Historic Kenmore was associated with gingerbread for decades. Many people’s first memories of Kenmore involve the square of gingerbread and a cup of tea that used to be served at the end of every tour. The dessert welcomed visitors to the world of colonial Fredericksburg, it comforted soldiers on their way to war in Europe … Continue reading Kenmore’s Famed Gingerbread
Historic Kenmore
Photos: Fielding’s Story, A Gentleman’s Sacrifice
This past weekend, visitors to George Washington's Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore learned about Fielding Lewis in the dramatic presentation, Fielding’s Story: A Gentleman’s Sacrifice. They were able to step back in time and see colonial-era Fredericksburg through the eyes of Fielding Lewis—member of Virginia’s gentry, wealthy merchant and leading citizen of Fredericksburg, builder of Kenmore, patriot and … Continue reading Photos: Fielding’s Story, A Gentleman’s Sacrifice
A Colonial Wedding
A wedding is one of the most monumental moments in a person’s life. The celebrations that accompany the ceremony might range from simple to lavish but they are always highly anticipated and joyous. In this enthusiasm for weddings, we share much with our early American ancestors. Although there are extremely important differences between past and … Continue reading A Colonial Wedding
Video – Caring for Historic Kenmore: Winding the Clock
Among Kenmore's collection is an 18th century seven-day clock that requires winding weekly. In this video, Collections Manager Heather Baldus shares the clock's history and winds the clock for another week.
Meet the Lewis Family: George Lewis
George Washington Lewis was Fielding and Betty Lewis’s fourth son, being born on March 14, 1757. His birth came within months of the deaths of two of his older brothers – Augustine and Warner, ages 4 and 1 – and was a bright spot in dark days for his parents. He was named for his … Continue reading Meet the Lewis Family: George Lewis
Kenmore’s Kitchen: Then & Now
The brick kitchen building next to Historic Kenmore is not original to the property. It was built in the 1930s in the colonial revival architectural style popular at that time. The brick construction does not reflect the kitchen building seen in the earliest known photo of such a building at Kenmore. That image, taken around the … Continue reading Kenmore’s Kitchen: Then & Now
Video: A Busy Morning at Kenmore
Historic Kenmore's beautiful grounds and gardens require much work to remain beautiful. On a recent morning, staff mowed and weeded flower beds in the unending effort to make the flowers and grounds look their best. Historic Kenmore and George Washington's Ferry Farm always need volunteers to help with our gardens. If you might be interested … Continue reading Video: A Busy Morning at Kenmore
The Atlantic World in Fielding Lewis’s Library
Ships and sea-faring were parts of daily life and culture in the Atlantic World port of Fredericksburg. This was especially the case for the Fielding Lewis family, who became wealthy through shipping, ship owning, and ship building. Wednesday's Lives & Legacies entry recounted a typical sea voyage around the Atlantic Ocean by the Stanton, a brig owned by John … Continue reading The Atlantic World in Fielding Lewis’s Library
The Voyage of the ‘Stanton’
In colonial times, ocean-going ships could sail up the Rappahannock River all the way to Fredericksburg. This made the tiny but growing town a bustling seaport. All types of goods were loaded onto ships to be sent to Europe while others were unloaded to be sold right here in the colonies. George Washington, Fielding Lewis, … Continue reading The Voyage of the ‘Stanton’
Photos: Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline” by Candlelight
The Rude Mechanicals presented candlelight performances of William Shakespeare's Cymbeline this past weekend at Historic Kenmore.
Lives & Legacies 