Who Knew We Were Virginians?

[jenseib]

I wandered around the side of the house to make my way to the backside to see what it looked like back there.



As you can see the front and back mirror each other.



Something we learned on the tour and something I had not known was that many plantations were built on rivers and the front doors often faced the river. Back then it was hard to get to them by land and most people traveled up and down the river to visit other plantations. Shirley was built with 2 front doors. I guess it was rude to have a visitor come in the back door and since they had a driveway to the front and also received many visitors by water they made it so that coming from either entrance was acceptable.







This was a very old tree and it was roped off so you couldn’t get too close. I guess the roots are fragile and they don’t want people disturbing it.





Looking back at the house from near the tree.















Back around to the front.







This was the kitchen building.





And it was now time to meet on the front steps for our tour. There were just 3 of us for this first tour. The other guy actually lived in Richmond, but said he had never been to visit the plantation and decided to check it out today.

We entered the house with our guide and sadly we were not allowed to take pictures inside, though I had known this prior to coming.
I believe we only toured the first floor of this house and the 2nd and 3rd floors are still lived in by the current owner …who is a descendent of the Hill family, the ones who built the house. He was a single man, but our guide told us he was planning to be married in a few weeks (and he was as it was posted on their facebook page) and he was an older gentleman and they were all so happy to have him get married.
The tour was very interesting and informative. They were very rich at times and actually pretty poor at times as well. They didn’t know about rotating crops so much back then and tobacco was the main crop and it took so much out of the soil that at times hardly anything would grow. Loans were taken, parts of the house were sold off to make money, etc., once being the roof that was made out of a metal that was needed for a particular war and it got the plantation out of debt. (I can’t remember what the roof was made of but it was an expensive metal and though it is sad it had to be sold, it did keep the plantation from going completely under and we now can see this beautiful place today). Also some members married into other influential families as well. The house had additions added over the years too. At one point there wasn’t a family heir to hand the house over to so I think it went to a nephew to keep it in the family.

All this was so interesting and we learned about different family members in each room we went into. The guy in our tour asked a LOT of questions. And while they were good questions, he kind of asked them in an interrupting way, or in a know it all way and it was slightly annoying at times. I could tell the guide was a little frustrated with him asking so many things and often told him she would get to that later in the tour. I had to laugh after we were done and Dad mentioned that he thought the guy was kind of rude. For my Dad to notice it meant that he was. LOL
The tour was about an hour long and we excited back out the front steps where we had entered. We thanked the guide and decided to look around a little more before heading to our next destination.

This area over there with a sign….at one point in time both sides of the main house had flanking houses …another thing I learned was very common for plantations and I never knew….and these buildings held bedrooms and guest quarters. I believe this side had burned down many years ago and the one on the other side was actually removed by a family member many years ago and rebuilt a few miles down the road to be the residence of a son. I never found out if it was still actually standing or not, but we obviously were not invited to go see it if it still is standing.





I guess I was going for odd angle pictures.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Those guest houses were usually for guests who were bachelors. In Louisiana there were called garçonaires, not sure about the spelling. I read a lot about old houses & have quite a few books about them.

Williamsburg had a very old house out side of tow called Carter's Grove. It has a great history & was donated to Williamsburg. It was open to the public until a few years ago, they closed the house. It was sold to a private party a couple of years ago, but it went into foreclosure. Williamsburg owns the house again, but no one knows what will happen to the house. It's such a darn shame.

 

[jenseib]

Those guest houses were usually for guests who were bachelors. In Louisiana there were called garçonaires, not sure about the spelling. I read a lot about old houses & have quite a few books about them.

Williamsburg had a very old house out side of tow called Carter's Grove. It has a great history & was donated to Williamsburg. It was open to the public until a few years ago, they closed the house. It was sold to a private party a couple of years ago, but it went into foreclosure. Williamsburg owns the house again, but no one knows what will happen to the house. It's such a darn shame.

