lincoln when he was a young man in the crowd !

She performed the duties of FIRST LADY for 16 years –

Eight with her husband and eight with Jefferson as he was a widower.

MONPELIER

Built at the beginning of the 1800 ‘s – and later added on to –

with drawings by James good friend Thomas Jefferson –

It is truly one of the best preserved homes of the early presidents.

I have visited Washington’s –

Jefferson’s

and Jackson’s homes –

along with Lee’s home in Arlington

And this home in my opinion – is the best preserved.

Almost 95 % of the furnishings have been returned or obtained –

After James death and in the 1840’s –

Dolly sold almost everything and moved to Washington D.C.

They still are receiving pieces – one or two per month –

THOUSANDS of items were sold and now are back at the mansion.

Table and tea set

This table and tea set were used daily by Dolly and James –

I find it remarkable that they have found almost all of it !

The house itself – the floors do not make any noise when you walk

Nor is there a musty smell –

When in the basement – you look up at the flooring

So well preserved !

This bed is in a interactive room – you actually can lay down on it !

All the bricks were made on site –

there is a list of materials James bought from Jefferson

who had them made.

THE VIEW

Sitting at his desk in the upstairs room –

James Madison wrote ” THE BILL of RIGHTS “

While daily for hours using this view out the window to inspire him.

The grounds are just awesome

The woods around the estate are

and have been preserved for over 220 years

One of the biggest tracts of OLD GROWTH anywhere –

With miles and miles of walking trails.

Reconstruction of the buildings is on going

Many of the buildings have been researched and erected as they once were.

A view of the slave quarters with Montpelier in the back ground

Even though he wrote the Bill of Rights –

He never freed his slaves –

A blemish on his life.

Paul Jennings book
Paul Jennings was his personal servant
Very emotional

It is a shame that our fore fathers –

who crafted our great nation

Could not or would not – make all equal.

Although he left no descendants –

they had no children –

I find it ironic – that to this day –

The masters have passed beyond –

Yet the enslaved descendants –

Still survive and return –

To honor their forbearers

To the place they served.

THE GARDENS

The gardens – walled in – offer a respite – a place to rest in the shade.

The Garden
Sherry – was afraid of the bees !
Steps back to the gate
Sherry and Tom

A quiet place to relax in the shade –

You can just imagine – the guests – children – walking through here.

The trees are old and huge –

The level “GREEN” where parties and dances were held.

The back of the house from “THE GREEN”
OLD GROWTH TREE

The back of the house – where many dances – parties – were held.

The yard completely level

Lush and green.

To the front and cemetery

Back to the front and down the hill –

sits the family plot with over 100 burials

Back in those days – no grave stones existed.

It was all done from memory –

The first to be buried was his grand father

around 1724 !

He was poisoned by his slaves

One was hanged – two were flogged with 25 lashes.

In the mid 1800’s – after the death of Dolly –

she was brought back and laid to rest by her husband

Markers were then put in

and through research

The graves were marked

Some – they do not know

View from the front

I hope you like my little trip in words and pictures –

It has been on our bucket list for twenty years now

Tom & Sherry

Our anniversary gift to each other –

Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD

If you would like to read more – just type in the following

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

formy email

fitztdf@aol.com

For HEALTH ( Sherry is a certified Health Coach )

http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

her email

ssherrylynn49@aol.com

Welcome to PAPA’S WORLD

THANK YOU

MONTPELIER
Orange Va.