Monthly Archives: March 2018

Governor

Posted on March 23, 2018 by d4vid

The crown’s representative in the colony, the Governor, lived in a lavish mansion skirtted by rivers and flower gardens.Three saucy women in the cooking house talked about all the ingredients & recipes of the era.I was particularly interested in the … Continue reading →

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Cooper

Posted on March 23, 2018 by d4vid

I spent a long, long, long time peppering the cooper with questions.  Howlongdoesittaketomakeabarrel?  Whatkindsofwooddoyouuse?  Whydobeerandalehavedifferentunitsofmeasurement?  Arethesewatertight?  Isthatoneoverthereahogsheadoratun?Worth it.

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Patriot

Posted on March 23, 2018 by d4vid

I saw that there was an axe-throwing range.  It cost an additional $10 ticket for a half-hour class.  I hurried to one of the ticket shops and asked for one. “At what time?” “As soon as possible,” I replied. “That … Continue reading →

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Colonial

Posted on March 23, 2018 by d4vid

I had heard that Colonial Williamsburg was really only interesting “for kids”.  I think what they meant was it’s really only interesting “for curious people” because I loved the whole thing.It’s different than I had expected in that, other than … Continue reading →

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Crater

Posted on March 22, 2018 by d4vid

The Union hoped to end the Civil War by taking Richmond, but the Confederacy kept holding them off.  The two armies eventually dug trenches facing each other south of Richmond in the town of Petersburg.  (Military historians say that often … Continue reading →

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Witness

Posted on March 22, 2018 by d4vid

This is the Old Appomattox Court House at Appomattox Court House.  (Yes, Appomattox Court House is the full name of the village, named after, well, the courthouse.)  The entire town has been reconstructed as it looked when the Civil War … Continue reading →

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Equal

Posted on March 22, 2018 by d4vid

Visited Thomas Jefferson’s home Monticello.  The name means “little hill” in Italian and Jefferson chose to build it at the top of a hill overlooking his plantation.  A hill with no water supply.  But why worry about that when you … Continue reading →

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Raven

Posted on March 22, 2018 by d4vid

My friend Lisa toured me around the beautiful grounds of the University of Virginia.  My favorite part was this reconstruction of Edgar Allan Poe‘s spartan room from when he was a student.  It is maintained by the Raven Society (which, … Continue reading →

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Rosy

Posted on March 22, 2018 by d4vid

A Homeric dawn as seen from my hotel room in Charlottesville.

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Infamous

Posted on March 21, 2018 by d4vid

Saw the infamous Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville.  Fuck this guy and the horse he road in on.

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Panel

Posted on March 21, 2018 by d4vid

Recently, I reconnected with my old friend Lisa Jakub via Twitter.  I had the chance to see her talk about her new book on a panel at the Virginia Festival of the Book [sic]. Heading to the panel, I happened … Continue reading →

Posted in Charlottesville | 2 Comments

Wonderland III

Posted on March 21, 2018 by d4vid

Beat the nor’easter inland and woke up to this scene outside my window in Charlottesville the next morning.

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Outrun

Posted on March 19, 2018 by d4vid

After visiting New Castle, I had the bright idea to drive down the coast of Maryland to get to Virginia.  Only midway did I realize that a nor’easter was approaching.  I drove much later than I usually do in order … Continue reading →

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Landfall

Posted on March 19, 2018 by d4vid

According to the researcher at the Cecil County Historical Society, most of the Ulster Scots landed here in New Castle, Delaware.  (Although some ships came through Philadelphia.)  She also told me that New Castle had been a contender to be … Continue reading →

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Cold

Posted on March 19, 2018 by d4vid

From Los Angeles to Idaho to Iowa to Pennsylvania, I finally traced the Young family back to Cecil County, Maryland.  But here the trail went cold. I found myself in Elkton, Maryland.  The town had originally been named Head of … Continue reading →

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