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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
August 20, 2021
Apothecary – Apprentice Tailor Tim asked about apparel for gout patients. Sharon found a recommendation
from an M.D. that patients with gout should wear fleecy hosiery to keep their feet and legs warm.
Austin was looking for information that could help determine where Dr. Galt was located in 1777. He
found Galt listed on the muster roll for the 15th Virginia Regiment. This list was from the Valley Forge Project,
which is connected with the National Park Service. Robin shared info from the Williamsburg Storehouse
records for 1777 that documents that supplies from Saint Eustatius were arriving in Williamsburg. Galt is
listed as the recipient for some supplies. It appears he is in the area getting the military hospital organized.
Sharon also found primary references for Austin related to Galt’s activities.
The question came up about Mary Cooley's son who is Dr. Galt's ward. Sharon sent Austin a note that
there is a Thomas Cooley in our site records for 1783-85. We were wondering if this was Mary's son. Austin
also sent us some info that he found about Mary.
Mark has been busy studying primary sources on midwifery and comparing details from his
professional training and experience.
The Apothecary Shop will be open on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith Shop will be open Daily.
Tinsmith – The Tin Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
Anthony Hay Shop: The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichord-maker Shop will open on Sunday, Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday. Either the Cabinetmakers or the Harpsichord-makers will be at the Art Museum
Gallery on Wednesday.
Brickmaker – With the bread oven complete, and our next (and hopefully final) order of pigment on its way
from Germany, the Brickmakers have turned their attention to the world outside of Masonry. With the
Carpenters hard at work processing the materials for our new Brickyard buildings, we felt it was our duty, nay,
our privilege, to assist our fine fellow Tradesmen as well as we can. Seeing the other side of the Building
Trades has been an enlightening and, dare I say, enjoyable experience. We had the opportunity to participate
in the process of hewing and pit-sawing, with the Carpenters graciously giving us a crash course and making
sure we don't mess up anything too bad (sorry, no promises here). We are very fortunate to be able to
participate in the construction of our new home, and the Carpenters have been kind enough to take in our
wayward souls in the meantime. In other news, we met with the Archaeologists this week at the Magazine,
where they found remnants of clay roofing tiles. While tiles are not explicitly in the realm of Masonry,
anything related to clay is sure to pique our interest. Clay tile is not an area that we have delved into much,
but this recent archaeological discovery has given us the opportunity to undertake new research and expand
our area of expertise. Whether it's bricks or tile, clay truly is a wonder material (as Journeyman Kenneth
would say), and we just can't get enough of it.
Carpenter – The Carpenter’s Yard will be open Daily, weather permitting.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 7, Issue 23
�Colonial Garden – This has been quite a warm week in the Colonial Garden, and our work was
interrupted by numerous thunderstorms that gave us over four inches of rain. Too much rain accompanied by
high temperatures can damage plants and is the ideal condition for blights and fungus. Visitors to the Garden
may notice some of the plants we set out in April and May are now winding down for the season. This week,
we removed our cantaloupe vines, and we will be replacing them soon with crimson clover for a winter cover
crop. Rain and heat are also the perfect recipe for weeds in the Garden, and we have been pulling them up as
fast as we can. This week, the Gardeners sowed seeds for many of our winter greens as well as some coldhardy flowers. Once the weather cools down, we will be able to transplant these out into the Garden. We
harvested paw paws, okra, carrots, cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, and hot peppers for use by Historic
Foodways in the Palace and Armoury Kitchens. Flowers in bloom in the Garden this week include tuberose
(Agave amica), love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus), China aster (Callistephus chinensis), and brown-eyed
susan (Rudbeckia triloba).
The fragrant and beautiful tuberose
A basket of produce harvested at the Colonial Garden
Love-Lies-Bleeding, an ornamental flower grown at the Colonial Garden
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 7, Issue 23
�The Colonial Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Cooper – The Cooper Shop will be open on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Engraver – This week, the Engravers (William) are working away on monogram designs and apprenticeship
goals, planning our outlook on projects we would like to take on in the next several months, and looking at
plans for next year.
