Thomasville...A Place Apart

On Tuesday, I got to volunteer at the Thomas County Museum of History where I worked previously, to help with their annual Pilau Dinner fundraiser. It was so wonderful to get to spend time with some of the best folks in Thomasville, GA. I miss my little museum family a lot. However, when I showed up at 4:30, there was no time to catch up with everyone. We had to get to work! People started coming really early Tuesday, so it kinda messed us up as far as having plenty of plates already served up and ready to go. So we never had the chance to build up some stock. We served around 1,100 dinners. Whew. It was tiring! I took my camera to take pictures, but there was just no time for that. I was on the serving line from 4:30 until 7:00. Thankfully, my gal Mindy took a picture, so you can get an idea of what we were doing. You can see I was taking my job of scooping pickles very seriously! I then got moved over to the coleslaw. Guess that's one good thing about just being a member of the Historical Society and not an employee. I got the easy job. No running dinners back and forth to the street for me this year! Plus at the end of the evening, I didn't have to stay to the bitter end cleaning up (although I did stay for most of it). I looked at Ephraim, our curator of collections, and said peace out! I don't work here! Somehow, I don't believe he appreciated that.

The guy in the Guiness apron, John is the man. I heart him. He is HI-larious! He helps out at the museum a lot, especially during History Camp time. Between John and Mindy (our Treasurer) I laughed all night long. That big blue thing is where all the pilau is stored after it is cooked. It's some kind of serving thing that we borrow from the hospital every year. It looks gross though. Ha! We have a whole team of men that volunteer every year to cook the pilau under the shed. They cook it over fires in big, black kettles. I think it's just an excuse for them to skip out on work and shoot the breeze with other men while drinking beer!

Without a doubt, working at the museum was probably the best job I have ever had. Probably because I just enjoyed it so very much and got to do a lot of neat things, meet some really nice tourists, and learn a lot about history. So today, I thought that I would share my love of the Thomas County Historical Society and the museum that they run. So get ready for a slight history lesson  :-) 

Thomas County Museum of History
725 N. Dawson Street

The museum is housed in the 1923 J.H. Flowers home. Mr. Flowers was the grandfather of the gentlemen that started Flowers Baking Company in 1910. You may know Flowers Baking Company by the things they make like Sunbeam bread, Cobblestone Mill, and Nature's Own. They recently acquired Tasty Cakes, which Ephraim (who is from Jersey) was very pumped up about. Guess that's big in the Northeast... This 20th Century Jeffersonian Revival house was constructed after the previous house that was on the property burned in 1923. The house that sat on the site originally was a gorgeous Victorian home that was built in 1893 by O.C. Ewart. As sad as it was that such a beautiful Victorian house burned, there are a few things that remain from the original home. There is a gorgeous fountain that survived and still works, as well as the wrought iron fence that encompasses the property. The really neat thing that survived from the original house is the 1893 bowling alley. The bowling alley is one (if not the) oldest private bowling alleys in the country. It predates the one at the Biltmore by two years. Take that, Vanderbilts!!

The bowling alley is constructed of heart pine with beautiful woodwork throughout. The lane itself is made of maple. If you visit the museum, they may even let you bowl. (I would, if I was still there) Kids think its great to bowl in there until they realize that they have to reset the pins themselves. Ha! You will also see in the picture above the 1890 Metcalfe Courthouse. The courthouse was brought to the museum grounds in 2005 or so after the Historical Society won it in an auction. To this day, there are still some Metcalfe residents that believe that we stole their courthouse. It's pretty funny.

Next up on the grounds is the 1860 Rufus T. Smith log house. This log home was donated to the museum in the 1970s by a descendant of the original owner. The Smith's did very well for themselves, considering they were middle class farmers and not large plantation owners like some of their other Thomas County counterparts. They farmed around 500 acres, but owned no slaves. However, they did have 13 children to help out on the farm.

The 1910 Flowers playhouse is just a little novelty that is on the grounds. It actually has a twin that is still being used by the Flowers family today. Two were built by the same owners of the 1923 Flowers house because they had two granddaughters. So each granddaughter got their very own playhouse. 

