Archive for September, 2008

The 18th century Foodways program at Mount Vernon is loved by visitors of all ages for the delicious hoe-cakes they cook at special events. The hoe-cakes use a recipe recorded in a letter by Nelly Custis (George Washington’s granddaughter), made from cornmeal ground at our own Gristmill, and are cooked on a griddle over an open fire. Building on hoe-cake success, the Mount Vernon Foodways program has recently turned to a food near and dear to all of our hearts- Chocolate! In the 18th century, chocolate was not eaten as candy or used in baking, but was exclusively drunk as hot chocolate.

The process of making chocolate is a long one, but the Foodways program adheres to the 18th century production method as closely as possible. First, cocoa pods are picked from trees, and the beans and inner membrane are scooped out. Two to seven days of fermentation bring out the enzymes that give chocolate its flavor when it is then roasted. After a week of drying, the cocoa beans are sent to a chocolate factory, or in our case, Mount Vernon. The Foodways interpreters first roast the beans at 330 degrees for 40 minutes, then remove the shells and crush the beans into “nibs.” The nibs are then put on a large, heated “hot chocolate stone” (18th century term) and ground up. This releases the cocoa butter and becomes a smooth, rich concoction when sugar and spices are added to the mix on the stone. The chocolate is then poured into molds or formed into a ball, which can be grated into hot water to make hot chocolate. At last week’s Mount Vernon Craft Fair, visitors enjoyed watching the chocolate be made as much as sampling it!

American Heritage Chocolate can now be purchased in our Gift Shops-yum! This program owes its success to Gail Cassidy’s passion for 18th century cooking, and the help of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Mars Chocolate Company.

Photo: Annette Ahrens at the Craft Fair (photo by Cal McWhirter)

This summer, the new George Washington Teaching Ambassador for the state of Oklahoma, Jan McClaren, came to Mount Vernon to attend two of our Teacher Institutes, and returned home full of ideas and George Washington-love. This two-year Teaching Ambassador program, funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, makes it possible for Jan to travel the state of Oklahoma teaching students about George Washington’s leadership and showing teachers the FREE resources available through the Mount Vernon Education Department. Jan already has requests coming in from teachers all over the state who want her to come to their own classrooms. A teacher favorite is her lesson plan where students choose a presidential candidate from a selection of anonymous resumes of leaders (including Washington, FDR, and even Hitler!) and then campaign for their candidate. No surprise that George Washington has won many of the classroom elections!

The governor of Oklahoma has been drawn into the excitement as well, and last week our Director of Programs, Nancy Hayward, was asked to present a copy of Rembrandt Peale’s Porthole Portrait of George Washington to the state of Oklahoma. Also present were our Oklahoma partners in this initiative- from the left, Kelly Curtwright, Director of Social Studies Education, Oklahoma Dept. of Education, Dan Provo, Director of the Oklahoma History Center, Nancy Hayward, Mount Vernon Director of Programs, Jan McClaren, Teaching Ambassador, Governor Brad Henry, Jean Hendrickson, Executive Director of Oklahoma A+ Schools, and Roslynn Wade, Program Director of Oklahoma A+ Schools.

To learn more about the Teaching Ambassador program, see Jan’s schedule of events across the state, and read about Jan’s adventures in Oklahoma schools, be sure to check out George Washington Wired Oklahoma!

As the Mount Vernon Restoration Department concludes the third and final year of excavation in the Upper Garden, they have made a number of interesting discoveries. The archaeologists are looking for the original planting beds and pathways from 1799, the final year of George Washington’s life. The historical record has descriptions and an overview of the gardens, but not enough to reconstruct it accurately. As the archaeologists dig through layers of dirt, they look for dark brown rectangular stains in the dirt, which would indicate the location of an original planting bed. Once they find a good sample of the layout, the gardeners will reconstruct the gardens to its 1799 form. The holes that you see in the picture indicate where large roots have decomposed over time. No garden tools besides flower pot shards have been found, but archaeologists are finding refuse from the inhabitants of Mount Vernon.

Have you ever wondered about the historic interpreters that you meet at Mount Vernon? How were they so lucky to get a job where they look out at one of the best views in the country all day long? Are they all history majors? How can they stand in that heat all day while still telling the story of Washington’s life for eight hours? Do they just really really really like George Washington? Well, we would like to introduce you to some of the over 100 interpreters that go through a rigorous training and read A LOT of books in order to teach millions of visitors about Mount Vernon. Our first interpreter that we would like you to meet is Charlene Williamson, our lead interpreter, who has worked at Mount Vernon for the past two years…

GWW: Why did you become an interpreter?
CW: I have always been a lover of history, but never found a way to channel that interest. I visited Mount Vernon one day with my mom and had the opportunity to view the riverfront view and thought no one could ask for a better office than that. I continue working here because I love the opportunity to learn more about Washington’s life.
GWW: If you could be any 18th century historical figure, who would it be?
CW: I have always been an admirer of Oney Judge. I discuss her story very frequently during my slave life tours. She was a Washington slave who escaped to freedom while serving in the presidential home in Philadelphia. She was a woman of great courage who felt her freedom was more important than the “prestige” or somewhat “privileged” life most felt she enjoyed as a slave of the Washington family.

GWW: If George Washington had a middle name (he did not), what do you think it should be?
CW: His middle name should have been John or Augustine, which were both family names. Continue reading Meet an Interpreter: Charlene Williamson »