2009

 Ash Lawn-Highland will hold its 15th annual WineFest on Saturday May 15 and Sunday the 16th.  

Sample wines from Virginia's notable wineries, live music, hearty gourmet foods, selected handcrafted gifts and tours of the Monroe house.

Rain or shine, at the Hilltop Pavilion from 11 to 5 p.m.

January 2009

ASH LAWN-HIGHLAND BLUEBIRD TRAIL REPORT of 2008

The ASH LAWN-HIGHLAND Bluebird Trail fledged 40 Bluebirds (8 more than in 2007).

This has been the 22nd year of the ASH LAWN-HIGHLAND Bluebird Nest Box Trail
Boxes Fledged
#1 -  9 Bluebirds (2 broods)
#2 - 5 Bluebirds
#3 - 4 Bluebirds
#4 - 8 Bluebirds (2 broods)
#5 - 9 Bluebirds (2 broods)
#6 - 5 Bluebirds & 6 Tree Swallows
The first check  of the Trail was on 28 Apr  ----  250th Birthday of James Monroe
We are looking forward to another successful Bluebird year in 2009 at ASH LAWN-HIGHLAND.
Thanks for helping the Bluebirds!!!

December 2007

Ash Lawn-Highland in Gingerbread

Monroe Drawing Room Chairs Return Home

Chairs purchased by the Monroe family during Monroe’s second trip abroad between 1803 and 1807 have returned home!  The Monroes, like Jefferson and the Madisons furnished their residences with furniture made in the United States, as well as piece of  British and French origin. While abroad during both of his official appointments (1794-1797; 1803-1807) Monroe purchased furniture of the latest styles from Parisian workshops to bring back to the United States.

In order to replicate the Monroe chair coverings, the originals were meticulously examined and surviving photographs, such as the one seen here, were used to examine design details not visible today due to the advanced deterioration. Once the design was mapped, matching the weave required multiple strike-offs from Prelle’s hand looms.  Once a suitable weave was created, the linen, wool and silk threads all had to be custom dyed to match the colors of the originals. This process alone took two years. 

The final step was the application of the reproduction material to the original chairs. This was done by professional conservator Jennifer Zemanek.  To complete the project, she hand produced and dyed the cording, also dyed the gimp/tape for the edges, and finally crafted the show covers.  The reproduced coveres are attached to the chairs without nails or any other intrusion into the 200 year old wood of the chair. This method, developed by Colonial Williamsburg is unobtrusive, yet it makes the chairs appear to be upholstered in the usual manner.

First Summer Camp Held at Ash Lawn-Highland July 9-13, 2007
 This summer we held summer camp for a group of 20 10-12 year old young ladies and gentlemen.
It was a huge success and we will hopefully expand the program next year.

Campers sift through freshly dug dirt during the archaeology workshop	Miss Martha helps campers put together shards during the archaeology workshop
Dipping Candles	Finished Candles
Campers watching Colonial Soldier, David Peterson, cook	Campers listen to Overseer, David Lejeune
Campers learned about colonial games. Here are two campers rolling hoops	Miss Terry teaches the campers how to weave
Finished marzipan creations

Colonial visitors at Ash Lawn-Highland
June 4, 2007

        
Two young visitors to Ash Lawn-Highland enjoy the house and gardens.

New Exhibit focuses on Monroe and American Indians
April 2, 2007

Ash Lawn-Highland announces the opening of a new exhibit titled “Visiting Great Father Monroe: American Indian Delegations during Monroe’s Presidency”.  The exhibit, which opened April 4, 2007 ,examines the American Indian delegations that visited Washington D.C. and the President's House during Monroe’s tenure in office, 1817-1825.
The exhibit focuses on the 1821 Pawnee delegation's visit to Washington. While these warriors were in Washington, they had audiences with the President, were given gifts, and were taken on tours of military fortifications and government buildings.  They also presented gifts to President Monroe and other governmental dignitaries. 
Furthermore, as the warriors were preparing to depart, they performed a war dance for the President in front of the Executive Mansion.  Monroe's Secretary of State John Quincy Adams commented in his diary that several thousand spectators gathered to witness the event.   Madame Hyde de Neuville, wife of the French Ambassador, sketched the event, and an image of her watercolor painting is included in the exhibit.
Also included in the exhibit are replicas of some of the objects presented to Monroe by the Pawnee delegation.  Monroe was presented with moccasins, buffalo robes, war bonnets, and peace pipes.  One of the featured items in the exhibit is a beaded reticule or purse (pictured above), which was presented to First Lady Elizabeth Monroe by the Pawnee delegation. The beaded design features a repeating theme of flowers. 

