Gunston Hall

Built in 1755, Gunston Hall was once the center of a 5,500-acre tobacco and corn plantation.
Its owner, George Mason IV (1725-1792), was a fourth generation Virginian who became a senior statesman and author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, Mason was among the first to call for such fundamental American liberties as religious toleration and freedom of the press.

The plantation is SW of Washington D.C., not far from Mt. Vernon.

I arrived Sunday morning when re-enactors were attending a church service out under a tree.
From conversations I learned that individuals drive in from several states and dress and live as closely as possible to known historical fact. For some it is a family hobby lasting years.

The inside of the house is restored beautifully. How do like this wallpaper?

This is a view from upstairs of the kitchen area in the yard. Ladies there were busy cooking over the fire.

Re-enactors relax after lunch.

Soldiers explain detail of their costumes.

A young actor is the envy of kids dressed in 21st century clothes.

Imagine the size of the original place- over 5000 acres.

She lifts off the lid covered in coals to see how the dish is baking. The day is a mild temperature but it is hot by the fire in the kitchen.

To Make an Olive Pie

H.G. Art of Cookery (Colony of Virginia, 1700)

Make your crust ready, then take thin dollops (slices) of the best end of a leg of veal, as many as you think will fill your pie; hack them with the back of a knife, and season them with salt, pepper, cloves, and mace: wash over your dollops with a bunch of feathers dipped in eggs, and have in readiness a good handful of sweet herbs shred small. The herbs must be thyme, parsley and spinach, the yolks of eight hard eggs minced, and a few oysters parboiled and chopped, some beef-suet shred very fine; mix these together and strew them over your dollops, then sprinkle a little orange-flower water over them, roll the collops up very close, and lay them in your pie, strewing the seasoning over what is left, put butter on the top and close your pie. When it comes out of the oven, have ready some gravy hot, with one anchovy dissolved in the gravy; pour it boiling hot. You may put in artichoke bottoms and chestnuts, if you please. You may leave out the orange-flower water, if you do not like it.

The soldiers practice marching in formation before heading to the battleground.

In 1792, Thomas Jefferson attended George Mason at his death bed at Gunston Hall. After Mason's death, the house continued to be used as a residence. It is now a museum owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia.