On this Bastille Day of July 14, 2009, I’m thinking of France, which reminds me of Lafayette, who sent one of the keys of the Bastille to his adopted father, George Washington.
Give me leave, my dear general, to present you with a picture of the Bastille just as it looked a few days after I had ordered its demolition, with the main key of that fortress of despotism—it is a tribute which I owe as a son to my adoptive father, as an aide-de-camp to my general, as a missionary of liberty to its patriarch. -Lafayette
NAMING ROOMS BEGAN WITH INTERESTING NAMED PAINT CHIPS
When my designer friend suggested we paint this room golden-green, so it would flow with the Tea Green and Creamy Yellow of the other rooms, she rifled through my paint chips and selected an example, Green Grass.
Although I loved the idea of golden-green, there was no scope for the imagination for a name like Green Grass, so the kids and I hunted for a better name.
While shopping my daughter found a gorgeous golden green called Lafayette!
As we auditioned the Lafayette paint chip our walls, it totally outshone the Green Grass.
While Green Grass is lost somewhere in all those samples, Lafayette is the darker of them all, perfect for the remaining spaces of the main floor connected to the other walls of Tea Green and Creamy Yellow.
DEBUT OF PATRIOTIC VIRGINIA HOUSE NAMES
While organizing and prepping to paint the Lafayette color in the family room, I pondered the fun idea that we play up our new Virginia house as a museum, so typical of our fun historical adventures.
Why not name the rooms after Lafayette and his American friends?
LAFAYETTE ROOM
Since the family room is the only room painted Lafayette set all this in motion, of course it will be named for him. (see header photo)
America’s friend and hero from France is a story that has long intrigued me, so that will be incorporated into the theme.
Perfect for the family room, Lafayette befriended all he met, soon becoming known as America’s friend.
Later bestowed with honorary American citizenship, Lafayette, the last surviving major general of the American Revolution, was invited to a grand tour of America from 1824 to 1825, where he was met by roaring crowds in the 24 states.
The fabric selected for the French patio doors’ window treatment is a magnolia print on black from Waverly’s Williamsburg collection.
Perfect for the Lafayette room, since he spent time in Williamsburg awaiting General Washington and General Rochambeau and the Continental and French armies to begin the siege of Yorktown, after Lafayette corned Cornwallis with his small unit of dragoons.
Then for that French touch, the window treatment will be backed with pastoral black toile.
GEORGE WASHINGTON ROOM
Meanwhile the living room, the first room seen when entering the front door is named after the Father of our Country, George Washington.
First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen. -Light Horse Harry Lee
We’d love to hang the famous picture of George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge, but due to the high price tag we are postponing that.
My daughter had a funny dream the other day about George Washington and the Colonial Williamsburg actor who portrays him.
She dreamed that Colonial Williamsburg’s Revolutionary City actors came to our house to help us paint!
The actor who portrays George Washington insisted that he paint one certain section of wall for Washington’s picture to hang!
Anyway, Washington and Lafayette first met in Philadelphia on August 3, 1777, where a firm bond quickly formed.
Dubbed adoptive son and adopted father, they closely worked together during the American Revolution.
Returning to France in 1781 after the decisive American victory at Yorktown, Lafayette returned for a relaxing visit in 1784 at Mount Vernon.
Visiting Virginia from August to November, Lafayette visited other friends in Virginia, too.
Yet a few weeks bookending Lafayette’s trip allowed him time to relax at Mount Vernon, chatting at leisure with Washington without pressures of war, in August and again in November.
Since the first meeting, if they were a part from one another, frequent correspondence kept them connected.
In 1824 Lafayette returns to Mount Vernon on his grand tour of America, to visit the tomb of his adopted father.
BETSY ROSS ROOM
Across from the living room is the dining room.
Though it will be used for entertaining, in between times it defaults to my sewing room, so Betsy Ross is the best namesake I can think of.
Although I can’t find any documentation that they met, its possible they might have.
