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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
July 28, 2023
Apothecary – The Apothecary Staff are saying goodbye to our pharmacy student intern, Joy. She has
been working with us for four weeks and is now moving on to another rotation to complete her pharmacy
degree. She has been a joy to work with, and we wish her well on her future endeavors. Margaret is
gearing up for a video on the public hospital, and Stephannie has been diligently reading the required
material for her first level apprenticeship. Sharon continues work on the Galt-Barraud Daybooks. She has
made an interesting correlation to vermifuge (de-worming) medicines and seasons. It appears that these
medicines are administered more frequently in late summer and early fall than any other time of the year.
As you harvest your vegetables, don’t forget to wash them before eating them.
The Apothecary is open Wednesday- Saturday.
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – The cabinetmakers have been doing many mortises lately. Two of our volunteers, Sarah
and Chris, are practicing their technique in preparation for doing a small frame and panel and have spent
much time learning the ins and outs of this procedure of cutting a rectangular slot in the wood. John has
been mortising as well, working on the legs to his next project, a Tidewater cellaret. Bill has been applying
the first coats of finish to his writing table, but more on that to come.
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 27
�Carpenter – The Carpenters are working at Ewing Field Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday,
weather permitting.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday and Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Engraver – William has been working this week on small jewelry pieces and cutting the Colonial
Williamsburg seal on some pewter dishes. Emma has dived into lots of practice on lettering drawing and
cutting. She has found a few pewter pieces to practice on as well as getting the hand of some watercolor
tinting on some of the prints. She has also been working with Emily on her cursive writing and introducing
her to color mixing and how to build those color layers. She is planning to make color wheels next week
with Emily. Emma’s textbooks will be here soon, and she will begin on her many required drawings for her
apprenticeship. Lynn is setting up interviews for the Foundry’s intern position, working on a copperplate
with the Colonial Williamsburg seal and catching up on paperwork. Both apprentices’ binders (progress
logbooks) are up to date.
The Engraver is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 27
�Farmer – Tobacco has been in the field for about three months and cutting began two weeks ago. I chose
for six good leaves instead of ten based on the growth of the plant on this new soil. It has been hung in the
new shed that the Carpenters are building.
1 Tobacco curing at Ewing Field.
The Farmer is at Ewing Field Wednesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1
pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – The Foundry is open Wednesday through Sunday.
Gardener – The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 27
�Harpsichordmaker – From the harpsichord corner, greetings…
We have now turned to the complicated veneer work on the bentside and tail panels of the spinet case.
After working the case side slightly rough, we clamped it entirely to the side of the bench so that we can use
our tools to the surface more conveniently. The positioning also allows the use of go-bars, long sticks of
wood wedged between the glued work and the ceiling.
It might seem a crazy procedure, clamping an entire spinet sideways to the bench, but everything is stable
and tight and appropriately position for the work.
Glue is applied to both sides of the veneer to keep it stable and undistorted. We then press it to the case,
apply our rubbing hammers to remove air and excess glue until the hot glue cools and grabs well. Wet rags
keep the veneer from drying out to quickly before the glue can fully set up its full bond.
By the way, the use of go bars is a very regular practice in stringed instrument work, and mentioned as a
viable method in Andre-Jacques Roubo’s treatise on veneer and marquetry, published in 1772.
Oh, and the wood shaving piled on top? They are insulating everything so that veneer stays stable, not
drying too fast before the glue has firmed up.
Come see the work in progress. Cheers.
The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 27
�Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, and Wednesday through
Saturday.
Masonry – The Brickyard is open Daily, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Sunday, and Thursday
through Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions
at 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemaker is open Sunday through Thursday.
Silversmith – The Silversmith is open Sunday through Friday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Wednesday through Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – The Weaver is open Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday. It will
be open on Monday for two Workshops ONLY.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright is open Sunday, and Tuesday through Thursday.
Wigmaker – The Wig Shop is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Thank you, Shari, for editing this publication and for your many years of
service to the Department of Historic Trades & Skills of Colonial
Williamsburg.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Ted Boscana, Director, Historic Trades & Skills
Contributors: Apothecary- Sharon Cotner; Blacksmith; Cabinetmaker – John Peeler; Carpenter; Engraver –
Lynn Zelesnikar; Farmer – Ed Schultz; Founder; Gardener; Masonry; Shoemaker; Silversmith; Weaver, Spinner,
and Dyer
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 27
�
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
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Title
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 27, July 28, 2023
Creator
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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
2023-07-28
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
July 23, 2023
Apothecary – We've been busy this week – but no one has been as busy as our Pharmacy Intern, Joy,
who's been compounding up a storm! She's made an infusion of foxglove; a syrup of ginger; and now (for the
first time in recent memory!), a batch of white pectoral troches, pictured below. Hoping everyone's staying
cool and hydrated out there!
The Apothecary is open Wednesday through Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Blacksmith –
If you wish your work to succeed,
A blacksmith is all that you need.
Though silver may gleam,
And pewter hold cream,
It’s iron to finish a deed.
Lately, the Shop has been centered on work for the Carpenters’ Yard. Their chisels are now getting tempered,
their steel both resilient and hard. Ken has some hammers to make and also a compass or two. A lock has
been brought in for fixing and cleaning out crusted-on goo. Though Mark has finished his lock mechanism, he
still has the door knobs to file. The piece functions nicely, and gives optimism, that the Bray will be furnished
with style. Clouts for the wheelers are his other task, with countersunk nails a mutual ask. Alex and Broadus
continue on chisels and studying some in Collections. When white hot, a bar will spark and will sizzle, but
always will yield to corrections. For Ewing Field’s gate, it’s Broadus’s fate, to forge out some coarse hooks and
hinges. Alex, meanwhile, has cleavers in hand, to send to Mt. Vernon’s old kitchen. Joshua, too, has gridirons
to do, and to finish he surely is itchin’. But now, it is time to finish the rhyme, and frankly this one is a handful.
Remember this spell, as we always tell, that all’s well that falls well at the foot of the anvil.
The Blacksmith is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Bookbinder – Good day from the Bookbindery. I feel extremely lucky to report that we have the legendary
Bob Lyon volunteering with us at the Bookbindery. Mr. Lyon graduated from W&M in the spring of 1977 and
was hired by Mike Kipps to work in the Printing Office, where he worked for five years. In 1982, he went to
Sturbridge Village for a short stint in their Printing Office and then returned to the Colonial Williamsburg
Bookbindery, where he remained until 1987. In 1988, Bob moved to Sydney, Australia, to work at D.S. Murray,
a small hand bindery founded in the early 1900’s. Upon his return to Williamsburg, he has been a selfemployed bookbinder ever since.
Bob is a multi-faceted man of many talents! His bookbinding skills are beyond comparison, and his
gold tooling skills are second to none. He is a genius in the art of calligraphy – which he taught here during his
employ. Bob both builds and fixes his own tools, and if he does not know how to do something, he makes it
his business to find out. He is also patient, kind, and willing to teach anyone who is open to learn. Please join
me in welcoming the newest member of our little community back home!
Kickin’ It Old School with the Printers and Binders of Yore. From left to right: Peter Stinely, Bob Lyon, Rhonda Graves, Bob
Albergotti, Dale Dippre, Bruce Plumley, and Mark Howell.
Bob displays a knife Dale Dippre made for him when he worked here in the 1980’s (left), and a sewing lesson, colonial style (right).
The Bookbinder is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Cabinetmaker – This summer, each week begins with the Hay Shop’s “Plane Talk” program – a hands-on,
Family Workshop that gives participants a chance to learn about and try a variety of the hand planes that we,
along with the Harpsichordmakers, use in our work. We’ve been enjoying the chance to share our work with
the public in this way each Sunday morning.
As for projects, we’ve got a couple of big
ones going on, one nearing completion and the
other just beginning. John has been roughing
out walnut parts for his copy of a cellaret from
the Collection. Bill made and installed the
decorative brackets for his writing table and
completed the final fitting of its quadrant
drawer (essentially a drawer within a drawer).
The writing table dressed up with its "Chinese" brackets
The quadrant, snug in its proper place
John planing the walnut legs for his cellarette project
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Carpenter – This week, the Carpenters re-cut the studs on the Farm wagon shed walls. Now that they’re
installed, we can start working on the clapboards that will make up the gable-end walls. The clapboards need
a little bit more work before they can get installed on the wall. The Farm site gates are also coming along
nicely. Most of the joinery for them have been chopped and will, in coming weeks, get test fit.
The Carpenters are working at Ewing Field Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, weather
permitting.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Cook – Summer has been shaping up over at the Palace Kitchen! Over the last few weeks, we have had
Donor visits, where two of our Donor families came in and spent time with us in the Kitchen, making spice
buns and picking, washing, as well as frying, potatoes. Both groups seemed to really enjoy their experience
and are looking forward to spending time with us in the future. Abbey and Dom have also had some exciting
developments in their apprenticeships. Dom has officially moved on to the second level of our five-level
apprenticeship, while Abbey has moved on to the third. We have found ourselves getting to venture down to
the Armoury a couple of times, with the tree removal happening at the Palace closing our regular operations.
As always, it is a pleasure to be down at the Armoury, seeing so many of our Trades colleagues and getting to
tell the other half of the 18th-century food story.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Cooper – The Coopers are currently working on a number of items to fulfill orders for other museums,
including buckets, tubs, and several cannikins. Cannikins are wooden tankards primarily used by sailors. The
handles are integral parts of the container and are a bit more involved in terms of shaping than usual. Below
are some images showing the shape of the handle, for the shaping of which, we borrowed a special saw from
our colleagues in the Cabinetmaker Shop.
The Cooper is open Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Engraver – We want to welcome Emma Allardice!! Emma is the newest Apprentice in the Engraving Shop.
She has begun her six-year Journey with us this week. Emma is quite the artist and has jumped right in. She
has been working on her exercise plates in copper and in pewter, getting a good feel for the burin, and
learning tool control. She has worked on some monograms, various drawings, and cutting some pattern work.
On Wednesday, she began learning the printmaking routine of our copper plates, with William as a good
teacher. They printed several plates including William’s latest ships and Fan prints for the Milliners. William
has been busy drawing out some floral themes on jewelry and drawing out inscriptions on bottle tickets. This
week, he has begun work on inside and outside ring practice. Lynn has been setting up several CW Foundation
jobs, drawing out a gorget pattern for presentation pieces, cutting a second copperplate with the CW seal for
printing, and getting Emma situated in her new position. Miss Emily, our Junior Interpreter, was with us on
Thursday, practicing her cursive writing and drawing with Emma. Busy week for all of us.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�The Engraver is open Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Farmer – Farmer Ed, Wigmaker Edith Broward Edds, and Weaver Joe Wixted, along with Farming Volunteer
Rachel West, pulled flax last week. Though it was laid down by heavy thunderstorms, we managed to save
about ten percent of it. Farming processes it into beautiful line flax during the fall, in which the Weavers spin
and weave into cloth, and the Wigmakers make wigs.
The Farmer is at Ewing Field Wednesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – Great job to all of our Corps members and fellow performers for an amazing set of
performances at the Fourth of July celebrations! The Corps took part in four different ceremonies over the
course of the day. The Fourth also marked our Corps' official 65th anniversary! We are fortunate to have an
active and engaged Alumni Corps, who gathered on the weekend before for several marches, jam sessions,
and a special banquet to mark this milestone in our history. Now we turn our attention to graduation
marches. Last week, we celebrated Riley Schwartz, Fizz Waldron, David Degaraff, Isabel Kantor, and Peter
Zickel's graduation from the Corps with a special program in place of/in addition to our normal 4:40 pm
performance. The marches were longer than normal and featured the favorite tunes of the graduates, who
each got to lead their section for the last time. We will have another grad march on Friday (July 28th) to
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�honor Spencer Johnson and Duane Bradley, so feel free to come watch if you are able! While all of this is
happening, the adult staff have started interviewing candidates for our next Recruit class. It's been fun to
meet these excited aspiring musicians! While we haven't had anybody rise in rank over the last month,
several Junior Corps members were issued their uniforms and had their first of many marches in the Historic
Area.
A Duty Pair for the Recruiting Party program playing music with a young Guest (left). Some Corps members enjoying the 4th of July
fireworks (right).
The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market Square, Saturday
at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1 pm on the Play House
Stage.
Founder – This week, the Founders have been busy molding and casting CW seals for Donor gifts. We just
found out our order of sixteen has increased to thirty-one.
The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – The combination of rain and heat has seen substantive growth in the Historic Garden, especially
among the weeds. Sunflower, China aster, and celeste rose have all bloomed in the last week. Efforts to
support plants during summer downpours continue through strategic placement of trellises and sticks.
Helianthus annuus, Callistephus chinensis, and Rosa x alba
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Intern Will builds a trellis about a Scotch bonnet pepper (Capsicum chinense) in order to prevent rain from knocking down the
growing plant (left). The season’s first early frame melon (Cucumis melo) sliced in twain (right).
The Historic Cooks have been the recipients of much produce including okra, carrots, beets, onions, and Swiss
chard as well as pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), and cayenne peppers
(Capsicum annuum).
Abelmoschus esculentus, Daucus carota, Allium cepa, and two varieties of Beta vulgaris before the trip to the Kitchen (left). Intern
Andrew selects a beet (right).
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmiths have a few projects going on, as usual. Richard just finished a beautiful
hammer pole tomahawk for a customer. The wrought iron and steel bit has a silver oval inlay on one side and
is finely engraved all over. The handle was shaped out from a stunning piece of curly maple, stained with aqua
fortis.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Darrin has been welding a barrel tube from a nice wrought iron bar. A couple more hours of smithing
and the tube should be ready for reaming. Once it's reamed to size and filed, it will be cut in half to make a
matched set of barrels for the pistols.
The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – Greetings from the Harpsichord Corner! The Harris Spinet is coming along nicely.
Ed’s recent work on the internal support structure is largely complete, and while there is still a bit of veneer
décor to come, Melanie has made up all of the molding for what will be needed, rounding out much of the
case assembly. On to Part Two. Musical and mechanical components are up next. We’ve already prepared
the keyboard of white pine and laid out the key heads. With the register in place, we can now lay out the tails
of the key levers and saw them out. Once prepared, the levers will be capped with bone for the natural keys
and the decorative arcades, and ebony capped pear for the accidental key covers. The jack parts are
prepared, but we must still assemble and fit them to their individual slots. It won’t be too long before we can
prepare the soundboard, which is always an exciting step. Stay tuned!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Joiner – Summer marches on and at the Joinery, we’ve been making progress on a number of projects. This
week, Scott painted his Finney House mantle. Previously, it was eye-catching for its use of four different kinds
of wood, but now that it’s been painted, the contours of the molding and frieze are on best display. Most
Joiners’ trim work (like this mantle) would have been painted in a range of fashionable colors.
Peter continues to plane, chisel, chop, and fit together parts of his Menokin portico. A common
misconception is that the curved pieces that make up the top of the arched doorway are bent into shape, but
Peter actually cut them out in that shape. Similar technique can be seen on other arched finish-work.
Brian also continues on his own long-term project: a foot-treadled lathe. More parts are taking shape,
and the oak they are made of is an unusual sight in the Joinery. Our most commonly used woods are yellow
pines, like longleaf and loblolly. Oak is suitable for a large tool like this lathe, as it is strong and dense.
Laura was excited for the arrival of new poplar stock to begin planing parts for a new toolbox for the
Engravers. Over the last few weeks, she’s learned how to design and draw plans for the box. Now, it’s time to
put the plan into action!
The Joiner is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Leather Breeches Maker – This week, we are bidding a fond farewell to our Intern, Ever. Ever joined us
in May and jumped right into learning the Shop Interpretation, engaging with Guests, and beginning to work in
dressed leather for the first time. When we were sure they had their fill of covering buttons, they moved on
to putting together a pair of breeches for one of the Carpenters. Though Jay helped with cutting pieces, all the
sewing was done by Ever. And they have completed that pair of breeches this week! Their work has helped
us add to the number of leather breeches in the Historic Area and increase awareness of the Trade to our
Guests. While Ever's background has been mostly theatrical costuming to this point, they were glad to be able
to dip a toe into the world of museum and historical trade work. We are excited to see where their path takes
them as they head back to school and continue to explore what museums/trades work might mean in the
future for them. Ever has been an amazing part of the Breeches Making Team this summer, and we are glad
they could join us!
The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week found the Brickmakers doing what they do best: making brick and cursing the
rain. An afternoon shower isn’t bad, just annoying, and adds an extra day or two to the bricks’ drying
time. Nor’easters, super storms, or confusingly early
hurricanes would wreck our production, but a three o’clock
storm isn’t that disruptive. Plus, who doesn’t love a little
extra humidity?
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�The Brickyard is open Daily, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Our new Supervisor has started. We welcome Dr. Terrence Christian to Military
Programs. We have made it through our July Holiday Programming mostly intact, though unbelievably
sweaty. We are once again trying to spruce up our Guardhouse to make it more of a Guard “home”. Ren has
been hard at work on various projects to add to our table display and improve our visual interpretation. They
have been finishing blankets made for us by the Weavers – thank you, Weavers – as well as blanket slings to
hold the beautiful blankets. The blanket slings are being used to enhance the Light Infantry demonstrations
created by Matthew and Kevin for one of the variations of our “The Necessity of Order in Battle” Program, the
look being modeled by Kevin below. Ren would also like to thank the Department of Historical Clothing &
Dress for their new nickel-free glasses as pictured below. We are all hard at work on our goals for the
year. Ren is working on their 71st Highland impression, which they hope to have completed by the end of
August. Kevin, Matthew, Alex, and Ren are starting their long-awaited hunting shirt project. Working through
the Neal Hurst Hunting Shirt Workshop, we hope to be resplendent in our new hunting shirts by next summer.
Alex is setting to work on his required transcription project to advance in his curriculum.
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Milliner and Mantua-maker – Quite a lot has been going on
with the Milliners and Mantua-makers in the last few weeks!
Apprentice Kate spent a week in Lambeth working with The School of
Historical Dress on making a mantua based on an unpicked 1690s-1710s
mantua they recently acquired for their collection. Kate was selected
from a large pool of applicants to come in, examine the original, and
work to create a reproduction based on the stitch patterns and pleats
observable on the original. From Monday to Friday, she was kept busy
studying, stitching, and taking as many photographs as possible. The
finished reproduction mantua will be displayed on a mannequin
alongside the flat original pieces at the upcoming “Our Collection in
Blue” exhibition at the School. Kate learned so much from this
opportunity and is so excited to be back and sharing that information
with her colleagues. Feel free to come by and ask – she will gladly talk
your ear off!
On Wednesday the 19th, the Shop’s first real Research Day of the summer, we took a field trip to SWEM’s
Special Collections, thanks largely in part to the help of our summer Intern, William & Mary student Ishbel.
We were primarily there to examine the account book of John Morton Jordan, where we were specifically
looking for records concerning the Strachan sisters of Richmond, who were both Milliners in that city. We
were able to find a great deal in that account book and also were invited down to see the storage facility of
Special Collections. There we were able to see the original Frenchman’s Map, as well as a few other really cool
texts!
Here in the Margaret Hunter Shop proper, we have a number of different projects going on. Janea is
making progress on her new jacket designs for the Department of Historical Clothing & Dress, Rebecca is
making excellent progress on her stays, Kate is working on a child’s pinner apron for the Mary D. Doering
Exhibit, and Ishbel just finished an orange-striped jacket and petticoat.
We hope everyone has a great week!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range is working hard through the summer at maximum capacity for nearly
every session. Alex and Andy have been enduring the hot temperatures, continually exceeding customers’
expectations.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Shari Monaco for all her hard work continually making
this publication available for everyone! Thank you, and you will be missed!
The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am,
1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – Just this past week, David Wilson placed the next form of Clementina Rind’s Virginia Gazette in
the press. These pages contain a letter from Mrs. Rind to her subscribers and the House of Burgesses
lamenting her husband’s death. We intend to sell these newspapers at William Prentis Store once the
supplement is completed. This is our first six-page Gazette we have ever reprinted from the Rind family.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Our Guests this past week left with a keepsake featuring “The new Song” that Charlotte Larsen had set this
past spring.
New Song hand bills drying
Newspaper pages two and three from September 2, 1773
The Printer is open Sunday through Thursday.
Shoemaker – Tyler continues making slippers; presently, he is working on two pairs for the Tailor Shop.
Nicole just finished a pair of slippers and is currently closing a pair of uppers, for a fine pair of pumps. Victoria
is working on a pair of slippers for the Masonry Trades and learning how to make a pair of dancing pumps.
Since this is her first pair, she will be making them for herself. Val is working on a pair of welted pumps and
will soon start on a pair of common shoes for himself.
The Shoemaker is open Sunday, and Tuesday through Thursday.
Silversmith – Greetings from the Silversmith Shop. Megan has been filing some cast salver feet that the
Foundry was kind enough to pour for us. These feet will go on a large, eleven-inch silver salver, one of
thirteen we’re making. Our Intern this summer, Jacob Van Buren, has been piercing some letter charms for
the Golden Ball.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�The Silversmith is open Sunday through Friday.
Tailor – In the Tailor Shop, Percy, our Intern for the summer, is
finishing up a pair of lightweight summer breeches. He is currently
stitching on the garters and will only have to add buttons and
buttonholes to finish them. These breeches are made out of a cotton
dimity. Dimities were a range of figure woven linen or cotton fabrics that
were commonly used for men’s summer breeches, waistcoats, and coats,
as well as gowns for women.
The Tailor is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Shop is currently working diligently on a large order of tinware for the
kitchen at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Steve and Jenny have been making items such as colanders,
coffee pots, baking moulds, a reflecting oven, storage canisters, dish covers, and (coming soon) a spice box.
Steve also completed and painted two large watering cans for The Old Barracks in Trenton, New Jersey. Last
month, Jenny completed and submitted her research paper, a requirement for the apprenticeship, on the
value and cost of tinware in the eighteenth century using primary sources, with a focus on Williamsburg. This
month, Steve is traveling to London to meet with the Worshipful Company of Tin-Plate Workers and to visit
sites within the English Heritage Crafts network. Jenny will be traveling to New England next month and plans
to stop by Old Sturbridge Village for a brief visit with the tinsmiths there. Steve will be teaching the Tin 3 class
at Historic Eastfield Village at the end of August.
The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – This week, we got a fresh crop of
indigo from Farmer Ed! We have already weighed, washed, and
submerged the plants in water. We predict that from the thirteen
pounds of raw indigo, we will generate less than an ounce of dye. Now
we will monitor the vats and watch for just the right level of
fermentation. If it's overdone, it will be ruined; then the rotted plant
matter will be removed and discarded. The water that remains will be
left to settle multiple times until a sludge forms at the bottom of the
container. The sludge will then be compacted into cakes and dried out.
These cakes are also called junks! Hopefully, everything goes just as it
should, and we can dye some of our handwoven fabric with locally grown
indigo.
The Weaver is open Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday. It
will be open on Monday for two Workshops ONLY.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Wheelwright – We apologize for our absence
as of late, but we have been quite busy! Murphy
continues on the velocipede, with the installation
of the saddle and the creation of the pattern for a
bushing for the wheels, provided by our
colleagues at the Foundry. Paul continues with
the repair of the wagon, and Ayinde is beginning
a Tinker's barrow! Ralph continues on a
wheelbarrow, and Ayinde and Liam have
completed the workboard for the Leather
Breeches Makers! Come on by!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�The Wheelwright is open Sunday through Thursday.
Wigmaker – The Wig Shop has been busy lately with regular
maintenance and projects! Intern Stella and Edith have
completed Robert W.'s new blonde wig. The wig took
approximately 81 hours to complete and is made from a blend of
human and horsehair. This is the first time one of our Interns has
worked on a large-scale project like this.
Wigs waiting to be styled after washing and drying
Robert W.’s new wig
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
The wig, ready to be styled
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Adult Volunteer Marie and Junior Volunteer Alexa have been working on hairpieces for themselves.
Marie's outlines
Alexa's woven hair
Hand knotting has also been practiced extensively lately. The cauls
that we're creating today would have been imported in the
18th century, but no one makes them for us, so in between major
projects, we've all been working on making cauls for future use.
Benton knotting
Stella knotting
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Four pieces in various stages
Volume 9, Issue 26
�As always, please feel free to reach out to us for any hair-related needs or questions.
The Wig Shop would also like to take this opportunity to thank Shari for all her assistance and hard
work over the years. Whether it was making travel plans (sometimes in a pinch), scheduling us all, ordering
supplies for us, putting together the Adviser, or just getting us answers to pressing questions, Shari has
always been professional and reliable, and we greatly appreciate everything she has done for us. Best
wishes in your future endeavors, Shari!!
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
As Founding Editor of the Mechanick’s Adviser, it has been my honor to
chronicle the magnificent accomplishments of the Department of Historic Trades and
Skills. This edition marks my last, and I wish to thank the readers for their
supportive comments over the years. I also wish to express my gratitude to all of the
talented Artisans who have brought these pages to life and wish them every continued
success. Shari Monaco
Shari Monaco in the Governor’s Palace Dining Room playing the Serinette (bird organ).
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Blacksmith – Alex Hinman; Bookbinder – Barbara Swanson;
Cabinetmaker – Bill Pavlak; Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cook – Abbey Shoaf; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Engraver Lynn Zelesnikar; Farmer – Ed Schultz; Fifes & Drums – Rebecca Sterner; Founder – Drew Godzik; Gardener –
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�Marc Nucup; Harpsichordmaker – Melanie Belongia; Joiner – Laura Hollowood; Leather Breeches Maker –
Emma Cross; Masonry – Joshua Graml; Military Programs – Ren Tolson; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Kate
Hargrove; Musket Range – Jeffrey Thomas; Printer – Peter Stinely; Shoemaker – Val Povinelli; Silversmith –
Bobbie Saye; Tailor – Michael McCarty; Tin Plate Maker – Jenny Lynn; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela
Russo; Wheelwright – Paul Zelesnikar; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 26
�
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 9, number 26, July 23, 2023
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
2023-07-23
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
July 15, 2023
Apothecary – The Pasteur-Galt Shop is excited to welcome our newest Pharmacy Student Intern, Joy
Morrow! Joy comes to us from Campbell University; her focus is oncology, but her interests extend to
psychiatric medicine (so Sharon and Margaret are doubly excited.) In addition to compounding a variety of
medicines, Joy will be conducting an original independent research project relating to 18th-century cancer
treatment. Stop in and say hello - she'll be here through the end of July!
Stephanie just finished the surgery component of her Level 1 apprenticeship track. Margaret has been
working on more hospital material, prepping research for a CW Innovation Studios video in advance of the
anniversary. Sharon continues to cross-reference Galt-Barraud material while precepting our pharmacy
program. Hoping everyone in Trades is staying cool and hydrated!
The Apothecary is open Wednesday through Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Blacksmith – Little has changed in the Blacksmith Shop since last week. Tools for the Carpenters, kitchen
utensils for Mount Vernon, and hardware for the Bray School are still underway. We had a very busy Fourth of
July with over 2,800 Guests on site! We would like to thank our Carpenter colleagues for installing the gate on
our site this week. We are happy to have that entrance available again for coal deliveries. Lastly, some tools
and hardware were made this week for the Tinsmiths to make "Tin Kitchens" for Mount Vernon.
The Blacksmith is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – This past week, Bill finished some letter carving for a special project, which is not
something we get to do a lot of. He's now continuing on with making the knee brackets for his writing table.
John has recently visited Collections to study his next project, a Tidewater cellaret for storing your wine and
liquor bottles in style. He'll be getting to work shortly with the saw and plane to rough out the needed parts.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 25
�The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Carpenter – In the last few weeks, we’ve completed the roof of the Farm site’s wagon shed and gotten
some work done on the gates for the Farm site, too. We hope to get prepared for the siding installation.
The Carpenters are working at Ewing Field Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, weather
permitting.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Engraver – This week, the Engravers were continuing current projects. William has been working through
required repair jobs as well as drawing monograms. We worked through a review of his apprenticeship and
did some planning towards his next Level. Lynn has been working on monograms, too, drawing cursive writing
with Emily and introducing her to watercolor tinting the prints. Lynn has also been working on the
Wheelwrights print as well as sketching some new designs. Emily and Lynn took some labels that William
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 25
�drew over to the Wheelwright Shop and affixed them to their paint pigment containers. All in all, a steady
week of getting things done.
The Engraver is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Farmer – Field work doesn’t stop when it’s hot. Thriving depends on water and a hat.
A jug of water keeping cool in the shade of pumpkins
A good straw hat toasted under the Virginia sun
The Farmer is at Ewing Field Wednesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1
pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – After a very busy July 4th week, the Founders are glad for a quieter time to get some more work
done. Leading up to the Holiday, Apprentice Drew managed to finish the pewter ear patterns for buckets we
can use in the future. Apprentice Leanne has continued to work on the seals in pewter and bronze that we've
mentioned before. She has also finished a preliminary FAQ sheet for the Shop for quick reference should
anyone need to know Foundry basics. Upcoming research is shifting to core-making as several upcoming
projects require the skill. Special thanks to Silversmiths Preston, Megan, and Jacob, as well as Engraver
William for helping at the Foundry while Drew has been on vacation!
The Foundry is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Gardener – Since the last issue of the Adviser, Journeyman Gardener Teal returned from a research trip to
England and France to study surviving and restored 18th-century gardens. She is in the process of organizing
her photographs and reflections from the trip, which she hopes to share sometime in the near future. Back on
this side of the Atlantic, temperatures have climbed, and the summer plants in the Historic Garden are
growing wildly. The vining plants such as cucumbers and beans have reached the tops of their trellises and are
producing harvestable food. The other vines, including sweet potatoes, melons, bushel gourds, and squash,
are quickly covering any available ground. In the American Indian food plot, the large leaves of the squash
vine are encouraged to grow along the ground where they will prevent weed growth and help retain soil
moisture. A number of flowers are currently blooming in the Garden; the most recent include purple
coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), cardoon (Cynara cardunculus), cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum), and chaste
tree (Vitex agnus-castus).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 25
�Journeyman Historic Gardener Teal admires a specimen of Echium pininana at the Chelsea Physic Garden in London (left). The
elaborate gardens in front of the Orangerie at the Palace of Versailles (right).
Cucumbers, onions, and beans harvested at the Historic Garden
Echinacea purpurea in bloom at the Historic Garden
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – From the Harpsichord Corner, greetings. For the Harris Spinet project, we have
finished the assembly of the case walls and now focus on the internal support structure. Melanie has really
moved through a large amount of the veneer decorations, inside and outside. It’s going to be a very
handsome casing. Once the casing is finished, we will move back to the dozens of parts and steps that will
make the musical and mechanical action. That will be Part Two, but we have to finish Part One first, and well.
Come see how the work is progressing.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 25
�Veneer decoration in progress
Clamps installation interior work
Front panel and bass cheek finished veneer
Interior of the Spinet
The Spinet, so far
The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 25
�Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, and Wednesday through
Saturday.
Masonry – The Brickyard remains as busy as ever! We’re working with the First Baptist Church descendant
community to memorialize past members of this important congregation. Many thanks to Archaeology’s
Crystal Castleberry, Nation Builder James Ingram, and Coach & Livestock’s Adam Canady for helping spread
the word!
Apprentices Nick and Madeleine, meanwhile, got to spend another week at the Bray School, learning
the various ins and outs of being part of a big CW project. Under the watchful eye of Ray Canetti, the Master
Bricklayer that mentored the previous and current Masters of Colonial Williamsburg’s Brickyard, Nick and
Madeleine are gaining the skills to one day handle these sorts of projects on their own. Ray even gifted them
each one of his notorious handmade joint rakers, useful for getting mortar out of the hard-to-reach spots in
brickwork. “I’ve really learned a lot in the last two weeks,” Nick said. “I wish I hadn’t squandered so much of
my youth on playing Magic: The Gathering.”
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 25
�The Brickyard is open Daily, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Sunday, and Thursday
through Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions
at 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers are re-acclimating to our Shoe Shed behind the Blacksmith Shop. Our
Summer Intern, Tyler, has completed his first pair of slippers and has started on a second pair. This style of
slipper is made with turn shoe construction – the upper and sole are stitched together inside out and turned
right side out.
Victoria has also been working on turn shoes, but before she can start her next pair, she needs to modify the
last she’s using to make it the right size. Adding “pins” of leather to lasts is one of the ways Shoemakers utilize
scrap leather and accommodate customers with less-common foot sizes. Once the leather dries to the last, it
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 25
�can be blended in with a knife and rasp to get the appropriate size without changing the heel width or toe
shape.
Nicole has also been doing prep work for her next pair of shoes. One of our biggest challenges today is
sourcing the leather we need. When it arrives, it’s not always dressed the way we need it to be. Using a
combination of fish oil and tallow, Nicole has been dressing the grain out leather to make it suitable for the
channel pumps she’s making for her apprenticeship. Val has completed a pair of shoes for Tim Logue and a
pair for Madeleine Bolton. He’s started on a pair for Ron Carnegie.
The Shoemakers got to spend some time in the Archaeology Lab on our Research Day to study original
shoes. Tyler was a natural at sketching shoe fragments. Victoria was particularly interested in a child’s shoe
found at the Wetherburn’s site. Nicole just scratched the surface in studying a rare surviving half boot in our
Collection that she’ll use as a basis for the pair she’ll make to start the boot portion of her apprenticeship.
Thank you to the Archaeologists for hosting us, and we hope to see you again soon!
The Shoemaker is open Sunday through Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 25
�Silversmith – The Silversmiths have been busy as ever working through their list of commissions and retail
restocks. Intern Jacob has been hard at work learning saw piercing and ring making, while Megan is raising her
cups and chasing her first silver tray.
Chris continues to work on chasing her tray, and Bobbie has cut 44 discs and 88 buttons for trade silver
medallions.
Preston continues to raise his large silver bowl. George has repaired the handle to our favorite raising
hammer. We’d like to thank our friends at the Blacksmith Shop for giving us a piece of hickory for the new
handle.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 25
�The Silversmith is open Sunday through Friday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Wednesday through Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Work continues on the tartan! We are marching along through the
thirty yards of colorful wool warp. It's an easily recognizable textile and provides an excellent segue to discuss
how ideas of fabric may change over time. We are looking forward to seeing all the wonderful things it will
become in the capable hands of Ren Tolson.
In other news, Annie has officially finished the first of four overshot coverlets required by their
apprenticeship. With the green finished, a lovely blue and yellow is now in progress. These will end up in
Prentis Store for the public to purchase. It’s always heartwarming to speak to Guests who have purchased our
fabric in the past and still cherish it to this day.
The Weaver is open Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday. It will be open on Monday for two
Workshops ONLY.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright is open Sunday, and Tuesday through Thursday.
Wigmaker – The Wig Shop will be open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Blacksmith – Joshua Rachita; Cabinetmaker – John Peeler;
Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Engraver - Lynn Zelesnikar; Farmer – Ed Schultz; Founder – Leanne Bellouny;
Gardener – Teal Brooks; Masonry – Joshua Graml; Shoemaker – Nicole Boileau; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell;
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 25
�
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 9, number 25, July 15, 2023
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
2023-07-15
-
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Text
THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
July 1, 2023
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Blacksmith – In the Blacksmith Shop this week,
Mark is nearing completion of his lock, needing only
to make the keeper and the doorknob shank. Ken
finished up a handrail. Alex and Broadus have
hammered out a mess of chisels, socketed framing
chisels for Alex and paring chisels for Broadus. Josh
carries on with gridirons, now preparing to assemble
his third, halfway through the six that he needs. As
always, all's well that falls well at the base of the
anvil!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�The Blacksmith is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – The Cabinetmakers are moving
toward the finish line on two current projects. John
is neatly stretching and tacking the black leather
show cloth onto the slip seats for his chairs. Once
that’s done, only a couple of coats of wax stand
between his chairs and completion. Bill, after
bending some oak for the quadrant drawer of his
writing table, is ready to dovetail the curved piece
to the rest of the drawer structure. In the photo,
you can see the drawer parts that will ultimately fit
into the small rectangular cutout in the larger
drawer side beneath them. Bill and John have also
been guiding Volunteers Chris and Sarah through
the process of cutting mortise and tenon joints.
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Carpenter – The Carpenters are working at Ewing Field Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday,
weather permitting.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday, Tuesday (9:00-2:00), and Thursday through Saturday.
Engraver – The Engraver is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Farmer – The Farmer will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:45 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at
1:15 pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – The Foundry is open Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Gardener – This week saw the first substantive rain in some time. For most plants, the rain was a welcome
relief from the dry conditions. But for some of the Garden residents, the sheer volume of water knocked them
over and necessitated the use of ropes and stakes to right them. Corn (Zea mays), yarrow (Achillea
millefolium), asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), and carrots (Dauscus carota) all required support to keep the
plants off the ground and out of the pathways.
Carrots in bloom knocked down by an inch (!) of rain and laying amongst the Welsh onions (Allium fistulosum) (left). Carrots held up
by ropes and stakes (right).
With the rain, weeds sprouted quickly, and most of the Gardeners’ time this week (outside of interpretation)
was spent pulling wayward vegetation. A few other tasks were completed, however. Interns Andrew and Will
improved upon the hoop trellises for tuberoses (Agave amica) based off illustrations from Thomas Hill’s The
Gardeners’ Labyrinth. The very popular flowering Canterbury bells (Campanula medium) finally reached the
end of their season and were replaced by potted chili peppers (Capsicum). Finally, the first cucumbers of the
season were sent to the Historic Cooks.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Andrew and Will discuss the art of flower trellising.
A row of potted chilis greet Guests to the Garden.
Two varieties of Cucumis sativus along with their blossoms before heading off to the Palace Kitchen
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday
through Saturday.
Joiner – Hello from the Joiner Shop! Last week was action packed at the
Joiner. Last Friday, Laura, Brian, and our Junior Interpreter, Will Kester, went
over to Bruton Heights tool storage where Erik Goldstein showed us around.
We were looking at small toolboxes as prototypes for one Laura is making for
William from the Engraver. Erik took the time to show Will Kester some
unique items in the Collection such as a pistol owned by Lord Dunmore,
Williamsburg’s last Royal Governor.
On Monday, we hosted a group of NIAHD students (National Institute of American History and
Democracy) from William and Mary’s Pre-College Program. We took them through cutting a Mortise and
Tenon joint. That afternoon, we went over to Packet’s Court to look at some of the artifacts pulled from the
Bray School. As part of the Joiner Shop’s contribution to the restoration, we’ll manufacture some doors as
well as chair rail moulding.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�The “Dutch Master’s” examining an interior door from the Bray School (left). Painting by Jan De Bray (right).
The Joiner is open Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Makers got to spend a little time in Collections,
thanks to Neal Hurst’s generosity with his time. We made some interesting discoveries about some of the
breeches in our Collection and came away with even more questions. Information gleaned from this trip is
already being incorporated into the Shop interpretation.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week, the Brickyard crew was split between the Yard and the Bray School restoration,
leaving Master Josh and Journeyman Kenneth to hold vigil over the Yard. Apprentices Nick and Madeleine are
learning valuable skills as they observe and work alongside the modern masons. To ensure that there are
some base level skills to build upon, they constructed a few practice walls with the bricks from last year's
production.
Back in the Brickyard, production has improved after the excessive rain of weeks past, which leaves us
with over four thousand bricks in our drying shed.
The Brickyard is open Daily, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Programs is gearing up for the July 4th weekend. We will be looking
forward to creating new Guest experiences through our drill programs at 12:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday,
as well as July 4th programming we are participating in, to include “The Salute to the States”, the reading of
the Declaration of Independence, and the evening festivities just prior to fireworks. Hope to see you there!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Also, earlier this week, the official announcement of our new Supervisor was posted. Dr. Terence
Christian is joining us from Miami, bringing with him a rich background in Military History and Conflict
Archaeology. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s Degree from Vanderbilt University, a Master's
and Doctorate from University of Glasgow, as well as a position as a post-Doctoral Fellow at Temple
University. His background has led him to international places, exploring both military history and
archaeology, as well as helping bring about adventures for guests of Silversea Cruises. He has occupied such
rolls as researcher, historian-in-residence, lead investigator, lecturer, and consultant. Dr. Christian is moving
to our neck of the woods in the coming weeks with his family and will be starting with Military Programs on
July 10th. We look forward to an exciting future with him at the helm of the Military Programs!
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Sunday (9am-12pm and 2-5pm), Monday (9am5pm), Tuesday (11am-5pm) and Wednesday through Saturday.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Sunday, Tuesday, and
Thursday through Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range has been sold out most of June. Large numbers of shooters equal
needed gun repair. Luckily for us, Andy just returned from the Western Kentucky University/National Muzzle
Loading Rifle Association Gunsmithing Seminar. Andy was sharing some of his newfound knowledge with
Alex. Alex is working on his first ramrod. Andy also showed Alex a fix for the fowler. Alex has also recently
received his first 5-star Google review.
The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am,
1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Sunday through Thursday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemaker is open Sunday through Thursday.
Silversmith – The Silversmith is open Sunday through Friday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – As of right now (Thursday afternoon), everything is set for our first
summer Dye Day! As long as the weather holds, we are looking forward to a successful Dye Day. This month,
we will be dyeing with fustic (yellow), logwood (purple), cochineal (red), and the ever-faithful indigo. With this
range of colors, we will be able to get all manner of green, orange, and black, in addition to the base colors of
each dye. A dyer's skill is in mastering the chemistry behind each dye, mordant, and fiber. And while we
strive for mastery, we enjoy experimenting!
The Weaver is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. It will be open on Monday for two
Workshops ONLY.
Wheelwright – This week, we have finished the repair of the cart for the staff of the Market House. Intern
Ralph and Junior Interpreter Liam pose with the result of their labor.
The Wheelwright is open Sunday, and Tuesday through Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Wigmaker – Hello from the Wigmakers! With Edith away for the last week, Debbie and Benton have
concentrated on maintenance items. Intern Stella has made great progress on Robert W.'s wig, having woven
several wefts and attaching them in the order Edith had laid out for her. Junior Interpreter Alexa continues to
work on her hairpiece and is getting the hang of interpreting to an ever-changing rotation of Guests each day.
Debbie has finished her silk netting for future use and has only to decide whose head it will end up on. Benton
has been progressing nicely on the linen netting he's been working on, as well. As always, please feel free to
reach out to us with any hair-related needs or questions.
Stella working on Robert's wig
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Blacksmith – Broadus Thompson; Cabinetmaker – Bill Pavlak; Gardener – Marc Nucup; Joiner –
Brian Weldy; Leather Breeches Maker – Jay Howlett; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Military Programs – Justin
Chapman; Musket Range – Jeffrey Thomas; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo; Wheelwright – Paul
Zelesnikar; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�
Dublin Core
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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
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Title
A name given to the resource
The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 24, July 1, 2023
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
2023-07-01
-
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
June 24, 2023
Apothecary – It's been a busy week at the Galt Shop. Saturday brought the first Summer Workshop of the
season, and participants made an excellent conserve of orange peel as well as demonstrating proper
bandaging techniques.
On Monday, in addition to welcoming Guests celebrating Juneteenth, we officially welcomed our new
Apprentice, Stephannie Scott. We're excited to introduce Stephannie to the world of the Apothecary and
equally excited to see her flourish in compounding work and history of medicine. If you see her out and
about, say hi!
Also last Monday, we hosted a Teacher Institute workshop for STEAM educators. Teachers
compounded black pectoral troches (licorice-based cough lozenges) using their math skills to reduce the
dispensatory's recipe by 1/32nd.
The Apothecary is open Wednesday through Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Blacksmith – The Anderson Shop participated in Colonial Williamsburg’s Juneteenth programming by
hosting Master Blacksmith Darryl Reeves from New Orleans, who specializes in restoration of historic ironwork
in the French Quarter and for public and private buildings throughout the city, and his apprentice, Karina Roca.
Our day focused on demonstration of ironworking in the Shop, a display of publications that highlight African
ironwork and ironworkers, and discussion of African American participation in, and influence on, American
ironwork.
Outside of agriculture, the iron industry was the largest employer of enslaved African labor where
great physical work was necessary to process fuel and iron ore into refined iron. It is also well documented
that enslaved Africans were given positions of trust and responsibility in operating smelting furnaces, as
furnace operators, forge men, and hammer men, all of whom have enormous influence over the quality of the
finished product and ultimately on the success of the commercial enterprise.
Ironworking traditions run deep within African culture, with many surviving examples of early-African
ironwork exhibiting not only forms of artistic beauty but also of great technical achievement. Many of these
objects are cherished symbols of power and authority within African communities as well as objects that
connect the living with spiritual presence of ancestors and the world’s “Life Force.” Blacksmiths in African
Society hold an elevated status as intermediaries within that interchange of earth and spirit. You can see
examples of this work in a recent exhibition from the Fowler Museum in California:
https://africa.si.edu/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/striking-iron-the-art-of-african-blacksmiths/.
Elements of African culture appear in significant architectural ironwork in cities like New Orleans and
Charleston, where African laborers – both free and enslaved – were involved in production of the monumental
works for which these cities are known. You can learn a bit more from this exhibit put on by the HermannGrima + Gallier Houses exhibit: https://hgghh.org/exhibitions/artistry-in-iron.
This African influence on American ironwork has been an interest of mine for some time, and one that I
hope to continue to pursue in hopes of finding similar examples of African influence in iron of the Chesapeake.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Ken, Master Blacksmith Darryl Reeves, and Apprentice Karina Roca in the Anderson Shop for Juneteenth
Darryl and Karina at work on Juneteenth in the Anderson Shop (left). Karina engaging a young Guest in our Juneteenth program
(right).
