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2018 – Spring Newsletter

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2018 – Spring Newsletter News From Red Hill Published By the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation — Brookneal, VA Red Hill Gets a Pre-School Visit On April 27, nearly 100 pre-school students from Charlotte County met at Red Hill for a free interactive, educational, and cultural fieldtrip. Kim and Jimbo Cary performed folk music from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas as students had the opportunity to play tradition- al instruments and sing along. (continued on page 2) Patrick Henry MOOC In This Issue... Makes national top 20 We have received some dent ratings by validated learners Red Hill Collection big, exciting news about the Patrick across all the platforms courses are Page 3 Henry Massive Open Online available on, and in every language Course! The class, titled Patrick in which they are taught. There are Construction Update Henry: Founding Father, which is over 9,400 courses offered by 800 Page 4 taught by John Ragosta and pre- universities enrolling over 78 mil- sented by the University of Virginia lion students each year. That makes Living History Series in partnership with the Patrick hitting number 14 a huge accom- Page 4 Henry Memorial Foundation, was plishment and a great honor. named to this year’s list of the Top The course (which we Ashley Brown Essay 20 best MOOC courses available reported on in a previous issue) is Page 6 nationwide. In fact, the course open to anyone interested in broad- placed at number 14 on the list, ening their knowledge of Patrick Faces of Red Hill and was the only course available Henry, the Revolution, or early Page 11 through the University of Virginia American history. It’s an entirely to make the cut. The list ranking the online format, meaning that it is ac- best MOOCs is put together by a cessible to anyone and can be com- third party organization called Class pleted at the learner’s preferred pace. Central, and is based on indepen- Lectures (continued on page 8) Spring 2018 — Published By the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation — Brookneal, VA 24528 2 A Birthday Naturalization Red Hill celebrated Patrick across the community, this year’s water as well as providing the new Henry’s 282nd birthday this year by event was attended by over three citizens with the opportunity to combining it with one of our out- hundred guests. Before the ceremony, register to vote—an exciting way for standing yearly events. The annual breakfast for the citizens and their many to mark their new official status. Naturalization Ceremony is a staff families was provided by the Red Of course, it wouldn’t be a birthday and community favorite, and having Hill Chapter of the DAR, and after- party without cake! There were red, the event this year on Henry’s birth- ward the Patrick Henry Auxiliary white, and blue cupcakes to celebrate day made it even more special. served lunch for all in attendance. Henry’s birthday, as well as a lovely The Naturalization Ceremony The Brookneal Women’s Club was wreath laid on his grave. is the final step for immigrants to the also present, serving lemonade and (continued on page 5) United States who have completed the rigorous process of obtaining their citizenship. It is when they finally get to take their oath and cross the threshold to becoming full citizens. This year we had thirty new citizens from twenty-one different countries take the oath and celebrate their new status at Red Hill. “Every American should witness one of these events,” says Hope Marstin: “To see the joy and pride on the faces of our newest citizens will bring tears to your eyes.” She voiced the feelings of many staff- ers and members of the community who return to this particular event year after year for just that reason. Between the new citizens, their families, and other guests from Pre-School Visit (Cont.) (Continued from page 1) Each year, Red Hill partners with They showed students their wide-variety which the teachers were able to dance the Virginia Commission for the Arts to of instruments including a gourd banjo, around the room. provide local pre-schools with the ability mandolin, fiddle, saxophone, drums from The Carys made sure that the to enjoy this fun-filled day at no cost to Mali, and an African xylophone called the students realized Patrick Henry’s connec- them. balafon. The students also participated by tion to the colonial-era music that they Kim and Jimbo Cary have been using rhythm sticks and gourds to keep played, as Patrick played the violin. The coming to Red Hill annually since 2009. the beat with the Carys as they sang. Kim room was filled with harmonies, animal The Carys sing folk music that helped and Jimbo even got the teachers involved sounds, and folk music. The parents and to form Virginia’s cultural foundation. with their large collection of puppets with teachers love how engaged and excited 3 From the Red Hill Collection Elvira Henry’s Cookbook No woman may have left her mark on Red Hill more firmly than John Henry’s wife, Elvira McClelland Henry. Her creativity can still be seen, from the landscaping and boxwoods around the physical home, to the remains of the greenhouse where she grew her lemons and oranges. We also know the original Henry house was enlarged by John and Elvira, and included a larger dining room. Perhaps more guests would then be able to enjoy the delicious treats from the talented hostess. Elvira and John made Red Hill their home during all of their lives together. During her years here, Elvira compiled over one hundred recipes in a handwritten, leather-bound book which is still preserved to this day. Across the top of the front cover, in her own hand, is written, “Elvira Henry’s Cooking Book”. The book can be seen at Red Hill, thanks to Susan Hill Dabney who graciously donated the prized possession which had been handed down through the generations from her great-grandmother, Elvira Henry. The Red Hill Gift Shop has available a sampling from Elvira Henry’s Cooking Book. The booklet con- tains copies of several recipes, handwritten by Elvira, as well pictures and a few fun anecdotes. Try out a recipe and let us know how it turned out. By the way, according to Elvira, if you want to make her orange marmalade, you must first, “Gather your oranges from your greenhouse…” After all, doesn’t everybody have a greenhouse? ...her creativity can still be seen... the students are as they attend. Students left this field trip with a knowledge of new songs, as well as an admiration for Patrick Henry. Red Hill will continue to sponsor this event for many years to come. 4 Building Update: Walls Going Up The new Eugene B. Casey that the foundations had been laid. building it’s going to be, and we are Education & Events Center here at Since then, the basement has been looking forward to seeing the rest of Red Hill is being framed for walls! enclosed and steps installed. It’s start- it as it continues to go up. While rain In our last issue we reported ing to look more and more like the and bad roads slowed progress a bit Living History at Red Hill spinning & weaving ur Living History program is as the spinning at least would likely the plantation. Each spring, the sheep a hands-on, interactive edu- have been a primary activity of female would be sheared for wool. Coming cational program that pro- slaves on the plantation. At this sta- right off the animal, that raw mate- Ovides students with the opportunity to tion, docents show students how to rial would be very dirty. The process see, touch, and experience elements spin cotton and wool into yarn and for cleaning was called “skirting,” of life at Red Hill as they would have how various dyes are made. The dem- which meant that the wool would been during Patrick Henry’s time. The onstration is a guest favorite, as each be trimmed, removing hay and dirt program offers a variety of different student gets to take home a souvenir before giving it a good wash. Once the learning stations at which students from the lesson. wool was cleaned of debris, it would (and sometimes our adult visitors, To begin the lesson on how be washed using lye soap and hot wa- too) have the opportunity to interact wool is spun, docents first explain ter. Washing wool is a tricky process with costumed docents. Stations to the group how wool is produced. as it can’t go from hot to cold water; are located in different spaces across Most students know the first part, otherwise it will shrink and mat the Red Hill grounds, depending on which is that wool comes from sheep. together—though sometimes that’s an where each craft would have been But the process from sheep to shawl intended effect. In fact, the result of practiced during the colonial period. takes more steps than most realize. doing it on purpose is how we get felt. Our Spinning and Weaving demon- Generally, the raw material would A batch of carded or combed wool is strations are held in the Slave Cabin, come from sheep raised right there on called “rollag,” (continued on page 8) In each issue “Living History at Red Hill” will introduce our readers to one of the living history programs that our visitors encounter. 5 this winter, things are moving along steadily now. Currently the project is on track to be finished with con- struction by the end of October.
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