We have a unique situation here at the Ferry Farm Archaeology Lab. One of our volunteers, who has spent hundreds of hours washing, sorting and labeling excavated artifacts, is oddly enough, also partially responsible for creating some of those artifacts in the first place! Robert Bailey, his father Ray, mother Peggy and older brother Ray … Continue reading “I wonder if this was mine?”: Robert Bailey’s Ferry Farm
George Washington’s Ferry Farm
Photos: Washington’s Birthday & Archaeology Day 2017
Every February, Presidents' Day weekend is a celebratory one at George Washington's Ferry Farm! As always this year, George's boyhood home marked his birthday on Saturday, February 18 and then held Archaeology Day on Monday, February 20. Here are some photos from both days.
Photos: Building George’s House – Windows & Weatherboard
Over the past several weeks, following the timber framing and while the shingling of the roof was taking place, The George Washington Foundation's carpenters Steve Chronister, Tom Rainey, and Josh Schwenk installed the Washington house windows and the beaded weatherboard, enclosing the house and shifting most of the work from the exterior to the interior. Read … Continue reading Photos: Building George’s House – Windows & Weatherboard
Video: Building George’s House – Timber Framing
The timber framing of the Washington house is complete. In this video, we get a close-up view of the construction of the house's timber frame. For a timelapse view of the timber framing, watch this video. To see how the beams in the frame were fashioned, watch this video. Learn more about the Washington House … Continue reading Video: Building George’s House – Timber Framing
Photos: Building George’s House – Shingling the Roof
This past autumn, workers from Peter Post Restorations lead by Peter himself added the shingles to the roof of the Washington house at Ferry Farm. The handmade riven shingles were sawn from a tree trunk, smoothed on one side, and decoratively scalloped. Because they were handmade, each shingle was a different width. The roofers laid the shingles … Continue reading Photos: Building George’s House – Shingling the Roof
Drink Your Vegetables: A Special 18th Century Wedgwood Ware
Fads come and go. Such is life. Eighteenth century colonists were not immune to flash-in-the-pan trends. However, given that information traveled a bit slower before the digital age, in the 18th century a ‘quick trend’ may have lasted 10 or 20 years, instead of 10 or 20 months. Such is the case with ‘vegetable ware’, … Continue reading Drink Your Vegetables: A Special 18th Century Wedgwood Ware
Video: Building George’s House – Laying the Stone Foundation
In this video, we see how stonemasons Ray Cannetti, Robert Hall, and Kevin Nieto laid the handmade Aquia sandstone foundation stones around and on top of the Washington house's concrete cradle foundation, which protects original architectural remains underground. Watch these videos about the concrete cradle and the oyster burning process. Learn more about the Washington House here … Continue reading Video: Building George’s House – Laying the Stone Foundation
Video: The GWF in 2016
Scenes from an exciting and memorable year at Historic Kenmore and George Washington's Ferry Farm!
We Want to Hear from You!
As 2017 begins, Lives & Legacies would like to hear from its readers! What would you like to know about George Washington’s boyhood, his mother Mary, his sister Betty, and his brothers? Maybe, you’re interested in the life of Fielding Lewis and the sacrifices he made to help the Patriot case. Perhaps, you’re wondering about … Continue reading We Want to Hear from You!
Photos: Holiday Decorations at Kenmore & Ferry Farm
The George Washington Foundation wishes everyone a joyous holiday season! Enjoy these photos of holiday decorations created by wonderful volunteers! The George Washington Foundation Garden Guild decorated at Historic Kenmore and the Lake Anna Garden Club decorated at George Washington's Ferry Farm. Next week, there will still be time to see Kenmore and Ferry Farm adorned for … Continue reading Photos: Holiday Decorations at Kenmore & Ferry Farm
Lives & Legacies 