The Blacksmith is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – This past week or so, John has been learning the ins and outs of slip seat upholstery for
his side chairs, working with linen, horse hair, leather, and of course, lots of tacks. Bill has been constructing
the small quadrant drawer for his writing table. He created a bending form to bend the curved side of the
drawer that will allow it to rotate into place. So far, so good, but he will let it set a few days more before it is
fully dried out from its soak before the bend.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Carpenter – The Carpenters are working at Ewing Field Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday,
weather permitting.
Cook – We have had a few busy weeks in the Kitchen as we change to our summer schedule. Barbara will
start being down at the Anderson Armoury Kitchen during the week with our summer Intern, Winston. She
was also accompanied this past Sunday by one of our lovely Volunteers, Doris, who will be joining the Armoury
team this summer. Up at the Palace, Frank had a beer-based interview with The Washington Post and is also
getting ready to launch our latest collaboration with Ale Works, the newly named “Windmill Wheat”.
Our days off have changed to Monday-Tuesday, but this past Monday, the Foodways staff was here
onsite in order to lend our hands to the programs that were held in honor of Juneteenth. For the day, we had
three different Kitchens open with special programming, all of us making African, West Indian, and Carib
dishes that would have been brought to Virginia by the enslaved men and women working in the kitchens of
both affluent households and businesses here in town. At the Randolph Kitchen, Dom was with Mrs. Janice,
doing pigs feet, pork ribs, and a chicken gumbo. At the Armoury, Barbara and Winston did Johnny Cakes, Ash
Cakes, and a rabbit stew. At the Palace, Frank and Abbey moved their operations from the Kitchen to the
Scullery, where they did a West Indian Pepper Pot Soup and Black-eyed Pea Fritters. We also experimented
with Sorghum, a native African grain that would have been used like rice or barley. It was important for us to
give recognition and attention to the foods of the enslaved here in Virginia, as it was crucial not only to their
personal survival, but also crucial in keeping their culture and heritage alive here in the colonies.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Engraver – Greetings from the Engraving Shop. This week, William has completed another custom order!
This is a pewter plate, made by the Foundry, that he has engraved with a Masonic symbol on the face and a
custom monogram on the back. Part of the apprenticeship does involve lots of monogram practice. It’s not
always easy to combine certain letters and get them to balance out. Here, he has done a good job with the
monogram “A.J.L.” The “L” in the center is the last name and drawn in a larger size, typical for a traditional
monogram. William has also produced the first test print for his Ships copperplate! It turned out wonderful!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�There will be some areas to tidy up and Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Trades mark to still engrave, but a
huge Huzzah! to William. This plate took a lot of work, and he pushed himself on lettering and the cartouche
design.
This week, Emma has been working with Emily on drawing basic shapes and shading, getting her feet
wet with more Engraving tool control work, and producing some stunning conte’ crayon sketches.
Emily has been working on lettering, figure shapes, and shading. She and Emma share a love of horses,
so they have found common ground in their artwork. Lynn has been doing mid-year meetings for Goal
reviews, repair on the Boston Massacre plate, a Brickyard project, and reading up on Paul Revere and William
Byrd II.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�The Engraver is open Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Farmer – The Farmer will be at Ewing Field Friday and Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1
pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – Apprentice Founders Drew and Leanne have completed their first cast iron pours. Everything
went well, and we cast two Colonial Williamsburg seals and have begun the cleanup work necessary to turn
those rough castings into finished pieces to be used as Donor gifts by our Development Team. In other work,
Drew finished the Musket Range’s order of 500 musket balls, and Leanne has continued the finishing work on
the bronze pieces as mentioned in the last update. We had wanted to do some silver work this week, but with
all the rain, we will need to postpone it until we have more favorable weather conditions. As you know, we
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�can’t pour any metal while it’s raining – the rain water simply comes down our chimney and can fall right into
the molten metal.
We also heard from Journeyman Mike a few days ago. He will be leaving the physical therapy facility
this coming week and will be heading back home where more physical therapy will continue. He’s doing well
and can’t wait to be back at the Foundry.
The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday
through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, and Thursday through
Saturday.
Masonry – This week, the Brickyard has felt rather sloomy in recent days with the onset of our humid, and
rather rainy, weather. With production stalled, the Summer Crew was able to roam the town and, most
importantly, have a viewing of The Last Brickmaker in America, featuring the impressive Sidney Poitier. They
returned with a new appreciation for the work and a zest for life.
Otherwise, this week, our Apprentices were able to retrieve the tiles that were fired at William & Mary.
These tiles will give valuable insight into how these tiles may fire in the kiln and how they handle water.
The Brickyard is open Daily, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Sunday through Friday, and
Saturday (9am-12pm and 2-5pm).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Milliner and Mantua-maker – Keeping with tradition, we hosted the 30th year of our “Gown in a
Day” Program on Wednesday. One of the goals of this event is to try to reproduce 18th-century working
conditions as closely as possible: we come in at 7am and work until 6pm to see how much stitching can be
done within that "average" workday. For that reason, we always schedule the program for the longest day of
the year, hoping to take advantage of maximum daylight hours. This year, unfortunately, nature had other
ideas and decided to grace us with the darkest, rainiest, windiest day of the season...but we persevered and so
did our Guests!
This year's "theme" celebrated Juneteenth by focusing on the material culture of the Bray School.
Together with Nicole Brown, we developed a hands-on program that invited Guests to intimately engage with
the lives of the Bray students and their teacher. Ishbel and two of our previous NIAHD Interns had created
several sets of clothing appropriate in size, textiles, and styles to the garments that would have been worn by
the young girls who attended the school. These were left on the counter for visitors to explore. A set of
workbags were also available for handling, reproduced from a British instruction manual for creating charity
clothing. Each bag includes a printed label with the name of the girl - Nancy, Hannah, and Mary Ashby - who
would have stitched it and to whom it would then belong. Inside each bag, we put items specific to the child
to help to individualize her experience; based on collaborative primary research, we assembled things like
slates, marbles, and sampler pieces to tie each child back to documentation that speaks to her unique
interests and personality.
Virginia cloth Bray student gown
Osnaburg Bray student gown
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Bray student workbags
In many ways, we were able to recreate one of the primary 18th-century functions of a millinery shop:
that of a social space where people gathered to visit together, catch up on news and learn new things, sit and
relax, and simply enjoy being in the company of other members of a community. All the while, Mrs. Wager's
gown took shape on the periphery of the space, with four to six people working simultaneously on various
pieces to get it all done. This year's gown was a beautiful white satin weave worsted wool with a narrow
purple stripe that was chosen for its year-round utilitarian functionality – and to spark an intentional
conversation about fiber properties and textile choice (wool in summer??!!!). The style Janea cut was
appropriate to the first half of the 1760s, based on two extant English gowns, and was designed with the
comfort and range of motion a teacher would require when chasing after her active young students. Going
through the process of having her gown cut to her body quickly made Nicole realize the primary benefit of
18th-century mantua-making: clothing is made for the person, with her body, deportment, and lifestyle all
taken into account. She's thrilled to have a garment that will allow her to drive her riding chair, kneel to talk
to children, and stand comfortably in summer heat – all without having to change her clothes to
accommodate differences in range of motion or activity level.
Cutting to the body
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�By 5:53 pm, we succeeded in meeting our goal: the gown was finished and presented to the twenty
persistent Guests who had remained or returned, despite the rain, to see its completion. Our “customer” was
most pleased, and as soon as the millinery is ready (it needs a tucker and some elbow ruffles), we'll share a
formal portrait. In the meantime, we want to say thank you most sincerely to Nicole for her company, her
expertise, and her most gracious interpretation throughout the day. A thank you is also due to the Tailors for
lending us their intern, Percy (thanks, Percy!), and to Mathew and HC&D for sending a chain of helping hands
throughout the day (thanks Kristen, Joey, Sydney, Aileen, Gretchen, Jenn, and Megan!). Now on to plotting for
next year's adventure ... If anyone has suggestions for next year's "theme" or “customer”, please don't
hesitate to share them!
Mrs. Wager’s completed gown
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Musket Range – Andy recently attended the WKU/NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar in Bowling Green,
Kentucky. While there, he took part in a six-day class in constructing a kit rifle. He learned skills in wood and
metal finishing, inletting, and more, to enable him to work on and maintain the Musket Range's firearms.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am,
1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Sunday through Thursday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemaker is open Sunday, and Tuesday through Thursday.
Silversmith – The Silversmiths have been quite busy with a multitude of projects these past weeks. We’ve
also added a new member to the Shop. Stop by and meet our summer Intern, Jacob!
Megan is raising her mugs, making rings, and working on chasing for her tray. Bobbie is continuing to raise her
sweetmeat basket, making tray rims, and cutting out discs that will become medallions. Chris has been
resizing client rings and working on her tray.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�Preston has been raising a large bowl for a client. George continues to hammer out spoons, seamed cups, and
ingots.
The Silversmith is open Sunday through Friday.
Tailor – Journeyman McCarty has begun a coat for the summer, made from a worsted wool. Wool,
especially worsted wools, having a greater evaporation rate than cotton, is a great choice for the heat and
humidity of the Tidewater. Linens, silks, wools, and cottons of the thinnest and thickest varieties were
available to 18th-century Virginians. Lightweight fabric, often shades of white, was the common choice for
summer clothing. Tailors would pattern men’s summer clothes with more ease, described as “loose and
light.” These garments also required sturdy construction to deal with the regular laundering that sweatsoaked summer clothing necessitate.
The Tailor is open Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – This month's Dye Day will be the 30th! We have been spinning up a
woolen storm and have nine skeins of Leicester Longwool yarn destined for the dye pots this month. The
skeins have already been scoured and mordanted, and all that's left for Dye Day preparations is to cook down
some dyes. This process involves simmering dyestuff in water for several hours to extract the proper
chemicals for dyeing. The dye material is then strained out, and the liquid is stored until we are ready to
dye. The whole process can take several days, even weeks, which is why we only do a Dye Day once a month.
If you have anything you would like dyed this month, please bring it to us no later than 12:00 pm Sunday.
The Weaver is open Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday. It will be open on Monday for two
Workshops ONLY.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright is open Sunday through Thursday.
Wigmaker – This week, maintenance continues as usual. Edith has made great progress on the new wig for
Robert W. and has employed the aid of Junior Interpreter Alexa with some stitching of the base. Benton
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�continues to work on his silk netting and has been elbow deep in Full Bottom wigs for our Evening Programs.
Intern Stella has nearly completed construction of her first hairpiece and will learn to style it this coming week.
Debbie has been working on maintenance items and her netting, as well. She also met with some of our
esteemed Librarians, so they could go through several boxes of old files from the Shop breakroom to see what
may be archived and what should be disposed of. Please note, Edith will be away from the Shop for the next
week, so we ask for a little grace in the turnaround times for some items. As always, please feel free to reach
out with any hair-related needs or questions.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Blacksmith – Kenneth Schwarz; Cabinetmaker – John Peeler;
Cook – Abbey Shoaf; Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar; Founder – Drew Godzik; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton;
Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik; Musket Range – Andrew Prochnow; Silversmith – Megan
Cantwell; Tailor – Michael McCarty; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 24
�
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 9, number 24, June 24, 2023
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
2023-06-24
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
June 17, 2023
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Monday, Wednesday through Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Blacksmith – This week in the Anderson Shop, a variety of different pieces took shape. Mark has
continued his work on the Bray School lock and installed new brackets on the anvil stump. Chains, which hold
the anvil down firmly and prevent ringing, are fastened to those brackets. Our ears are very grateful.
Broadus, Aislinn, and Josh beat out a smattering of staples. Broadus and Alex continued their chisel making
(firmer and socket respectively). Josh is finishing his second grid iron and looks forward to starting a third. As
ever, all’s well that falls well at the foot of the anvil.
The Blacksmith is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through
Saturday.
Carpenter – The Carpenters will be working at Ewing Field Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and
Saturday, weather permitting.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Engraver – This week in the Engraving Shop, we would like to welcome Ms. Emily, our Youth Interpreter!
On her first day, we jumped right in on basic parts of lettering. She will be
starting off with what a lot of 18th- century students learn, Penmanship.
Today, we started off with script writing (cursive). It may not be used as
much these days, but it’s a wonderful skill to have and to be able to read it
on primary source documents. We will keep you updated on her progress.
William and Lynn have been steady on ongoing projects and adjusting to a
new schedule and workflow in the Shop. Many projects are going on right
now.
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Volume 9, Issue 23
�The Engraver is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Farmer – The crops are doing pretty well at Ewing Field. The corn is about waist high, and the barley has
formed heads and is standing well. Tobacco is doing okay. The soil brought in is low in nitrogen, so it has
struggled some. Also, the soil has a fair amount of clay, which requires us to keep it loose with both hoe and
plow. We are so grateful to the Carpenters who are building the “wagon shed” for us. Shade!!!
Keeping the soil loose with a hoe plow
The blade of a hoe, the Farmer’s friend
The Farmer will be at Ewing Field Wednesday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1
pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – The Founders have been keeping busy the last couple of weeks. Apprentice Drew has nearly
finished filling the next order of musket balls for the Musket Range, and Apprentice Leanne has been carrying
on with finishing work on some of the bronze pieces we’ve mentioned in past updates. Last week, we decided
to start casting pieces of a brass candelabra. Starting with a couple of the bobeches, the molds came out well,
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 23
�but unfortunately, the castings didn’t follow. Both ended up with holes and cold-shut casting flaws. But as is
the case in Foundry work, we’ll melt them down and try again soon! It was not all lost, though. This casting
was Drew’s first-time pouring brass into an actual mold (rather than ingots), so at least he’s got that under his
belt. Speaking of new skills being gained, we’re both anticipating completing our first iron pours on Saturday.
We shall update next week on how those turn out!
Also, this week we got to enjoy the fruits of our office move labor: Leanne started compiling a list of
Shop FAQs and their answers, if ever needed as a reference, while Drew has been reading some modern
Foundry texts and comparing them to our techniques in the Shop (all in our air-conditioned office).
The Foundry is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Gardener – The Garden has been very dry.
Currently, we are below our normal rain
totals. Many a watering can has been poured
out onto the dry earth, and filling the cistern is
a daily activity. Like anxious expectant
parents, we are happy to announce that our
Venus Fly Trap has finally bloomed. A small
spider has quickly taken up residence in the
blooms, rendering the plant even more deadly
to unwary insects.
Venus Fly Trap in bloom
With a cool spring, plants are undersized, but that is soon to change. A few days of good heat, and the
crops will double in size in short order. The front bed has been reorganized and decorated with Tuberoses and
dwarf pomegranates after the endive was dug and moved to another quarter. Symmetry won over, and a few
days of shade for the endive has assured us that they have survived their move. When the endive blooms,
they will be six feet in height and covered in blue flowers. A sight worth waiting for.
Waiting for an unsuspecting insect
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 23
�Intern Will cleaning out the cistern
Marc and Andrew fitting up the tuberoses with plant supports.
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday and Monday.
Harpsichordmaker – The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday
through Saturday.
Joiner – Greetings from the Joiner Shop! As we move into the summer season, the Joiners are busy with
various projects. Brian finished a dovetailed box this week for the Wigmakers to hold interpretive items for a
program. He is continuing to work on a treadle lathe for the Shop. Laura completed construction on a cratestyle step stool for the Tin Plate Workers and is beginning to draft a drawing of a tool chest for the Engraver
Apprentice. The step stool is nailed together, including clinching the nails for attaching the handles. Peter is
continuing to work on his arched doorway from Menokin. Scott is building a twelve-light door for the corner
cupboard he’s been constructing. He is busy chopping mortises, cutting tenons and coping the muntins.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 23
�The Joiner is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday
through Saturday.
Masonry – This week in the Brickyard, the Summer Crew is hitting their stride as they become more
comfortable with the process. Currently, we have just above two thousand bricks in the drying shed, of which
around eighteen hundred are for the First Baptist Church project.
Otherwise, this week, work on the tile making process continues. Apprentice Nick has created some
shelving in the drying shed to increase our storage and drying capacity. On the tile front, we always enjoy a
collaborative project, and this has become just that. We would like to extend our thanks to Apprentice Alex
from the Blacksmith Shop and Master Farmer Ed for their help in our ongoing experimentation. Alex has
created a hoe from historic illustrations, which should help us process the clay, and Ed is generously providing
a handle.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 23
�The Brickyard is open Daily, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Programs has a new Supervisor! We will make the formal announcement
soon but are very happy to be at the end of our search and eager to move on to bigger and better things. We
look forward to a bright future in the next few years. Military Programs has also recently received new
buckets from the Cooper Shop to help in our ongoing artillery programs, which will be of a great help. Along
those lines, MP also owes a big thank you to the Blacksmiths and Mark Sperry, specifically, for creating new
plugs for our barrier around the perimeter of the Magazine Site. If you happen to see any of our plugs out and
about, they keep migrating to other places, so we'd love the help in getting them back. In addition to more
plugs, we have also installed more stanchion sleeves in the ground, both to fix some that had become filled,
but also to create a new smaller barrier area for “The Necessity of Order in Battle”, enabling audiences to get
closer to the action as we demonstrate military technology. Finally, we have returned to demonstrating Light
Infantry as part of our regular rotation of Military Topics normally covered during the week. We hope to see
you there sometime!
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
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Volume 9, Issue 23
�Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Sunday, Wednesday (8:00
am-6:00 pm) and Thursday through Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions
at 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemaker is open Sunday through Thursday.
Silversmith – The Silversmith is open Sunday through Friday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – This week in the Shop, we had the first Beginner Workshop of the year.
Our six modern looms were loaded up with white cotton warps for folks to come and try their hand at
weaving. Each person makes a standard-size dish towel in two hours that they may take home and show off
to all their friends. The Workshops went quite well, and we enjoyed getting to share our Trade with
passionate people.
In other news, the upholstery fabric is off the loom! Next, it will get hemmed, washed, and sent off to
the proper people here at the Museum. We have already begun setting up the next project: tartan for
Military Programs. This first warp is thirty yards, so this will keep us busy for the next few weeks. Pictured is
the finished upholstery and the tartan being beamed off the warping mill.
The Weaver is open Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday. It will be open on Monday for two Workshops
ONLY.
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Volume 9, Issue 23
�Wheelwright – We’ve been busy, busy at the Wheel and Wagonworks on Prince George Street! The
Carpenter's cart has been completed and delivered by Paul, with new wheels and axle! Paul has also
completed new seam rubbers for the Leather Breeches Makers! Newly minted Journeyman Murphy continues
to work on the Velocipede, bending elm for the wheel well. Intern Ralph has finished and delivered a new
wheelbarrow for the Carpenters. Paul is beginning an extensive repair of what Colonial Williamsburg calls "the
Virginia wagon," with a new set of wheels, lighter running gear, and repair of the body. She'll also get a new
paint job! More to come!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 23
�The Wheelwright is open Sunday through Thursday.
Wigmaker – Greetings! This past week, we have concentrated on getting hair ready for some of our Nation
Builders. Edith has begun a new wig for Mr. Wythe and will be assisted in her endeavor by our Junior
Interpreter, Alexa, this summer. Benton continues to work on his netting. Intern Stella has begun weaving
hair to match her own and will be making a set of curls. Debbie also continues to work on a netting project for
future use. Maintenance continues as usual, so please bring in your hair for some TLC as the heat rises. Also,
please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any hair-related needs or questions.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Blacksmith – Alex Hinman; Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar; Farmer – Ed Schultz; Founder – Leanne
Bellouny; Gardener – Eve Otmar; Joiner – Scott Krogh; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Military Programs –
Justin Chapman; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo; Wheelwright – Paul Zelesnikar; Wigmaker –
Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 23
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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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
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2015-
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Title
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 23, June 17, 2023
Creator
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
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2023-06-17
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
June 10, 2023
The Summer will feature the following Historic Trades Workshops:
Sunday, Family Workshop: Cabinetmaker – Join us for an in-depth, hands-on tour and demonstration
of hand planes–one of the traditional woodworker’s most indispensable tools. When Williamsburg
cabinetmaker Edmund Dickinson died in 1778, he was inventoried as having “81 planes of various sorts.” Such
a variety of tools would be suited for many tasks like making boards flat and smooth, creating precise
structural joinery, and making shapely moldings. We will demonstrate the breadth of work done with these
tools and give guests a chance to plane away some shavings themselves. Limit of 16 participants.
Monday, Beginner Workshop: Weaver – Try your hand at weaving in this two-hour class for all levels
of experience. You will learn the history behind weaving in Williamsburg during the Revolution to spark your
patriotic homespun spirit. Taught on pre-warped modern looms, on which you can pass the shuttle back and
forth, this class will build a cotton tea towel to take home. This Workshop will provide all necessary supplies,
including care instructions for your handwoven towel. Limit of 6 participants. Not recommended for young
children.
THIS WORKSHOP WILL BE OFFERED TWICE ON MONDAYS: 10 am-12 pm AND 2-4 pm.
Saturday, Family Workshop: Apothecary – Do you have what it takes to be an Apprentice Apothecary?
Participants will compound a medicine, identify medicinal ingredients, learn their uses, and practice applying
bandages. Limit of 8 participants.
**********
Apothecary – The past two weeks have been bittersweet at the Shop – while we're looking forward to the
summer, we also bade farewell to Mark. The Apothecary staff are sad to see him leave but appreciate him
endlessly for the hard work he's done and incredible strides he's made in his apprenticeship. We'll miss you,
Mark! We're gearing up for Saturday Summer Workshops beginning next week.
The Apothecary is open Wednesday through Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Blacksmith – This week, the Blacksmiths have been hard at work making tools for the Carpenters. Broadus
is making firmer chisels which have a tricky but very interesting process for forging the integral bolster. The
historic precedent for this style comes from a pristine chisel in the CW Collection. This chisel was part of the
Hewlett tool chest and was made in the 1770s. The object number is 1957-123,8 and is on the emuseum for
anyone interested.
Alex has also been making chisels, but some of the socketed type. Rather than having a tang that
inserts into a wooden handle, this type has a hollow cone that accepts a tapered wooden handle. In both
cases, the handles are held on with only friction as a chisel is not used in a manner where the head would be
struck from the handle. The rest of the Shop is continuing our normal course of work. Josh has been fitting up
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Volume 9, Issue 21
�gridirons, Ken is making building hardware, Aislinn is working on fireplace tongs, and Mark is getting close to
finishing his lock for the Bray School.
The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – The Shop bid farewell to two Shop icons this week. First was the desk and bookcase
reproduction, which is on its way to its new home. It was a significant presence in the Shop. In its absence,
more light has filled the Shop from the southeast window which has been obscured by the desk’s presence for
several months now.
The second departure is Jeremy, who has also spent several
months obscured by the desk and bookcase. Jeremy has been
working in the Shop for 3 ½ years, completing several furniture
pieces including the desk portion of the desk and bookcase. Earlier
this year, he and his wife welcomed another baby into their home,
and after much consideration, Jeremy has chosen to become a fulltime dad, a job he has hoped for long before ever picking up a
chisel or plane. “I am grateful to all the talented artists and good
people I have been able to work with and get to know throughout
the Foundation. I will especially miss my Shop mates who have
become like family to me. I look forward to bringing my kids
around town to visit, and staying in touch with things that are
going on. Thank you to all those who helped make my time here
so memorable. It was fun.”
