Menokin Periodical | 2018

PERIODICALMENOKIN Here’s

What’s Inside

TRIUMPH OVER MONOTONY

As a museum professional, I am sometimes amazed at our industry’s

apprehension for risk taking. In a day and age where cultural

institutions have to fight short attention spans to stay relevant,

why are so many stuck in a traditional interpretive mold? As

Frank Vagnone and Deborah Ryan, in their groundbreaking work

Anarchist’s Guide to Historic House Museums, so poignantly ask, why

do so many people who love history find themselves bored to death

at historic sites? Visits to historic sites should be moving experiences

that inspire individuals to build their world around them. They should

grab the attention of a wide range of individuals that are curious

about how things came to be.

At Menokin, we have the opportunity and the support from you to

break the traditional mold- to welcome the risk of interpreting history

in a different way. Part of our unwavering mission is to connect the

past with modern audiences and build a vibrant bridge to our shared

history. Everything Menokin creates is grounded in this philosophy:

the innovative Menokin Glass House Project; the glowing Menokin

Ghost Structure; evening kayak tours; meaningful dialogue around a

campfire; and site tours that are personalized for each visitor.

As we approach our 250th anniversary in 2019, we continue to

transform the traditional narrative. Our obligation to our visitors is

to be a beacon of change in our industry and in their lives. You all

know the value of this effort and have been crucial in helping lead

the charge. Thank you for continuing to visit Menokin, and to act

as ambassadors for our values and efforts. You, our supporters, are

an important part of our movement to create a place we can all be

proud of. Let’s keep building it together!

Page | 2

WILLIAM BUCKLAND | THE ARCHITECT OF MENOKIN?

If you’ve had the opportunity to take a Hard Hat Tour at Menokin, you know that over the years we’ve encountered many “Menokin Mysteries.” Some of these mysteries have been solved, like the origins of the iron-infused sandstone that comprises the house. Others remain unknown, like the identity of Menokin’s architect. Given all of

the documentation that exists of the house dating back to 1769, one would think that the architect would be named somewhere in renderings, letters, or financial papers. Alas, we’ve not found any conclusive evidence; however, based on context clues, we can at least narrow down a few candidates. Among them is William Buckland, Englishman and noted architect during the 18th century in Maryland and Virginia.

Buckland, who began as a joiner and carver after an apprenticeship to his uncle, served a four-year indenture to Thomason Mason. Mason was seeking someone to provide the interior for his brother’s new house, and Buckland was highly

recommended. In exchange for passage to the colonies and

accommodations, in 1755 Buckland signed a contract to serve as carpenter and joiner for the Masons. And so it came to be that Buckland designed the interior of George Mason’s Gunston Hall, regarded as among the most elegant in Virginia at the time.

With the endorsement of George Mason, Buckland moved to the Northern Neck of Virginia after his indenture. John Ariss, an established architect who had previously advertised he was working in the area, most likely attracted Buckland to the region. Buckland was subsequently hired by John Tayloe II of Mount Airy to work on the finer carpentry and joinery at the plantation. This was when he and Menokin crossed paths.

John Tayloe II was the father of Rebecca Tayloe, wife of Francis Lightfoot Lee. Upon their marriage in 1769, the couple was gifted one thousand acres of land, twenty enslaved people, and the resources to build a home in Richmond County. Rosamond Randall Bierne and John H. Scarff, who wrote on Buckland’s work in William Buckland: Architect of Virginia and Maryland, posit that “it seems altogether possible that William Buckland worked at Menokin” given his connection to Tayloe, his other work in Richmond County, and the fact he lived there until 1771.

It’s not only the time line that gives us reason to believe Buckland worked at Menokin. Some of Buckland’s confirmed works, such as the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, have similar architectural features to that of Menokin. In addition, many visitors with a background in historic preservation or architecture often see our interior woodwork and immediately recognize Buckland’s trademarks.

