Posts Tagged ‘Mount Vernon’

If renting a pineapple sounds ridiculous, then it’s only because you’re not from the 18th century.

In George Washington’s day, his compatriots across the ocean in England were known to pay a premium to grace their tables with this most exotic fruit, often putting it atop a decorative fruit pyramid. In such instances the delicious pineapple would not have been eaten, but simply passed from dining room to dining room.

Fortunately for Washington, America’s close proximity to South America – the pineapple’s place of origin – meant that he had slightly better access to the tropical produce, which he was known to particularly enjoy.

When he went to Barbados as a teenager, Washington marveled at what he called China oranges, avagados or alligator pears, and pines, by which, of course, he was referring to oranges, avocados and pineapples. And while he recorded in his diary that the pear was “generally most admired” he professed that “none pleases my taste as do’s [sic] the Pine.”

It was a sentiment that seemed to stick with him throughout life. When ships left Mount Vernon laden with fish, flour and other goods to be traded in the West Indies, Washington would ask the captain to bring back a few pineapples. Local merchants also sold them, except during the Revolutionary War, when trade was disrupted and they became few and far between.

Pineapples were likely consumed raw most of the time, but Martha Washington’s granddaughter Nelly Custis had two recipes for frozen pineapple desserts: “fromage of pine apples” made with minced pineapple and “pine apple cream,” which involved steeping a pineapple rind in boiling cream.

Looks like it’s a good thing the Washingtons weren’t renting theirs.

Research on George Washington and pineapples was provided by Mount Vernon research historian Mary Thompson.

A new home for George Washington’s manuscripts and valuable belongings is being built at Mount Vernon, across the street from the estate. The Fred. W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington isn’t slated to open until summer 2013, but construction is well underway.

In addition to the Washington family Bible and a number of other maps, documents and possessions, the library will house Mount Vernon’s education, collections and library departments. Conferences will be held at the facility and a resident scholar will even reside in a nearby, brand-new abode.

Interested in following along as we chart a new path with our library? Check back for more video updates as construction progresses.

It’s the 100th anniversary of Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms, which arrived in 1912 when the mayor of Tokyo gifted the nation’s capital some 3,000 cherry trees. But here at Mount Vernon it’s the 200th-something anniversary of George Washington’s cherry trees. And unlike those at the Tidal Basin, Washington’s actually produced fruit.

Today there are three in the upper garden (see above), but in Washington’s day there were five there that we know of, in addition to those that he grew in his orchard. It’s the fruit for which Washington is best-known due to the fabricated tale of a young George who could not tell a lie. In reality, Washington’s involvement with the cherry tree was strictly culinary — their fruit was eaten fresh, preserved, turned into candy, baked into desserts and incorporated in cherry bounce, a popular 18th-century cocktail.

Grafting of cherry trees was generally done in March and harvesting was done in June. Washington grew bullock hearts, carnation cherries, winter and summer boon cherries, duke cherries and marellas. Cherries, apples, pears and strawberries were some of the most frequently grown fruits at the estate. In sum, Washington planted a good many more cherry trees than he ever fictitiously felled.

Research on George Washington and cherries was provided by Mount Vernon research historian Mary Thompson.

Upper-class Virginia was a tight-knit society made even more so by the fact that many of Virginia’s wealthy planters lived on neighboring plantations. Such was the case with George Washington and George Mason, a lesser-known but substantially influential founding father.

From a 21st-century perspective, one of the neatest things about these ancient farmers’ proximity is that anyone visiting Mount Vernon can take an 11-mile trip slightly down the Potomac River and tour Gunston Hall, Mason’s estate.

Obviously Mason is a man worth remembering for more than his fancy house though: From his seat in the Virginia Legislature he wrote Virginia’s Declaration of Rights and as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 he was one of the most vocal members, arguing against a strong federal government and for abolishing the slave trade. He would ultimately be one of three members to refuse to sign the Constitution, but his work on Virginia’s Declaration of Rights would serve as groundwork for James Madison’s Bill of Rights.

Mason’s refusal to support the Constitution would effectively end his friendship with Washington, who thereafter referred to Mason as his “former friend.” The two had been pals since their teenage years — Mason had based Gunston Hall on the original Mount Vernon Mansion, before it was added onto by Washington’s multiple additions. Washington and Mason had hunted together, helped build and then attended nearby Pohick Church, and traded plantings and cuttings.

Martha Washington came immediately to Gunston Hall to comfort Mason when his wife died in 1773, and Mason requested that Washington be present as well — he came several days later.

Gunston Hall was filled with children; Mason and his wife, Ann Eilbeck Mason, had nine who survived. Ann Eilbeck Mason lived until age 39, having married Mason in 1750 when she was 16 and he was 25. Gunston Hall was built in 1755 in the then-popular Georgian style by architect William Buckland. Intricate woodwork throughout was accomplished by master carver William Bernard Sears.

Visitors today can tour the house’s two floors of richly furnished rooms. The first story contains four chambers: two for public life and two for private life, including the Masons’ bedchamber. The upstairs holds a variety of bedrooms, which were used by the Masons’ many guests and children.

The grounds contain outbuildings such as a kitchen, washroom and schoolhouse plus a walkway out the back door hedged in by 250-year-old boxwoods. Mason inherited 32 slaves and only purchased two during his lifetime, most likely to bring together a family. By his death, Mason had 92 slaves due to natural increase.

Gunston Hall is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Entrance fees are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for children ages 6 to eighteen. It’s worth the stop for anyone headed out to the Mount Vernon area, and unlike George Washington, we won’t hold it against you.