by gwffoundation | Dec 13, 2024 | Betty Washington, Daily Life in the 1700s, Developing America, Historic Kenmore, Kenmore Assoication, Lives & Legacies, Washington family
There once stood a large horse chestnut tree on the corner of Fauquier and Charles Street in Fredericksburg. It was noted as one of the thirteen legendary Washington horse chestnut trees planted by George himself. By the 1930s, it was becoming clear that the tree...
by gwffoundation | Oct 31, 2024 | Literature, Lives & Legacies
We have reached the best time of the year. The summer heat has broken, the leaves are crispy, and the best holiday, Halloween, is coming up quickly. We all know Halloween was not celebrated in Colonial America, but that doesn’t mean we can’t incorporate a bit of...
by gwffoundation | Mar 11, 2021 | History of Slavery, Lives & Legacies
Most of us have heard of Phineas Taylor “P.T.” Barnum, founder of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. During his life, P.T. Barnum was a businessman and politician but was most famously known for being an entertainer. His name became synonymous with...
by gwffoundation | Apr 4, 2019 | George Washington, Lives & Legacies
Originally, this post was going to explore colonial America’s fear and fascination with lightning and the practical tools created to help prevent destructive lightning damage. During my research, however, I encountered a tale about Mary Ball Washington and a close...
by gwffoundation | Feb 21, 2019 | George Washington's Ferry Farm, Historic Kenmore, Lives & Legacies
If you’ve been to Historic Kenmore, you’ve likely been awestruck at the beauty of the plaster ceilings throughout the first floor. Although the identity of “The Stucco Man” is lost to history, he left behind a lesson above the fireplace in the Dining Room. The plaster...