Finally, we come to the 1877 Emily Joyner house. The home is original to the museum grounds. This house represents what the local city residents of Thomasville would have lived in during the Victorian period. Thomasville is known for it's grand Victorian "cottages" aka mansions, but those homes were built by wealthy Northerners who came to Thomasville in the winter to vacation (Thomasville was the Miami of it's day). A house like this is what "normal" people lived in. Emily Joyner is unique because she paid for the land and built this home all by herself. Her husband died in 1863 during the Civil War in battle and she had to raise and support their daughter alone. So she became a seamstress and eventually saved up $125. She paid $25 for the lot and another $100 to have her home built. She lived in this home until 1895. She did eventually move, because in 1893 she got some new neighbors. That is when the Ewart family bought all the adjoining property and built their "cottage" on the grounds. The Ewarts owned half of the block, with the exception of Ms. Joyner's home. So Mr. Ewart basically harassed her for a couple of years until Ms. Joyner finally agreed to sell. That's because Mr. Ewart offered her $3,000 for her property and her home!! She made quite the profit. She took her money and built a much nicer and bigger home right a few blocks up on Dawson Street. So she got a nicer house, and Mr. Ewart got to move his nanny to the Joyner House.

So that is a little overview of the buildings that comprise the Thomas County Museum of History. Maybe you are still reading and haven't fallen asleep with my little history lesson. Maybe, just to make Stacey really happy, I will start posting every week about a historical home or event in the history of Thomas County. That would be fun! ;-)

For more information on the Museum or the Historical Society go to http://www.thomascountyhistory.org/ or check out their Facebook page. Oh and you can go to the Museum and actually purchase a pictorial of the history of Thomas County and it is named... Thomasville, A Place Apart along with other books that were written about Thomas County.

Procrastination at it's finest

Today I have A LOT of stuff to do, but right now I am really putting it off. I had to take a quick break and rest my mind for a minute before getting back to it. Right now I can barely see my desk anymore.

After this short break I will get all this stuff knocked out. And since I included this picture, I figured I would show you a couple of special things in my office. First, this:

This is my going away present from the museum. It is a paper weight. The picture inside is one that I did, so it has sentimental value that they chose to use that picture (It is a rendering of the Lapham-Patterson House in Thomasville that the Historical Society manages). And what girl's office isn't complete with out this?

That's right, ladies and gentlemen. The 2011 SEC Football Helmet Schedule. I love this thing. I print it out every year. I do need to find a pretty frame to put it in though. It just being taped on the wall is pretty tacky. I think I have just the frame at home and it will even match the blue wall in my office. Other than those two things, I haven't done anything to decorate and/or personalize my office. I plan on doing that soon. Maybe you can "Find Nemo" in my top picture above, but I hate to break it to Nemo, he needs to go. So I am on the lookout for some pictures to hang on the wall. Theoretically, it would be nice to hang my diploma on my wall, but it was never framed {hint, mother} but that's ok. Oh- did I mention that I graduated from college SEVEN years ago? I think at this point I should give up on that ever happening. Ok. I have rambled on enough and I realize that this is a really random post, but that is where my head is today. Terribly scatter brained and fried. Back to the grind. Hopefully tomorrow I will have a little more time to think of something more interesting. Happy Wednesday, ya'll!

Archi-Camp 2011

I just realized that I never posted about my other experience with day camp in Thomasville this summer. If you never heard of History Camp, I can believe you probably have never heard of Architecture Camp either! But it does exist. Thomasville Landmarks partnered with the Thomasville Resource Center to put on a three day camp teaching some kids about the unique architecture in Thomasville. Granted, I worked for the Historical Society at the Museum of History, but I still got recruited to help with Landmarks' "Archi-Camp" nonetheless. Monday, the kids came to the Museum where I gave them a tour of the 1860 log-house and to take measurements of the 1910 Flowers' Playhouse. After snacks, I took the kids across the street to the 1885 Lapham-Patterson House. Here I gave them a brief tour of this whimsical Queen Anne home, pointing out all the unique architectural details. The kids then went out front to the sidewalk and made sidewalk art with chalk. They picked out their favorite architectural detail of the house and then drew it on the sidewalk. I wish I had pictures on my camera-phone, but I do not, so I can't share them with you. Sorry because the kids did a really bang up job with that project.

1885 Lapham-Patterson House

I did such a fabulous job helping out with camp on Monday, I was recruited to help give a downtown tour to the kids the next day. So off we went in 100+ degree heat roaming the streets of Thomasville, doing a scavenger hunt for things like "dental moldings" and "keystones".

