We want to announce that we now have a new design for our coffee mugs at Belle Grove Plantation!

Our mugs are creations of Hannah Janney

An artist and potter from Colonial Beach, Virginia

She and I worked together to come up with a design that would reflex the history at Belle Grove Plantation. We spent an afternoon together as I watched her mold different designs. She and I discussed old pottery and glazes and what might have been at the plantation. I described piece of broken pottery I had found. And after several tries, she was able to create what I feel reflexes the history of the plantation.

We now have six mugs completed with several more coming. Each mug is hand-made by Hannah and while still the same basic design; each has a character of its own, just as the families did at Belle Grove Plantation. Just like one of our recent files at Belle Grove, this mug is glazed in a salt glaze with a beautiful blue and nature color. The handles are also special with a small curl at the base.

We will have these mugs available at the plantation when you come and will offer them on our website once we launch!

To see more items we have purchase

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I haven’t written too much about our favorite “Plantation Dog” Hurley lately because he is staying in Chesapeake while we get the work done around the house. But today was a classical Hurley moment that was too good to keep to myself.

When I arrived home, Brett and the kids were at work, so the only greeters at home were Hurley and my daughter’s cat, Millie. As always, Hurley was so excited to see me. We just love the whimpering sounds he makes when he hasn’t seeing you in a day or two. And as always, Millie hasn’t surfaced yet. Her daily nap time isn’t complete. Around 4:30, she will appear and let you know it’s time to feed her.

After I got my things in, I asked Hurley if he wanted to go outside. He just sat in his favorite place on the loveseat and stared at me. So the answer at that moment was “No”. So I sat down and started answering emails and reading over Facebook and WordPress.

A few minutes later, I get the cool nose pushing up from under my arm, which Hurley is saying, “I want your attention.” I gave him a pat and he twisted around for me to scratch his back. A minute later, I went back to my computer work. As soon as I did, I get the cool nose push again. This time I ask if he wants to go outside. With that he runs to the sliding glass door.

Our pool is in the backyard and as I pull the curtain back, I can see Brett has uncovered it and is working on getting it ready for the season. Now I have to explain something about Hurley. He LOVES the pool. It is his love and obsession during the pool season. He will find any way to get in the pool. When we let him out, we even have to tell him not to get in. Most of the time, he listens. But he can be really sneaky about it. So you have to watch him if you don’t want him wet.

As I open the door, I tell Hurley as we always do, “Okay, no swimming. Do not get in the pool.” He looks up at me and smiles. I know this means, “Yeah, right.” So as I slide the door, I get more firm and say, “Hurley, no pool. Stay out of the pool. No swimming.” As I am saying this he is trotting out the door. As I finish my last sentence, Hurley stops in his tracks, turns around at me and looks at me. So I repeat, “Hurley, no pool. Stay out of the pool. No swimming.” He pauses a second, looks back that pool, looks back at me and then finally looks back at the pool. Then he turns around and trots back in the door.

So I close the door and walk back in and sit down to the computer. I am no fool. I have been around this course before. So after a few minutes, I look up to see what Hurley is doing. He is sitting in the loveseat with looking at me.

He sure does have me wrapped around his paws!

So feeling bad, I get up and we go outside together for a quick play.

Classic Hurley. He is smarter than anyone realizes!

To see more pictures of Hurley, our Plantation Dog.

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The Osprey’s eggs have hatched! I have been watching over the week and Dolley has been standing more to the side of the nest than sitting on it. It also looks like she is feeding them too! Because they are still nesting on our chimney in the formal dining room, I can hear them as I sit at the table working. It is so sweet to hear their little chirping sounds! We haven’t seen them peek over the top yet, but we can’t wait to see them!

If you look close  you can see a fish in Dolley’s claws!

Dolley is looking right at us!

When the power company checked the nest in March, we had three eggs. If we end up with three babies, we would like to give them names. So we thought it would be fun to have you name them!