Though we do not have conclusive evidence (yet), these all point toward Buckland serving as architect or at least carver and joiner for Menokin. However, it is important to also note that other scholars call into question Buckland’s role. In Material Witnesses: Domestic Architecture and Plantation Landscapes in Early Virginia, Camille

Wells points out that Bierne and Scarff “…endow William Buckland with a career far richer in formidable building campaigns than his short life could possibly have encompassed.” In fact, Menokin’s design has also been attributed to John Ariss.

There are many more Menokin Mysteries to be solved. They propel our research as we work to make connections between the past and present. Today, we join William Buckland as architects for Menokin, shaping its future through the Glass House Project.

SOURCES:

Material Witnesses: Domestic Architecture and Plantation Landscapes in Early Virginia | by Camille Wells

William Buckland: Architect of Virginia and Maryland | by Rosamond Randall Beirne and John H. Scarff, F.A.I.A.

Little Known

CENTER HALL TOWARD FRONT DOOR | HAMMOND HARWOOD HOUSE

BUCKLAND PORTRAIT | HAMMOND HARWOOD HOUSE COLLECTION

Menokin Periodical | 2018

You have helped build the Menokin experience. We invite you to join us in making a legacy commitment to secure it.

Bequest Basics It’s easy to support the charities you love with a simple bequest added to your will. Here are the top four types of charitable bequests:

SPECIFIC BEQUEST: A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, a car, other property or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to Menokin.

PERCENTAGE BEQUEST: Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to Menokin.

RESIDUAL BEQUEST: A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 25% of the residue of your estate to Menokin.

CONTINGENT BEQUEST: A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to Menokin.

A future gift as a capstone to your menokin experience

Announcing...

Menokin is important to me because in an area of many old houses of historical value, it is the only one that can show in detail how such houses were designed and built, and by whom. The use of the surrounding land and water to educate about the environment further enriches the Menokin experience.

I have made this commitment to ensure that future generations will also benefit from Menokin.

Penelope de Bordenave Saffer Co-chair, The 1769 Legacy Society | Member, Menokin Presidents Council

Stevenson T. WalkerCo-chair, The 1769 Legacy Society Member | Menokin Board of Trustees

Menokin is important to me because of its dual-purposed vision to save the 1769 home. The first allows a view of the actual carpentry techniques used in the 18th century. The second uses the original woodwork to show how some rooms actually looked in that colonial period.

I made this commitment because the property was the home of a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. He pledged his life, fortune, and sacred honor to secure independence for a new and vital nation.

Page | 4

1930

1940

1957

1968

1996

2014

2022

1769 Construction on Menokin begins

1995 Menokin Foundation is established to preserve and protect Menokin

2012 Design work on the Menokin Glass House begins

2014 Raise The Glass campaign to save Menokin is launched

2017 Stabilization of northwest and southeast corners of Menokin is complete

2019 250th Anniversary Celebration of when it all began

We’ve Come A Long Way, Baby!

2019 is going to be a really big year for Menokin. So much to celebrate. So little time! Get ready for a lineup of great events and programs to highlight the most engaging preservation project in America.

1769

SEE YOU SOON, JONI.

A well-loved member of the Northern Neck community and selfless volunteer on countless fund raisers and boards—including Menokin’s —passed away on August 20, 2018 after a long battle with cancer.

Joni Lawler was the personification of grace, charity and giving. She believed in doing for others and having fun in the process. Menokin was often the beneficiary of her energy and generosity and we are honored to be listed as one of three organizations to receive gifts in her memory.

Not a believer in good-byes, we say instead to our beloved Joni a simple “see you soon.”

RAISE THE GLASS is an $8.5 million historic initiative to replace the missing walls and portions of the floors and roof of our 18th-century ruin with structural glass, allowing visitors to see and experience the original construction from over 250 years ago.

We have raised $2,757,890 to date and aim to raise an additional $5.7 million by December 2021 in order to open the doors of the glass house by 2022.

