A few weeks ago, we drove up to Washington, GA for some historic home tours arranged by our Homeschool group! It wasn't too far to go and the homes were gorgeous!! I had a wonderful time walking through and hearing the stories about each piece of furniture. The kids got a little bored, but they did find some things interesting too! Great history lesson!!
The first home we toured was the Robert Toombs House. Robert Toombs was a successful planter and lawyer who also served as a state legislator, U.S. Congressman and Senator. He served for a few months as the Confederate Secretary of State and was a brigadier general in the Army of Northern Virginia. He also helped create Georgia's state constitution.
The second place we toured was the Washington Historical Museum. The house was gorgeous but it was also filled with tons of historical displays from top to bottom. Samuel Barnett was the influential owner of the home.
Here we were being told about the chess table and chess pieces. There were pieces for the North and pieces for the South. It was incredible. The South's had all the Confederate generals and influential people, while the North's had Abe Lincoln and the Union generals. Pretty cool!
This dollhouse was Jillian's favorite. It had tons of perfect miniature furniture and working electric lights!!! She didn't want to leave!
These belonged to Mr. Toombs
This was Toomb's law office in the basement floor of his home. The floor was brick.
Jilli!
I wanted to take this rocker home!!! It was made for Toombs and was his favorite chair. It looked SUPER comfy!!
Jess checking out the books in Toombs' Law library
I could have hung out here for HOURS!! :)
On to the next house!!
This was Mammy Kate's basket. It had an awesome story behind it... According to the family legend, in Revolutionary War times, Stephen Heard was taken by the Tories and put in jail prior to being hung. Well, Mammy Kate, his black slave, wouldn't hear of her master being hung! She rode his Arabian horse to Augusta to visit him in jail with this basket and asked if she could do his laundry and the laundry for all the other soldiers and men there at the jail. Each week she would come in with the washing and the soldiers got used to seeing her go to and fro. Well, one day she left with some dirty laundry and NEVER came back... Hidden beneath that dirty laundry was Mr. Heard!!! Mammy was 6'4" and Mr. Heard was a small 5'2". He climbed into the basket to escape and it worked!! Because of her great service to him, Mr. Heard freed Mammy and her whole family. He gave them land and a home on his property and Mammy and her family are all buried in the Heard family cemetary. Stephen Heard went on to become a Governer of Georgia. Pretty amazing!!!
Jess at the dinner table... Gorgeous china!
Little piano
This piano looks similar to the one at my Mom's!!