However we do know that in 1774 George Washington ordered upholstery from her Philadelphia establishment for the Chintz room at Mount Vernon:
On September 23, 1774, Washington made the first payment for three sets of bedhangings to “Mr. Ross the upholder,” the husband of Betsy Ross who represented their joint business.–Mount Vernon
The first documentation of the infamous (and now disputed) Betsy Ross flag was written in 1870 by her grandson, William Canby, that in 1776:
Sitting sewing in her shop one day with her girls around her, several gentlemen entered. She recognized one of these as the uncle of her deceased husband, Col. George Ross, a delegate from Pennsylvania to Congress. She also knew the handsome form and features of the dignified, yet graceful and polite Commander in Chief, who, while he was yet Colonel Washington had visited her shop both professionally and socially many times, (a friendship caused by her connection with the Ross family) they announced themselves as a committee of congress, and stated that they had been appointed to prepare a flag, and asked her if she thought she could make one, to which she replied, with her usual modesty and self reliance, that “she did not know but she could try; she had never made one but if the pattern were shown to her she had not doubt of her ability to do it. -William Canby, grandson of Betsy Ross, 1870
Apparently when she suggested five-pointed stars, the committe asked if that might be too difficult.
“Nothing easier” was her prompt reply and folding a piece of paper in the proper manner, with one clip of her ready scissors she quickly displayed to their astonished vision the five pointed star; which accordingly took its place in the national standard. -William Canby, grandson of Betsy Ross, 1870
A year later on June 13, 1777, Lafayette’s French ship arrived in South Carolina, from which he set forth to Philadelphia to meet the Continental Congress, and hopefully General Washington.
The next day on June 14, 1777, Congress formally adopted the flag.
Resolved That the Flag of the united states be 13 stripes alternate red and white, that the Union be 13 stars white in a blue field representing a new constellation. -Second Continental Congress, Philadelphia, June 14, 1777
DOLLY MADISON ROOM
Through the doorway is the Dolly Madison room, named after the wife of James Madison who famously managed grand entertainments in Washington, D.C. and her home of Montpelier, which included planning meals and menus.
Her events were so well attended that she and her husband called them squeezes, because one could barely squeeze by the others in attendance.
One of her many guests at Montpelier included Lafayette on his grand tour of America!
THOMAS JEFFERSON ROOM
The part of the basement where our books reside in our new bookcases is the Thomas Jefferson room.
I cannot live without books. -Thomas Jefferson
After a fire destroyed his birthplace home of Shadwell in 1770 he wrote of the loss: of every paper I had in the world, and almost every book. On a reasonable estimate I calculate the cost of the books burned to have been £200. sterling.
Over the years the book lover amassed a new collection, which grew to be the largest personal library of books in America by 1814.
Meanwhile the British burned many important buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Library of Congress, whose books were destroyed.
Jefferson wrote: I learn from the newspapers that the vandalism of our enemy has triumphed at Washington over science as well as the arts, by the destruction of the public library with the noble edifice in which it was deposited.
Since most important books came from publishers in Europe, obtaining them during the War of 1812 was next to impossible.
Having planned to have his book collection sold to the Library of Congress upon his death, Jefferson decided now was the time. (read more at Monticello)
Congress purchased Jefferson’s library for $23,950 in 1815. –Library of Congress
First meeting General Lafayette in Richmond in 1781, Jefferson was then the governor of Virginia while Lafayette was chasing the Redcoats.
When Jefferson later served as Minister to France, his friendship with Lafayette grew.
During Lafayette’s grand tour of America, he visited Jefferson at Monticello in November 1824.
PATRICK HENRY ROOM
Since this is the homeschool room, it’s named for our homeschooled lawyer, Patrick Henry.
And since Jefferson and Henry quarrel all the time (at least at Colonial Williamsburg) it’s appropriate for them to share adjoining spaces in our basement homeschool space.
First meeting Lafayette in Richmond in 1784, Patrick Henry was serving his second non-consecutive term as governor of Virginia.
After the meeting they kept in touch through the years via correspondence.
EPILOGUE
Watch this space as I update our new Virginia house remodel with souvenirs and reminders of Lafayette and friends.