The kids looking for items on their scavenger hunt

After returning from downtown came my favorite part of the day....snack time! We had the kids build and "design" their own cupcake houses. Here are a few pictures of them hard at work.

And here was my creation that I made. I thought I did a cute job. But it was really nice to be able to enjoy my handiwork--you know by eating it.

One of the highlights of participating in Archi Camp, besides getting to be around some really awesome children, was being able to tour the Episcopal Church. I had never been to this particular church in town and it was absolutely gorgeous. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I had a kid on each arm wanting to hold my hand the whole time, so I didn't get too many pictures!

One cool thing was this swiveling door.

I had no idea it was a door. It just looked like a big wooden panel. But it is a secret little door. Super cool. But the best part was seeing the stained glass windows. And I apologize because I don't have close ups of the windows. The church was established in 1868 and I believe the church building was built either in the mid 1880s or early 1890s (i can't remember) But the stained glass windows are phenomenal. They were made by Louis Comfort Tiffany himself. It was neat to really learn what makes Tiffany stained glass so unique.

So that was my experience with the 1st annual Archi Camp. If you {care} want to see more pictures or learn more about Thomasville Landmarks, you can visit their website at www.thomasvillelandmarks.org. There is a great picture of me and all the kids on the porch of the Lapham-Patterson House on the front page of the website.

History Camp Low-Down

Well...I survived History Camp last week! It was one long, very hot week, but so much fun. The kids really enjoyed learning about the history of the county and city and getting to do all the arts and crafts from the time period. I got to catch up on my elementary school vernacular and learned a very important lesson on using a Google search. Both made me feel extremely old. And FYI according to the Urban Dictionary "Gingerbreading" is not an architectural detail on Victorian homes, it has a slightly different, more dirty meaning. Thanks Google for my education (and making me feel like an old stick in the mud). And I don't suggest you look up the urban meaning, its not very nice! My vernacular I learned was from a very 

mischievous 5th grader that I have used all the time since. He was leaving his group table, threw up two peace signs with his hands and proclaims "peace out, suckas" with such gusto, that I just laughed my head off. Since that time, my co-worker Ephraim and I have been using that just about every single day. Thanks to our Abercrombie & Finch wearing-Justin Beiber haircut little friend. Oh and I totally fell for the old "spell icup for me" trick from a little 3rd grade girl. Of course, me being me and wanting to get it right had to ask if it was spelled like eye drop or iphone to make sure I was spelling it correctly. Yep. Totally fell right into that one! The things kids do haven't changed much since I was their age twenty years ago.

Here is the run down on some of the activities we did. Each day had a different period relating to our county's history. Monday was Native American Day. They made pottery, did basket making, face painting, made bead necklaces, listened to a Creek Indian come tell about life as a Native American, played stick ball, and built fires so they could pop popcorn for their snack. Safety Third!

Tuesday was Pioneer Day. The kids got to churn butter, make biscuits in the fireplace in the log cabin, use a cross-cut saw, shell peas, how to quilt, weaving, and plow a garden with a push plow. I think the kids decided they wouldn't have survived living as a pioneer! I got to teach the kids how butter was made and how to shell peas. Here I am in my best teacher mode.

Here is Ephraim looking real enthused to be cutting logs in 100 degree heat!

Getting the biscuits in the dutch oven.

And then the best part, eating homemade biscuits, homemade butter, and mayhaw jelly. It was so good and the kids tore those biscuits up! I am adding this picture for Stacey, because she makes fun of my love for Capri Sun juice boxes. I am sipping on mine and eyeing the boxes of juice boxes! Ha Ha!

Wednesday was Antebellem Day and involved a nice day with a visit from some Confederate soldier actors that came in and taught the kids about life during the Civil War (or War between the States, depending on what side of the Mason Dixon line you are).

Then they learned about women during the Confederacy, learned to dance the Virginia Reel, how to make rope, tie dyed t-shirts and got to play on the joggling board.

Thursday was the best day. Victorian Day! And this was only because they made home-made ice cream. It was so yummy. I think it was because the lady made the custard with the good stuff - heavy cream and half and half. They made stained glass windows, played croquet, took a tour of the 1885 Lapham-Patterson House, made spool puppets, washed clothes, and made silhouette portraits.

I am sad because apparently, the camera deleted most of the pictures from Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I have no idea how that happened.

