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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
June 3, 2022
Apothecary – The Apothecary Shop will be open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – Our work at the Blacksmith Shop remains busy as ever. Mark and Broadus have turned
their keen eyes towards the blade, both for the Military. The former making sabers, of Potter’s and Hunter’s
variety, for fighting men. And the latter making Billhooks, for fighting bramble. Owen works on forks, turning
black to bright with the file. Alex and Josh find unity in making dividers, with which all may be precisely, but
not accurately, measured. Such measuring is useful in making three knuckle hinges, as Josh also makes.
Aislinn is fastening down the last of the buckles. And finally, Ken’s pile of chisels grows still taller. As we say,
all’s well that falls at the base of the anvil.
The Blacksmith Shop will be open Daily.
Tinsmith – The Tin Shop hosted another successful Workshop on Wednesday. (We even taught
Blacksmith Apprentice Broadus how to make a cellar stick!) Steve has been preparing the watering cans for
shipping to their new homes in other museums. Joel has been making cups for Prentis and researching public
store records out of Richmond. Jenny has been working on a candle box for a 6th-level project, patterning a
document box for a 4th-level project, and developing a pattern and method for making a narrow document
box copied off of one that was presented to Benjamin Franklin in 1753 with an honorary Harvard diploma.
Her research for her apprenticeship paper on the prices of tinware also has led to tinware in records at the
College of William & Mary.
The Tin Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday (11:30am-5:00pm), Friday, and Saturday.
Anthony Hay Shop – The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichord-maker are open Sunday (11:30am-5:00pm)
and Monday through Saturday.
Brickmaker – This week saw the Brickyard’s crew at full force as our illustrious summer crew has joined us
in the venture to make bricks. Naturally, they found themselves moving copious amounts of firewood, but
such is the life of a Brickmaker. With Apprentice Nick as their leader, they've taken to their condition with
vigor despite the clay, sweat, and proximity to Carpenters. Yet, even they have benefitted from our new
numbers as it means they have a very nice firewood wall to line their space as our crew works tirelessly to
move wood.
Otherwise, this week, we took two of our wheelbarrows to the Wheelwrights for a checkup and used
the surviving one to haul some tubs back to the Yard. The Coopers were happy to donate two tubs to the
betterment of our feet as we needed more to clean off the clay that has surely seeped into our souls. As our
first full production week comes to a close, we were happy to have a space to place our sundried bricks as we
prepare for our first building to be raised in the coming weeks.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�The Brickyard will be open Sunday through Thursday, weather permitting.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�Carpenter – This week in the Carpenter’s Yard, we placed and cut the laps for the Brickyard drying house
joists. We discovered that we might be better off making two more joists. After the joist laps were cut, we
started on the rafters. As of Friday morning, we have six of the seventeen rafter pairs laid out or cut already.
We plan on sawing one more piece of pine to get both remaining joists. After those two are cut and installed,
we can focus on finishing the remaining rafter pairs and start worrying about the gable end studs. We still are
aiming for a mid-June raising.
The Carpenter’s Yard will be open Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Colonial Garden – This week, the Garden has battled the heat and dry soil. The last rain we had was not
enough, so the hope is that tonight, the rains will quench the soil deeply, giving the arms of the Gardeners a
day or two off from carrying the watering cans. The citrus trees once again grace the Garden with branches
full of young fruit. Many thanks to the Blacksmiths’ loan of the two iron bars used to move the plants, Coach
and Livestock for moving the plants back and forth seasonally to our site from the Quarterpath greenhouse,
and to Scott who watches over our citrus all winter. A shout out to Apprentice Marc and Summer Intern, Kira,
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�for helping repot and move the trees into position on a very hot day. No one got stuck by a thorn or at least
didn’t complain if they did.
We have emptied the front hotbed and will plant pocket melons for the summer. Soft neck garlic was
harvested and replaced with African marigolds. The Welsh onions were deadheaded as well as all the
flowerpots sitting about the Garden. Melons have germinated as well as the ground nuts. Almost all the
Garden is in, so it is time for a round of seeds to be planted of both annuals and perennials. These take the
place of harvested summer crops and replace some favorites that we lost over time.
In bloom are the milkweeds, which are the favorite food of Monarch butterflies. Such a beautiful
bloom with a wonderful scent. The Carolina Lupine, Calendula, and Indian Cress are at their finest. The pole
beans are climbing, and both the Sankofa Heritage Garden and American Indian Garden are planted and
coming along nicely. If you get a chance, come by for a visit to see what has been planted.
A little bit of mending of rows that failed for some reason, and of course, pulling the weeds, the one
plant we can count on to make a showing.
Monarch on milkweed
The ever hungry “Little Man” Towhee. Birds are a help in the Garden, consuming not only what they beg from the Gardeners, they
eat their weight in bugs and worms.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�Close of milkweed flower
The Colonial Garden will be open Daily, weather permitting.