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Carpenter – This week, the Carpenters have completed the lath installation and started the shingling.
We’ve got a few thousand shingles to put up, so we’ll be on this step fit a while. Stop by and see the progress.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Carpenters will be working at Ewing Field Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, weather
permitting.
Cook – As we close in on the last few weeks of the spring season, over at the Palace Kitchen, the team has
been buckling down to knock out the remaining projects of the Spring. After wrapping up the latest recipe for
Trend and Tradition, we have been asked to get together what we would like to see as the recipe for the next
issue. The secret ingredient is peanuts, not something that would be found on the Governor’s table. Much
like the corn native to North America, these local Native plants were seen as beneath the English gentry, but
readily used by common Virginians, Free, Enslaved, or Native. With a few different recipes to choose from,
Frank experimented this week with a “new-to-us” dish of “Groundnut Cheesecakes.” The result was very akin
to a southern pecan pie, but with the switch in nuts. Frank felt the original recipe needs a little more tweaking
to get just right, so it is likely we will experiment with it a few more times before the next photoshoot. We
also completed our last Brew of the spring, where we did a nice English Porter. We have also wrapped up our
final spring Chocolate Program and the Spring Workshops as we launch into summer. Enjoy some pictures
from our last Workshop and Brewing days.
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Volume 9, Issue 21
�The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Cooper – The Coopers recently produced an artillery bucket with copper hoops and bronze hardware as an
experiment in how such a container will hold up with exposure to black powder residue compared to existing
buckets that we have supplied with iron hardware. We were assisted in the project by our colleagues at the
Foundry, who cast the bronze ears and handle for this experiment. We have very little information on artillery
buckets from this period, although we do know that the use of iron hardware was often avoided in the
manufacture of gunpowder casks and other items that came in close contact with gunpowder in this period.
The Cooper is open Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Engraver – The Engravers would like to introduce Emma Alldrice as our Summer Intern. She is currently
working with the folks over in Coach and Livestock. We are glad to have her here in the Shop, and we will be
looking closely at her artwork. There will be lots of drawing, and I’m sure her love of horses and livestock will
show up in her future work.
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�William has finished the last of the cartouche drawing and has started cutting. Photos to come shortly. This
copper plate is nearly finished. He has also cut several Masonic square and compass designs on Foundrymade pewter plates. Some are for custom orders he is filling. Now, he is diving into his repair requirements
for his apprenticeship. Repair or removal of engraving involves the removal of metal. He will be scraping,
filing, stoning, burnishing, and using several polishing compounds. Repairs generally take much longer to do
than the original carvings. A good repair or removal takes patience.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Lynn has finished up the Sterling silver tray that the Silversmiths had brought down and is now beginning the
re-working of an 18th-century watercolor that will become a copperplate for the Wheelwrights. They will be
presenting this to the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights when they visit this fall. The watercolor needs to
be redrawn to a pen-and-ink style to the size needed, then it will be reversed. The reversed image will be cut
on the desired-size plate then engraved. We are anticipating a good twenty-plus hours for this one.
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Volume 9, Issue 21
�The Engraver is open Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Farmer – The Farmer will be at Ewing Field Wednesday, Thursday (10:00-5:00), Friday, and Saturday,
weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1
pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – The Historic Garden was full of activity this week. The bed formerly occupied by corn poppies
(Papaver rhoeas) was quickly turned, and two varieties of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) were planted
alongside two rows of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and a few China asters (Callistephus chinensis). Broad
beans (Vicia faba) and marrowfat pease (Pisum sativum) were harvested and sent off with the Historic
Cooks. Hard neck garlic (Allium sativum) – planted way back in October! – was also harvested, bundled, and
hung to dry. Most of the garlic will, no doubt, find its
way to the Cooks as well, but several heads will be
retained for this fall’s planting. Into the cleared bed
went cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), pole beans
(Phaseolus vulgaris), and a row of cockscomb (Celosia
cristata), mirroring an existing planting of these three
varieties at the other end of the bed. This mixing of
vegetables alongside decorative flowers is one of the
cornerstones of 18th-century English gardening.
Intern Will raises mounds for sweet potato planting.
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Volume 9, Issue 21
�Intern Andrew divides up sweet potato chunks for planting.
Andrew and Marc assemble trellises for beans and cucumbers to climb.
Apprentice Marc hangs garlic to dry.
Cockscomb displaying its elegant bloom.
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through
Saturday.
Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, and Thursday through
Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Masonry – This week in the Brickyard, production continues in full swing with our Summer Hires becoming
more confident with their molding prowess. While more bricks populate the drying bed, Apprentice Nick
continues working on the clay for tile making. Protecting this process is a key part of production for this
summer.
Otherwise, this week, the dream team of Apprentices Nick and Madeleine, Journeyman Kenneth, and
Dale "Daley" Trowbridge charged the lime kiln in preparation to fire. The new team of eager Brickmakers
joined us on a fun field trip to see the sights, and most importantly, historic brick houses.
The Brickyard is open daily, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – Preparations are well underway for our upcoming “Gown in a Day”
program on the 21st of June. This year, we'll be making a gown for Ann Wager and are thrilled to have the lady
herself joining us for the day. In addition to discussing summer clothing for adults and children more
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�generally, we'll also be talking more specifically about the kinds of garments that might have been worn by the
students attending the Bray School. Ishbel, our Intern, is making impressive progress on a new child's gown
that's being made of striped cotton fabric woven by the Weavers. This will be left on the counter during the
program, along with the linen gown and apron made last fall by two of our NIAHD Interns, to visibly
demonstrate the very young age at which these students were being sent to the School. Janea and Rebecca
have also made up some sewing samples for the team at HC&D, many of whom will be joining us for part of
the day of the project.
Summer clothing has been on our minds in another way as well: it's been a week of finishing and
beginning a handful of new bedgowns for our fellow Tradeswomen. Aislinn now has a new green linen
bedgown, and a blue checked one is well underway for Mary. Kate continues to work on the flounce for her
new cotton petticoat and has been investing her research hours in beginning an exciting new collaborative
project. After some mending, Rebecca is now back to stitching channels on her stays, which had been put on
the back burner in favor of more pressing priorities for several months. She's also working on a proposal for
the upcoming Contested Freedoms Conference. When not buried in paperwork, Janea is back to working on
the experimental jacket. Our Shop-wide summer project of completely reorganizing and rearranging our
upstairs space is also well underway, and anticipation is building to enjoy the end result of a new, more
functional layout.
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Musket Range – This week at the Musket Range, Jeff began making replacement ramrods for our Fowling
pieces. The process is fairly involved and time consuming. Luckily, we started with a fairly straight piece of
hickory. Jeff straightened, tapered, fitted, sanded, and stained the wood to become a very nicely finished
ramrod.
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Volume 9, Issue 21
�The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am,
1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Sunday through Thursday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers have moved back to the Armoury and are open Sunday, and Tuesday
through Thursday.
Silversmith – The Silversmith is open Sunday through Friday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – The end of the blue upholstery fabric is in sight! For us, this means that
we can see the very end of the warp and are busy behind the scenes preparing for the next one, which will
also be wool. We work with a lot of wool in the Shop and for good reason: we've got so many sheep! Our
Leicester Longwool is a special breed in the sheep world: they were the first to have a breed standard, are a
dual-purpose breed (we get wool and meat from them), and they produce a long staple length that is high on
the luster scale. Shiny long wool is great for hand spinning and takes dye very well. While the yarn we spin on
our wheels hardly ever ends up on our looms, the act of spinning allows us to talk about many aspects of
everyday life in 18th-century Virginia. From illegal sheep to busy work, our spinning wheels help us roll
through topics and hypnotize Guests in the process. More than once, we have caught children and adults alike
entranced by the mechanisms of a spinning wheel.
The Weaver is open Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday. It will be open on Monday for two
Workshops ONLY.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop is open Sunday through Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Wigmaker – Greetings! This week, we will be working on our netting projects, and Edith has nearly
completed a linen netting to be utilized for a new wig for Robert W. as Mr. Wythe. She is adding some
additional rows to the nape section of the netting, to better ensure coverage of his natural hairline. Two new
wigs will be built for him in the coming months. Benton's silk netting is coming along well, and he is building it
for future use. Debbie has been concentrating on maintenance. We have two new Shop members, as well!
Stella is our Summer Intern and is already weaving up a storm of hair. Alexa is a new Junior Interpreter and is
gearing up to start interpreting soon. Please stop by to meet them if you haven't already and say hello! As
always, feel free to stop by or send us an email for any hair-related questions or requests.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Blacksmith – Joshua Rachita; Cabinetmaker – Jeremy Tritchler;
Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cook – Abbey Shoaf; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar; Gardener –
Marc Nucup; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik; Musket Range –
Jeffrey Thomas; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�
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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 9, number 21, June 10, 2023
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
2023-06-10
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
June 3, 2023
This week’s Trades Talks at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium:
On Monday, June 5th, Masonry Trades will present, “Who Designed This Place?” Join Master Bricklayer
Josh Graml as he explores how 18th-century buildings were designed and built as gentlemen architects plied
their trade in Virginia. Where did they get their design inspirations, and how did they translate English
architectural forms to Virginia-born tradesmen?
On Wednesday, June 7th, the Wheelwrights will present, “The Road MORE Travelled”. Williamsburg is
known as a sleepy, quiet southern town, but what did it look like in its heyday? Join a Colonial
Williamsburg Wheelwright as they take you onto the colonial Capitol's streets to discuss what was rolling
and who was driving.
On Saturday, June 10th, Alex from Military Programs will present, “Defenses of the Delaware”. A nation's
capital is always of paramount importance for governance and morale of an army. Philadelphia was the De
Facto capital of the United States, and as such, a prime target for the British. In 1777, General Howe set his
sights on it and sailed with the British Army South. Given the power of the Royal Navy, the fear was an
approach by water through the Delaware River. Come learn about American attempts to fortify the river
and their fierce defense as the Royal Navy desperately tried to push its way towards Philadelphia.
********
Two weeks ago, Ken Burns’ production company was in town and did some shooting at the Blacksmith and the
Weaver. Shelly Polansky from HAPS provided the following pictures.
Master Weaver Karen and filming crew
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Mistress of the Millinery Janea filming at the Weaver
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Filming at the Blacksmith. Left to right, Master Gunsmith Richard, filming crew, Journeyman Blacksmith Mark, and Master
Blacksmith Ken.
********
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Blacksmith – We Blacksmiths remain busy this week at the Armoury. Ken is working on several pieces,
including a handrail, winged compasses, and some bolts for our gate. Aislinn works on fireplace tongs. The
three Apprentices are all occupied with Kitchen implements: Alex with a salamander, for top browning highend dishes; Broadus with flesh forks; and Josh with gridirons. As always, all’s well that falls well at the base of
the anvil.
The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – Good day from the Bookbindery. We have been busy
with research. Recent findings tell that the first group of men in the
Williamsburg Printing Office were generalists and performed a variety of
services, to include binding books. For instance, John Stretch, who is
listed as a Journeyman Printer, was also paid for binding. Other people
who show up in the record as binders are Joseph Johnson Senior and
Junior, and Edward Cummins. It also shows that William Hunter bought
bookbinding tools from a man named Robert Stevenson. The
information was found as part of a larger book, in a chapter called
Scottish-American Bookbinders. I often envision them in our workspace
as I seek to bring their profession and stories to life. Pictured on the
right are two members of my own family. If my Grandparents were still
in the world, they might have been able to tell me who these men were.
My takeaway as I seek to plug the missing holes in the history of my
Shop: take the time to write your family history down for that relative in
the future who would love to know the story of their ancestors.
The Bookbinder is open Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Cabinetmaker – It was another week of small victories in the Cabinet Shop as both Bill and John made
some progress on their respective projects. John got his seat frames joined up and sized, so he'll turn his
attention to upholstery in the days ahead. These chair seats will be stuffed with curled horse hair and finished
out with black leather – both common materials for finer chairs like this in the period. Bill got the adjustable
writing surface made and working well for his table's writing drawer. That gave him a chance to get a glimpse
of how the whole complex table will look upon completion. Next, he'll make three small drawers for the
larger writing drawer. Two of them will be secret, so we'll say no more for now...
John's Chairs
The writing table with all of its adjustable surfaces in place
The adjustable writing surface for the drawer
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Carpenter – These last couple of weeks at Ewing Field, we raised the wagon shed frame and started to get
the roof installed. The lath should be up soon for the shingles to be installed. The rain in the recent days has
slowed our progress, but it’ll get done soon enough.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�The Carpenters will be working at Ewing Field Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather
permitting.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Monday, their Workshop
will be held 10:00-11:00 followed by “Secrets of the Chocolate Maker”, 11:30-2:30.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – The Engraver is open Sunday through Tuesday, and Thursday.
Farmer – Farming is so close to all of us. It could be our parents or grandparents or further back, but it’s
part of who we are. The Guest in this picture shared this with me through a gift of the tobacco variety that his
grandfather grew in Maryland. This type, called “Maryland 609”, is not grown any more. As Historic Farmers,
we focus on the 18th century, but we need to know the cultural traditions that came out of it. I will grow
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�some of this tobacco off site, so that I know it. Then I can share a broader spectrum of understanding to our
Guests – because I know it.
The Farmer will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – Another Drummer's Call is in the books! Despite the brief rain scares, the weather
was near perfect for every event. We started out with the “Successful Campaign” Concert on Friday, with our
Senior Corps and Grand Republic Fife and Drum Corps performing music showcasing the evolution of fife and
drum from military to folk traditions. It was especially fun to hear Grand Republic, an 1890's-themed group,
play music that we don't get to hear much of at Colonial Williamsburg. The next day was the Grand March
and Review with all seven of our visiting Corps. This year, we had Grand Republic, Mountain Fifes and Drums,
our wonderful Alumni, The Old Guard, the Fifes and Drums of York Town, Field Musick Virginia, and William
Diamond Jr. Every group showcased all their hard work and did a fantastic job! That evening, we hosted the
torchlit march and jam session, the favorite event of the weekend for many. It was great to see some of our
colleagues join in the jollification and make music with us! Our Senior Corps also took that opportunity to play
“Black Bear” in honor of our (soon-to-be)
departing Fife Instructor, Emily Luck. On
Sunday, we had an open house for the
visiting Corps, and then all went home to
collapse after the busy weekend! Thank you
to everyone who helped make this event
possible! We can now step back, take a
deep breath, and work on music for the
Williamsburg/James City County graduations
at the Hampton Coliseum, Independence
Day, and graduation marches for our seniors
starting the week after. Last but not least,
congratulations to James Reynolds for
passing up to Lance Corporal during all this
craziness!
Both the Junior and Senior Corps warming up before the torchlit march
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�The Senior Corps about to step off for the torchlit march on Saturday night
Grand Republic and the Senior Corps waiting to start the Friday night concert
The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market Square, Saturday
at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1 pm on the Play House
Stage.
Founder – Since our last update, Apprentice Founders Drew and Leanne have been busy working on orders
while seeing increased visitation by Guests. We finished and delivered a pair of ears/brackets and a handle in
bronze for our Coopers, who are making a water bucket for the Cannon Crew. Before drilling the holes in the
ears, we made a mold with them and cast it in pewter so we can have patterns in case more are needed in the
future. We also made molds and cast a pair of bronze seals for the Development Team for use as Donor gifts.
We don’t know how many they will need this fall, but thought we’d best get a head start on making them
anyway. Some progress has been made on an order of 48 tray feet for the Silversmiths, as we made molds
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�and poured silver, too. Andrew from the Musket Range came by and picked up an order of 500 musket balls
and placed an order for 500 more. They have been cast already, and we are now in the process of getting
them all cut off and filed. We also made a couple of pattern molds and cast them in pewter for our Engravers.
If you haven’t heard, our office will be moving from the back room of our Shop to the Levingston
Kitchen, which will allow us to open a second interpretive space from which we plan to do our mold making
and lathe work. We’ve made a dent in the move, but we still have more work to do on that front. We’ve also
just begun looking into new research sources for buckle and chape making. If you have some research you’d
like to share, please don’t be shy.
We also have an update from Journeyman Mike. He would like to tell you all that he is doing fine and
his physical therapy is coming along. He has achieved all the goals they have set for him, and he should be
coming home soon with continued physical therapy at home. So far, he has lost 100 pounds and he’s not
planning on stopping there. He’s looking forward to coming back and seeing everyone again. We all wish him
well and can’t wait for him to return.
The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Gardener – The month of May was extremely dry in our area, and
the Historic Gardeners were very thankful for the rain showers over the
weekend. All of our tender warm-season plants have returned to the
Garden from their winter home with the Landscape Department. Thank
you to the Quarterpath Greenhouse staff for taking care of them all
winter, and to Coach and Livestock for delivering our largest potted
citrus trees. This week we were joined by Will, our second Intern of the
season. Welcome aboard! The cooler weather of the last few weeks
was great for both our flowering plants and our spring vegetables. We
harvested shelling peas, broad beans, garlic scapes, herbs, and edible
flowers for the Historic Cooks at the Governor's Palace Kitchen. The
corn, beans, squash, and sunflowers sown in the American Indian
Garden are off to a great start for the season. The vegetables sown in
the Sankofa Heritage Garden all prefer a hot climate and are noticeably
smaller, but, as the season warms up, they will grow to cover the entire
space with lush greenery. Flowers in bloom this week in the Historic
Garden include several of our North American native species: common
milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Carolina lupine (Thermopsis villosa), and spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana), as
well as a number of ornamental flowers introduced by English gardeners: Maltese cross (Silene chalcedonica),
day lily (Hemerocallis fulva), and London flag leek (Allium ampeloprasum).
A basket of peas, edible flowers, and broad beans on their way to the Governor's Palace Kitchen (left). Young vegetable plants
growing in the American Indian Garden (center). The bloom of a common milkweed plant growing in the Historic Garden (right).
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Harpsichordmaker – We are at last getting past the manufacturing of parts and beginning the assembly
of the new spinet case. The tuning wrest plank, register, and front soundboard support liner have been glued
up, now attached to the front riser supports. We began with a small, veneered wall to the left of the keyboard
area and will proceed shortly with attaching the case walls around this new inner frame.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�The gods are not favoring us when making bentside walls. A new oak board soaked and bent still
suffered some cracking (we see this in original instruments, amazingly!), but not nearly as bad as the first one.
We may be able to salvage this one. We are learning from our mistakes … that’s what we do in Historic
Trades.
Beginning the week of June 11th, Melanie and Ed will be interpreting their work at the “Making Music”
exhibition at the Art Museum every other Tuesday afternoon through the summer. We hope to make that
exhibit come alive. Come visit and see how we are faring.
First veneered piece installed and finished (left). Full front mechanical assembly complete (center). Gluing jack guide to tuning
wrest plank (right).
Gluing soundboard support liner to jack guide
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Parts placed in situ simulating case assembly
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Re-sawn oak for new bentside
Second bentside on form
Trimming veneer back for later fittings
The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – Friends, please help us welcome our Summer Intern, Ever Brooks. Ever
comes to us from Arizona. They are jumping right in with both feet. I think it's going to be a great summer.
Please stop on by the Shop and say Hello.
The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week in the Brickyard, the newly employed and nearly fitted Summer Crew joined us for
another highly anticipated summer of production. This spry group of youths will keep us young while learning
the ins and outs of brickmaking. With our Crew at full strength, our production can start to increase and
eventually reach twenty to twenty-five thousand by the end of summer.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Otherwise, this week, the Apprentices visited a Ceramics professor, Mike Jabbur, at William & Mary to
hand off some roof tiles to test fire. This will help us understand where the tiles should go in this fall's kiln
firing.
The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday,
and Saturday.
Musket Range – This week, Andy has been preparing for the
upcoming National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association/Western Kentucky
University Gunsmithing/Longrifle Seminar. He will be working to
assemble and finish a "1760's Colonial Rifle." He has been working on
developing a basic skillset in wood- and metalworking that will help him
be successful. A big thank you goes out to Bill and everyone at the
Cabinetmaker who took the time out of their busy days to teach him
how to properly sharpen chisels, gouges, and other tools he will need.
The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am,
1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Shoemaker – The Shoe Shop has started preparing the Armoury shed for our summer move. We thank the
Leather Breeches Makers for hosting us this past winter. Nicole is working on a pair of fine stitched pumps to
further her apprenticeship. Victoria is working on two pairs of slippers and once finished, she will begin work
on dancing pumps. Val is working on a pair of common shoes for Madeline Bolton (Masonry) and another pair
for Tim Logue (Tailor).
The Shoemakers are working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmiths have been quite busy with a multitude of projects these past weeks. Megan
is still raising her mugs and has soldered the rim of her first tray together, and Bobbie is continuing to raise her
sweetmeat basket and working on trade silver.
Chris has made a batch of mourning rings, resized a number of older rings brought in by customers, and
chased the detail of her tray.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Preston has been raising a large bowl for a client, while George continues to hammer out spoons, seamed
cups, and ingots.
We would also like to thank the Blacksmiths for repairing our andirons! They’re fantastic!
The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Sunday (12:00-5:00), Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (11:30-5:00), and
Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – This week, we've been very busy behind the scenes and in our public
spaces. Annie has gotten their overshot up and running on the countermarch (pictured). This is a particularly
complex textile, so be sure to wish Annie good luck if you see them! Behind the scenes, we have been
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�working on setting up six modern looms for our Summer Workshops. This class is a great introduction to
weaving, and we can't wait to meet all the participants!
The Weaver is open Monday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – Busy, busy! Our yard is beginning to look like a proper Wheelwright Shop with various
jobs, both new and those with repairs underway! Speaking of items underway, the velocipede is finishing up
within a few weeks; Murphy is moving along with the front fork and now working on the wheel well on the
rear. We hooped wheels for the velocipede and Carpenters cart last week!
Ralph is almost done with his wheelbarrow and is halfway through the wheel. This is destined for the
Carpenters Yard. Speaking of Carpenters, their cart has arrived and is going to receive a new running gear.
Thanks for bearing with a wordier-than-normal post. Please come by our little corner of Prince George
Street and say hey!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�The Wheelwright Shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – Hello from the world of 18th-century hair! These past couple of weeks, we have caught up on
maintenance needs and are looking forward to starting new projects soon. Hand knotting is the name of the
game these days, as each one of us is working on perfecting our skills with the needle and gauge. While we
have a bit of "down time" between projects, we're working on stocking up on some netting to be utilized in
the future.
