Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2009. Mattie's community held an event in his honor to show their support and to encourage him through his treatment. The event was held at Mattie's school. Pictured with Mattie were his friends Charlotte and Campbell. This event is what inspired the creation of the annual Mattie Miracle walk, and both Charlotte and Campbell continue to attend and participate!


Quote of the day: Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity ~ Henry Van Dyke


I took my parents to Dumbarton House today. It is located in Georgetown, and again this is something I NEVER did! Which is ironic since I live so close to this historic house. But this is not something I would do on my own, it is much nicer to experience it with someone else. Fortunately my mom enjoys doing this as much as I do. I knew of Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown, which is a museum and amazing garden. But I never heard of Dumbarton House, which is a completely separate entity and has NOTHING to do with Dumbarton Oaks. 

Dumbarton House was built by Samuel Jackson, a Philadelphia merchant, just before the Federal government moved from Philadelphia to the newly established national capital of Washington, a separate town in the District of Columbia. However, Jackson and his family lived there only briefly and the mortgage he had given, and then title to the property, soon passed to the United States. In 1804, the property was purchased at auction by Joseph Nourse, the first Register of the United States Treasury. An advertisement for the upcoming sale described the interior of the house in some detail: ". . . a large two story brick house with a passage through the center, four rooms on a floor & good cellars. The front rooms are about 17 by 18 feet – the back rooms are semicircular and are about 22 by 17 feet – the passage 9 feet wide and 38 feet long – two brick offices [wings] two stories high 17 feet 6 inches square & are connected with the House by covered ways. . .  

In 1813, the Nourses sold the property to Charles Carroll of Belle Vue (he was a cousin of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, signer of the Declaration of Independence). The purchaser was also a friend of President James Madison and his wife Dolley. It is this “Mr. Carroll” to whom Dolley is referring in her famous letter describing the events of August 24, 1814, the day the British burned the "President's House" in the War of 1812. ". . . Our kind friend, Mr. Carroll, has come to hasten my departure, and is in a very bad humor with me because I insist on waiting until the large picture of Gen. Washington is secured, and it requires to be unscrewed from the wall .... " When Dolley was finally satisfied that the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington was safe, she came to Dumbarton House, as Mr. Carroll told her the President had requested, to await further word on where the couple should meet.

Dumbarton House was built in the 1800's and provides a unique opportunity to view one of the finest examples of Federal period architecture in the U.S., along with its impressive furniture and decorative arts collections. It helps you imagine what life was like in the earliest days of our nation’s capital. In addition to being a historic house museum, Dumbarton House is also the headquarters of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (The organization strives to inspire a true spirit of patriotism and a genuine love of country. It promotes interest in the stories surrounding our Colonial origins and invites all people to honor the wisdom and valor of those whose sacrifices and achievements gave birth to our nation.)

From the outside, Dumbarton House presents a large central block, balanced by smaller two-story wings on each side. The wings in turn are connected to the central block by matching hyphens. The large windows in the central block and the semicircular fanlight over the main entrance are features that made an appearance only during the Federal period.

This was the entrance way into the home. If you look closely the floor is made out of WOOD. However, on top of the wood is a checkered pattern made out of laminated canvas. OF ALL THINGS! This was designed to protect the wooden floors, as visitors in those days had to journey through mud to get there. So by the time they arrived and entered the home, they would be tracking mud into the home. It was a much easier clean up the mud off the canvas than wood. In addition, the hallway was this stark because it was also used to entertain and have musicians and dances! Therefore the chairs were light and could be removed from the hallway, which made it super easy to host parties. 

During the Federal period, there is a movement away from the elaborate carving and rococo curves and flourishes previously found on furniture, silver, and other objects. Now, straight lines, smooth surfaces, and contrast achieved not by means of the shadows of carved wood but with inlay of contrasting woods, and even with paint, characterize the furniture. Pieces tend to be smaller and lighter for both practical and aesthetic reasons. Social life of the period is characterized by a greater degree of informality, so that furniture is rearranged in rooms as the occasion and the company require.

This bedroom was located on the first floor of the house. Why? Because this was pre-electricity and central heat. Therefore it was easier to carry candles from the living space into the bedroom and keep this room heated, rather than having to heat a second floor where the other bedrooms were located. On the bed was a band box. I had NO IDEA what that was. But apparently clothes were folded and stored in these boxes. When the boxes were purchased they were plain on the outside. It was the owner of the band box who would decorate the outside of the box typically with wall paper samples from their home. Band boxes have actually documented what actual wallpapers looked like in certain houses, because the pattern on the box lasts longer than what goes on the walls. With sun light and daily use, wallpaper fades, but that is not true of the fabric on these band boxes. 

The gardens at Dumbarton House were equally charming and lush! I think ALL the rain we have had is making the greenery pop and catch your attention.