James Moir House
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This summer was one of travel and adventure for me as I ventured out in search of historical places that I always wanted to visit. Despite the fact that I was about to enter into my 20th year of teaching colonial history, I had never been to Colonial Williamsburg. Life happens and I was just never able to get that far away. However, at a previous teacher's institute in Pennsylvania, I made a friend who had been part of a program offered at Colonial Williamsburg on the Triangle of History and he pointed me in the right direction. Every summer the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation offers intense week long summer institutes for elementary and secondary teachers for graduate credit. After a lot of legwork, I was accepted into the program to attended the late June institute for secondary teachers during the summer of 2009.
Rear Vegetable Garden
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Our Teacher Institute Group
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John Orrell House
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I was dropped off at my new temporary home by a friendly hotel valet and was able to park my car behind the house hidden from view. A lot of care and forethought goes into limiting the sights and sounds of the modern world. The first thing that surprised me was how big Williamsburg was compared to what I was expecting. I had imagined a single street of historic homes but it was a whole community that had hundreds of structures. Some of the buildings are completely authentic and have stood for well over 200 years. Many others are rebuilt on the original foundations, following the close supervision of historical architects. Some of the homes are open to the public for historical tours, others are privately owned or rented out to Williamsburg staff members, and the rest are used as small resident hotel houses like the one where I would be staying. Only 3 of the 26 colonial hotel houses are original buildings and mine (shown above) was one of them.
Colonial House Hotel Room
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Rear Lot Garden Plots
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We unpacked and walked through the colonial streets to the Marketplace at the far end of town where we would meet the other members of our group and have dinner together. The Market Place is a small section of tasteful shops and nice restaurants between Colonial Williamsburg and the College of William and Mary. Immediately, I was taken by the beauty of the homes and gardens throughout our long walk to dinner. Everywhere was something of interest to catch your eye and I couldn't wait to explore the town in more detail in the days to come.
Orrell House at Night
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Wow, I'm bushed! A busy first day of driving, unpacking, and walking. I'd better turn in and get some sleep to rest up for our first full day of colonial history! Breakfast is at 7 Am! Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite!FYI: Source of Common Sayings...

The phrase Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite is a colonial saying relating to the fact that mattresses were often stuffed with straw and hay, which eventually became home to insects of all kinds that would bite you... letting you know it was time to change out the stuffing!
PLEASE SEE RELATED BLOGS…
Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 1
Teacher's Institute Introduction
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/10/williamsburg-introduction.html
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/10/williamsburg-introduction.html
Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 2
Jamestown Matters – Archeological Dig
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/09/jamestown-matters-part-1.html
Jamestown Matters – Archeological Dig
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/09/jamestown-matters-part-1.html
Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 3
Jamestown Matters – Jamestown Settlement
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/09/jamestown-matters-part-2.html
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/09/jamestown-matters-part-2.html
Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 4
Williamsburg / Duke of Gloucester Street
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-duke-of-gloucester.html
Williamsburg / Duke of Gloucester Street
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-duke-of-gloucester.html
Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 5
Williamsburg / Capitol and Gaol
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-captitol-gaol.html
Williamsburg / Capitol and Gaol
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-captitol-gaol.html
Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 6
Williamsburg / Governor’s Palace
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-governors-palace.html
Williamsburg / Governor’s Palace
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-governors-palace.html
Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 7
Williamsburg / Great Hopes Plantation
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-great-hopes-plantation.html
Williamsburg / Great Hopes Plantation
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/11/williamsburg-great-hopes-plantation.html
Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 8
Williamsburg / Market Square
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/12/williamsburg-market-square.html
Williamsburg / Market Square
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/12/williamsburg-market-square.html
Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 9
Yorktown / Surrender Field
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/12/yorktown-surrender-field.html
Yorktown / Surrender Field
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/12/yorktown-surrender-field.html
Colonial Williamsburg / Series Part # 10
Parting Shots / Photography
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/12/williamsburg-parting-shots.html
Parting Shots / Photography
http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/12/williamsburg-parting-shots.html
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Jeff,
ReplyDeleteMy in-laws have a "rope-bed" that I used to sleep on when we were building our house...very comfy!
Mike