So what three names would you like to see them called?

You can enter your ideas here or go to our Facebook Page to add them there!

Last Monday, we had the interior design team here at Belle Grove to pick out fabrics and curtains. It was an all day a fair and so much fun! Those that follow us on Instgram and Twitter had the chance to see it in real time. So we wanted to share the fun with our blog friends too! I have been trying to write this blog since Monday afternoon, but we have been crazy here at the plantation!

Jo Gates and her son, Jay Gates
Gates Antiques –  gatesantiques.com

I want to first show you the layout of the mansion, so you will understand when I say a room name.

Now here is what we picked out!

Conway Room (downstairs junior suite on the riverside)

Bedroom Window (1)

Fabric Selected:

Curtain Style:

Just using the top valance with a long drapery on both sides that will reach the floor and by pulled back with a tie to a hook to open.

Hipkins-Bernard Room (downstairs junior suite on the plantation side)

Bedroom Window (1)

Fabric Selected:

Curtain Style:

Just using the top valance with a long drapery on both sides that will reach the floor and by pulled back with a tie to a hook to open.

Library

Window (1)

Fabric Selected:

Fabric Not Selected yet. We found some wooden cornices in the ice house and I wanted to see if we could use them. When I showed them to Jay today, he was amazed. He dates these cornices to the early history of the house.

I couldn’t select a fabric today because I wanted to wait and see what color is on this cornice after it is restored.

Curtain Style:

No Curtain Style selected

Once we get the cornice restore and select a fabric, we will look at curtain styles.

Parlor

Windows (4)

Fabric Selected:

We found some wooden cornices in the ice house and I wanted to see if we could use them. When I showed them to Jay today, he was amazed. He dates these cornices to the early history of the house.

Curtain Style:

We would use this style, except not have the big cornice as it shows here. We would use the cornices (4) that we found and restored. It would still have the same swag line. The drapery would come down on both sides and pull back with a tie to open.

Formal Dining Room

Windows (4)

Fabric Selected:

Curtain Style:

We are not going to have long drapery in the Formal Dining Room. We are going to extend the long section to hang lower. Mrs. Gates is going to locate four medallions to use. We will not use the bows in the corners. The outside of the fabric will be the red and the inside will be a solid gold color.

Small Dining Room (also known as the Family Room)

Windows (1)

Fabric Selected:

Fabric Not Selected yet. We found some wooden cornices in the ice house and I wanted to see if we could use them. When I showed them to Jay today, he was amazed. He dates these cornices to the early history of the house.

I couldn’t select a fabric today because I wanted to wait and see what color is on this cornice after it is restored.

Curtain Style:

No Curtain Style selected

Once we get the cornice restore and select a fabric, we will look at curtain styles.

Upstairs Hallway

Windows (2)

Fabric Selected:

Curtain Style:

We are going to use just a valance on these two windows without a drapery. It will have this style without the bows and flowers added or wood cornices.

Madison Room (to the right of the stairs)

Windows (4)

We have decided to repaint this room from Green to Blue. It is to give it a more Presidential feel.

This is a Sherwin Williams color – SW 6959 Blue Chip

Fabric Selected:

Curtain Style:

We are going to use this Empire Valance style with the gold color as the swag and the blue color as the drops. We will have a drapery that is blue and will drop to one side to open with a tie.

Turner Room (to the left of the stairs)

Fabric Selected:

We did not select a fabric for this room yet. When we purchase the bed from the Portsmouth Antique Store, we will be receiving two sets of curtains.

We are going to take them and see if we can use the drapery part to create two more valances just like the original ones we purchased. Then we will select a new fabric for the drapery under the valance so they all match. It will be just a one side open drapery with a tie.

Curtain Style:

No curtain Style selected until we get the curtains from the other antique dealer to match fabrics and styles.

We had the King George Journal at the plantation last Saturday and today our article was in their newspaper!