Cooper – The Cooper Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30am-5:00pm).
Engraver – The Engraving Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Foodways – The Foodways Staff will be at the Palace Kitchen Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through
Saturday.
Foundry – We’ve been busy working away here at the Foundry! Journeyman Mike has gotten the
harpsicord hinges ready for drilling and assembly, so they are well on their way to being finished. Apprentices
Drew and Leanne have made their first sand molds for silver—a bunch of tray feet for the Silversmiths—which
will be ready to pour next week. They’ve also be rehabilitating some small pewter cups which came from the
old Fifth Ave shop. Some will be highly polished, and others will stay brushed, but they’ll all end up in the
Engraving Shop! Word on the street is that the Musket Range is reaching all-time highs, so we finished out our
week by pouring some more musket balls to keep
them stocked!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�The Foundry will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith Shop will be open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Historic Farming – A big breakthrough for Historic Farming - the 18th-century variety of wheat that we
grow, Red May, is now being used by the CW Inn to make pizza dough on the Social Terrace! It’s Farm to
Table!
Red May wheat dough
Prentis Field will be open Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Joinery – The Joinery will be open Tuesday (11:30am-5:00pm), and Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – This week, we welcomed back our spring NIAHD student, Rachel, as
our Summer Intern. We're thrilled to have her join us for what promises to be a busy and exciting next few
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�months! She's already finished one petticoat and has begun another as part of our “Gown in a Day” program
preparations. Throughout her internship, she'll be spending one day a week continuing her work with the
Bray School project, researching the students and the material culture that defined their daily reality.
Kate and Janea finished and delivered the new linen petticoat for Carpenter's Apprentice Mary. In addition to
continuing work on her shift, Kate has begun stitching on the sleeves and trim for one of our “Gown in a Day”
gowns. The back of that gown - cut and pleated in the sack style - has been completed by Janea and Rebecca,
who are now ready to begin work on the front pieces. We hope to begin to fit the gown together in the
coming week, with Kate as our model "customer." The fabric is a lovely, lightweight printed cotton, perfect for
summer wear.
Rebecca has finally completed the trim on her sack jacket and petticoat. This was a project begun last
summer by our two interns. Their internships ended before it was complete, and it was set aside for months
in favor of other projects with more pressing timelines. At long last, it's been finished, just in time for the
summer! It's cut in a more casual polonaise style with looser sleeves and a bodice that pulls away from the
torso to allow for more air circulation in Virginia heat. All that's needed now is a matching cap ribbon!
We're also preparing materials for our final Workshop this coming Thursday and working on putting
together our site and program-specific interpretive outlines.
The Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Thursday (12:00-5:00pm), and Saturday.
Music – Greetings from The Governor’s Musick! Our last Spring concert is Tuesday, June 7th, at 7:00pm, its
ending neatly coinciding with the decidedly Summer-ish weather. Also finishing up this coming week is our
Wednesday afternoon Raleigh programming on the musical life of 18th-century Williamsburg. We will be back
in the Raleigh, and the Palace, in the Fall, but in the meantime, we are all busy with our summer
programming. On Thursday, June 16th, at 7:00pm, we begin a concert series on the Palace Stage; on June
17th, we are in the Hennage Auditorium with Amy’s “Bird Fancyers’ Delight” lecture/concert; and on Saturday,
June 16th, at 7:00pm, we launch our first summer concert series at the Capitol.
Jenny is finalizing our Palace Stage program, focusing on the Pleasure Garden phenomenon of England
and its influence on musical tastes here in Virginia. There is a wealth of material from which to choose, and
Jenny is making sure that our program adequately represents all aspects of these 18th-century amusement
parks.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�Brady has been researching his family history in preparation for our first Summer Capitol Series. The
Lanier family were court musicians for several generations in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in
France and England. Sometime before 1656, John Lanier, cousin of famed musician Nicholas Lanier, and his
wife Lucreece emigrated from England to Charles City County, Virginia, just a few miles west of where we are
right now in Williamsburg. John’s descendants would in turn found their own extensive family tree here in
America, notable members of which include playwright Tennessee Williams, poet Sidney Lanier….and Brady!
Kyle is working on doing organized piano concerts at the Museum starting in August, focusing on Ann
Barraud, a resident of Williamsburg in the early 19th century, and her collection of music, which is at William
and Mary. He’s also preparing free flow programs for the Geddy House and the Cabinetmaker Shop (both for
spinet) in preparation for those spaces’ openings in mid-June.
Karol is fine turning “Phillis Wheatley and the Music of Freedom”, our Independence Day Hennage
concert which sadly had to be shelved last year but will be presented this year over the July 4th weekend. She
also continues her work on the origins of Yankee Doodle and other patriotic musical poems.
