Thank GAod for Panera! It always seems to be there for us....and we needed a better wifi setup to do the blog. Who knows why we are having all of these connection problems?? (but Tom is certain that he needs a new laptop.) Anyway, we took care of things and I talked to Jen who will sleep at Fearrington tonight so that she and the children can fly out early-early to Canada. It is Jamie's wedding weekend and Ken will join them on Friday.
We went to visit "Ole Alabama Town". There is a four-block area of the city that has been restored to the lifestyle of early America in Alabama. One block is focused on "Living" and another on "Working". We made it through "Living" before surrendering to the heat and humidity. There was a good orientation film and a guided tour. We started at the Lucas Tavern. It originally was a "trotter house"....four rooms...two on each side of an open breezeway (so that the dogs aka "trotters" could run through. Today the opening is closed in and it makes a large center hall. Lucas Tavern was built before 1818 and today is the oldest standing building in the county. By contrast to the "trotter", there are "shotgun" houses like the ones we have seen in Louisiana. These have two rooms....one is directly behind the other. There is an open space/hall from the front door to the back...so, you could fire a gun through the house from one end to the other. We went next door to the Ordeman House. A two (actually 3) story Italianate house built for himself by an architect in 1852/53. Unfortunately he fell on hard times and never lived there...it was foreclosed. There were some new features.....i.e. ground level formal and family dining rooms (cooler), closets (unusual because they were classified as "rooms" and that was used as a tax basis), a deep well (cool enough for rustic refrigeration), and, the first indoor "necessary" in the city. DON'T read that as INDOOR PLUMBING! There was a cluster of outbuildings....kitchens, slave quarters, the "necessary", and, laundry as well as stables and a carriage house. The first family that lived there had a plantation in the country. They found the "town house" to be helpful for entertaining and vacationing. We "learned" all that we could absorb. Docents are very detailed (aka long-winded). It was a relief to hop on the trolley that goes around the city to let you see the many attractions. It is FREE from 11-2 (the lunch time), and, an exorbitant $.50 at other times. You can get on/off just about anywhere and there is a narration during the "paying" times. We got off at the State Capital Building. It sits on a hill surrounded by beautiful white marble/granite state government buildings. We learned that Alabama was first a territory and became a member of the Union in 1819. Montgomery became the capital in 1846. The founding father, Andrew Dexter, had the foresight to set aside land for a statehouse "someday". It was known (and still is) as "Goat Hill"...for its occupants at that time. The current building was erected in 1850/51. The seceding states organized the Confederate States of America here in 1861. It is classical in design and later additions are a perfect blend in architecture. The stained glass dome is more than 3 stories above the rotunda and "framed" by large, beautiful murals depicting the state's history. The chambers formerly used by the state House, Senate, and, Supreme Court are all refurbished and impressive. There is a marker on the exact spot where Jefferson Davis was inaugurated. At one end of the grounds is a massive monument to the Confederacy. (You did know that "we" are one Yankee and one Rebel?!) Nearby are other important attractions i.e. first Whitehouse of the Confederacy (later moved to Richmond, VA), and the church pastored by Dr. Martin Luther King.
All of this was very draining....and, the heat and humidity finished us off. We folded and took the trolley back to where we had parked in Old Alabama Town. We know there is much more to see........but..........
Poked around in the shoppes...visited a Pecan Store (sampled and bought). The chocolae covered pecans just dripped in the heat of the car. We found a Fresh Market and gathered "supper" (with wine!) and headed for the comfort of air conditioning and a pick up supper in comfort. Tomorrow we will be on our way again!
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