Below is the article for you to read!

Enjoy!

Old and Majestic Belle Grove Plantation to open in June

King George Journal

By Richard Leggitt

Like an old leafless but majestic oak tree transformed by springtime sun, Belle Grove, the historic birthplace of former President James Madison, is being slowly reworked and restored so that it can open in King George as one of the area’s top event sites within the next four weeks.

“We’re close to opening the doors,” said Michelle Darnell, who with her husband, Brett, will operate the plantation as a bed and breakfast and as a venue for weddings, dinners and meetings. “We just have to finish getting the furnishings and get the remainder of the work done outside.”

“There is a lot of work to be done, but we will be ready soon,” said Brett. It is a labor of love for the Darnells. Michelle is leaving her position at Wells Fargo to move full-time to Belle Grove. Brett, a former U.S. Navy Senior Chief who is now a civilian contractor, will be joining her soon.

The Darnells have been looking for a special Virginia mansion to turn into a bed and breakfast since 2010. “Everything we looked at was either too expensive or needed too many improvements. Then we came across this listing.” Michelle said. “It is such a special place, there is a peace, a serenity that just amazes me.”

The Darnells have leased the Belle Grove estate from Haas Belle Grove, Inc. which bought the plantation in 1997 and spent $3.5 million in historical renovations which were completed in 2003. Now Michelle and Brett are in the process of landscaping the property, building a driveway and parking area to accommodate their guests and acquiring furniture.

Belle Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast will have four luxurious guest suites. “In addition to the suites, Belle Grove will also be available as a venue for catering events on the scenic grounds,” said Michelle. Brett said the goal is to be open for guests “by the middle of June.”

“We’re  almost two years into this,” said Michelle. “It has required a lot of patience and perseverance.” Among the tasks in recent weeks was the removal of several trees on the property that were dying and posed a threat to the historic plantation. One of them was a mulberry tree that was almost 200 years old.

The Darnells have sent the wood from the trees to area craftsmen so it can be made into furniture, and to a fountain pen company that will make pens from the wood. Brett expressed his admiration for the way his wife has dealt with the challenges that have come with the project. “She supported me for 20 years and now I am doing everything I can to support her.”

Both Darnells said they are excited by the prospect of returning Belle Grove to glory. “It’s a living piece of history,” Michelle Darnell said. “We want to honor it.” Belle Grove is one of the most historic homes in King George County and one of only six historic plantations in the area.

The Belle Grove property, located on the North side of the Rappahannock River, was purchased by Captain Anthony Savage in 1670. The house and acreage were later acquired by Francis Conway and Rebecca Catlett Conway, James Madison’s grandparents. Their daughter, Eleanor Rose Conway return to the riverside plantation in December 1750 for the birth of her child, the nation’s fourth President, on March 16, 1751.

Over the decades, the stately home passed through several members of the Conway family and their descendants. Captain Francis Conway, III, James Madison’s cousin set aside 13 acres in 1788 for the newly formed Town of Port Conway, the site of a ferry crossing the Rappahannock River.

The plantation and its acreage were purchased by John Hipkins and Elizabeth Pratt Hipkins in 1790. Hipkins built the current Belle Grove mansion before passing along the tree laden site to his descendants who eventually sold the home and farm land to Carolinus Turner in 1839. Turner successfully developed Belle Grove.

The plantation is believed to have been used as a Union Army headquarters during the Civil War, which may explain why it was undamaged by Union gunboats moving up and down the Rappahannock during the war.

After Preside Abraham Lincoln was assassinated and John Wilkes Booth used the Port Conway ferry in his ill-fated attempt to escape, Union soldiers in pursuit of Booth rested and ate at Belle Grove before crossing the river to trap Booth in the Garrett family barn near Port Royal.

Over the next century, Belle Grove would have a series of owners and overseers. But in 1987, the Franz Haas Corporation of Vienna, Austria bought the property and embarked on its historical restoration. The Darnells signed their lease on the property in 2012 with their dream of turning it into a bed and breakfast, a dream that will be realized within just a few weeks.

