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Colonial Williamsburg trivia

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Colonial Williamsburg trivia

#1

Colonial Williamsburg trivia

Just returned from a meeting at colonial Williamsburg, VA. Not many wood answers but here are some trivia about the place.

1. Before the colonial theme, the existing mid 20th century town of Williamsburg, Virginia was essentially leveled. How many of the 700 1930�s buildings (including some preservation worthy 20th century homes) that were part of Williamsburg in the pre-colonial reconstruction are original? (Under 100, + or � 10)

2. Besides the Rockefeller family who was the other well known wealthy family that was a heavy supporter/contributor. What did they own?

3. What actor/scholar with a Forestry Degree and Master of Fine Arts from Duke was part of the 1970�s �authentication� team at Williamsburg?

4. What College offers a graduate level course in Colonial Williamsburg?

5. What furniture company is authorized for �museum quality� Williamsburg reproductions?

6. Up until the mid 1950�s what restrictions were placed on select visitors at Williamsburg?

7. What famous peninsula property and famous architectural example was recently sold by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation because declining attendance over the past several years required they cover existing and projected tourist losses?

Re: Colonial Williamsburg trivia

#2

Re: Colonial Williamsburg trivia

Don't know all but I'll guess at:

#4 W&M?

#5 Gustav's old company

#6I have no idea but maybe a place that recently hosted the Queen?

Tom

Re: Colonial Williamsburg trivia

#3

Sorry

Not William and Mary--though it would seem logical

Not Stickley

Not to do with royalty or her visit to Jamestown.

Re: Colonial Williamsburg trivia

#4

Correction

As to furniture. Stickley is correct. They in fact, replaced Kittinger and Baker the previous manufacturers.

Re: Colonial Williamsburg trivia

#5

Re: Colonial Williamsburg trivia

Williamsburg answers. Tommy gets a star today for his Stickley answer.

By the 1930�s Williamsburg was a working but southern traditional college town. Because it is Virginia, �old boy�, and occasionally scholar driven, there were some well off landowners in the area. Mostly first family of VA and Civil War linked. Of the 700 existing buildings only 88 of structures (not all were houses) were considered to be original and left standing. Many of those were of a condition that required at least as much work to restore as build new. From appearance in the thirties, practically none are as portrayed today, many had over time added porches that were removed in restoration, and a few had their additions and false fronts removed. Most original homes belonged to lower/middle income families because through the years the people who were better off built new structures. These �new� homes were the ones that were torn down.

The Wallace Family who owned Reader�s Digest was the family I was looking for.

Roy Underhill, hippie, blacksmith, actor, was the guy that returned from the self sufficient rural life in the New Mexico and got his Masters Degree from Duke. He subsequently went to work at Williamsburg as Master House Wright.

Applachian State offers the graduate course.

Kittinger Furniture, not of the south, but with headquarters in Buffalo, New York offers the reproduction furniture. That ended in the 1980s. Baker furniture took over soon thereafter and today the company is Stickley.

Keeping in mind where Colonial Williamsburg is located. Up until the mid-1950s blacks were restricted. They could visit the attraction only one day per week, and were housed and trained separately as reinactors.

The Carter Grove mansion (1750-1755) was recently sold. Not on the Williamsburg grounds (8 miles away), but formerly owned by the Foundation, it nevertheless is one of the important houses (with its magnificent paneling and stairwell) in America. It sold last month for $15.3 million to a Halsey Minor, owner of CNet. He is supposedly going to turn it into a horse farm. It will not be his primary residence.

Re: Colonial Williamsburg trivia

#6

Re: Colonial Williamsburg trivia

Aw man...I was gonna guess Roy was the guy but I wasn't sure he was involved that early. Dang...missed out on a star!

Tom

👍 This page answered my questions

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