Carters Grove was the one they kept showing on that special TV show. And I knew it had been closed for many years and I didn't understand why they still kept showing it. It was one place I had always wanted to visit years ago when I wanted to go to CW.
From what I read, it was closed in 2003.... for lack of making money, I guess....and then a hurricane came through and made it impossible to get to it on the road that led to it. In 2007 it was sold to CNET founder and I think he lived there a bit, or intended to. I am pretty sure he supposedly wasn't supposed to do anything to the house that would ruin it's historical value...but he did..fixing things in a way he wasn't supposed to and I believe he tore some buildings down that he wasn't supposed to. Well that was one story I read..another says he did nothing. ... I guess the guy came in to some financial trouble and the house was foreclosed on...I wasn't aware it went back to Williamsburg though, but that is a good thing....and from what I last read a while back the house is falling into major disrepair now. (though some reports say that was not really the case) I also read it was supposed to be sold this year...not sure if that is true or if it ever happened. Hopefully someone steps up and does something to preserve this place. it is so beautiful.

 

[dolphingirl47]

What a shame that you did end up with a Know It All on the tour.

Corinna

 

[MEK]

Sorry that its taken my FOREVER to get back to this TR. I have to say that you absolutely have outdone yourself with all the fabulous pictures of colonial Williamsburg. I really miss it there. I really wanted to visit at Christmas but have no extra time off from work and its just a little too far to drive down Friday after work and come back on Sunday. *sigh*

I was also really impressed with the William & Mary campus. Denny and I walked the whole campus and its quite large for the size of the student body. The tuition is actually reasonable for Virginia residents. Out of state students pay 3X that rate. When I saw the sticker price for out of state I thought, forget about it. But it didn't have Nick's major so it wasn't even an option. I do have a friend who attended there and she absolutely loved it and said they were the best four years of her life.

I'm glad you got to eat at Christina Cambells. We ate there when my boys were younger and I loved it. I remember the trek outside for the bathroom. Too funny about being put in the back room.

I don't think I'm completely caught up, but thank you for giving me a Williamsburg fix. I'm thinking that Denny and I make go at the end of the summer when the summer crowds have died down.

 

[MEK]

Oh the boats at Jamestown and the school groups. Yup - been there, done that. It made it really hard for Denny and I to tour the boats, but we still enjoyed it. We also loved the little museum area they had inside. It was nicely done, but small.

I have not been to Shirley Plantation. That is on my list for the next time we go. It looks beautiful. I'm glad you got a chance to see it.

 

[jenseib]

Oh the boats at Jamestown and the school groups. Yup - been there, done that. It made it really hard for Denny and I to tour the boats, but we still enjoyed it. We also loved the little museum area they had inside. It was nicely done, but small.

I have not been to Shirley Plantation. That is on my list for the next time we go. It looks beautiful. I'm glad you got a chance to see it.

There were a ton a school groups there that day. I wonder how late they go to school because many were still there after 3PM. With our school and trips we usually have to be back at school before it ends so kids can catch the bus.

I loved Shirley!

 

[jenseib]

What a shame that you did end up with a Know It All on the tour.

Corinna

Yeah, it was a little annoying, but with just the 3 of us it wasn't too bad and he didn't hold us up at all.

Sorry that its taken my FOREVER to get back to this TR. I have to say that you absolutely have outdone yourself with all the fabulous pictures of colonial Williamsburg. I really miss it there. I really wanted to visit at Christmas but have no extra time off from work and its just a little too far to drive down Friday after work and come back on Sunday. *sigh*

I was also really impressed with the William & Mary campus. Denny and I walked the whole campus and its quite large for the size of the student body. The tuition is actually reasonable for Virginia residents. Out of state students pay 3X that rate. When I saw the sticker price for out of state I thought, forget about it. But it didn't have Nick's major so it wasn't even an option. I do have a friend who attended there and she absolutely loved it and said they were the best four years of her life.

I'm glad you got to eat at Christina Cambells. We ate there when my boys were younger and I loved it. I remember the trek outside for the bathroom. Too funny about being put in the back room.

I don't think I'm completely caught up, but thank you for giving me a Williamsburg fix. I'm thinking that Denny and I make go at the end of the summer when the summer crowds have died down.

Christiana's was so good!
I would love to go at Christmas time too. Right now I have a husband who thinks all traveling should completely stop (let's just say I am not talking much to him right now) and so I don't see any Christmas trips coming this year.

