Williamsburg RV Campground, Williamsburg, VA (Mar 17 – Apr 02, 2017)
Left chilly South Carolina to a little warmer Williamsburg, VA. We stayed at the that Williamsburg RV Campground, another Thousand Trails park. https://www.thousandtrails.com/virginia/williamsburg-rv-camping-resort/ We are liking staying at Thousand Trails parks because they are basically free -other than our monthly $35 fee. The park is large and one loop around is approximately 1.5 mile walk which was nice. No grass between the sites but large grass areas for dogs and Cocoa.
This area, of course, is a historical area. We spent the day walking in Williamsburg. We found it was easy to park free at the Williamsburg Visitor Center and walk to town. This way we didn’t have to pay for parking or search for parking spaces inside of town. It is short walk from the Visitor Center to town. We probably walked about 5 miles round trip.
On the walk you will pass by The Windmill. This Windmill was actually built in 1957 to commemorate the 350th Anniversary of Jamestown but moved to Williamsburg in 2010.
As you enter Williamsburg from the walk, one of the first stops was at the Bruton Parish Church which was originally built in 1660. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruton_Parish_Church
The history of this church is incredible. First many Patriots were members but the church was also used as a hospital during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. In addition to that, Martha Washington’s great grandfather, Rowland Jones, was the first Rector at this church from 1674 until his death in 1688.
In addition to that, boxed pews were also held by Dignitaries: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, James Monroe. We have been learning about boxed pews since we went to Boston. It appears that boxed pews were built to keep drafts out during the winter so that attendees could be kept warm. Boxed pews were bought and deeds were held and passed down to families. So owning a boxed pew meant you were well off. Competition occurred with the decorating of the pew also. Probably the first “keeping up with the Jones” was done during this time.
The Rector stood at a high spot in the church so that everyone in their boxed pew could see him.
Then to see “The Capital”. “The Capitol … housed the House of Burgesses of the Colony of Virginia from 1705, when the capital was relocated there from Jamestown, until 1779, when the capital was relocated to Richmond. Two capitol buildings served the colony on the same site: the first from 1705 until its destruction by fire in 1747; the second from 1753 to 1779.”
When you first come across the building below, you will notice there are no signs. It is the Magazine. In 1714, the General Assembly had asked Governor Alexander Spotswood to build “a good substantial house of brick” precisely to protect the colony’s arms and munitions. This is the result. Magazine safeguarded shot, powder, flints, tents, tools, swords, pikes, canteens, cooking utensils, and as many as 3,000 Brown Bess flintlocks – equipment needed for defense against Indians, slave revolts, local riots, and pirate raids. You can read more here: https://www.history.org/almanack/places/hb/hbmag.cfm
The Governor’s House
Many more things to see so take your time.
We also went to Richmond to see friends, Stacey and Joe Trottier, who we met while in San Antonio, They own a Distillery called Kindred Spirits. Great brew – especially the brew called Strawberry Milkshake. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/ksbbeer/. Great time and great people.
Joe and his brother – “The Owners” with Lorraine and Stacey below.
Mike had to share what the men’s bathroom looked like. (Sorry the Women’s room was as dressed up.)
We also were able to visit with Cheryl Neely Dzonzek, a former High School pal. We had not seen each other for 39 years (yep since High School graduation). Great meeting up with this great lady. It was like we just saw each other yesterday.
When we went to Hampton to visit Cheryl, we were also able to visit Ft. Monroe.
“For at least 400 years, the point of land known as Old Point Comfort that now includes Fort Monroe has served as the key defensive site at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Beginning with Native American’s use years before the settling of Jamestown to its most recent mission as the US Army’s Headquarters for Training and Doctrine Command until 2011, Old Point Comfort and Fort Monroe has influenced all aspects of our nation’s history…Named for James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, Fort Monroe’s construction began in 1819 and was completed in 1836. An additional site to see if the Casement which is an island within the Fort, shown below. http://www.fmauthority.com/visit/casemate-museum/
The Casement Museum is located within the moat area of Fort Monroe, America’s largest stone fort. The fort remained a major Union stronghold throughout the war, denying the Confederacy access to Norfolk and Richmond from the ocean. The museum features the cell of captured Confederate President Jefferson Davis. As you can see from this picture, there are 3 access points via car. You have to go through one way roads to get through the casement.
Outside of the Casement is the Old Comfort Lighthouse built in 1802. In 1813 during the War of 1812, Old Point Comfort and the 1802 lighthouse became an observation post when it temporarily fell into British hands. It was interesting to see two houses on each side of the lighthouse which was lived in.
One other stop across from the lighthouse was Mike to actually handle a 3″ artillery gun.
Final wrap up of our time in Williamsburg was seeing another friend, Himangshu Dey. Himangshu and Lorraine worked together at a USDA/Forest Service Project. It was a great dinner and fun catching up.
We are off to Maryland to see Lorraine’s son, Matthew and friends for two weeks and then to Allentown, Pennsylvania to see Mike’s family. Be in touch soon.