Raise the Glass is our best and last chance to preserve Menokin’s rich history of patriotic, architectural, cultural, and environmental significance for current and future generations.

See the full story at menokin.org/RaiseTheGlass. To request a copy of Menokin’s Raise the Glass campaign brochure, contact Barbara Cushing, Director of Major Gifts at (804) 333-1776, bcushing@menokin.org.

Anne Carter & Walter R. Robins, Jr. FoundationLeslie Smith Ariail*S

Frazier & Brad Armstrong Marguerite Slaughter & William T. ArmstrongReid Freeman* & Alexandra BarkerGarda Dean BartlettMary Lynn & J. Temple BaylissLinda & G. William BealeAnne BealsJane & Thomas H. Birdsong III◊

Birdsong PeanutsSarah & Jonathan H. Bliley*S Judy & Thomas M. Boyd, Jr.Austin Brockenbrough III SSally Guy & Thomas C. Brown, Jr.*S

Georgia & Robert G. BurnleyThe Cabell FoundationJeannette & Nicholas J. CadwallenderCandy◊ & Bill CardenS

Charlie & Wendi S. ChaseS

Barbara & Tom Cushing Beverly & A. Douglas Dalton, Jr.Mary & Austin T. Darden, Jr.Barbara & C. Marshall Davison IIIJudy & Treadwell Davison, Jr.Ammon G. Dunton, Jr.Catherine & Tayloe EmerySue & Rick Farmar Colleen M. FisherMuschi & Frederick S. Fisher IIIFrederick H. FranklinCharlotte H. FrischkornElis Olsson Memorial FoundationElmon B. Duff Charitable Lead Annuity TrustLouise & George C. Freeman IIISAnne & Jay Garner*S

Linda & Charles P. Gilchrist IIIMichelle & Vinnie GrassiaMary Cate GriffithPerry & John H. Guy IV*S

Susan & Dan HansenEllen & Bob HoltGugi & Charlie Hooff III◊S

Aime & Douglas F. Jenkins, Jr.John Fidler Preservation Technology, Inc.Katherine Dameron McCormick & Geoff JonesS

Laura Croghan Kamoie ◊

Rosemary Basile King* & Martin Gray KingS

Fran & Kirwan King ◊

Martin Kirwan King II* Anne & Carter Rodman KingMrs. Martin Kirwan King◊S Kelly & T. Gaylon Layfield IIICalder Loth* Joni* & John LawlerSMary Morton Parsons FoundationMarietta McNeil Morgan & Samuel Tate Morgan, Jr. Trust, Bank of America, N.A., TrusteePatrick J. McCannDeborah & Richard McClintockApril & Sam McKelvey Almeda & R. Michael McKenneyKatherine T. MearsElizabeth & Lewis N. Miller, Jr.SRobert Latané Montague IIIKatherine L. Imhoff & John MooreHullihen Williams Moore*S

Marty & Temple C. Moore, Jr.*S

Middy & Benjamin B. MorrisHelen Turner Murphy* & W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr.*S

Dudley* & Elis OlssonS

Oak Grove Restoration CompanyMercer Wellford O’Hara◊ & Peter O’Hara†S

Peachtree House FoundationSarah Dillard Pope◊ & Nathan K. PopeNancy Raybin & Bill Portlock SKathleen & Michael QuickAnna & F. Scott Reed, Jr.◊S

Kathleen & Bagley ReidRichard S. Reynolds FoundationMichael S. RolbandS

Roller-Bottimore FoundationGamaliel & Kendall RoseBeverley W.◊ & Walter Speed RowlandPenelope de Bordenave Saffer◊