 

[jenseib]

I had to make a bathroom stop so I went in the direction I had seen signs.



There were many more cars in the lot now. It was a good thing we came so early.



That bus had a whole group of Senior Citizens in it.





The bathroom was very basic, but decent enough. I went back out and looked a little more.



This still is a working farm.



If you visit their facebook page you will often see pictures of their animals.









This is where the doves were kept and I guess they were a big treat to eat and something they grew for special occasions.





It was now getting time to head back to the car and off to the next plantation.



Shirley was my favorite plantation we visited this day. It was informative and beautiful and I was happy I chose to visit here.

 

[dizneeat]

Great photos of the plantation, Jen. This is so interesting to see, as we do not have anything like it here.
Sorry about the know it all on the tour.

 

[MEK]

Seniors? School groups?

Hmmmmm - which is worse?



I am going to Shirley the next time I hit W-burg! If we drive the route south towards Richmond it actually makes sense to stop there on the way in.

 

[Kathy Jetson]

That's a pretty plantation. We have several around here that we could go on a day trip too. So far I've only been to one. I really should take River to some of the others he likes to go inside places and learn about them too.

I hope your family had a good Thanksgiving! We're all sick here ugh I can't wait to get over it.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I must tell you MEK, Williamsburg in August is absolutely horrible in terms of humidity & heat!

Jen, that was a lovely plantation, I must get there also. It's so sad about Carter's Grove. The drive down the road to Carter's was really scenic, the house was so lovely.

Money has been very tight for awhile at Williamsburg. Most of the tourist dollars are going to Busch Gardens, kids aren't interested in history much anymore.

 

[Beth D]

All caught up now! Love the pics of the plantation!

 

[jenseib]

Great photos of the plantation, Jen. This is so interesting to see, as we do not have anything like it here.
Sorry about the know it all on the tour.

I have always had a thing about Plantations. As a kid I thought it would be so neat to have lived on one. Of course as an adult I now know it wasn't all paradise like the movies portray it.
I seem to attract people like that, but it was OK, With a small group it wasn't too bad.

Seniors? School groups?

Hmmmmm - which is worse?



I am going to Shirley the next time I hit W-burg! If we drive the route south towards Richmond it actually makes sense to stop there on the way in.

LOL. Hard call, but I "think" I would rather have Sr.s but then again, they might be slow moving. (insert smiley that won't load for me right now)

Shirley was really neat and I am glad I chose to go there at the top of my list.

That's a pretty plantation. We have several around here that we could go on a day trip too. So far I've only been to one. I really should take River to some of the others he likes to go inside places and learn about them too.

I hope your family had a good Thanksgiving! We're all sick here ugh I can't wait to get over it.

Oh you should go. I wish we had more places like that around here. We do have some castles (the really are just homes) a few hours away that I haven't gone to in years. I really should make an effort to do them one day next summer. I have talked about it, but we have yet to go. I took Michael and Paige when they were little and I went a few times when I was little.
We did have a good Thanksgiving, but Skip was in a grumpy mood because we mentioned going to Disney with my parents next year, so he put a damper on it for a bit. He's famous for being pouty on holidays anyways. I should be used to it.

I must tell you MEK, Williamsburg in August is absolutely horrible in terms of humidity & heat!

Jen, that was a lovely plantation, I must get there also. It's so sad about Carter's Grove. The drive down the road to Carter's was really scenic, the house was so lovely.

Money has been very tight for awhile at Williamsburg. Most of the tourist dollars are going to Busch Gardens, kids aren't interested in history much anymore.

I have heard that Williamsburg in the summer is quite brutal. I once read a TR of someone who went over 4th of July and he said it was so hot and humid that it really limited what they did.
I am sad about Carters Grove too. It just looks so beautiful!!!! Or at least it was!
I don't know that Claire is really interested, but I do try to point out that kind of stuff to her and hope it sparks an interest in her and even if it's not exciting now, as she grows it may become more interesting and give her memories.

 

[jenseib]

All caught up now! Love the pics of the plantation!