Benton has just begun to practice with silk thread, as well. Speaking of Benton, he would like to extend
his appreciation for his new workman's cap from our Milliners across the street. We have learned that the
fabric used was woven by Mistress Janea herself some time ago. As always, please feel free to reach out to us
with any related needs or questions, and please remember to bring in your hair more often during the
upcoming increase in warmer weather.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 21
�Benton in his new cap
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Blacksmith – Broadus Thompson; Bookbinder – Barbara Swanson; Cabinetmaker – Bill Pavlak;
Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Farmer – Ed Schultz; Founder – Drew Godzik; Fifes and Drums – Rebecca Sterner;
Gardener – Teal Brooks; Harpsichordmaker – Edward Wright; Leather Breeches Maker – Jay Howlett; Masonry
– Madeleine Bolton; Musket Range – Jeffrey Thomas; Shoemaker – Val Povinelli; Silversmith – Megan
Cantwell; Wheelwright – Paul Zelesnikar; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo; Wigmaker – Debbie
Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, 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 9, number 21, June 3, 2023
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
2023-06-03
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/1f3e942751d84ff1ebe2fbe327304122.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=qbvmvp756Vzuvbv9khfXZQagTIphwankCCerngqMcETSugIxuLxrT60eOl77-XL0hiI1kSCPX-ew24XFxbRSBgZFAq6FJ6pXnyQMZpte5BwOn3rEFx2SFmDVK09BvX-7uhhqInCmcbXHZCuV2QijvhSxtReeIcZ73iIT0fwQ0d3zf9dfm7a6RMiwgyxV0ypY-LyiFbfwPq1AIzu1qAuld%7EYW5My-i2uc8Yzo190ceV0ERLMkVxM03NkTQS4MjDFCtpmNiavQch9cKAJme4rEGRT1oLxjfQd5LDyvkbeUQw2iknme8XMpXiRQd2PmXhpDA0q1dwQZPA31tpNwqP2wJg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
May 20, 2023
This week’s Trades Talks at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium:
On Monday, May 22nd, Masonry Trades will present, “Who Designed This Place?” Join Master Bricklayer
Josh Graml as he explores how 18th-century buildings were designed and built as gentlemen architects plied
their trade in Virginia. Where did they get their design inspirations, and how did they translate English
architectural forms to Virginia-born tradesmen?
On Wednesday, May 24th, the Wheelwrights will present, “The Road MORE Travelled”. Williamsburg is
known as a sleepy, quiet southern town, but what did it look like in its heyday? Join a Colonial
Williamsburg Wheelwright as they take you onto the colonial Capitol's streets to discuss what was rolling
and who was driving.
On Saturday, May 27th, Alex from Military Programs will present, “Defenses of the Delaware”. A nation's
capital is always of paramount importance for governance and morale of an army. Philadelphia was the De
Facto capital of the United States, and as such, a prime target for the British. In 1777, General Howe set his
sights on it and sailed with the British Army South. Given the power of the Royal Navy, the fear was an
approach by water through the Delaware River. Come learn about American attempts to fortify the river
and their fierce defense as the Royal Navy desperately tried to push its way towards Philadelphia.
********
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Blacksmith – This week, the Blacksmiths of the James Anderson Public Armoury have been active on many
projects. Ken has been making winged compasses for the Carpenters, Mark continues work on the locks for
the Bray School, and Aislinn is working on fire tongs for the School, as well. In the Apprentice corner, the large
order for Mount Vernon continues. Josh is locking horns with grid irons, Broadus has been making forks and
spatulas, and Alex has finished up a skimmer, as well as some hoes for Williamsburg’s Farmer and
Brickmakers. It’s simple to say and true every day, that all’s well that falls well at the foot of the anvil.
The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – Good day from the Bookbinders. The Bookbinders have been examining 18th-century
examples of books and paste paper with a particular focus on the items related to Williamsburg under the
tutelage of former Colonial Williamsburg Bookbinder Bob Lyon. Both examples feature paste paper of the
time and are associated with Williamsburg. We will be attempting to re-create.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 20
�The Bookbinder is open Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – This week, Bill and John got John's chairs glued together, bringing the whole project
closer to completion. Next up will be applying a finish and making the slip seat frames. Bill has found success
with the brazilwood dye he has cooked up, and he applied the stuff to the parts of his writing table that
needed a little color. Check the picture of his drawer bottom that shows, from right to left, the bare white
oak, a single coat of dye, a second coat, and then the seedlac topcoat that gives the finished color.
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 20
�Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we’ve finished the framing for the wagon shed at the Ewing
Field Farm site. We’ve moved the frame and shingles to the job site, as well as prepped for the raising. We
are aiming to raise the frame on Saturday, May 20th.
The Carpenters will be working at Ewing Field Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather
permitting.
Cook – Another week has come and gone over at the Palace Kitchen! As the temperatures warm up in the
Kitchen, Dom and Abbey have been making attempts to get some of the last puff pastry and pies we will see
for a few months out on to the table for their apprenticeship. Unfortunately for an 18th-century cook in
Virginia, the weather in the summer is too hot and too humid to attempt successful pastries that are
temperamental to the weather. These delicate sweets will literally melt into a pile of goo in the summer heat,
so we have seen the last round of those for the season.
We had yet another successful Workshop this week; and on Sunday, we will take on the last Brew of
the spring season over in the Scullery. This last beer will be a porter, rich in color and in flavor. This past
Tuesday morning, Frank was in the Shop early with our friends from Trend and Tradition, doing a photoshoot
for making raspberry jam, which will be included in an upcoming issue. The Colonial Gardens have continued
to grace us with their seasonal goodies, and our gardening staff over at the Palace has done a lovely job this
season of getting crops in the ground that can be brought over to the Kitchen and be used in recipes. Frank
was particularly excited this week to look out the window and see that our artichoke plant produced fruit this
year! Artichokes do well in this climate, but they take a couple of years from being planted to grow a viable
product. This time and effort that it would take to receive the fruits of your labor makes the artichoke an
18th-century gentry plant, with your average family most likely dedicating their garden space to food sources
that do not require years to mature. Last year, we were still waiting for the artichokes to mature, and it was a
wonderful surprise to see so many little “suckers,” as they are called, sprouting from the top of the plant.
With so many small chokes popping up, you can bet we will have a slew of artichoke dishes out on the table
this month.
The Palace Kitchen is open Monday (11:30-5:00), Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Sunday, the
“Arts and Mysteries of Brewing” will be held in the Palace Scullery, 10:00-3:45.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 20
�Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – This week in the Engraving Shop, we welcome William back from vacation. He jumped right in
on finishing the ships of his copperplate! All that is left to do is to design the cartouche and cut it around the
lettering on the bottom. He also finished up three bottle tickets for the Silversmiths.
We had a nice visit from a very happy Customer/Guest. She wanted to show off the ring Lynn
engraved. Chris from the Silversmith did a wonderful job on its construction. The Guest was overjoyed!
With the Fifes and Drums cups finished, Lynn moved back to the Bodleian Plate, then the Silversmiths
arrived with a beautiful sterling silver salver. Lynn has begun and is about halfway through the map engraving.
We will be welcoming our Intern, Emma, next week, so photos of her drawing will show up soon.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Engraver is open Sunday through Tuesday, and Thursday.
Farmer – The Farmer will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at
1 pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – The Foundry has been keeping very busy over the last couple of weeks. Apprentice Drew
finished up an order of pewter buttons for the Tailors and has gotten 2/3 of the water bucket hardware
finished for the Coopers. Apprentice Leanne is well on the way to finishing up the last bracket for the full set.
Buttons
Water bucket hardware
This week also had the ED Strategy Production Service (Media Department) in our Shop for filming. To
prep for their arrival, Leanne and Drew deep cleaned the Shop, and what a difference it made (the light color
isn’t actually a grout but sand, both from mold making and Guests’ shoes). The film crew was hoping to see a
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�high-temperature pour and some mold making, so we definitely weren’t going to waste the opportunity to get
some other projects done. Drew cast a couple more bronze seals, and Leanne made some tray feet molds.
Research-wise, Drew is continuing with some required reading for our apprenticeships, and Leanne began
compiling a digital inventory of the objects we make, along with how they’ve been referenced from our
Collections.
Filming
Shop hallway before and after
The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – The Historic Gardeners undertook two notable harvests this week. The first broad beans (Vicia
faba) and garlic (Allium sativum) scapes of the season were sent to the Cooks at the Governor’s Palace. Both
plants overwintered, having been planted in December and October, respectively. The garlic, in particular,
benefited from the exceptionally warm winter, and bulbs will no doubt be harvested in the near future.
Broad beans and garlic scapes along with endive (Cichorium endivia) and spring onions (Allium cepa) before being sent to the Cooks
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) have gained some notoriety in Williamsburg gardens for carrying away
immature fruit. The Gardeners are experimenting with a potential solution by the judicious wrapping of thin
cloth about a tree branch to guard the fruit as described in John Abercrombie’s Every Man His Own Gardener
(London, 1767).
Despite this nectarine (Prunus persica) branch being partially covered in cheesecloth, the open weave allows sunlight to still reach
the leaves.
Apprentice Marc spent time transplanting this year’s sole tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and then building a
trellis about it. The trellis of sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is oriented horizontally in hopes the plant will
spread across the branches and the fruit will hang decoratively below. Last year’s attempt with two tomato
plants may have been too ambitious with the prolific stems intermixing. Here’s hoping with a single plant, the
project will turn out more pleasing.
An Amazonian tomato in its singular glory
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The trellis, or tomato table, in place around the plant.
A five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) about the broken pots, or crock, and brick rubble in the Garden.
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Harpsichordmaker – The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through
Saturday.
Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week, the Brickyard crew laid the last few bricks to complete the paving for the drying shed
and secured tarps to protect the sundried bricks from the anticipated summer storms. We are also around a
week out from the arrival of our Summer Casual hires, who will learn the ins and outs of Brickmaking,
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Virginia’s summer heat, and how much a human can sweat in a day. They will also likely be involved in the
building of the burn over kiln.
In other news, Master Josh got his 31st splinter of 2023, which is 5 less than last year at this time.
We'll need more data to see if this is significant.
The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – The Military Staff is in the final stage of hiring for the new Supervisor and hoping
to have finalized hiring of the candidate this week. Now that the Guardhouse work has been completed, the
site has returned to normal operating. Interpretations are currently outside most of the time to
accommodate more Guests and for increased visibility. We are still doing drill at 11 am, Tuesday through
Saturday, and “The Necessity of Order in Battle” on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. We would
like to congratulate Kevin Fowler, Matthew Luca, and Ren Tolson on achieving Level Two in the Military
Curriculum. Chris Grieb is preparing to depart for the NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar along with Andy
Prochnow of the Musket Range. He is taking a gunstock-carving class to increase his woodworking skills with
the goal of being able to repair stock damage that occasionally happens to reproductions being used for
demonstrations.
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – At long last, the promised pictures of Kate's completed linen jacket
and petticoat! She's already moved on to the next stage in the project, which involves making a second
version of this ensemble with some slight variations. A more expensive printed cotton has been chosen for
the new version, which requires the addition of some fashionable trim on the jacket and a deep flounce on the
matching petticoat. Janea has yet to decide whether she's going to strictly enforce the 40" of fabric parameter
on the jacket's trim, or whether she'll be kind and offer an allowance of an additional few inches to accomplish
the embellishments. Kate continues to stitch away while anxiously awaiting the verdict.
While we're on the subject of long-awaited photographic evidence...Edith is now in possession of her
newly finished "goose turd green" cloak; for her sake, we're hoping for a few more cooler days to give her a
chance to enjoy it before summer arrives. Rebecca and Kate spent some time in Collections on Thursday
documenting two recently-acquired figured silk short cloaks, which are next on Rebecca's list of cloak
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�reproductions. These won't be issued out to our fellow Tradeswomen to wear, alas, but we are definitely
prepared to entertain petitions for the position of model once they're each finished!
Utilitarian sewing has also been much in demand this week. Rebecca has finished several linen
drawstring bags; if anyone is in need of one to conceal a water bottle or to carry personal items across the
Historic Area, please stop by. She also made two work caps out of handwoven fabric for Joe and Benton,
which shall be delivered next week. Again, should anyone else desire to have one, just let us know, and we're
happy to make more. Janea continues to work on her experimental jacket, but has paused temporarily to
make another pocket, determined that not even the tiniest of scraps should go to waste.
Finally, here's our offering for your weekend amusement: In London's Public Advertiser of 21
November 1776, the birth of triplets was announced to a bricklayer's family in Petticoat Lane. The parents
proudly named their bundles of joy Hancock, Adams, and Washington. Sadly, Hancock died the day of his
birth, but the paper reports that both Adams and Washington are in excellent health.
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Musket Range – The Musket Range is currently working towards finalizing a contract to abate the lead in
the berm of the Musket Range site. This will not only facilitate Colonial Williamsburg's ongoing commitment
to environmental stewardship but will also give us the chance to “reset” the slope of the shooting berm back
to its original angle for the first time since 2015, when it was constructed. We anticipate removal of nearly
5,000 lbs. of lead captured in the hillside! Fortunately, this site was well designed to capture any runoff and
should be a very easy cleanup project for our contractor who specializes in range lead removal. We anticipate
this happening in late August, and it should shut down the Musket Range for about a week.
The Range is also preparing for Andy Prochnow to depart in early June, along with Chris Grieb of the
Military Programs unit, to attend the NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar in Bowling Green, KY. Andy is endeavoring
to complete a 6-day class in building a colonial rifle kit, which will develop his skills in building and repairing
Musket Range equipment. We wish him good luck!
The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am,
11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers are working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop has been busy this spring. The Shop has been closed on Sunday mornings for all but
a few lucky individuals that joined us for hands-on Workshops. The first set of Workshops introduced
common stitches and sewing techniques to young and more mature participants. The current Workshop
offered is a bit more challenging: Death’s-head and other thread buttons. Participants learn how to make up
gorgeous, unique, and useful buttons from silk and linen threads, metal rings, and wooden forms. The buttonmaking Workshop will be offered for the next four weeks. Tickets are required and can be purchased on the
ColonialWilliamsburg.org website or by calling 1-800-HISTORY.
Mr. McCarty, Journeyman, finished a pair of off-white silk satin breeches this week for a mannequin
that will also be dressed with an original coat and waistcoat that will be featured in the new costume gallery in
the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. Mr. Logue, Apprentice, has begun a mohair velvet waistcoat for
Mr. Zelesnikar, Master Wheelwright.
The Tailor is open Sunday (12:00-5:00), Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (11:30-5:00), and
Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – The bed rug is off the loom!! The last of the warp yardage was woven
in green and brown stripes and will likely be sold at Prentis Store as some form of blanket. The twill weave
structure that the blankets are woven with lends itself well to flexible draping, meaning a twill blanket will
nicely conform to your body to trap heat and keep you cozy.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 20
�The Weaver is open Monday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – We’ve been busy, busy at the Wheel and Wagon Works! The velocipede progresses at a
rapid rate. Stay tuned.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Market Cart is not far behind, with hubs freshly banded by the Blacksmiths (thanks again). We have
received other goodies from our friends at the Anderson Forge.
Welcome, Ralph Flanders, to our Shop! Ralph will be our Intern for the summer. He is in the midst of making
a wheelbarrow for the Carpenters.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 20
�The Wheelwright Shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – Greetings and salutations! Everyone in the Shop is currently working on their hand knotting
skills. Benton has completed a couple square bases and will be moving on to the more complicated round
bases soon. Debbie and Edith have been working on netting for future projects. Edith has also been finetuning her comb-making skills by practicing with different types of wood and horn. The curls that Debbie has
been working on for Anna R. are ready for styling and should be out of the Shop soon. We also continue to
work our way through maintenance needs and would like to remind our colleagues to bring in their items
more regularly during the warmer spring and summer months. As always, feel free to reach out to us with any
hair-related needs or questions.
Examples of Benton's netting, with good progress
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 20
�Contributors: Blacksmith – Alex Hinman; Bookbinder – Barbara Swanson; Cabinetmaker – John Peeler;
Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cook – Abbey Shoaf; Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar; Founder – Leanne Bellouny;
Gardener – Marc Nucup; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Military Programs – Justin Chapman; Milliner and
Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik; Musket Range – Justin Chapman; Tailor – Michael McCarty; Wheelwright –
Paul Zelesnikar; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 20
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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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
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2015-
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Title
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 20, May 20, 2023
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
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2023-05-20
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
May 13, 2023
This week’s Trades Talks at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium:
On Monday, May 15th, the Coopers will present “Tracing Adam Waterford”. Adam Waterford was a free
Black man who worked as a cooper in Williamsburg around the time of the American Revolution. This
program explores how we know that, and what else we know and don’t know about him, in a discussion of
the documentary evidence that allows us to glimpse who Adam Waterford was.
On Wednesday, May 17th, the Wheelwrights will present, “A Primer on Paint”. Long before humanity
created villages and towns, there was paint. Paint serves not only as an aesthetic enhancer but as a means
of preservation of wood and metal objects. Come join a Colonial Williamsburg Wheelwright on a journey
following the science and history of this often-ignored part of our lives.
On Saturday, May 20th, Alex from Military Programs will present, “Defenses of the Delaware”. A nation's
capital is always of paramount importance for governance and morale of an army. Philadelphia was the De
Facto capital of the United States, and as such, a prime target for the British. In 1777, General Howe set his
sights on it and sailed with the British Army South. Given the power of the Royal Navy, the fear was an
approach by water through the Delaware River. Come learn about American attempts to fortify the river
and their fierce defense as the Royal Navy desperately tried to push its way towards Philadelphia.
********
Apothecary – Busy as always at the Pasteur-Galt Shop! Mark is suffering pain in his great toe as a result of
his lecture to the National Society of Clinical Rheumatologists, but luckily has his gout lecture notes to refer to
for treatment. Margaret gave the first of five Wednesday lectures on 18th-century mental health and
healthcare on May 3rd and headed back on the 10th for more. (Come check it out if you're free; it forms part
of the Tuesday-Thursday lecture series on the Public Hospital.) Sharon has been reviewing applications for the
Assistant position opening in June.
The Apothecary is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Blacksmith – This week, the Blacksmiths have enjoyed a productive week. Mark is hard at work on making
a lock for the Bray School. The lock is really shaping up nicely, Mark having finished the key and warding and
now onto the bolts. The Apprentices have enjoyed peeking over Mark's shoulder, keenly observing the
process, and dreaming of the day when we, too, get to make a lock. The crew has also been making a large
variety of kitchen utensils for Mount Vernon, and it has been fun to hear that the Guests are impressed by
that task. For Mount Vernon, Ken has been making oval spoons, Broadus has been making spatulas, Alex has
been making pot hooks, and Josh is embarking on grid-iron making. Aislinn has been working on some small
folding knives and fire place tongs. Together, we banded two wheel hubs for the Wheelwrights, as well. Our
Guest quote of the week is, "We've been coming here for 54 years and every time, we learn something new."
The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 19
�Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – This has been finals week for our neighbors at the College of William and Mary, and that
means Sarah has reached the end of her Internship. Amid her final exams and big research papers, she
managed to finish up work on her walnut candle box. Congratulations to her for a job well done! Fortunately,
she'll be able to stay with us as a Volunteer over the summer, so the box is just the beginning ... Meanwhile,
John has been hard at work with the final glue-up of his side chairs. Stay tuned to next week's post for a closer
look at those. In addition to making more parts for his writing table, Bill has been behind the scenes mixing up
and experimenting with 18th-century stain recipes. Pictured below is brazilwood in water - this will eventually
take on a deeper purple color that actually pushes woods like mahogany towards a brilliant red (thanks are
due to the Weavers for their advice on making dyes).
Candle Box
Gluing-up chairs
Brazilwood stain
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 19
�Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we’ve finished up the rafter feet and the gable end studs.
We still have four braces to cut and test fit before we wrap up the frame. Next Monday, we will be working
with Dale to dig the holes over at Ewing Field. The framing will get moved next week for the wagon shed. We
hope to raise the frame in the next week or so.
The Carpenters Yard is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, Monday (11:30-5:00), Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cooper – Last week, the Farm site at Ewing Field took delivery of the first of two tubs from the Coopers for
use in watering draft animals. This picture is of the second, which we completed this week and is awaiting
pick up.
The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – The Engraver is open Sunday through Tuesday, and Thursday.
Farmer – The Farmer will be at Ewing Field Friday and Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square. This weekend will be “Drummer’s Call”.
Founder – The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – The Historic Gardeners have now planted out nearly everything that will be growing in our
Garden for summer. New additions planted from seed this week include pole beans, cushaw squash, and
castor beans; and we also transplanted seedlings into the Garden of cockscomb flowers, hot peppers, and
basil that we started in March in a hotbed. Our Garden is the perfect place to find all the ingredients for a
lavish salad this time of year; and we sent lettuce, radishes, onions, herbs, and a beautiful assortment of
edible flowers to the Historic Cooks at the Governor's Palace Kitchen. Apprentice Gardener Marc and our
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Intern, Andrew, had a chance to practice several Garden skills this week, and kept busy constructing a trellis
for climbing beans, pruning pomegranates, and adding a brick border to a small bed beneath our grape arbor.
We also began repotting a few of the flowers and herbs that overwintered in our Garden. While
repotting our rosemary and updating our plant label, we discovered that in 2017 rosemary's genus and species
was reclassified from Rosmarinus officinalis to Salvia rosmarnius. It’s a good reminder that the science of
botany, much like history, is not static and that new discoveries can require that we reconsider and update our
previously held knowledge. The moderate temperatures of the last month have been ideal for our spring
flowering plants, and a staggering number of flowers are in full bloom. Some highlights at the moment
include foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), corn poppies (Papaver rhoeas), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus),
Maltese cross (Silene chalcedonica), and canterbury bells (Campanula medium).
Newly planted cockscomb flowers and trellises for beans and cucumbers (left). Salad ingredients including edible flowers harvested
at the Historic Garden (right).
The completed brick border for a Garden bed beneath our grape arbor
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�A bed of ornamental corn poppies (Papaver rhoeas) in bloom at the Historic Garden
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Harpsichordmaker – From the Harpsichord corner … Part of our work allows experimenting with methods, and
sometimes, what worked in the past doesn’t work now. We soaked our oak bentside for about five days and bent it on
our form. We’ve had great success with this method in the past with walnut, but the oak proved too porous, swelled
considerably, then fractured all through the lower half of the board as it dried. You can see the light peeking through in
one of the photos. We believe we oversoaked it more than necessary. We will try again with a new oak board, and a
shorter soak. Bending wood is a tricky business, always.
Cracks in bentside showing through light
First bentside with unfortunate damage in situ
As a side note, the black color of the oak came from soaking it in an iron trough. The iron reacted with the
tannins in the wood, turning it black. It is superficial and can be scraped off. The same reaction occurs when oak trees
fall into peat bogs, and the wood goes seriously black over time. Fifteenth-century wood inlay workers in Italy used that
‘bog oak’ for dark backgrounds in their wooden wall panels, since ebony was not generally available yet and would be
too dense for their type of woodworking. Flemish harpsichordmakers used it for the black key caps on their keyboards.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 19
�So, this darkened oak had a role in historical woodworking. We won’t have to worry about this effect, since all visible
surfaces on the bentside of our instrument will be scraped and covered with walnut veneer.