We are brainstorming lots of ideas for possible blogs, as well as other possible media contributions.
Lynn is reading up on counterfeiting money (this is not part of the up-and-coming projects…I promise), and
William has been preparing some copper for setting up another printing plate. We hope to get some printing
time in soon, but we are finding out there are not enough hours in a day. Working on it.
The Foundry has supplied us with several satin finished pewter plates, and Lynn has engraved one with
a masonic symbol in tribute to W. Waddill’s dedication to the organization. This week, Lynn is also setting up a
few retirement gifts for a special order.
The Engraving Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. The Engravers will be at the Art
Museum Gallery on Thursday.
Foodways – The Foodways Staff will be at the Palace Kitchen on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and
at the Armoury Kitchen on Friday. On Sunday, August 22nd, at 4:30pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the
Foodways staff will present “Homebrewing in 18th-century Virginia.” Learn about the importance of
beer in colonial Virginia and how it was made.
Foundry – Leanne and Drew are cleaning 6-inch pewter plates for the Engraving Shop, and Mike is
producing a gnomen (the part of a sundial that casts a shadow) for a bronze sundial with the Engraving Shop
for a dual Trade job.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 7, Issue 23
�The Foundry will be open on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Gunsmith – This last week in the Gunsmith Shop, the guys were split up. Darrin and Brad made a trip to the
Contemporary Longrifle Association show in Lexington, Kentucky. The show had four hundred tables of both
antique arms and accouterments as well as contemporary builders and artisans. They also had the pleasure of
walking around with George Suiter, the last Master of the Gunsmith Shop. Richard and Tyler stayed back and
"held down the fort", so to speak. It was an intensely hot and humid, as well as a very busy, weekend talking
with Guests. Our Intern, Tyler, was able to get a little bit of work done on the forgings he started the prior
week. We are now back to full manpower and ready to get back to work. Study material includes many
antique firearms and tools, the Journal of Historical Arms Making Technology, Vol. 2., and Georgian Pistols by
Dixon.
The Gunsmith Shop will be open on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.
Historic Farming – The cotton is
growing like crazy in this hot, humid
weather. The dry spell in May hurt the
crop though, and three quarters of it
expired, requiring a replanting once it
started raining again in early June. This
late planting will limit the amount of
bolls before they stop growing in
October. We’ll see. Thus is Farming.
Filming projects continue – The Virginia
Agricultural Extension Service filmed the
historic processes of growing tobacco
off and on throughout the summer. In
the picture is Mike Parrish, Senior
Agricultural Extension Agent,
Ed planting turnips
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 7, Issue 23
�filming the cutting of a tobacco plant. Turnips have been planted in that space. Large Planters were
experimenting with growing turnips for sheep food. These turnips will be eaten by humans through Historic
Foodways and the CW Inn.
Filming of tobacco cutting
The Farmer will be at Prentis Field Tuesday through Saturday.
Joinery – The Joinery will be open on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday. The Joiners will be at the Art
Museum Gallery on Saturday. On Monday, August 23rd, at 4:30pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the
Joiners will present “John Hemmings: Enslaved Joiner of Monticello.” Many of our premier 18thcentury American homes were built with slave labor, and Monticello is no different. Amanda Doggett
will present her research on John Hemmings and his contribution to building Thomas Jefferson’s home
on the little hill. Her research was conducted January 2019 as a fellow with the International Center for
Jefferson Studies in Charlottesville.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Millinery will be open on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and
Friday.
Music – We are still missing Soprano Karol, who is recovering from her illness, and we wish her a speedy
recovery. Despite the loss of Jay and Danny, the Musicians are looking to the future, most immediately the
Fall season. We are happy that we will be doing three 30-minute programs on Wednesday afternoons,
beginning September 8th, in the Raleigh Tavern Apollo Room, with a variety of themes. Amy, Jenny, and
Brady have already begun to discuss ideas for these presentations. Since our Raleigh day will be switching to
Wednesdays in the Fall, we will have our advertised “Music in the Galleries” programming on Fridays at the
Museum. We will also be providing unadvertised music there on Tuesday mornings and Saturday afternoons,
subject to change. We hope to be taking applications soon for the Harpsichord position and are currently
working with Robert Currie of Evening Programs to see what we can do for Palace programs.