Girl Scouts Celebrate their 95th Anniversary at Ash Lawn-Highland!
March 12, 2007

The Girl Scouts of the Virginia Skyline Council came to Ash Lawn-Highland to celebrate the 9th Anniversary of Girl Scouting. There was birthday cake, a visit from Juliette Gordon Low and President Monroe and many fun activites. The girls played colonial games, learned about colonial kitchens and spinning, dipped candles, and toured the home of President Monroe. The Girl Scouts and their leaders also learned about the new badge program for Girl Scouts at Ash Lawn-Highland.

Birthday Cake	Troop 657 from Palmyra learns about the ways of a Colonial Kitchen from reenactor, Martha Bar	Troop 517 from Palmyra learns about Spinning from Terry Montgomery
Girl Scouts from Troop 517 with their finished candles	Even the leaders had fun dipping candles!	Troop 412 from Charlottesville with Juliette Gordon Low (portrayed by Mandi Ponton)
Troop 441 from Goochland with Julitte Gordon Low	Troop 517 from Palmyra with Juliette Gordon Low	Troop 709 from Earlysville with Juliette Gordon Low
Troop 657 from Palmyra with Juliette Gordon Low

Can Spring be Far Behind?
March 9, 2007

Daffodils and crocus are blooming and popping up everywhere

One of the newest additions to the family of sheep at Ash Lawn-Highland just 3 weeks old	Ash Lawn's family of sheep with its 3 new additions

Intern and Volunteer Positions at Ash Lawn-Highland
March 6, 2007

INTERNS:
Ash Lawn-Highland invites applications for unpaid internships in two categories: one or two semester(s) and summer.

Semester internships can be arranged before or at the start of either semester; summer internships generally begin in May/June and run through mid-August. 

Interns work in many areas of the historic house museum and the museum shop.  Responsibilities may include giving tours, researching and installing exhibits, updating collections records, working in archaeological digs, planning and staffing special events, developing educational programs, preparing news releases and marketing materials, assisting in inventory and sales in the museum gift shop

VOLUNTEERS:
Volunteers arrange schedules according to their availability and according to the museums needs.  In general they provide Visitor Services from April through October, occasionally during the winter.  They greet visitors for tours and special events, assist with the flow of groups, help with hands-on workshops, manage the interpretation of exhibits, work in the flower gardens, paint fences, and provide assistance at the museum shop.

Anyone interested in interning or volunteering, contact the Ash Lawn-Highland office at 434-293-9539 or by email at info@ashlawnhighland.org .

Reweaving Tapestry Covering for The Monroe Drawing Room Chairs
March 5, 2007

The following are photos of the tapestry being woven for the Monroe chairs in the Drawing Room.  After a mere five years, the project is coming to completion.  (Let’s not think about the 20 plus years before that when we searched for a company to do the job!)

Prelle, in Lyon, France, is a silk weaving company which happened to be celebrating its 200th anniversary at a lovely gala on the day I visited the factory several years ago. Their archives include samples of every fabric they have woven with all the technical details necessary to reproduce those fabrics again—as they have done for refurbishing residences and public buildings ranging from Napoleon’s Malmaison to the mansions of Newport, Rhode Island.  They are the only survivors of the major silk weaving industry whose “capital” was Lyon.

Front edge of Chair weaving
(photo courtesy of Terry Wendell from Prelle)

Chair Back being woven
(photo courtesy of Terry Wendell from Prelle)

Almost complete Chair Back
(photo courtesy of Terry Wendell from Prelle)