The timber frame – from floor joists to roof sheathing -- of the rebuilt Washington house at Ferry Farm was recently completed. The work was done by tradesmen using a mix of 18th century building methods and 21st century equipment. The timbers were fashioned by Virginia-based Blue Ridge Timberwrights. Learn more about the Washington House … Continue reading Video: Building George’s House – Timber Frame Timelapse
historic architecture
Photos: Building George’s House – Timber Framing Finished
Expert craftsmen from Blue Ridge Timberwrights recently completed constructing the timber frame of the Washington house interpretive replica at Ferry Farm. This collection of photographs documents the their work and begins a week into the process. You can see photos from the first week of work here. What's next? Shingles! Learn more about constructing the Washington house interpretive replica … Continue reading Photos: Building George’s House – Timber Framing Finished
Video: Building George’s House – Lime Rick Burn
In this video, you'll see a lime rick burn that recently took place at George Washington's Ferry Farm and expert artisan Kenneth Tappan will explain the ins and outs of building and burning a lime rick. Learn more about the Washington House here and view other videos, photos, and blog posts about the project here.
The Man on the Ceiling: Neoclassical Decorating at Kenmore
As with many things at Historic Kenmore, the reasoning behind the choices Fielding and Betty Lewis made for their masterpiece of a house remain a mystery to us. Why are Aesop’s Fables the subject of the decorative plaster overmantel in the Dining Room? Why is there an old-fashioned paneled wall in the Chamber? Why did … Continue reading The Man on the Ceiling: Neoclassical Decorating at Kenmore
Photos: Building George’s House – Lime Rick Burn
Recently, expert artisans Bill Neff and Kenneth Tappan along with staff from The George Washington Foundation built a lime rick -- a large crib of wood and oyster shells -- at George Washington's Ferry Farm. This past Saturday, the rick was lit on fire to produce lime for stone and brick work as part of constructing … Continue reading Photos: Building George’s House – Lime Rick Burn
Video: Building George’s House – The Cornerstone
Stonemason Ray Cannetti tells us the story behind the cornerstone of the Washington house interpretive replica being built at George Washington's Ferry Farm. Learn more about the Washington House here and view other videos, photos, and blog posts about the project here.
Photos: Building George’s House – First Week of Timber Framing
Expert craftsmen from Blue Ridge Timberwrights arrived last Tuesday, September 6 to build the frame of the Washington house. This collection of photographs documents the first week of their work and begins with pictures of the finished concrete cradle and Aquia sandstone blocks ready to serve as the foundation for the timber frame. Over the past several months, the … Continue reading Photos: Building George’s House – First Week of Timber Framing
Video – Building George’s House: Making the Foundation Stones
In this video, we learn how Stonemasons Ray Cannetti, Kevin Neito, and Robert Hall split and dressed Aquia sandstone into foundation stones for the Washington House interpretive replica at Ferry Farm. Learn about the special concrete cradle the foundation stones will rest on in this video and read more about the Washington House project here.
Video – Building George’s House: The Concrete Cradle
An interpretive replica of the house that young George Washington lived in with his family is being built at his boyhood home at Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia. This replica is being constructed on the exact location of the original. Through the use of a specially-designed concrete cradle, the replica will not harm any of … Continue reading Video – Building George’s House: The Concrete Cradle
Dining Room vs. Dining Room
Several months ago, Historic Kenmore concluded the refurnishing effort in the Dining Room. After painstaking research and scientific investigation, that room has been returned to a state that would be immensely familiar to Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis. It might look somewhat unfamiliar, however, to later occupants of Kenmore. The first picture below was taken sometime … Continue reading Dining Room vs. Dining Room
Lives & Legacies 