Barbara & Bladen ScottJackie & Alexander Smith, Jr.◊

Smithfield FoundationLois & J. Boyd SpencerCharles R. Sydnor, Jr.Anita & Norman TadlockLouise & Edward D. Tayloe IISuzanne◊ & Bill ThomasBobbie & James E. UkropUnion Bank & TrustPaul VenturaVirginia Sargent Reynolds FoundationStevenson T. Walker*S

Alice & Hill B. Wellford, Jr.Camille Wells◊

Carolyn & Greg W. WhiteAlice & James W. WilkersonEmily & Colin Roscoe WilkinsonLaurie S. & Andy Williams†S

Barbara & Mac Willis

Menokin gratefully recognizes these donors who have committed $1,000 and above to the $8.5M Raise the Glass capital campaign since 2014.

*Trustee ◊ President’s Council S Signers Society †Deceased

Bold text indicates donors who have committed over $100,000 to the capital campaign.

“THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR MEN OF GOOD INTENTIONS TO BE ONLY SPECTATORS.”Francis Lightfoot Lee to Col. Landon Carter, Oct. 21, 1775

Page | 6

RECOGNIZE THIS GUY?Pittsburgh Pirates playerRoberto Clemente is memorialized in a glass-carved cameo made by Ryan Tanner who spoke at Menokin in June. Tanner is donating the finished piece to the auction of a charitable organization in Pittsburgh that carries on Clemente’s tradition of community involvement and charity work.

CONGRATULATIONS TO REID FREEMAN, who was awarded a Special Mention by the international jury of architects for the 6th Annual Architizer A+Awards.

Out of the thousands of projects that were submitted, less than 5% were chosen by the Jury as Special Mention honorees.

The Architizer A+ Awards is the largest awards program focused on promoting and celebrating the year’s best architecture and products. Its mission is to nurture the appreciation of meaningful architecture in the world and champion its potential for a positive impact on everyday life. Imagine your best work in front of a global audience of 400+ million.

This exposure is tremendous for Reid and for Menokin. Be sure to visit soon to experience the structure for yourself.

ONE OF THE WONDERFUL RESULTS OF MENOKIN PROGRAMS is the engaged and thoughtful discourse that occurs through our

lecture series. Combined with our workshops we showcase scholars, researchers and artists hitting on various topics of the humanities to foster critical thinking, relevant to our site. The range of conversations and demonstrations so far, have covered the history of the Powhatan Landscape, 18th c. building techniques and their preservation, African American folklore, and the history of glass and glass cameo

carving.

Most recently, Reid Freeman, Menokin Trustee and Principal of Reid Architecture PLCC, participated in our conservation building workshop of the Ghost Structure. Still a work in progress, he designed this outdoor classroom for Menokin and then followed up in July with a lecture discussing how architecturally this building type has evolved. The original structure was likely built on the site to house field workers who planted and tended to tobacco crop. Slave labor allowed for the profitable production of tobacco for export in the late 18th century. The dwelling would have likely been built without plans but based on experience and local cultural practices. The builders likely constructed other supporting farm buildings (smoke houses, dairies, kitchens, and houses) and the more substantial homes of their masters. They used the same timber techniques on all. Carpenters and framers learned in the act of building and this knowledge was passed on to future builders. Geographically isolated regions developed distinct stylistic details, some which can still be seen in 19th and early 20th Century vernacular structures of the Northern Neck.

The size suggests that the original may have been two rooms deep and could have housed two families. Families would have lived on the ground floor and the gabled loft which

may have been accessed by a ladder or possibly a very steep corner stair. It is difficult to speculate on how many people may have lived in the structure but it may have housed between 8 and 16 adults and children. Colonial dwellings for free, indentured, and enslaved people were all small in the 18th century. Most house structures were one to three rooms in size. Privacy as we know it today did not exist. Plantations were villages of small and distinctly functional wooden structures. This structure was likely part of a larger cluster of similar buildings.