To see more information about Belle Grove Plantation

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We do not have information yet on when our pens will be available yet. They just picked up the wood on Saturday and will be returning in two weeks to pick up the rest. Once they have evaluated the wood to see how long they need to dry them out for before they can carve them, we will know more. I will get it out as soon as I hear.

Our trees that were removed and will be turned into historic pens were a 180 year old Mulberry, 80 year old Red Maple and an undetermined Ash. The Ash’s center trunk was so degraded that we couldn’t get an age from it. It was wide enough to be at least 100 plus years. The Mulberry would have been planted around 1830s and would have been alive during the life of James Madison.

180 year old Mulberry Tree
Belle Grove Plantation

80 year old Red Maple Tree
Belle Grove Plantation

100+ year old Ash Tree
Belle Grove Plantation

Enjoy!

HISTORIC PEN COMPANY/Seaside Heights creates Original Boardwalk wood gift for Prince Harry and Governor Christie

 Manahawkin, NJ - May 13, 2013:  The Historic Pen Company began with a simple goal: the reclamation, salvaging and repurposing of wood and other materials from historic sites throughout the United States that would otherwise be discarded and lost to history.

Additionally, the Historic Pen Company offers a historic and culturally significant, revenue-producing alternative to support the ongoing operation of its client historic sites while also limiting the destruction of these one of a kind resources, thus preserving not only history, but the integrity of the environment through the repurposing of these materials.

In this the Centennial Anniversary Year of the Borough of Seaside Heights, New Jersey and at the request of the Borough of Seaside Heights and specifically Mayor William Akers and Special Events Director, Michael Graichen, the Historic Pen Company created a “pair” of high quality writing instruments to commemorate the May 14, 2013 visit of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales to the community.

Following the devastation of Super Storm Sandy on October 29, 2012 and the destruction of the famous Seaside Heights Boardwalk, the continued support of people worldwide has served to strengthen the community during its recovery. Continued support through the Office of Governor Christie and the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales to experience first hand the deviation that struck the New Jersey coast support this recovery.

The Governor Chris Christie and His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales pens were handcrafted by Historic Pen Company’s Master Pen Maker, John Greco over a period of 5 days: May 7-12, 2013. The pair were made from Authentic Seaside Heights Original Boardwalk Wood salvaged by the Borough of Seaside Heights during the clean up following Superstorm Sandy. Each pen is 5.875 inches in length with a diameter of 2.3125 inches and is enhanced with 24K gold plated hand-carved rhodium hardware and crystal clip. Although created as a matching “pair”: because to the complexity of the Boardwalk pine and grain, each pen is a uniquely different one of a kind work of art.

The pens will be presented to Governor Christie and His Royal Highness during their May 14, 2013 visit to the Borough.

To see more information on the Historic Pen Company

Please visit their website at 

http://www.historicpencompany.com/

My first stop was with Brett at Fujiya House, a Japanese Steakhouse. It is located in Fredericksburg in the Central Park area. Just so you know, Central Park is a shopping and dining mecca.  With hundreds of places to shop and eat, you never run out of choices.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I love Asian Food. So I love trying new places to see how good they are. This Japanese Steakhouse was really good.

The inside is open and inviting with what I have come to expect from a Hibachi style restaurant. Grills and a Sushi Bar with tons of fun watching the chef cook our food.

No sushi for me this night. Brett and I both had a steak entree with Brett adding scallops and I added shrimp. Our meal started with a clear chicken soup and was followed by a salad with a ginger house dressing.

Brett ate his scallops so fast, I couldn’t get a picture of it!

With a colorfully decorated room, this was a fun place to enjoy a dinner out.

You can visit Fujiya House’s website at http://fujiyahouse.com/ to see more of their wonderful restaurant.