Friday was 20th Century Day. This was the day they took a trolley tour of downtown and all the Victorian homes and went and had lunch at the park. They made electric motors and then held a pagent for their parents to show them what all they had learned during the week. I was disappointed that they didn't learn how to make butter correctly from me. According to them, you make butter with buttermilk. I guess to a small child it would seem the best choice as far as milk products go to make butter.

I am happy that it is over and life can resume back to normal without me having to chase around a bunch of kids all day. After camp, I remembered why I dropped out of education courses after only two semesters in college! So, that is the low down of my week of camp. Fun times at the Museum of History. Ha Ha!

Productive Day at Work

Yep. I have been super productive at work lately.....doing arts and crafts! I have been searching high and low looking for activities for our kids to do at History Camp. This is one of the crafts that we will be making on Victorian day, a spool puppet. I had to try it out to make sure that little kids could do it. If you notice, my puppet is decked out in his orange and blue finest, getting ready for football season. Ha ha! And no, I did not draw the scary robot face on him. My co-worker, Ephraim decided that he needed to be decorated and drew that horrendous face on my precious little doll I spent 30 minutes making. I found this craft in a very cute American Doll book that tells about each of the American girls. It gives different theme ideas for old-fashioned parties, crafts, and recipes. I love this book. It had some really neat ideas in it. Hopefully one day the good Lord will bless me with a little girl so I can take her to the American Doll store. I need an excuse to go and pick out cute doll stuff, since I am a little over the age range! So this is what has been occupying my days here lately, History Camp planning. Can't wait til the kiddos arrive! I have another craft for Victorian day and that is to draw each kids silhouettes and put them in a frame. I tried to get Ephraim to let me draw his outline, but for some reason he wouldn't let me do it. I can't imagine why, it's not weird or anything to stand in front of a light and then let someone draw your profile! The things that go on here at the museum are hilarious. I do believe I have one of the funnest jobs in the world! Oh yeah, I have been practicing on the old 1880 pump organ that we have here in the museum. The lady that usually plays the pump organ for the campers is unavailable this year. So since I play the piano, that leaves me. Somehow I got volunteered for this job!  I have to admit, playing the pump organ is super hard! I am not coordinated enough to play the keys and constantly pump the pedals back and forth with my feet to keep the thing playing. I feel sorry for my co-workers having to listen to me practice. I think I want to find some Phantom of the Opera music to play for the kids, since it is super creepy listening to that organ play. So yes, I am super productive at work these days.

Musings of a Museum Docent

I have the wonderful job of working at a History museum. I absolutely adore my job and when needed, I perform tours of the outside historic buildings at the museum. I get to interact with wonderful people not only from around the country, but from around the globe. We recently even had a real-life Bavarian prince and princess come through our doors! So, from day-to-day I never know what to expect. Like one day, I gave a tour to a view sweet couple from North Carolina. All was well until we headed outside. The nice gentleman then proceeds to pull out a pair of Speedo swimming goggles. And yes, he put them on. And wore them the entire duration of our 40 minute tour. The purpose of said goggles was to keep the pollen out of his eyes. So it took all I could do to talk to this guy without laughing. The goggles just enlarged his eyes and that was all I could focus on! It was the weirdest tour I ever gave.

My most recent funny story happened just this past week. We had a "Forever Young" group from a church come in to tour the museum. There were about 20 in the group so me and our curator split them up. I take my group outside and everything is going just fine. We leave one building and start making our way to the next. As we pass the outhouse, I made a joke. I asked if anyone needed a bathroom break. Of course everyone laughs and we move on. I normally use that joke on every tour I give, and it never causes any problems until this day. So, I have my group in our Victorian cottage and I'm talking. I look outside and notice that one of the men from my group is outside wandering around. Then I watch in disbelief as he heads to the outhouse. He goes in and closes the door. I couldn't believe it! I was thinking surely he's not doing what I think he is. The outhouse is a fake. There is no hole dug into the ground to make it a true-blue outhouse. Shortly, the gentleman emerges from the outhouse and rejoins our group. No one at the museum has been brave enough to go check out the situation in the outhouse. Note to self: don't tell the bathroom-break-at-the-outhouse joke anymore!!

I have several more stories similar to some of these that just make you scratch your head. These are just two adventures in the life of a Museum docent!