And speaking of veneer, check out Melanie’s finished banding work for the inner rims of the case walls. It will
really leap out to the eye when we get everything together and oil those surfaces.
Ed has worked at assembling and fitting the oak cheek boards that will flank the keyboard area. It was easiest to
clamp the entire current assembly to the side of the workbench and saw and chisel the grooves into which the oak
pieces fit. See the photo where we have brought parts together as they will eventually join up (lacking the bentside, of
course, but that will come soon). Best to you all from the corner.
Backboard inner veneer after gluing (left). Backboard inner veneer with strip inlaid and smoothed (right).
Fitting the keyboard flank cheek walls into inner assembly (left). Spinet parts laid out in situ pre assembly
The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Joiner – Work continues at the Joiner Shop. The Brickyard reached out last week, looking for a new brick
mold based on the historic brick excavated at the First Baptist Church, so the Joiners have banded together to
get this project cranked out. Due to his affinity for Brickmaking, Peter has led the charge on this particular
project, delegating material preparation and joint cutting to the other folks in the Shop.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�This has briefly pulled Brian away from his work on the lathe, and Laura away from working on a stool for the
Tinsmiths. Meanwhile, Scott has continued to work on his corner cupboard. Corner cupboards are massive,
requiring hundreds of board feet of material and hours upon hours of time dedicated to their construction.
The current focus for his attention is the sash door that will fit into the upper section of the cupboard.
Window construction relies on careful layout and precise joinery, so Scott has taken his time getting
everything just right.
The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week for the Brickyard crew, the Brickmaking season has begun, while paving continues
under the drying shed. Once all four bays have been paved, the whole shed will be ready for sundried bricks,
which will be stacked there all summer long. The production thus far will go on the paving to establish the
first of many rows to come. Otherwise, this week, the Apprentices, Nick and Madeleine, started to
experiment with the tilemaking process, culminating in the first sundried tile from the Brickyard. This process
will likely go through a lot of changes as we figure out what works best in terms of processing clay and how
best to mold them.
Apprentice Madeleine was also featured this week in the Peninsula Chronicle as part of a series
featuring women in Trades at Colonial Williamsburg.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – Kate's forty-inches-of-fabric jacket has been completed! She did a
meticulous job aligning stripes and seams. You'll have to take our word for it until next week, though, since
we haven't been able to get a photo of the completed jacket and petticoat ensemble yet. She's now on to
making another in a different fabric, which should go much faster because of the new fabric's more stable
weave structure and its printed pattern that doesn't require matching.
She and Janea also finished the festive red, white, and blue silk ribbons that adorn this year's
“Drummer's Call” medallions. Janea has divided much of her time this week between training and
preparations for today's film shoot, in which she'll be demonstrating spinning as well as weaving with silk on a
tape loom. Rebecca continues work on Edith's green cloak and is compiling research for a new program
proposal for next spring.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 19
�Our big excitement this week was being summoned by the Curatorial and Conservation Team to help
mount a 1740(ish) gown for a photoshoot for a British museum. CW owns the earliest known example of a
pleated back gown, which we believe dates to the mid-to-late 1730s to about 1740. The team in Collections
has been struggling for days to figure out how the gown is meant to drape on the body; with its on-the-grain
straight cut and its lack of waist seam in the front, there was a lot of wrinkling and excess fabric that just didn't
want to behave. With our Mantua-making eyes, we took the approach of visualizing the draping of the fabric
as a tradeswoman in 1735-40 might have approached it, seeing it as the natural evolution of the mantua into
this new transitional style that quickly resolves into the gown style that dominates for the next four decades.
With some strategic mantua-making fiddling, plus the addition of a reproduction quilted petticoat, a
stomacher to approximate the "breaking point" of the top ridge of the stays, and a bunch of reference images,
the seven of us collectively figured out the puzzle. It's always rewarding to see the intersection of tradework
and extant garments; not only do extant garments teach us about how they were made, but knowing how
they were made often provides the key to understanding all of the secrets of an extant piece as well.
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 19
�Musket Range – The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at
9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers are working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmiths have been quite busy with a multitude of projects this past week. Megan
has started raising her first set of mugs, while Bobbie is continuing to raise her sweetmeat basket.
Left to right below: Chris is continuing to chase and define the well of her new tray, Preston has been raising
more small bowls, and George continues to hammer out spoons and ingots.
The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 19
�Tailor – The Tailor is open Sunday (12:00-5:00), Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (11:30-5:00), and
Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Last week, we went on a field trip! The team attended the 50th Annual
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. We each took several fiber-related classes in the days before the weekend
festivities, which helped add to our knowledge of the modern fiber world. We spoke to vendors selling
anything and everything fiber related. We watched sheep dog trials and a sheep-to-shawl competition. We
experienced a Viking encampment (complete with warp-weighted loom and tape weaving demonstrations!).
And we shopped till we dropped. Overall, the Festival was a reminder that many people continue to make a
living doing the same kinds of work that people of the past did, and while it may look very different today, the
ingenuity and creativity of people who make things is certainly not a thing of the past. So often we find
ourselves lodged in the techniques of the past that it is easy to forget that our Trade is not dead here in the
present.
On Monday morning, we picked up where we left off: the blue upholstery on the counterbalance and
the brown bedrug on the countermarch. Happily, Pamela finished the bedrug on Tuesday, and there was
much rejoicing! Now, all that's left is to finish off the warp and get the next one built. Joe has been spinning
yarn for his Journeyman project and has just finished spinning about 25% of the estimated yardage. He
believes the spinning should take him around eight months to complete.
Pictured is the warp-weighted loom from the Festival (left) and the completed bed rug (right).
The Weaver is open Monday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – This week, we saw a lot of progress on the velocipede project. The frame was shaped out
and handle bars turned. With these two parts done, the velocipede should be coming together in no time.
We are also making progress on the market cart for the Coach and Livestock team. The tailgate was knocked
together and attached via toggles. Now for painting! Come check out all the ongoing projects at the Wheel
and Wagon Works!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 19
�The Wheelwright Shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – Hello from the Wig Shop! Maintenance continues, as usual. Edith has been working on
wooden combs and has recently gotten some horn cards from the Tinsmiths to begin working with. Benton
has been diligently working on his hand knotting and has already gotten to practice with the smallest gauge
we have. Debbie recently attended training sessions at BHS about Communication, Active Listening, and
Coaching Techniques. Thank you, Evan P., for the informative classes! As always, please feel free to reach out
to us with hair-related needs or questions.
As a reminder to our male presenting colleagues with long hair: with the warmer weather arriving, if
you plan to bind your hair at the nape, please remember to use black ponytail holders, and if at all possible,
cover the holder with black ribbon. We are more than happy to supply you with both holders and ribbon, if
you need them.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Blacksmith – Joshua Rachita; Cabinetmaker – Bill Pavlak;
Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Gardener – Teal Brooks; Harpsichordmaker – Ed Wright;
Joiner – Peter Hudson; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik;
Silversmith – Megan Cantwell; Wheelwright – Murphy Griffin; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo;
Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 19
�
Dublin Core
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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
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2015-
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Title
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 19, May 13, 2023
Creator
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Publisher
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
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2023-05-13
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
May 5, 2023
This week’s Trades Talks at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium:
On Monday, May 8th, Masonry Trades will present, “Who Designed This Place?” Join Master
Bricklayer Josh Graml as he explores how 18th-century buildings were designed and built as gentlemen
architects plied their trade in Virginia. Where did they get their design inspirations, and how did they
translate English architectural forms to Virginia-born tradesmen?
On Wednesday, May 10th, the Wheelwrights will present, “The Road MORE Travelled”.
Williamsburg is known as a sleepy, quiet southern town, but what did it look like in its heyday? Join a
Colonial Williamsburg Wheelwright as they take you onto the colonial Capitol's streets to discuss what was
rolling and who was driving.
On Saturday, May 13th, the Founders will present “Casting a Bronze Mortar.” Join Apprentice
Founder Drew to learn about the production of an 18th-century artillery mortar.
********
Apothecary – This week has been busy as always despite Spring Break mellowing out our visitor numbers.
Margaret put together the finishing touches on a Hennage Talk about mental healthcare and the Public
Hospital, which she'll give each Wednesday at 10:30 am through the end of May. Sharon participated in more
filming at the Shop on Tuesday, talking to actors about medicine and getting plenty of B-roll of the Shop. Mark
is having an Edgar Allan Poe moment with rheumatology ("I see gout everywhere") but is excited for the Talk
on Saturday morning.
The Apothecary is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – Good day from the Bookbindery. Barbara has recently completed two 1749 Almanacs in calf,
with extra pages added for notes, for two longtime friends of Colonial Williamsburg and the Bookbindery. The
books were modeled on three examples of Almanacs in Special Collections at the Rockefeller Library, one of
which belonged to their ancestor, Thomas Bolling.
I was talking to a group of people one day at the Bookbindery about this fun project, and the Bolling
family, who just happened to be visiting, was so excited to hear what I was doing! Sometimes, our work is
cool like that. The family requested pictures of the books, as well as one where I am holding them, so here
they are.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�The Bookbinder is open Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – Bill and John are busy with their respective projects
this week. John has gotten his four side chairs dry fit and will be doing
the final glue-up soon. Bill has been sawing and planing away on some
oak to make the bottom of his writing table drawer – an important part
of a drawer, you might agree. Our Intern, Sarah, is rounding the bases
on her slide-top box and will have a finished project soon enough.
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we are finishing up the rafter collars and cutting rafter feet.
We hope to have a couple rafter pairs standing by the end of Wednesday for studs to be installed on Saturday.
The Carpenters Yard is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cook – This week, we were able to defy the rainy weather for the “Garden Symposium” to participate in the
“pick and prepare” lunch that took place over at the Taste Studio. Frank brought over and demonstrated
cabbage and onion cakes, a staff favorite at the Palace Kitchen. Each attendee was able to try Frank’s dish as a
part of one of the courses presented, atop a lovely seasonal salad. From all reports, the cakes were a massive
hit, with folks saying they would love to see the cabbage and onion cakes added to a CW Tavern menu in the
future.
We had another successful Workshop, with folks making more fun creations out of marzipan.
Following the Workshop, we hosted this month’s “Secrets of the Chocolate Maker” program. The Kitchen has
been full of familiar faces this week, with regulars from all over the country seeming to be in town spending
time with us all at once. There is little more that makes us smile in the Kitchen than seeing so many of our
friends coming back to see us every time they come into town, and making multiple stops each trip to see
what we’ve been cooking up. Special thanks to Ken from down at the Blacksmith Shop for coming up to give
our Clock Jack another round of TLC. Thanks to his attention, our Jack is running more smoothly than it has in
quite some time, and we were able to roast a lovely bird the following afternoon.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, Monday (11:30-5:00), Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – This week, we have finished up a tray full of trade silver for the Silversmiths, and William is
working on some custom bottle tickets for them. Journeyman Chris from the Silversmith Shop has delivered a
stunning silver tray that I will begin working on this week. It will carry a Frenchman’s Map on the face of the
tray. William has also been steadily cutting on his Ships plate and will be finishing soon! Next step is to design
and cut a cartouche to frame the inscription on the bottom, so he has been researching cartouche elements
and layout ideas. William and I also concluded our interviews for our Intern position, and we have made a
decision. We will be welcoming in Emma Allerdice! She is currently a Groom with Coach and Livestock. We
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�hope to see her in the Shop in a couple of weeks. The Engravers have also found out that we will be hosting a
Junior Interpreter. We will be seeing young Ms. Emily in the Shop, hopefully soon. She will be doing lots of
drawing exercises, watercoloring, and learning some dry point for printing, and we plan to do some field
drawing around town. We are looking forward to having both of these folks in the Engraving Shop.
The Engraver is open Sunday through Tuesday, and Thursday.
Farmer – The Farmer will be at Ewing Field Friday and Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1
pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – In the Geddy Foundry this week, Drew has been working on cleaning up handles for the Coopers,
making patterns, and teaching the folks from Military Programs some musket ball making. Leanne is away on
a needed vacation until next week. We hope she is having a fantastic time. Some of you may have heard
Mike is not feeling too well. He will be out for a little bit, and we wish him a speedy recovery. We miss you,
Mike! Over the weekend and next week, you may see William and Lynn from Engraving and possibly a
Silversmith or two in the Foundry helping out.
The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – The Garden was visited by our Arborists this week to remove the dead branches from the Sweet
Gum. It is now much safer to walk into the back of the Garden. Planting commenced of the American Indian
Food Plot with a visit from our colleagues from the American Indian Initiative. The ground had been turned
and readied beforehand, so the work was mostly raising up the hills and seeding. Vegetables planted
were Nanticoke Squash (Cucurbita maxima), Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus), and Abenaki Corn
(Zea mays). Sunflower seeds were sown on the outer edges of the Garden to complete the chosen crops for
this year.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�Seeding the Sankofa Heritage Garden has begun. Peanuts, okra, sesame, millet, sorghum, and cymlin
squash have been sown, so far. Sweet potatoes will be planted at the end of the month when the days are
much warmer.
Lots of weeding keeps everything looking tidy. Lima beans are up, as well as the fennel, cucumbers,
carrots, and beets. Rainfall arrived at just the right time, as it has been dry. One downpour which occurred
overnight, netted over 1 ½ inches of rain. The Gardeners also planted out French marigolds and celosia and
divided the Venus Fly Trap. All are great additions to a gentry Garden.
When the rye dries out a bit more, we will make new straw mats to replace the older mats. In the
meantime, we continue to move the bundles of rye in and out from under our tent to keep them dry from
rain.
Many thanks to the Landscape Department for hosting the 76th Annual “Garden Symposium” this last
weekend. A variety of guest speakers were presenting as well as breakout sessions on various topics and
tours. There was something for every level of gardener and plant enthusiast.
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Harpsichordmaker – We are frequently asked what we do with our wood shavings; frequently, the
answer is that we simply give them to other Trades to use as a fire starter. Occasionally, though, we put them
to use. When applying veneer, we use a strong hide glue on both faces of the veneer. We then hammer them
on with a veneer hammer (it looks like the squeegee with which you clean the windshield off at the gas
station) and cover the glued-down veneer with damp cloth and a handful of wood shavings, which insulates
and slows the drying time and allows everything to dry uniformly, preventing the veneer from peeling back
up.
After preparing a lot of veneer for banding, we have started applying it to parts of the new spinet! The
walnut banding on the spine will hide the yellow pine and create a decorative pattern that will instead be seen
when the lid is open. Other preparations continue. More veneer is still needed. The case of the spinet is
coming together bit by bit. We're soon to veneer and install the cheeks that flank the keyboard area. The oak
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�bentside will begin soaking soon so we can band it on the form that will give the spinet its distinct curve on the
front side. More good things to come.
The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – Hello! This week, we were happy to issue a new pair of breeches to Josh, Master
of Masonry Trades! We think he looks sharp. Apprentice Emma made up this pair. Master Jay also finished a pair
recently, which will be used for Shop interpretation. Both pairs are deerskin and the fashionable buff color. Happy
wearing Josh!
Josh is enjoying his new breeches!
The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week in the Brickyard, work continues as the Yard is being prepared for Brickmaking, and
paving is underway for the drying shed. An important part of the Brickmaking process is getting sand to the
site, and our sand has been delivered! This sand goes in the mold to ensure a smooth release and thus, a
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�better brick, making our bricks sand struck. As for Brickmaking, the treading pit has been filled and is ready to
create the first bricks of the summer, which should be made soon.
In more fashionable news, Master Josh received a pair of leather breeches from the Leather Breeches
Makers, in which he will be strutting around for the foreseeable future.
The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – Work continues on several collaborative projects. Janea and Intern
Rachel are stitching their way through the red, white, and blue silk ribbons that will adorn this year's
medallions made by the Founders for “Drummer's Call”. Both this week and last, we spent some research
time in Collections studying some of the pieces from the Mary D. Doering Collection, which will be going on
exhibit in the Museum when the new Textiles Gallery opens later this summer. We're making some millinery
pieces to complement several of the antique gowns and have now collected all of the measurements we
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�need. With our Trades/Curatorial Historical Dress Conference next year, we're also documenting some pieces
to make reproductions for a couple of special programs associated with that event.
Janea was interviewed on Wednesday by Next Door Neighbor Magazine;
we're thrilled that the contributions she's made over her long tenure here are
being shared outside of the Foundation. Congratulations! She's now on to the
less exotic and enticing realm of mending...alas! Rebecca finally completed her
blue cloak. This has been a pick-up-and-put-down filler project for months, but
the calendar cleared enough to allow it to be finished last week. It's a
reproduction of a red cloak with black silk trim that she studied at the
Connecticut Historical Society, but the blue substitution reflects an advertised
alternative. A "goose-turd" green cloak is now underway for Wigmaker
Edith...unfortunately, just in time for the weather to make it unnecessary! Kate
continues to work on her sleeve ruffles and is nearly done with her 40-inchfabric linen jacket. Janea will be fitting the sleeves today, so we'll have the
finished product to share next week.
And finally, a picture for the ages! This past Saturday was the first time
since early March that we've had all five of us – Mistress, Journeywoman,
Apprentice, paid Intern, and NIAHD Intern – in the Shop together. It was only
for about an hour before the Interns swapped out, but it was a pretty special
moment to have us all working side by side, just as our 18th-century mantuamaking counterparts might have done. Rachel is soon headed to England for the summer to do research for
her undergraduate thesis, but Ishbel will be back with us in a couple of weeks to begin her Brickman
Internship.
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range has been in training mode for a while now. We are happy to report
that our numbers for May have been moved up to four shooters per session, thanks to the hard work of Alex
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�and Andy. They are both now fully trained and on their own. They have developed two new interpretations
and have been wowing shooters. Alex recently instructed a fully blind shooter, with great success. As a
reminder, we are fully committed to providing the best service for all shooters, no matter their abilities. We
have facilities for wheelchair access and shooting benches. The Musket Range is designed for easy access for
anyone to shoot. Can't wait to see everyone out there.
Also, we are currently looking for another Instructor to join our team.
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm,
and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers are working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Sunday (12:00-5:00), Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (11:30-5:00), and
Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – The Weaver is open Monday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – Long time no see! We have been busy with Coach and Livestock 's new MARKET CART!
The body is ready for painting, and the hubs are at the Blacksmith for banding. Come by for a chat!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�The Wheelwright Shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Bookbinder – Barbara Swanson; Cabinetmaker – John Peeler;
Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cook – Abbey Shoaf; Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar; Founder – Lynn Zelesnikar;
Gardener – Eve Otmar; Harpsichordmaker – Melanie Belongia; Leather Breeches Maker – Emma Cross;
Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik; Musket Range – Jeffrey Thomas;
Wheelwright – Paul Zelesnikar
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 18
�
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 9, number 18, May 5, 2023
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
2023-05-05
-
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
April 29, 2023
This week’s Trades Talks at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium:
On Monday, May 1st, the Coopers will present “Tracing Adam Waterford”. Adam Waterford was a free
Black man who worked as a cooper in Williamsburg around the time of the American Revolution. This
program explores how we know that, and what else we know and don’t know about him, in a discussion of
the documentary evidence that allows us to glimpse who Adam Waterford was.
No program on Wednesday, May 3rd.
On Saturday, May 6th, the Founders will present “Casting a Bronze Mortar.” Join Apprentice Founder Drew
to learn about the production of an 18th-century artillery mortar.
********
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Blacksmith – Our anvils ring on at the Blacksmith Shop! This week, Ken has made a froe and works on
cooking spoons. Mark has returned and has picked up where he left off on his lock. Aislinn has pounded out a
hammer, and also works on a roasting spit. Alex is working on ladles and pot hooks, and has taken up the task
of sorting nails, as may be seen all across his bench. Broadus makes trivets and spatulas. Lastly, Josh wraps up
the gate hardware he has been working on. As always, All’s well that falls well at the base of the anvil.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 17
�Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 17
�The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – Things really started to come together on three of the Cabinetmaker's big projects this
week. John Peeler glued up all four front assemblies for his set of chairs. He's now refining them and making
final preparations to join the fronts and backs together. Meanwhile, Bill Pavlak mounted the casters on his
writing table, molded the legs of the writing drawer so they nest seamlessly with the fixed front legs, and
made some small rollers to allow the writing drawer legs to glide smoothly across the floor (thanks to the
Blacksmiths and Joiners for loaning some materials for those rollers). Our NIAHD Intern, Sarah Palluconi,
finished cutting the dovetails on her walnut candle box, making it ready for glue-up early next week.
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we have been making and test fitting the rafter pairs for the
wagon shed at the Farm site.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 17
�The Carpenters Yard is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cook – We are excited to see all the young baby plants out in the Palace Kitchen Garden starting to come up
for Spring! Red potatoes, peas, onion, lettuce, artichokes, and of course, the cardoons are all doing well after
being planted by our friends in Landscaping. We had another successful Workshop, and this coming Monday,
we will also be hosting our next afternoon of chocolate making. We brewed a wheat beer on our Brew Day
this past Sunday and have heard that our collaboration with Aleworks for the orange ale is close to having an
official name. Dom attended a committee meeting for the Coffeehouse, and we have started to see folks
coming into town for the Garden Symposium. Barbara enjoyed her time down with Military Programs at the
Armoury Kitchen this past weekend, and Guests seemed happy to see both Kitchens up and running.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Monday, their Workshop will
be held 10:00-11:00 followed by “Secrets of the Chocolate Maker”, 11:30-2:30.
Cooper – This week, the Coopers delivered some new tubs, buckets, and
piggins to the Randolph House to replace some pieces that have reached
the end of their working life.
The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – The Engraver is open Sunday through Tuesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 17
�Farmer – Two hundred and seventy-five hills have been raised for corn, tobacco, and cotton, with about
twenty for a new experimental crop, indigo. The corn is up about two inches, and the barley is just coming up.
The new ground brought in this year is pretty hard, and over the years, compost will be added to give it more
structure. So, we have to keep the soil constantly loosened so the rain will sink in rather than run off. The
tools of choice are hoes and a horse-drawn cultivator called a hoe plow.
The action of the hoe plow
School kids chopping up the soil
The Farmer will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums Building has been full of activity the last few weeks as we
prepared for our trip to Norfolk to play in the Virginia International Tattoo Hullabaloo and Drumline Showcase.
The Senior Corps got the opportunity to play in the pre-show for the first time since 2019 and then were able
to watch the main event. This was a great opportunity for our Fifers and Drummers to meet musicians from
around the world and learn about other cultures! They did a wonderful job at both events! Everybody very
much enjoyed the show and is feeling inspired! In addition to the excitement of last week, on Saturday, April
29th, we will be sending the Senior Corps up to Fairfax, Virginia, for the 2nd Annual Fairfax Tattoo, where they
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�will perform at George Mason University. Amidst all of this preparation, the adult staff members have been
getting ready for “Drummer's Call” (May 19-20). We will have seven groups joining us on Duke of Gloucester
Street with at least 200 performers total. There have also been several requests this week for the Fifes and
Drums to play at private events or conferences, giving Senior Corps members an opportunity to play some of
the tunes we don't usually play as a group. We also had a fun couple of meetings with Military Programs, who
came down to review duty calls and practice some drill techniques with both us and our Senior Corps
drummers. We are excited to work with them more in the future! Lastly, we'd like to congratulate Ben Smith
for passing up to the rank of Drummer and Julia Smith and Harmony Schleif for attaining the rank of Private!