Our next stop was in Colonial Beach, Virginia. Colonial Beach is located just 20 miles from Belle Grove and it’s beach is on the Potomac River. There are several restaurants there and some wonderful artists that have shops in the downtown area.

We decided to visit Seaside Thai and French Restaurant. This is a “fusion style” restaurant that combines Thai and French Cuisine. We have eaten here before and loved it so it wasn’t a hard choice to go back.

The restaurant is in an older Dutch style home, but is decorated wonderfully.

We started out with a Thai appetizer called “Satay”. This appetizer is skewered and grilled chicken served with a special Seaside House Peanut Sauce and Cucumber relish. This relish is to die for! I could have eaten it and been just as happy!

Brett and I both ordered the same entree, Bistro Filet Mignon. This wonderful steak was cooked to perfection and was served with Shallot and Red Wine Sauce with a side of Roasted Herb Potatoes and Vegetables.

But we didn’t stop there! We decided to order dessert!

Brett had a bowl of Coconut Ice Cream…

I had a Fried Banana drizzle with sweet honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds and served with Vanilla Ice Cream!

It was all very wonderful! Brett and I agree this is a great place for dinner and will be returning soon!

You can visit Seaside’s website at http://www.seaside-va.com/ to see more of their wonderful food!

To see more places we have visited

Please visit our Facebook Fan Page!

I passed!

This is just one more step closer to our opening!

I don’t know about you, but the wait is killing me!

We still have some things to complete around the Mansion and grounds before we can open the doors. We were hoping to be open by May 1st, but that isn’t possible with some of the delays we have hit. Could it be by Memorial Day Weekend? I sure hope so, but there is still so much to be done!

This week, I am back in Chesapeake working on our website! We have the layout design completed and all we have to do is add text, photos and the reservation software. Sounds easy right? Argh! With the phone ringing and things going every which way, it has been hard to focus on what to say!

Yes, that’s right; Michelle is speechless… for once.

But I am determined to complete it this week. We still need more photos of the Mansion… with furnishing. So that is going to have to wait until we get that part done. The interior designer is on standby at this point. We still need to finish some minor plaster repairs before we bring in the furnishings. Everything is so connected to the next!

HPC was able to get ONLY 2 high quality pens to commemorating the battle of Gettysburg – July 1-3, 1863 in this the 150th Anniversary of the battle from the small section of blood stained floor planking from the Sheaffer Farmhouse, which was used as a Union Field Hospital during and after the Battle of Gettysburg.

This Saturday we are heading back to the plantation. It is a jammed packed day. We have Bob from The Historic Pen Company coming in to pick up the last of the Witness Tree wood from our trees. We are so excited to see what wonderful pens he will be producing from our wood! The best part is, the tree will still be with us… just in another form. I know allot of you have asked about pre-ordering the pens. Once I get all the information on them, I will let you know!

We also have a member of a Photography Club coming to see the plantation! I can’t wait to see how he views our beloved plantation through his lens! We are working on planning an event with this club at the plantation soon!

Last, but not least, we have a journalist from the King George Journal Newspaper coming to do a follow-up article on our progress to opening. It is so exciting to see how everyone is looking forward to the opening! I will post the article once it is printed.

Some more exciting news!

We have started planning some events for this year!

Mrs. Madison

We are excited to announce that we will be having Mrs. Madison stopping by Belle Grove Plantation in August for afternoon tea! This event will be two parts. At noon on August 24th, we will have a young girl’s afternoon tea with Mrs. Madison. Girls from 8 to 16 years can come to the plantation and enjoy tea and conversation with Mrs. Madison. At 4:00 on August 24th, we will have a Ladies Afternoon Tea with Mrs. Madison. This will be a full afternoon tea and conversation with Mrs. Madison.