Thanks

 

[jenseib]

We made our way a few miles back down the road and towards Berkley Plantation. As we went down the road towards Berkley it gave us an option to turn one way for Berkley or another way to Westover. Now I hadn’t read about Westover …..hmmmm. We kept on to Berkley, but I mentioned to Dad about possibly trying Westover out on our way back out.

We approached Berkley and parked. The house looked nice.



But as we walked up to the house to get our tickets we saw the flanking buildings …which were ugly…. With a nice puke color to them.



That particular puke colored building is where we were to buy our tickets. Dad was paying this time around. You can see him digging in his wallet for his money in that last picture.







We went in and made our ticket purchase and Dad was excited because these 2 tickets were 50 cents cheaper than Shirley, so he made a big deal about him getting the better end of the deal. LOL. They gave us a time to meet and told us we had a bit of time yet (I think about 20 minutes) and that we should walk down towards the river as it was a beautiful path. Dad didn’t want to, but I did and he ended up coming with me.
We also saw a picture of a beautiful plantation hanging on the wall and I asked what it was. The guy told us it was Westover. OK, so THAT’S Westover. He said they only do tours a few times a year, but you can go over and tour the grounds for a small fee. I might just do that…..

We made our way back outside and looked for the path.









The River was at the back of the house and quite a walk.



But it was beautiful and the whole back yard was beautiful.



They also noted that this was the site of the first Thanksgiving. I am not sure what they actually meant on that. I think it had something to do with the landing in Virginia, but I am not sure.











The water looked a little choppy today.









A look back at the house. As you can see, the back yard is really huge and the house is quite a ways back.

 

[natebenma]

Just read through your visit to CW on Wednesday

Great job putting down your foot and getting your earlier start.

I liked the pictures you took in the garden with the "fisheye" lens. It's fun to see a little different presentation.

I hope you enjoyed your alone time wandering into the shops.

Too funny about all of the oxen pictures. They are great, though!

You have some really neat pictures of the store and the guy who looks like Ben Franklin.

You didn't buy the CW book? Apparently, hard sell salesmen span the centuries.

Sounds like Chownings was not much to write home about.

I really liked learning about the construction they were doing. That's interesting to see some of the steps in the process.

I agree- William and Mary is a beautiful campus! That was a cool tree!

Lots and lots of gorgeous pictures from this day, but my favorite is the one of the sun setting through the trees. So beautiful!

Really cute family pictures as you are waiting for dinner.

Sounds like you finally had a good meal at Christiana Campbell's Tavern.


I'm going to stop here for now but I'm excited to read about Jamestown.

 

[Kathy Jetson]

The grounds look very pretty but that house where you bought the tickets was awful. You would think they would keep it up better since people are paying to look at the place

 

[jenseib]

Just read through your visit to CW on Wednesday

Great job putting down your foot and getting your earlier start.

I liked the pictures you took in the garden with the "fisheye" lens. It's fun to see a little different presentation.

I hope you enjoyed your alone time wandering into the shops.

Too funny about all of the oxen pictures. They are great, though!

You have some really neat pictures of the store and the guy who looks like Ben Franklin.

You didn't buy the CW book? Apparently, hard sell salesmen span the centuries.

Sounds like Chownings was not much to write home about.

I really liked learning about the construction they were doing. That's interesting to see some of the steps in the process.

I agree- William and Mary is a beautiful campus! That was a cool tree!

Lots and lots of gorgeous pictures from this day, but my favorite is the one of the sun setting through the trees. So beautiful!

Really cute family pictures as you are waiting for dinner.

Sounds like you finally had a good meal at Christiana Campbell's Tavern.


I'm going to stop here for now but I'm excited to read about Jamestown.

We had a lot of fun together, but yes, people can be so slow!!!! I really have not found the perfect travel partner yet....one who can get up early and stay up late and like all the things I do.
LOL
I did enjoy seeing so many different things on this trip though.
And I liked taking new pictures of things. I love Disney, but I do have a lot of the same pictures, so this was a treat to photograph!

The grounds look very pretty but that house where you bought the tickets was awful. You would think they would keep it up better since people are paying to look at the place

I know, I am not sure what the deal was and I never did ask "Why do those buildings look like puke and mold?" LOL!