We'd also like to congratulate Privates Travis Smith, Ty Smith, and Dominic Le Gouellec on a good first march
with the Junior Corps on Thursday!
Military Programs and Brodie Adams working on drill commands (left). Three Senior Corps members (Sergeant Major David
Degaraff, 1st Sergeant Jacob Hower, and Drum Sergeant Duane Bradley) escorting a group to dinner at Shield's Tavern (right).
The Junior Corps on Thursday with its new members performing
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market Square, Saturday
at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1 pm on the Play House
Stage.
Founder – The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – The Historic Gardeners recently reaped of a bed of rye (Secale cereale). Rye is grown as a cover
crop throughout the winter in the Historic Garden. The straw is dried, and diligent readers will recall it being
sewn into mats for use around the Garden. Growing in amongst the rye this spring were volunteer corn
poppies (Papaver rhoeas). Corn poppies, as the name suggests, were frequently encountered weeds in
European fields (when the word corn was a generic term for grain) but were brought to the colonies as a
garden flower.
It is a certain serendipity to see poppies within our grain bed.
Apprentice Marc built two trellises to support vines of recently sowed prickly cucumbers (Cucumis sativus).
Both trellises are made of branches pruned annually by the Landscape Department from the sycamore trees at
the corner of Francis and Nassau Streets.
A tall trellis with reinforcement to hold it upright against both the wind and future weight of cucumbers
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�A lower trellis built into a Garden hotbed
A recent weeding about our snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) gave rise to a curious spectacle. One of the
larger plants was bent over and lay in a pathway. To remedy the situation, the snapdragon was gently tied to
an upright stick. The stems that had been pointing towards the sky were now bent some 90 degrees over.
Before the end of the day, the plant had begun the process of correcting its direction in relation to the sky!
In botany, tropism is the turning movement or growth of a plant in response to environmental stimulus.
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Harpsichordmaker – The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through
Saturday.
Joiner – This week in the Joinery, we have a few different projects underway. Scott continues progress on
his corner cupboard, preparing stock for a sash door. Brian has returned to a project that had been on hiatus:
a lathe based on one in our Museum Collection (OBJ 1988-14). While we often work with yellow pine to
create finish work or furniture, the base of this lathe is made of oak, a better material for this piece. Laura has
started on a new box for the Tinsmiths, this time constructed by nailing the pieces together instead of using
dovetail joints.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 17
�The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week in the Brickyard, the crew experienced a bit of modern intrusion as the area around
our drying shed was graded for proper drainage and leveling. This work will allow us to start paving the shed
soon. Otherwise, earlier this week, the Apprentices worked on prepping the lime kiln for future firings by
applying a layer of fire clay on the interior. This will protect the bricks from the heat of repeated firings as we
intend to burn some shell this summer. Also this week, the shade shelter was completed, which means
brickmaking is close at hand!
The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Programs has been on closedown last week and this week, while the
Guardhouse receives some much needed repairs. Most dramatic and welcome is the replacement of the brick
floor on the main level of the Guardhouse. If you've been in the structure in the last fifteen years, you've
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 17
�probably witnessed how worn and uneven it began to be. We can’t thank the staff of CW Operations and
Maintenance enough for their help! The building is also undergoing some basic repairs, such as painting and
window repair.
During this time, Military Programs has been busy with professional development while also
interpreting where possible. Alex Arnold has been giving Hennage Talks on Mondays and Wednesdays, April
17, 19, and 26. The Military Staff has also been interpreting at the Armoury on Fridays and Saturdays, April
21-22 and 28-29, while also working on cleaning the guns in the Armoury and learning some new skills with
the help of our Cooks, Founders, and Shoemakers! Again, a big Thanks to Frank, Mike, and Val for helping
make this happen along with Barbara, Drew, and Nicole for teaching us. There have also been a couple of staff
trips during the closedown. We have visited the battle sites of Great Bridge and Yorktown and will be taking a
behind-the-scenes trip back to Yorktown JYF to view more items in their collection. Military Programs will be
back to normal interpretation at the Guardhouse on Sunday, April 30.
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday,
and Saturday.
Musket Range – This week, we began cross training our Military
Program co-workers here at the Range. Military Programs have been filling
in for Musket Range staff, when needed, since our inception. We cannot
thank them enough for their hard work and support. They bring their
interpretative skills with them, and it is truly a treat for our shooters and
staff to hear the new and unique information.
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with
sessions at 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – This past Saturday was Charlotte Larsen's last day volunteering with the Printers. We wish her
well in writing her various papers for the end of the semester.
David Wilson has taken copies of "A new SONG" to give out as keepsakes while attending “The
American Typecasting Fellowship” in Maine this weekend. David intends to discover sources for ornaments
needed for an upcoming project.
The Printer is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers are working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmiths are as busy as ever working on commissions and items for the retail stores.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Megan is working on her first practice tray in copper under Bobbie’s guidance (left). Chris is nearly done polishing her silver tray and
is working on cleaning up silver feet from the Foundry for her next one (right).
In addition to teaching tray making to Megan, Bobbie is raising a silver basket (left). George has been rolling ingots and drawing wire
for more spoons (right).
Preston has been busy polishing items for the retail shop.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 17
�The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Sunday (12:00-5:00), Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (11:30-5:00), and
Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Another completed Dye Day is in the books! We spent the morning
tending to the fire and dipping our yarn into simmering pots of red, yellow, purple, and blue. Annie got all of
their overshot yarn dyed a lovely pink. We were also able to re-dye some faded examples we have hanging up
in the Shop. Our yellow yarns are looking bright and shiny again.
The Weaver is closed May 1-7 for maintenance.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – Greetings! This past week, Edith and Debbie concentrated on completing the Doering wigs for
the Dewitt Wallace Museum. Debbie has nearly completed the construction for Anna's curls and will get them
set for curling in the next few days. Edith has been experimenting with making wood combs, both for combing
the hair and for decorative wear. In the coming days, Debbie plans to teach Benton the fine art of Net Making
so he can begin practicing. Maintenance continues as usual; please make sure to bring in your hair on a
regular basis for proper care and feeding! And as always, feel free to reach out to us for any related needs or
questions.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Blacksmith – Broadus Thompson; Cabinetmaker – Bill Pavlak; Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cook –
Abbey Shoaf; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Farmer – Ed Schultz; Fifes & Drums – Rebecca Sterner; Gardener – Marc
Nucup; Joiner – Laura Hollowood; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Military Programs – Justin Chapman; Musket
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 17
�Range – Jeffrey Thomas; Printer – Peter Stinely; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer –
Pamela Russo; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 17
�
Dublin Core
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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
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Title
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 17, April 29, 2023
Creator
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Publisher
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
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2023-04-29
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
April 22, 2023
After three weeks of successful and nearly all sold-out Family Workshops, the schedule will change, beginning
on Sunday, April 23rd. There will now be three Beginner Workshops and one Family Workshop. Please note
that there will now be Workshops four days a week for the rest of the Spring Season.
Sunday, Beginner Workshop: Tailor – Participants will learn that simple materials and skills produced a broad
range of useful buttons and a very large industry in the 18th century. Join the Tailors and make two types of
historic thread-covered buttons. Limit of 10 participants. The minimum age is 12. Minors must be
accompanied by an adult.
Monday, Family Workshop: Cook – (This is a continuation of the Cook Workshop that has been held the last
three weeks.) Learn basic garnishing and food decoration skills to create an appealing dessert. Participants
will sculpt and decorate their marzipan creations and learn other decorating techniques from the 18th century
to brighten up their dessert tables. Limit of 8 participants.
Historic Trades and Skills Family workshops are designed for participants ages seven and older. Kids 713 must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Kids 14-17 must be accompanied by an adult, either participating
(purchase a workshop ticket) or non-participating (with a free Chaperone ticket).
Friday, Beginner Workshop: Tin Plate Worker – Join the Publick Armoury Tin Plate Worker in exploring the
unique properties of tin-plated iron by creating a practical lighting device. Commonly known as a cellar-stick,
this simple candle holder offers a useful beginner’s project to develop the fundamental skills and knowledge
that all tin plate workers, both historical and modern, need to learn to be competent. Bending, cutting, and
soldering are performed in this quick project, providing the maker with a functional candleholder and
invaluable life skills to take home and enjoy. Limit of 9 participants. Minimum age is 10.
Saturday, Beginner Workshop: Gunsmith – Join the Gunsmiths for the layout of sheet brass to make three
pieces of a rifle. Participants will make a barrel loop, a ramrod thimble, and the finial of a patchbox with
attached hinge. The minimum age is 13. Limit of four participants.
The Workshops will begin at 10:00 am. Their shops will be closed 9-10 am. The Cook, Tin Plate
Worker, and Gunsmith Workshops will end at 11:00 am. These shops will open to the public at 11:30. The
Tailor Workshop will end at 11:30, and the site will open at Noon.
For the Cook Family Workshop, Kids 7-14 will need to have a participating adult with their own
ticket. Children 14-17 need to have an adult present. The adults will need to have their own ticket if they
want to participate. Otherwise, the adult may just observe. In this case, they will have a free “Chaperone”
ticket. Please be aware that the “Chaperones” cannot participate. All participating tickets are $20.
Tickets for the Beginner Workshops are $60 for youth and adults.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 16
�Apothecary – The Apothecary was the site of some filming on Monday! Sharon talked about all things
apothecary-surgeon, Mark demonstrated basics of dentistry, and Margaret made a conserve of orange peel on
camera. In addition, we had our last Spring Family Workshop Wednesday morning, with participants making
that same conserve and learning how to apply bandages to each other! Mark is deep in rheumatology
research for the upcoming professionals' conference - please come to the Shop and ask him about gout.
Margaret continues to wade through A.D. Galt's Public Hospital notes in preparation for May and October.
Sharon, in her exploration of the Galt-Barraud books, is beginning to track statistical data like frequency of
dispensation for certain medicinal ingredients.
The Apothecary is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Blacksmith – We Blacksmiths remain busy! We have found ourselves on the theme of cooking utensils this
last week, we smiths always appreciate the use of such things. Ken has made a "salamander", not the creekdwelling critter, but a heavy plate on a handle that, when heated well, is used to brown the tops of special
dishes. Alex makes small ladles or dippers, carefully copying an example from Collections. Broadus likewise
works on "egg slices", or more modernly called, spatulas. Aislinn works on a roasting spit. And finally, to
quench your thirst, Josh works on the hardware for well buckets. As always, all’s well that falls well at the
base of the anvil!
The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – This past week, John has been continuing with the seat assembly of his set of chairs,
bringing together the front legs, seat rails, and stretchers. Bill has been working on the writing surface that
sits in the drawer of his writing table, a complicated works within some tight tolerances. He and our Intern,
Sarah, went Monday morning to study furniture at the Art Museum, getting hands-on with some pieces as
Sarah nears the end of her internship.
The Shop also successfully finished up its last round of the hands-on Family Workshop, “Plane Talk”, for
this Spring Break season. We will be continuing the sessions this summer, as well. Additionally, late last week,
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�the Shop said goodbye to another sold piece of furniture, a sideboard that John finished in 2021. The Shop
inventory is a little low right now, but Jeremy's walnut corner table is still looking for a home. Stop by the
Shop to check it out before it's taken!
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we’ve cut and installed the joists for the wagon shed. We
started to work up the tilted false plates to find the material too bowed to use. To solve the issue, we’re pit
sawing a pair of new tilted false plates. We’ve also installed locust posts for the Brickyard molding shed. With
help from the Brickyard staff, we’ll install the rest of the molding shed on Saturday.
The Carpenters Yard is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cook – Another fun week over at the Palace Kitchen as the temperatures start to have us feeling like summer
is just around the corner. We had a successful installment of our Spring Workshop on Monday and will have
the third brewing of the spring season this coming Sunday. We will be making a wheat beer this time around,
which will be ready just in time for summer. Frank also had an interview with Atlas Obscura this week, and
Barbara and Dom were in the Kitchen on Wednesday with a class from Randolph-Macon College. The
students were from a food and politics course; and they spent several hours on Wednesday working alongside
Barbara and Dom, who taught them how to make several of our 18th-century dishes, while discussing food in
relation to politics at the Governor’s Palace. From what we’ve heard, the students had a great time and
enjoyed not only what they learned but also getting to try the end results of their efforts. Because of Health
Regulations, we cannot typically feed the public from our Kitchen, but since they were able to come in and
make the dishes themselves while we were closed to the public, they were allowed to sample their own
creations. We always joke, “We’ve made it, we can poison ourselves; we can’t poison the public.” We look
forward to continuing our partnership with The College of William and Mary as we gear up for having a NIAHD
Intern with us this fall.
The Palace Kitchen is open Monday (11:30-5:00), Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Sunday, April
23rd, “The Arts and Mysteries of Brewing” will be held in the Palace Scullery, 10:00 am to 3:45 pm.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Cooper – In the Cooper's Shop this week, I have been working on a tub for use by the Farmers at their new
site at Ewing Field.
The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – In the Engravers Shop this week, William has been making great strides on his Ships copper
plate as well as filling some custom order work. He is drawing out several Foundry-made pewter plates on
which he will be engraving a Masonic compass and square. One will include a dedication inscription.
Lynn has begun interviews for the Intern position. She has also been working through the pewter
mugs for the Fifes and Drums graduates, custom orders, and has worked on some of the presentation pieces
for the Raleigh Tavern Society. The Engravers and the Founders want to thank the Tin Plate Workers for
making the most perfect containers for our chasing tools! This is such a great help. We are working on
cleaning up and polishing all of them so that we can make cleaning up the castings more efficient. The
containers are going to be such a big help in maintaining those tools.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Engraver is open Sunday through Tuesday, and Thursday.
Farmer – The Farmers will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at
1 pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – Over the past couple weeks, the Founders completed the Colonial Williamsburg seals in pewter,
bronze, and iron. Many thanks to the Engravers for their assistance with getting them finished! Journeyman
Mike is continuing with some finishing work on shoe buckles, and Apprentices Leanne and Drew have been
tackling those silver salt spoons we’d mentioned previously. Leanne and Drew have also prepped for our next
casting by making some molds for handles and brackets which the Coopers will be using for artillery buckets.
If all goes according to plan, those will be cast on Sunday. We had a very exciting delivery this week, as well,
with Apprentice Blacksmith Broadus dropping off our new pouring shank in anticipation of Apprentice
Wheelwright Murphy’s plow project. Also out of the Blacksmiths’ forge, Master Blacksmith Ken repaired our
iron skimmer, which we’ll be needing for the plow project, too. Thanks to all for your help!
The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – This is a vine that William Beverly
writes about after visiting Westover Plantation and
enjoying the shade of the summerhouse “set round
with the Indian Honey-Suckle, which all the Summer
is continually full of sweet Flowers, in which these
Birds (hummingbirds) delight exceedingly.”
Native honeysuckle (Lonicera) in bloom
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Our Guests this week are garden enthusiasts as it is Garden Week in Virginia. They enjoyed the
calendula which is in full bloom as well as the seedlings potted up in the hotbed ready for the summer season.
Carrots have begun to bloom as well as the Welsh onions. The cabbage is done, and all heads went to the
Kitchen, but the broccoli continues. Rye will be harvested soon for Garden mats. Soil was turned, and sweet
fennel, lima beans, and melons were planted. Today, we began to build the trellis for cucumber and beans.
With every spade full of soil turned, summer gets closer.
Persian lilac fading blooms.
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Harpsichordmaker – The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through
Saturday.
Joiner – This week at the Joiners' Shop, Scott completed the frameand-panel door for his corner cupboard, which can be found in our
Museum Collection as object 1987-718. This is one of two doors (as
seen in the photo of the original cupboard), so his next task will be to
make the sash door, which will have glass panes and decorative shaping
at the top of the door.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 16
�Laura finished up the supports for her new drawer, and installation of this on the underside of the workbench
is in progress as this report is written!
We have just one last Family Workshop this Saturday. It's been fun to work with Guests on the basics
of using a compass to draw shapes and make wooden squares that participants could take home and use in
their own woodworking endeavors.
The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Makers tender their most sincere thanks for all the
kind words and actions towards us these last couple of weeks upon the loss of our friend and Shop-mate, Mr.
Tilley. But the work goes on. Jay completed a pair of breeches for Shop stock to add to the pair Emma
produced for Mr. Graml. Those who wish to be considered for leather breeches will meet good
encouragement by applying to Mr. Howlett.
The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 16
�Masonry – This week, the Brickyard crew finished off one part of Yard maintenance, the piers for the tool
shed. The next big thing will be our shade shelter over the molding and treading area, with construction
overseen by the Carpenters. Soon, we will enjoy some much-anticipated shade! You'll also find us painting
our tool shed this week, a refined Spanish brown.
Otherwise, this week, we had our last “Daub to Dough” Workshop, which yielded a very sturdy Cobb
oven. Our studious Workshop attendees put in some good work which we will attempt to preserve.
In other Brickyard news, Apprentice Josh from the Blacksmith Shop dropped off a very nice clay roof
tile mold which we will use this summer.
The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday, weather permitting. On Monday,
April 24th, at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, Masonry Trades will present, “Who Designed This
Place?” Join Master Bricklayer Josh Graml as he explores how 18th-century buildings were designed and
built as gentlemen architects plied their trade in Virginia. Where did they get their design inspirations, and
how did they translate English architectural forms to Virginia-born tradesmen?
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 16
�Military Programs – The Guardhouse is closed for annual maintenance April 23-29. In addition, all
Military Programming is cancelled for these dates (“Military Interpretation”, “Musket Demonstration”,
“Necessity of Order in Battle”, “Shoulder Your Firelocks”).
On Wednesday, April 26th, at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, Alex from Military Programs will
present, “Defenses of the Delaware”. A nation's capital is always of paramount importance for governance
and morale of an army. Philadelphia was the De Facto capital of the United States, and as such, a prime
target for the British. In 1777, General Howe set his sights on it and sailed with the British Army South.
Given the power of the Royal Navy, the fear was an approach by water through the Delaware River. Come
learn about American attempts to fortify the river and their fierce defense as the Royal Navy desperately
tried to push its way towards Philadelphia.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – This has been the Week of Petticoats for the Mantua-makers. Janea
completed her pieced brown linen petticoat and, true to form, immediately turned around and devoted
herself to another one. The red linen remnant she wanted to use was about seven inches too short, however,
so she found a similar fabric to supplement. In the 18th century, it was very common to find the upper part of
the back panel of petticoats made in a different fabric; because that area was always covered with the skirt of
the gown or jacket, it was a convenient place to make adjustments or to harvest fabric for alterations. Ishbel,
our NIAHD Intern, continues to work on a silk petticoat for the new clothing exhibit at the Museum and has
also finished a linen petticoat of her own. She'll be staying on as our Brickman Intern, so her next project will
be starting a gown or jacket out of matching striped linen so that she has a comfortable ensemble to wear
over the summer months. Rebecca's contribution to the Petticoat Party was an alteration of the ruffle on the
bottom of a cotton printed petticoat. A fashionable milliner in 1774 surely wouldn't want to be caught
sporting a flounce that looked like it just walked out of 1769!
Piecing, it seems, is the other theme for the week, as Kate continues to work on her pieced blue linen
"Forty-Inch Fabric" jacket. Janea takes the piecing prize, however, for the mending she did on a bedgown for
Bookbinder Barbie, which is made with a spotted cotton that reproduces a swatch from the Foundling
Museum. Lacking any scraps of the same fabric, she rescued some tiny turned-back bits from under the neck
piece. Two tiny scraps later, the 3/8" hole was mended and the jacket ready for work once more.
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 16
�Musket Range – Good news at the Musket Range. Both Andy and Alex have completed their Instructor
Training and have begun instructing Guests. They both did excellently during their training period and cannot
wait to interpret what they have learned. We will be advertising to hire one more Instructor position in the
next few weeks. Tell all your friends to apply for this unique position and join our Cadre.
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm,
and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers are working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmiths are as busy as ever working on commissions and items for the retail stores.
Megan has finished her first silver bowl, and there was much rejoicing (left)! In addition to polishing her tray, Chris has been making
another batch of Mourning Rings (right).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 16
�Bobbie has been working on her new tray, and the new sheet silver that will make the body of the tray is ready to go (left).
Preston has a whole host of bowls polished and in progress (right).
George has been working on seamed cups and drawing out silver wire.
The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Sunday (12:00-5:00), Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (11:30-5:00), and
Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – The 26th of this month will be our next Dye Day! We are hard at work
on our behind-the-scenes preparations. In the last month, we have built up four skeins of our handspun
Leicester Longwool. These will need to undergo a chemical bath called a mordant to ensure that our dye
binds to the fiber's molecules. There are special mordants for each fiber type and for desired color outcomes.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 16
�If you would like us to dye anything for you, please ensure it is brought to us this week or early next week at
the latest!
In other news, we have a new project underway on our counterbalance loom. This bright blue
upholstery fabric is one-hundred-percent wool and is very densely woven. The fabric has 1,724 warp yarns
and will be made up of over 80,000 yards of yarn when the piece is completed.
The Weaver is open Sunday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – Hello from the world of hair! We have been busy working on pieces for the Doering Exhibit
for the DeWitt Wallace Museum and finishing up Shop projects. Edith has completed her Journeyman Project!
She implemented a waxing technique to help seal the wefts of hair by rubbing a beeswax candle along the
woven portion of the hair, then sealing it with a warm iron. The waxing will seal the wefts of hair so they will
last longer. Mons. De Garsault states, "Next, having put the pressing irons on the brazier to heat moderately,
take the end of a candle and rub it lightly back and forth along the roots of the rows. At each row, moisten
your finger and dampen the area which has been waxed. Then at once apply the irons to the moistened area.
Carry out this operation on all tresses where you find it practicable. It fixes the roots of the tresses." Benton
is working on styling his Brigadier wig and is finding that long buckles are really not much fun. Debbie
continues to work on a hairpiece for dancer Anna R. and will be producing a small base to make a set of lady's
buckles. Research continues into men's wig and hair designs and Marie Antoinette's hairstyles. As always, feel
free to reach out to us for any hair-related needs.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Blacksmith – Broadus Thompson; Cabinetmaker – John Peeler;
Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cook – Abbey Shoaf; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar; Founder –
Leanne Bellouny; Gardener – Eve Otmar; Joiner – Laura Hollowood; Leather Breeches Maker – Jay Howlett;
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 16
�Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik; Musket Range – Jeffrey Thomas;
Silversmith – Megan Cantwell; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 16
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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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
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Title
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 16, April 22, 2023
Creator
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
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2023-04-22
-
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
April 15, 2023
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Sunday through Tuesday, Wednesday (11:30-5:00), and Saturday.
