RIVER HOUSE (Built in early 1800s)

1. (*) Stand on the trail and look at the end of the house facing the trail.
   a) What evidence do you see that the house was expanded after it was built?
   
   
   
   
   
   b) What events might have prompted the owner to expand the house?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Examine the chimney brick pattern. Brick layers call the long side of a brick the "stretcher" and the short end a "header." A typical brick pattern in the 1800s was one row of headers followed by three rows of stretchers. The brick pattern changes mid-way up the left chimney.
   a) What does the pattern become?   (draw)
   
   
   
   
   
   b) What might have happened to result in a change in the brick pattern?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Notice the stars on all four chimneys. They are fairly recent additions. A clue to their purpose is hidden inside the house. Stars on opposite chimneys are connected by a large bar that runs through the attic. What purpose might the stars and bars serve?
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. (*) Walk up close to the house and look at a window.
   a) Describe the appearance of the glass.
   
   
   
   
   
   b) How do you think this type of glass was made?
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. (*) Stand on the trail next to the River House and look down the road toward the river. Historians believe this road was used to roll hogsheads (large wooden barrels) of tobacco down to the river. Why were they taken to the river?
   
   
   
   
   
   

   OUTBUILDINGS:

6. (*) Look at the house across the trail from the River House. It was originally a kitchen. Why was the kitchen a separate building?
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Behind the kitchen are two buildings that served as a smokehouse and a poultry house. Why were these needed on a farm?
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. (*) Walk down the trail to the next house on the left. It was probably built in the 1830s - 1850s as a slave house for two families. How is it different from the River House?
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. (*) The inside had just two rooms, one on each side of the chimney, Why do you think the chimney was located in the middle?
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. The next building (now a public rest room) was probably built for newly freed slaves. In about what year do you think this house was built and why?
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Many freed slaves became sharecroppers. The house was probably in the middle of a small tract of land for the sharecropper family to farm. What do you think the term "sharecropper" means?
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. The next four buildings on the left were farm buildings: an apple mill, dairy barn, horse barn and corn crib. Plantations were like small towns with everything needed being right on the plantation. What other town-like features might this plantation have had?
    
    
    
    
    
    

    MANSION: (Built in 1954)

13. (*) A line of cedar trees often grows where a man-made fence once existed. Can you think of any reason to explain this?   (Hint: Birds eat cedar berries.)
    
    
    
    
    
    
14. (*) Compare the mansion to the River House How are they different?
    
    
    
    
    
    
15. Do you think the farm was prosperous in the mid 1800s? Why?
    
    
    
    
    
    
16. Walk around the mansion and note the material each side is made of and the color. What do you see?
    
    
    
    
    
    
17. The front of the house appears to be made of large stone blocks. In reality it's less expensive stucco plastered onto bricks.
    a) Why do you think the plantation owner made the front look like block?
    
    
    
    
    
    b) Why just the front?
    
    
    
    
    
    
18. Notice the raised, windowed structure on the rooftop. This is a cupola. What purpose do you think it served?
    
    
    
    
    
    
19. Some people (particularly in seafaring towns) call the cupola a "widow's walk." Why do you think it received this name?
    
    
    
    
    
    
20. (*) Look at the display of kitchen equipment inside the kitchen (beside the mansion).
    a) Name 3 kitchen tools on display that are still used today.
    
    
    
    
    
    b) Name 3 tools that have been replaced by electric appliances.
    
    
    
    
    
    
21. (*) Walk to the carriage house and examine the carriages on display.
    a) Which carriage looks the most comfortable?
    
    
    
    
    
    b) Which one do you think could travel the fastest? Why?