The Historic Performer for Mrs. Madison is portrayed by Dr. Lynn Uzzell. From her website, dolleypmadison.com:

“Lynn Uzzell received her B.A. in speech communications at Black Hills State University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in politics at the University of Dallas. Her doctoral dissertation explored the debates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. She has taught courses in Political Philosophy, the American Political Tradition, American Rhetoric, and Leadership and the Humanities at Baylor University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Richmond. Dr. Uzzell is currently the scholar in residence at James Madison’s Montpelier and senior editor of ConText, an online resource for James Madison’s Notes of the Constitutional Convention. She has been portraying Dolley Madison for Montpelier since 2010.”

Mr. and Mrs. Madison
(Dr. Lynn Uzzell and John Douglas Hall)

We are also excited to announce that we will be having Mr. and Mrs. Madison at Belle Grove Plantation on September 15th for their 219th Wedding Anniversary. We will be having an Anniversary Lawn Dinner with food, music and good conversation with the Madisons!

We will release information about tickets and reservations soon!

Be on the look out for more events and classes to come!

We are also booking social events for this year and beyond!

We have several weddings, baby shower and social club events already booking! If you are interested in booking an event, please contact us as soon as possible. Contact us through email at virginiaplantation@gmail.com or through our Facebook Fan Page Messages.

Follow us on our Facebook Fan Page for updates!

Thimble
Date unknown

Decorative handle, thin metal
Date unknown

Hatchet Head, no handle
Date unknown

Mara : Hatchet head is a carpenter’s or roofer’s hatchet:  They are fairly common and still in use today.  The notch was for tearing out nails.  No date on this, could be 19^th century or from modern era.  I would say it has not been in the ground long, though, given that the wood is still present in the hole where it was hafted.

Liberty Head Large Copper One Cent Piece -Front
Dated 1826

Liberty Head Large Copper One Cent Piece – Back
Dated 1826

This is the second Large Copper One Cent Piece we have found at the plantation. The first was dated 1817 which is still our earliest artifact.

Lead Pieces
Date Unknown

As we are uncovering information around the Civil War and the Union Army’s encampment in and around Belle Grove and Port Conway, we are beginning to believe a lot of these lead pieces we are finding could be those that were carried by soldiers to make their own lead shots.

Unsure of artifact
Date Unknown

Looking at this piece, we are thinking it might be part of a spoon. But the one piece that has us stumped is there is a hallmark on it. It looks like a willow tree with a circle around it. We will need to do more research to find out what it truly is.

Pottery and Blue Plate Shard
Dated from 1816 to 1860

Mara: Ceramic shard with blue transfer print:  Blue print on early whiteware.  Dates to between 1815 and 1860.  Likely flatware.

Pocket Watch – Front
Dated after 1916

Pocket Watch – Back
Dated after 1916

Mara: Pocket watch with plastic crystal (watch cover:  Plastic crystals made their appearance in 1916 so this watch post-dates that.  The motif appears to be art deco so one can assume it predates WWII, after which time Art Deco as a style dies out. 

Can you guess what this is?

This one I wanted to see if anyone could guess what it is. Make your best guess than go to our Facebook Fan Page and look at our Artifact Album to see if you are right!

On a different front, we received a new map from Elizabeth, curator of the King George History Museum. It is a survey map of our area (Belle Grove and Port Conway) in 1856. What is so exciting about it is that it places the enslaved quarters for us! I have long thought that the enslaved quarters ran along the road way leading to what use to be a barn. Now it is confirmed! These quarters were later turned into tenant farmer houses. You can also see in the field at least two more enslaved homes. This is something we have always heard, that there were homes in the field.

1856 Rappahannock Survey
Close up of Belle Grove and Port Conway

In 1856, Carolinus Turner owned Belle Grove. According to a Federal Census in 1860, he owned 92 slaves. This is the largest number of enslaved people we have been able to confirm on the plantation.

To see more artifacts we have discovered and to find out if you know what the mystery artifact is

Please visit our Facebook Fan Page

You will find them in our Albums under Artifacts