The Ghost Structure is built as a temporary building located atop of the archaeological footprint of a former dwelling. The building framework allows us to illustrate Tidewater building techniques and creates a physical place to interpret the stories of the enslaved people who lived here. Yet, typical

of Menokin, we have re-imagined the shell of the building in a non-traditional material. It

is sheathed in a translucent fabric which is illuminated by solar panels at night. This new treatment challenges our interpretation to explore and experiment with new ways to present the stories which

continue to evolve from this place.

It is important to recognize that as research and scholarship develops at Menokin, we build programs that support new findings. In this way, we continue to evolve, and acknowledge a new understanding of our past. Ongoing archaeology, research and genealogy foster the development and expansion of new interpretation through oral histories, weekend workshops with public historians, and university classroom studies. This cross-sectoral thinking allows the preservation and programming arms of our work at Menokin to support and sustain each other.

YO

U C

AN LEAVE YOUR H

AT O

N

AVAILABLE IN FIVE FAB COLORS - $18ALREADY HAVE ONE? POST A SELFIE

IN YOUR HAT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND TAG YOUR LOCATION. WE WANT

TO CREATE A MENOKIN HAT MAP!

(AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND AT THE VISITOR’S CENTER)

KAYAKING AT MENOKIN | The Little Secret of the Northern Neck

In 2017, a grant from the Gwathmey Memorial Trust allowed the purchase of a kayak fleet to promote environmental programming and community outreach on Cat Point Creek. This summer, kayaking has quietly been added as one of the special experiences to be had at Menokin. Our offerings are diverse and affordable. Some are even free!

Kayaking on Cat Point Creek is a truly special experiences. Just a short way upstream of Menokin Bay, you quickly merge into a paradise of lush greenery; all signs of human impact disappear. Lining the creek are bouquets of pink and white Swamp Rose-Mallow, purple Pickerel Weed, and yellow lily pads. Eagles soar overhead , herons alight among the marsh grasses, fish leap, and turtles sunbathe. A moonlight paddle provides glimpses of beavers splashing and diving about, and bullfrogs serenade the remarkable beauty of a moon rise reflected on this pristine waterway. A growing interest of kayak explorers seeking experiences on less traveled waterways call it “the Northern Neck’s little secret”.

With education always at the forefront of our mission, we continue to advocate for water stewardship education with local partners like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Teacher Institute; the Youth Conservation Corps; and Friends of the Rappahannock.

Menokin is a public access point for anyone interested in launching their own paddle vessel daily, from 7 am to 7 pm. We are also part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail and were recognized by Governor McAuliffe as one of Virginia’s Treasures in 2016. As part of the Chesapeake Bay Gateway and the National Wildlife Refuge, Menokin is held under a Conservation Easement which forever protects this land.

But don’t just take our word for it. As a new visitor recently expressed after a tour of the Visitor Center and a paddle on the creek, “It’s definitely worth the trip.”

NOT ONLY DOES THE GHOST

STRUCTURE GLOW with the

aid of semi-translucent cladding

and strategically-placed solar

lights, but you can also project

images and video on it! This

opens a whole new range of

programming opportunities.

9

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDPermit No. 15

Menokin FoundationPost Office Box 1221Warsaw, VA 22572

WE’RE NOT THE ONLY ONES TALKING ABOUT MENOKIN.

Material Witnesses by Camille Wells, one of the foremost experts on eighteenth-century Virginia architecture, is a series of beautifully written essays that will be essential reading for those interested in architecture, material culture, and the ways they reveal the complexities of the nation’s history.

Wells gathers the discoveries unearthed during a career spent studying the buildings and plantations across this geographic area, including a fascinating essay on Menokin.

Henry Browne, author of Vanishing History, Ruins in Virginia, is an architect whose career, often involving historic preservation, spanned more than five decades.

His book, with photos by Kevin MacNutt, covers historically significant ruins including canals, bridges and residences.

The final chapter, The Future of Ruins, is an endorsement of the important work taking place at Menokin.

The Future of Ruins Power Play