Amy virtually attended sessions for the National Flute Association’s 49 th Annual Flute Convention last
week and came away inspired by experiences of playing Irish music with an Irish band, learning about insights
into Bach’s Partita in A Minor for solo flute, hearing music from around the world, and listening to sessions
about inclusivity regarding the LBGTQ+ community, how to inspire your students, and other topics of
conversation. Through the Whova platform, she was able to download sheet music and programs,
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 7, Issue 23
�communicate with convention planners, upload photos, and contact old friends and make new ones. She also
attended a virtual get together for past students of the late Charley Delaney of FSU fame. There were many
prerecorded performances that will be available to watch until September 15th, so the platform allowed
convention attendees to do things that would have been impossible in an in-person convention.
The Musicians will be in the Art Museum on Tuesdays and Saturdays (unadvertised and subject to
change) and on Wednesdays as advertised, and at the Raleigh Tavern Apollo Room throughout the summer
on Fridays, 9:00am to 5:00pm for tours every 15 minutes. On Thursday, August 26th, at 4:30pm in the
Hennage Auditorium, the Musicians will present “Is that a cello? Or a viol?” Similar-looking, but from two
different families, the cello and the viol coexisted for centuries side-by-side - cousins locked in a bitter
popularity contest that only one could win. Explore the history, construction, and repertoire of these two
bowed stringed instruments, and hear them both in action!
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office – This week, we had an order from Prentis Store for The SENTIMENTS of an American
Woman, which was written by Esther Reed and originally published in Philadelphia. Here, you see Chad
making up the form that will be in the press for the next few weeks. Come by on Sunday, Monday, and
Thursday each week to see the press going. Note: last impression pulled at 4:30 pm.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 7, Issue 23
�The Printing Office will be open on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday. The Printers will be at the Art Museum
Gallery on Tuesday.
Bindery – The Bookbindery will be open on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Public Leather Works – The Public Leather Works will be open on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday.
Shoemaker – Rob continues to work on his shoe-boots, and he is going to spend his Research Day sewing
on the sole in his home shop. Katie is almost halfway done with a pair of Morocco goat skin slippers for
herself. She is going to spend her Research Day working on them in the Shop Office, and continuing her
reading mentioned in last week’s Adviser. Val is almost ready to put the heel on the first of a pair of common
shoes for David Wilson. He spent part of his Research Day with Jay Howlett, picking up leather donated to the
Shoe Shop and Publick Leather Works. It is a very welcome gift, and we thank Lloyd and Susan Moskowitz for
their generosity, as well as Carol Frix for setting up the introduction. Val is also going to continue cleaning the
Shop on Duke of Gloucester Street. Val, Rob, and Nicole have been dressing leather in the Armoury yard and
have one skin completed. Another skin was dressed, but the weather prevented the first glue and final size
from being applied. If the weather cooperates on Thursday, Val will apply those last two components.
Rob’s shoe-boot and split-lifts (the first layer of the heel)
Katie’s slipper in progress (the slipper is sewn inside out)
The slipper has been turned right side out and is drying on the last. Since the sole is curved, and we want the top piece of
the heel to be level, the split-lift acts as a wedge, allowing that to happen.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 7, Issue 23
�Val is almost done with the first of a pair of common
shoes for David Wilson.
A dressed skin waiting for the first glue
and final size.
A completed skin which will hang for a week, and then be rolled up. After a year’s time, the skin will be ready for use for uppers.
The Shoemakers will be at the Armoury on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmith Shop will be open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. The
Silversmiths will be at the Art Museum Gallery on Friday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open on Sunday, Thursday, and Saturday. The Tailors will be in the Art
Museum Gallery on Monday.
