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Autumn in Colonial Virginia

2010.11.07

The original courthouse building of colonial Williamsburg on the Due of Gloucester Street between the College of William and Mary on one end and the colonial capitol building on the other.
The two women are in colonial dress accurate to the period.

The Wren Building, College of William and Mary. Located at one end of the one-mile long Duke of Gloucester Street in the former colonial capital of Virginia. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed St. Paul's in London.
Thomas Jefferson studied law here.

Walking home from the Courthouse, along Duke of Gloucester Street, the main street of the former capital, which is still fully inhabited despite some tourists thinking the homes are just for show. Almost all buildings are orginal 18th century buildings.

Yorktown, Virginia, where the Revolutionary War ended with the surrender of Cornwallis. Yorktown is a quiet hamlet today, and sits on the York River approximately 25 miles from Williamsburg. As in Williamsburg, the homes are mostly private and original.

Although I have lived abroad much of my adult life, Virginia is my birthplace. My ancestors arrived there in the first half of the 1600s. I don't get there often anymore, but the few pictures I have of Virginia in autumn are right here: Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown, where almost every home is still a private residence.
Most of the inhabitants take part in the daily life of the town by working in the town's shops, wear traditional colonial dress accurate to the period, and know their roles and crafts well. A number are artisans who keep the colonial trades alive: Colonial WIlliamsburg (CW) is the only place where authentic bayberry products may be produced today, e.g., candles, soaps, etc. It is a protected plant, but CW is allowed to continue production since they use the same 18thC. means by which to produce and replant today as they did in colonial times. The town is authentic in every way: archeologically, architecturally and historically researched down to the last detail since the 1920s. CW is the last place that can still produce glazed bricks in the same way they were produced 200 years ago and are used in the restoration of buildings.
Williamsburg, a living university town, established as the second capital of Colonial Virginia in the second half of the 17th century, is not terribly far from where I was born.
So here you are: "A Colonial Autumn".

it s a beautiful place !

photodeclair · 2010-11-07: 18:04

Lovely color. I would LOVE a nice colonial home!!! American homes built over 200 years ago are in better condition than Ukrainian homes built 40 years ago (and mine is over 100 years old!) And while I like "long," I think those outfits really only look good on very skinny women!

????? · 2010-11-07: 18:30

Nice report!!!
In #1 I can see women with clothes that seem old fashioned... Am I wrong?

miclaud · 2010-11-07: 19:48

Some pretty pictures

Greetings
Diego

Sarmiento · 2010-11-08: 01:56

Wonderfully informative post.. and fabulous images..composition of #3 really gives a sense of scale

cariad · 2010-11-08: 02:10

Wow! The colours in No 1 are amazing! Nice set!

Annbramwell · 2010-11-08: 04:53

Beautiful!! Love # 1, as you always do, great framing. You have all the subjects you mentioned in your very informative text. Your words are all visually sharply well represented there.

????? · 2010-11-08: 06:24

Fantastic set!! Love the beautiful fall colors that accompany it. :)

Clarinetchick · 2010-11-08: 10:09

Beautiful colours and charming place !

bandg8 · 2010-11-08: 22:23

Fantastic!!!

????? · 2010-11-08: 22:37

I'm working my backward in your posts... you can ignore my question about if you lived here since I now know the answer. :-) Lovely place. I was only there once as a child but I remember finding it intriguing.

DancingDolphin · 2010-11-09: 17:23