We are all providing potential repertoire for our second Capitol series later this summer, on diversions
close to home here in the Tidewater area - tobacco, wine, hunting, and dancing.
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office – The Printing Office will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Bindery – Good Day to All! This past week, the Colonial Williamsburg Bookbindery had the sincere
pleasure of hosting a Practice Family Workshop for our colleagues, to prepare for an upcoming Summer Series
for our Guests. We focused on making paste paper to cover 18th-Century “Commonplace Books” and sent
each participant home with a little notebook of their own making. It was nice to share space with people that
we do not get to see on a regular basis, and I am always reminded of how much I love the people I work with,
and just how fabulous my colleagues truly are. Thank you to all who came out to both classes. You turned
‘just a regular Sunday’ into something special.
The Bookbindery will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�Public Leather Works – This week's Public Leather Works update is brought to you by the letter “B”.
Mr. Howlett has done some repairs on a Bridle.
Mr. Tilley and Ms. Cross have been working on Breeches.
And our Intern Ms. McKnew has been working on a leather Box.
Until next time:
B well
B safe
and
B hydrated
The Public Leather Works will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�Shoemaker – The Shoemakers will be at the Armoury on Monday, and Thursday through Saturday. On
Wednesday, June 8th, at 4:30pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Shoemakers will present “The Art of the
Stuff Maker: An Introduction to Women’s Shoes in the Late 18th century. This program will go over the
popular fashions and typical construction techniques that made women’s shoemaking a separate branch of
the trade.
Silversmith – Wonderful news at the Silversmith Shop! Chris has finished the teapot, and it is now on
display in the Shop. Eventually, it will make its way to the lucky owner, but for those who wish to see it,
please stop in! It is a truly lovely piece. Megan has cut out, filed, and is now polishing two reproductions of
Botetourt’s coffin plates which will eventually head down to the Engravers. Bobbie is diligently working on her
tray; it is shaping up very quickly! Preston is continuing to raise his army of extremely popular small bowls and
is cutting in the decorative rims. George continues his work on forging out the long ingot for spoon blanks.
Megan is reading Jewelry in America 1600-1900.
The teapot with all the pieces ready for assembly
Chris hammering in the handle pins.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
The teapot in all its glory!
Volume 8, Issue 21
�The Silversmith Shop will be open Tuesday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday (11:30-5:00).
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – The Weaving Shop will be open on Sunday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Saturday.
Wheelwright – Warmest week yet for the Deane Shop. Both Apprentice Murphy and Apprentice Joel have
been hard at work on their hand cart project for the Market House. Having designed the joinery for the
vehicle’s body, Murphy has begun sawing the oak material to its proper length and making dowels. Joel has
turned one of the pair of the hand cart hubs, thanks to the assistance of Murphy and Master Wheelwright
Paul for powering the lathe. He will now use the completed hub as a template for its mate. Paul continues
research on his plow design for Farmer Ed using an 18th-century source: 1784’s A Treatise on Ploughs and
Wheel Carriages by James Small. He is in discussions with Ed regarding the design, who was able to connect
Paul to Bob Powell. Residing in Scotland, Mr. Powell is an expert on historical plows and wooden plow
construction."
The Wheelwright Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Wigmaker – Greetings from the Wig Shop! This past week, Debbie concentrated on maintenance and
instruction, while Edith and Benton began construction of their respective cauls for their projects. Edith and
Debbie met with Mr. Jefferson on Monday last, and it's been determined that Edith will make him a Dress Bob
in a shade of brown, to reflect a purchase from Edward Charlton's account book. Edith is at the halfway point
of her silk caul and will be decreasing the rows next. She has gotten her outline tape in place, has laced it, and
has removed the small nails holding the tape in place.
Benton is making a Brigadier Wig in dark brown, to reflect the purchase by Mr. Nelson, from Charlton's
accounts. He has begun the first large-scale caul outline for his apprenticeship. The outline tape is now in
place and lacing will be done next. He will be using a woven netting for his caul.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any tonsorial needs and take of yourselves and each other
out there!
Image from the Wig Shop's copy of Charlton's Account.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�Silk netting in progress
Outline tape in place, small nails holding everything in place
Small nails removed from tape
Image from the Wig Shop's copy of Charlton's Account Book
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�Creating the outline for the Brigadier Wig
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Armoury – Broadus Thompson (Blacksmith) and Jenny Lynn (Tinsmith), Brickmaker – Madeleine
Bolton, Carpenter – Matt Sanbury, Colonial Garden – Eve Otmar, Foundry – Leanne Bellouny, Historic Farming
– Ed Schultz, Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzic, Music – Karol Steadman, Printing Office and
Bindery – Barbara Swanson, Public Leather Works – Jan Tilley, Silversmith – Megan Cantwell, Wheelwright –
Joel Morris, Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 21
�
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 8, number 21 June 3, 2022
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
2022-06-03