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – Our last Dye Day, we tried something a little bit different, and it
was a resounding success. Usually, we like to have multiple dyebaths so that we can show our guests a wide
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 7, Issue 23
�variety of colors. This last Dye Day, we instead decided to focus on one dye, Madder Root. This dye usually
gives a peach-to-brick-red color range, with oranges being the preferred color. Eighteenth-century sources
warn not to heat up your dye too much, as this will give a brown color. We also occasionally come across
recipes that call for metals, minerals, acids, and other substances to be added to achieve different colors and
shades. So naturally, we decided to test them all on the same day. Mordants, or fixatives we treat the fiber
with to ensure the dye binds fully and completely, were added. Alum, Iron, Tannic Acid, Copper Sulfate, and
Tin were used, with each altering the way the dye would bind to the fibers. An unmordanted control was
added, as well. After an equal amount of time in the dye pot, our skeins of madder-dyed yarn had achieved a
rich color. These skeins were then divided up into an acid vinegar afterbath, an alkaline soda ash afterbath, a
tin afterbath, a copper sulfate afterbath, and an iron afterbath. With that, we had managed to achieve thirty
unique shades with one single dye pot. We hope to use what we learned this last Dye Day in the future, to
give an even better range of colors in the future.
The Weaver Shop will be open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Wheelwright – A very warm week over at the Wheelwrights. Apprentice Joel not only installed the metal
hooks and rivets for his horse cart project, but he has also successfully installed the cart’s spindle siding. He is
currently working on installing the rave, a rail that will go atop each spindle. Joel will begin preparing and
installing flooring next week, the last of the wooden components before he tries his hand at making paint.
Pictured below is Journeyman Paul, driving the spokes into the hub of his timber cart wheels with a hammer.
Now, only the wooden rim components, or fellys, remain for that pair. Three cheers go to Apprentice
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 7, Issue 23
�Blacksmith Alex, who finished the iron banding for the cannon wheel hubs earlier in the week. Paul continues
to work on both sets of wheels. Speaking of metal work done by a Blacksmith, the Wheelwright Shop will be
installing metal tires on to carriage wheels next Tuesday afternoon, the 24th of August, as part of the CWF’s
“Trades Tuesday” Facebook Livestream! Only a few more days to go!
The Wheelwrights will be at the Armoury on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Wigmaker – This past week, we re-adjusted to being a two woman show, after Sydney's departure. We
figure by the end of this coming week, we should be well adjusted again. Of course, then our new Apprentice
starts, and we're back up to a three-person show! Huzzah! We are so happy to formally announce that
Benton Parker will be joining the hairy chaos on August 29th! If you see Benton about town this week, be sure
to give him your congratulations, or your condolences, if you prefer. Either way, we're incredibly excited to be
bringing him on board. Edith continues to work on the flax wig, and Debbie gives her much credit for the
endeavor. Weaving flax on three threads by hand is no easy feat! But Weaver Joe did warn us. Maintenance
continues this week, and the Marquis's wig should be done any second now. Maybe...
The Wig Shop will be open on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The Wigmakers will be in the Art
Museum Gallery on Sunday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Robin Kipps, Brickmaker – Nicholas White, Colonial Garden – Teal Brooks,
Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar, Foundry – Mike Noftsger, Gunsmith – Darrin McDonal, Historic Farming – Ed
Schultz, Music – Amy Miller, Printer and Bookbinder – Peter Stinely (Printing Office), Shoemaker – Val
Povinelli, Weaver – Joe Wixted, Wheelwright – Joel Morris, Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 7, Issue 23
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Mechanick's Adviser
Description
An account of the resource
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a weekly newsletter produced by the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades and Skills beginning in September 2015 and continuing to the present. The word “mechanick” is an alternative spelling of “mechanic” and is used here in the more archaic sense meaning a skilled tradesperson or artisan. Some weeks the newsletter was not produced and there is a significant months-long gap in the 2020 newsletters reflecting the pandemic-related limitations and closures of the department. The newsletter relates employee news and the current work projects and research of the various trades’ shops belonging to the department as well as other groups described as “skills” including military, music, and dance programs.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 7, number 23, August 20, 2021
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2021-08-20