Blacksmith – The Blacksmiths have taken many projects in hand this week: Ken has continued work on a
variety of woodworkers tools, including a firmer chisel, froes, and a holdfast. He is also working on a handle
for one of the Gunsmiths’ fullers, iron work for iron workers. Aislinn has continued filing on pipe tomahawks
and started on a hammer for the Leather Breeches Makers. In the Apprentice corner, Josh has made
hardware for a well bucket and finished molds for roofing tiles; Broadus has finished his pouring shank for the
Foundry, as well as a small slide bolt and a bench hammer; and Alex has finished some cooking spoons and a
second clay hoe for the clay tile project, along with adjustments to some weeding hoes for the tobacco
season.
Continuing with our series on our research trip to Pennsylvania, we move to the Mercer Museum in
Doylestown. The Mercer is a wonderful point of study both as a historic Tradesman and as a museum
professional. Unlike some of the collections we viewed, the Mercer primarily showcases the personal
collection of a single individual, Henry Chapman Mercer. At the turn of the 20th century, Mercer saw the
abandonment of an earlier style of American material culture and handicraft and sought to avoid these objects
being lost to history. His interest in early tools and early trades preserved a unique collection in a building of
his own design, made of reinforced concrete.
Inside, the Museum contains not just tools but some vehicles too, arranged either in alcoves in the wall
or on one of the six levels built around a central atrium. Despite the displays receiving little modification from
their original arrangement, the ability to find what we wanted to see was easy because the Mercer arranged
these objects by trade, and the groupings of objects were obvious and intuitive to us. The range of trades
represented was astounding, including everything from file cutters to launderers to surgeons, and some of the
displays included not just tools but occasionally workstations, too. Despite their existence for more than a
century, these displays still felt exciting and informative, though as toolmakers ourselves, we likely had greater
insight into the trades shown than most guests. Our guides on this journey, Cory Amsler, Clint Flack, and
Emma Falcon, were extremely helpful, and we appreciated their help not only in viewing objects on display in
greater detail, but also their museum collections, as well. Because the Mercer is operated by the Bucks
County Historical Society, it serves not only as a repository of a broad swath of American trades history but
also of the very local history of the county itself. Our visit included an introduction to Mercer’s Library and
Archives, which would be of great interest to anyone interested in the history of the county, and easy for a
researcher to access.
The Mercer proved a wonderful site to visit, for the chance to study the objects it contains, to see how
they choose to display these objects in a way that tells a story about their use, and how it maintains its
relationship with the local community. We’d like to again thank the Davee Foundation, without whom our trip
would not have been possible, and give a special thanks to Shari Monaco, Historic Trades Administrative
Support, for her arrangements on transportation, lodging, and some changes that needed to be made on short
notice. We truly appreciate your work.
As ever, all’s well that falls well at the foot of the anvil.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�Mercer Museum atrium and atrium ceiling, courtesy of Josh Rachita.
The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday. Their
Workshop will be held on Tuesday.
Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we’ve cut the joinery for both the front and back walls of
the wagon shed for the Farm site at Ewing Field. We’re currently testing those joints and laying out for the
installation of the braces on the back wall.
The Carpenters Yard is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�Cook – As we happily move further into Spring, over at the Kitchen, we have continued to host our Spring
Workshop. The second set of attendees had the same experience of candying flowers as the first set, but to
ensure every Workshop has a personal experience, we changed up the second activity. Along with the
flowers, Frank also put together a batch of pastry dough to transform into decorative pastry, and Dom had a
few lemons for the older Guests to cut into baskets and jagged lemon slices. Both the lemon basket and the
jagged slices are a go-to favorite of the Kitchen when using citrus to decorate the plate. On the Governor’s
table, using expensive imports like citrus fruits was a way to display wealth, power, and access. Citrus of all
kinds brought up from the Caribbean would have been a special treat for the average colonial household. The
Governor was buying them by the dozen and using them simply for decoration. After a fun hour together, our
second group left with similar feelings to the first. We feel as though the Workshops are really making a
personal connection to the families involved and helping them better connect with the peoples of the past in a
fully hands-on way.
We would also like to give a special shout out to our dear friend and former Foodways Apprentice,
Megan Sirak. After joining the Actor Interpreter Department last spring, Megan has begun her own “My Story,
My Voice” Program with her character, Mary Craig. Dom and Abbey were fortunate enough to attend her first
performance, and we are all so very proud of the work she is doing to bring honest and inclusive history to our
Guests through her embodiment of Mary, who was a Feme Sole and daughter of a Middling Class saddler here
in Williamsburg. If you have the chance to pop by the Charleton Stage one Saturday and catch her in action, it
is well worth the walk into town.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, Monday (11:30-5:00), Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Engraver – The Engraver is open Sunday through Thursday.
Farmer – Ewing Field is plowed and harrowed, so hilling with hoes has become the work of late. Families
are all in and help us out! Prior to raising the hills, Eli the Horse pulled a light shovel plow, and the Field was
“laid out”. This means that lines were drawn by the plow in a grid-like pattern at six feet wide one way and
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�four feet the other. The trick to doing this is looking at the previously plowed line and driving the horse
parallel to it. It takes time to learn this, but letting the horse walk straight is one of the keys. As Farmer Ed
says, “A horse will walk straight if you let him”. The hills are then raised on the intersection of these lines.
A family from Utah raising hills for corn as Volunteer Mike Cecere coaches them on technique
The Farmers will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday and Thursday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at
1 pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – The Foundry is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday. On Saturday, April 22nd, at
4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Founders will present, “Casting a Bronze Mortar.” Join Apprentice
Founder Drew to learn about the production of an 18th-century artillery mortar.
Gardener – Bounty from our Garden delivered this week to our colleagues cooking in the Palace Kitchen
include leeks, asparagus, parsley, cabbage, lettuce, red and white broccoli, and Calendula flowers. The
American Indian Food Plot that had been turned has now been chopped with a hoe this week in preparation
for planting. Peppers, parsley, and basil have been potted up from the hotbed. The weeding of pathways is a
constant chore.
The Sankofa Heritage Garden was weeded and cleaned up. We hope to turn the soil next week.
Weeds were removed from the edges (where netting was placed to thwart the rabbit) and collards that had
bolted were removed. We left a row for the pollinators to enjoy for another week.
Our Crown Imperial Lily is growing by the day, and we look forward to seeing the exotic bloom. Roses
are blooming as well as the Persian lilac, which scents the air. Spring is here, and we have passed our frostfree date. Summer will be here before you know it.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – From the Harpsichord corner … We are sawing piles of walnut veneer and the oak
boards that will form the walls of the new spinet. Lots of wood, lots of sawing, and lots of cleaning up surfaces
with toothing planes (small planes with serrated-edge blades that scratch out strings of wood instead of full
shavings as do ordinary planes). With such thin wood, these planes will not catch contrary grain or fibers and
tear it out (or through). Even on the oak, many surfaces are prepared with toothing planes. We will have
good gluing surfaces by way of these methods when we begin applying the veneers. Come visit and see how it
is done. Cheers.
Oak front panel temporarily in place
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Pile of walnut veneers
Volume 9, Issue 15
�Planing walnut veneer clean of saw marks
Sawing walnut veneer
Toothing plane blade edge (left) and toothing plane surface on veneers (right).
The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Joiner – The last week has been a busy time with our Spring Break crowds and a Family Workshop last
Saturday. There are two more, this weekend and the following. We’ve also seen lots of great progress on
various projects in the Shop.
Brian has reached the grand finale on his pilaster, a piece created to highlight the process of creating
the distinctive grooves seen in the main body of the piece, presented at our annual Working in Wood
Conference. With all of the parts assembled, including the pedestal, this piece is actually too tall to stand
upright in our Shop – you can see that it takes up the entire length of Brian’s workbench! As mentioned in
previous issues, this pilaster is modeled off of a parlor in the house at Smith’s Fort, which has much taller
ceilings than our Shop. Pilasters offer a more space-saving way to give a room the grandeur of Greco-Romaninspired columns and can also be seen in buildings in town, such as the Governor’s Palace.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�Peter took a brief break from his Menokin portico to turn out a couple brick molds for the Masons to
use in recreating bricks in the Magazine. Sadly, those were out of the Shop before a photo could be taken of
them, but just head to the Brickyard to see them put to good work. Now, Peter is back to work on the portico,
and he can be seen creating the molding that follows the curve around the top of the doorway. There are four
of these semi-circular pieces, so he will need to ensure that each one is identical so that when they are
assembled, everything matches smoothly.
Scott has continued to make headway on his Eastern Shore corner cupboard, now focusing on the two
doors. He’s started with the bottom door, which is a frame-and-panel. This is the same style of construction
that can be seen on larger doors all over town. As you can see, he’s nearly there with three of the four panels
completed. Once it is finished, he will move on to the upper door, which will have a sash construction to hold
glass panes that would allow admirers to see shaped shelves inside the cupboard, as well as any goods
displayed on them.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�Finally, Laura has finished construction of her first box, a drawer for her workbench. However, we are
still in need of a way to hold it in place under the bench, so the next step is to make supports for the drawer to
slide along. This project has focused on dovetail construction, including half-blind dovetails, which allow the
joints to be hidden from the front side of the drawer.
The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week in the Brickyard, work continued on the piers for our tool shed, while we completed
the second of three “Daub to Dough” Workshops. This week's Cobb oven has a great deal of character, which
all earthen ovens should strive for.
Otherwise, this week through the combined efforts of our Joiners and Blacksmiths, the molds for the
Magazine and First Baptist Church bricks were delivered. What our Blacksmiths and Joiners might lack in
hygiene, they make up for in skill and a can-do attitude!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�Master Josh also received a new round hat to replace his old faithful one, which simply could go on no
longer.
The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday (12:00-5:00), and Saturday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – The Guardhouse is closed for annual maintenance April 16-29. In addition, all
Military Programming is cancelled for these dates (“Military Interpretation”, “Musket Demonstration”,
“Necessity of Order in Battle”, “Shoulder Your Firelocks”).
On Monday, April 17th and Wednesday, April 19th, at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, Alex from
Military Programs will present, “Defenses of the Delaware”. A nation's capital is always of paramount
importance for governance and morale of an army. Philadelphia was the De Facto capital of the United
States, and as such, a prime target for the British. In 1777, General Howe set his sights on it and sailed with
the British Army South. Given the power of the Royal Navy, the fear was an approach by water through the
Delaware River. Come learn about American attempts to fortify the river and their fierce defense as the
Royal Navy desperately tried to push its way towards Philadelphia.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – Now that our “Women's History Month” program has concluded,
we've turned our hands to some exciting new projects and to catching up on all of the maintenance that
clothing continuously requires. Fortunately, we were treated to a solid dose of kindness and sugar to help
energize our needles! Ray and Gina brought us a beautiful cake to celebrate the conclusion of "Disaster
Strikes!" We're so very touched by their thoughtfulness and the support they continue to show for our
work. Thank you again!
Kate is thrilled to have a new gown to wear (now that it's no longer needed for the program) and is
working on a suit of millinery to complement it. She also began work on one of her second-year "capstone"
projects, which requires making a jacket from only forty inches of fabric. Janea cut the lining for the jacket,
leaving Kate to puzzle out how she could utilize her forty inches to the best advantage. She did a fantastic job
on the layout and only has to piece in a handful of places to make it all work. She cut everything out and
started stitching on Thursday, so stay tuned for more exciting progress next week.
Meanwhile, speaking of piecing, Janea continues to work on transforming a couple of scrap pieces of
brown linen into a new petticoat, and Intern Rachel is using up a small remnant of a special reproduction
fabric to piece together a sewing roll. Rachel's fabric is copied from a token from London's Foundling
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�Museum. We know that some of the people associated with the administration of the Foundling Hospital in
the 18th century were also closely associated with the Bray School, so we're hoping to integrate this piece into
Bray School programming in the future. Rebecca has buried herself deep in the mending pile and is stitching
her way out item by item. She and Janea also spent a day this week making adjustments to some Shop stock
pieces - in addition to whipping together a few new ones! - to ensure that the new Carpenter Apprentice,
Shelby, has a complete outfit at her disposal while she awaits receipt of her Historical Clothing & Dress
allotment.
And finally, we've also started the process of "Clothing Check-ins" with our Trades "customers." We're
asking every Tradesperson who has something made by the Millinery Shop to make an appointment to bring it
by so that we can check for maintenance and confirm that each garment is still doing the job that you need it
to do. This will also form the beginnings of our new inventory database, which will formally catalog all of the
pieces produced within the Shop and used across the museum. If you haven't yet made an appointment (we
promise it doesn't take long!), please get in touch with us at your earliest convenience to do so.
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�Musket Range – The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at
9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers are working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – All of the Silversmiths have been busy working on the list of projects, both commissions and
apprenticeship pieces.
Megan’s bowl is coming along and is in the final stretch of polishing (left). Chris’ salver is looking wonderful and is getting ever
closer to being fully polished (right).
Bobbie has been working on another rim for yet another salver on our commission list (left). Preston has been drawing silver wire
down to make mourning rings (right).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�George has been polishing teaspoons.
The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – The Weaver is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Thursday
(11:30-5:00).
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Wigmaker – The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Blacksmith – Alex Hinman; Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cook – Abbey Shoaf; Farmer – Ed Schultz;
Gardener – Eve Otmar; Harpsichordmaker – Ed Wright; Joiner – Laura Hollowood; Masonry – Madeleine
Bolton; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 15
�
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 9, number 15, April 15, 2023
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
2023-04-15
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Text
THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
April 8, 2023
Photo credit: Fred Blystone
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the untimely passing of Jan Tilley, Journeyman Leather Breeches
Maker. Jan was a remarkably gifted interpreter, and we all were impressed with how valiantly he fought his
last illness. He leaves a proud legacy, and he will be missed by all.
Jan’s career at Colonial Williamsburg began in 2008 as a first-person character interpreter in the Taverns. He
first joined Historic Trades as a Volunteer, working with Jay Howlett. He later joined the Site Interpreters in
Historic Interpretation. In 2016, he was loaned to Jay as an Intern. He was hired as an Apprentice Military
Artificer in 2017. Jan worked with Jay to transform the Shop’s focus into its current one as Leather Breeches
Makers. He completed his apprenticeship in 2019. Jan is the first person in the Department of Historic Trades
to receive two sets of Journeyman Papers, one as a Journeyman Military Artificer, and the other as a
Journeyman Leather Breeches Maker.
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�Apothecary – Mark and Margaret are back from London! While they were there, they visited a variety of
museums, collections, and sites of interest that pertained to the history of medicine. They started out with
the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Museum, and The Royal College of Physicians,
looking at their collections of apothecary delft and pharmacy/surgery materials. They had a chance encounter
with an RCP Fellow who showed them his personal favorite jars in their collection.
After that, they paid a visit to Bethlem Hospital’s Museum of the Mind. In 1793, Dr. Galt’s son Alexander
toured Bethlem to gain insight into treatment for mental illnesses, neurological conditions, and intellectual
disabilities before he would begin practicing at Williamsburg’s Public Hospital in 1799. Here, they saw not only
tools of physical and chemical restraint, medicinal treatment, and environmental care, but also art and
anecdotes by people who’ve used modern mental health services.
On Saturday, Margaret bothered the fine folks at the National Archives for almost six hours, looking into Dr.
Galt’s 1766 voyage – finding that Galt was indeed a surgeon’s mate on the HMS Rainbow to pay for the
medical courses he would later take in London once the ship arrived.
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�On the same day, Mark visited the Foundling Museum and contemplated the history of family, childcare, and
institutions.
They spent time in the “Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries” wing of the Science Museum, which housed some
original 18th-century medical texts and surgical artifacts and walked through Kew Gardens to find living
examples of plants described in the 18th century. (Pictured below right: Quassia amara, named for Graman
Quassi/Kwasimukamba, who publicized its antiparasitic use in Dutch Suriname.)
On their final day, they were fortunate to tour Apothecaries’ Hall with Janet Payne, Archives Officer, and saw
the extensive collection of jars, ceremonial items, and records that the livery company stewards today. They
would like to put an order in for a chair like this (below):
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Apothecary is open Sunday through Tuesday, Wednesday (11:30-5:00), and Saturday.
Blacksmith – We have been busy as ever at the Armoury, with many projects underway. Ken and Josh
work on hinges for our new gate, Ken lengthening a set of left-over straps, and Josh making the hooks. Josh
has also been working on some tile molds for the Brickmakers and the Magazine project. Aislinn has been
making some pipe tomahawks, which get more file work than an ordinary axe. Mark has begun on a rim lock
for the Bray School. You can see in the included photo an original lock he is copying and the lock parts in
progress. Alex has also been contributing to the clay tile endeavor, making some hoes which are used to
process the clay. He is also working on some small cooking ladles. Broadus is working on larger ladles and
"egg slices", or spatulas, as well as a pouring shank for the Founders. As always, all’s well that falls well at the
foot of the anvil.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – The multitudes of Spring Break Guests have witnessed a good variety of ongoing Shop
projects this week. Bill has the complex writing drawer of his writing table framed up, but there’s plenty of
work to come. Afterall, this is a drawer with legs and three drawers of its own. The original that our
reproduction is based on is on display down the street in the Randolph House, so Guests have a nice
opportunity to connect living Trades work with a celebrated antique. John has been hard at work creating the
many mortise and tenon joints for the front leg assemblies of his walnut side chairs. Angled joints like these
are expected to look neat and have the structural integrity to support the full weight of one sitter after
another for generations - so the stakes are high, and the work proceeds with great care. NIAHD Intern Sarah
has been making the walnut parts for her candle box and should be ready to start dovetailing that together in
the coming days.
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�Away from our respective benchwork, we (along with our Harpsichord-making colleagues) welcomed a
sold-out crowd for our first hands-on "Plane Talk" Workshop of the season. In addition to the standard puns
implied by the title, the program gives participants a behind-the-scenes opportunity to learn about the vast
world of hand planes through using the tools themselves.
We also took some time this week to celebrate our Master Harpsichordmaker, Ed Wright, who marked
his 40th year in the Shop on April 1st. Thank you, Ed, for all you have done for your colleagues, our Guests,
and our Trades over the years. We look forward to the years ahead and offer our congratulations on reaching
that milestone!
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday. Their Workshop will be
held on Tuesday.
Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we’ve started to organize and lay out materials for the
wagon shed for the Farm site. This project shouldn’t entail much framing. We’ll be starting it in our Yard and
then raising and covering it at the Ewing Field site later this spring. Stay tuned for more on this project.
The Carpenters Yard is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cook – We have had a jam packed few weeks over at the Palace Kitchen! The team has fully launched into
our Spring Brewing Season. Two weeks ago, we did a demo run of a new Orange Ale that we are hoping to
turn into our next collaboration with AleWorks Brewing. The beer drinkers of the 18th century were into
aromatics in their beverage, just as those dining at the Governor’s table enjoyed aromatics in their food.
When it comes to the orange kick to the new ale, it absolutely hits the 18th-century preference on the head.
It has a lovely orange hue and a delicate orange aroma. For modern beer drinkers, who much prefer to taste
the fruit that is billed as starring in the ale, Frank had determined that the recipe needs some adjustment
before being sent to AleWorks. We are going to work to really punch up the orange flavor. Last Sunday, we
worked on a Keeping Brown Strong Ale. Rich and chocolaty in color, this Keeping Brown may have very well
fermented for up to a year in the 18th century, hence the name. It should also pack a punch at between 912% ABV, as the name suggests. There is little possibility ours will last to ferment for an entire year. We will
want to crack into one and see how we did in our second brew of the season. We will still have to wait a
month or two.
As of Monday, we are also now in full swing for our series of Spring Workshops. “Play With Your Food
the 18th-century Way” had a full group of ten for our first day. Two families and one teenaged gal, who were
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�all very excited to come and work with us in a way they are normally not able to when visiting us in the
Kitchen. Two stations were available for them to get their hands on 18th-century garnishes. We had them
first play with marzipan, which is like an almond fudge paste, and we lovingly call it “edible Playdoh.”
Although there were pewter molds available to help them create things, we were all very pleased and excited
to see both groups of five really going for it and making creations out of their own minds with their own
hands. With a little gentle guidance from Abbey, we saw roses, daffodils, a gnome couple, lady bugs, a
Georgia peach, a very hungry caterpillar, a butterfly, a peacock, and a mouse. Both groups really knocked it
out of the park. We also had a station for them to candy flowers, which is when you paint the front and back
of the petals with egg whites, roll them in sugar that has been powdered in a mortar and pestle, and lay them
to dry. They turn into lovely floral bursts of sweetness that could be eaten for dessert or used as a cake
topper. As our new friends left the Workshop to venture around town, one family informed us that “they had
four generations of their family” at the Workshop and that with us, they had “made memories together that
would stay with them the rest of their lives.”
After the Workshop on Monday, we rolled up our sleeves and got right into our “Secrets of the
Chocolate Maker” program that will be running the first Monday of the month. As usually happens with
chocolate, the Kitchen saw a packed room all afternoon, and several families were determined to experience
as much of the process as they could from start to finish, with them staying in the Kitchen for large chunks of
time. We were also able to use the program as a platform for discussing the institution of Slavery in the 18th
century and how every part of the chocolate process was touched by enslaved hands, from the growing of the
cacao all the way to the chocolatiers making the chocolate discs by hand in wealthy kitchens. For modern
consumers, this is probably not something they typically think about when nibbling on a chocolate bar today.
However, these same topics affect modern chocolate production, and it was important for us to make sure
our Guests understand the weight and history of chocolate production while enjoying their time with us as we
made chocolate in the Kitchen.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, Monday (11:30-5:00), Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday. On Monday, April 15th, at
4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Coopers will present, “Tracing Adam Waterford”. Adam Waterford
was a free Black man who worked as a cooper in Williamsburg around the time of the American Revolution.
This program explores how we know that, and what else we know and don’t know about him, in a
discussion of the documentary evidence that allows us to glimpse who Adam Waterford was.
Engraver – The Engraver is open Sunday through Thursday.
Farmer – On March 24th, CW President Cliff Fleet struck out on the
first furrow at Ewing Field, and he finished most of the field before Eli
the Horse needed a break. The first furrow is called “striking out”. The
plowman fixes their eye on a point at the end of the field and drives
the horse to that. The keys are to never take your eye off the goal,
correct with the plow intuitively as you go along, and don’t overthink
it. Never look back till it’s over. This is plowman’s wisdom, as well.
The Farmers will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday,
weather permitting.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at
1 pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – The Founders have been hard at work this week, working on the Colonial Williamsburg seals. As
mentioned in an earlier Adviser, we are making one each in pewter, bronze, and sterling silver. We learned
this past Wednesday that we need to make a fourth one in cast iron and have it and the pewter seal finished
by this coming Sunday. The mold was made that same day, and Apprentices Leanne and Drew experienced
their first cast iron pour on Thursday. With some help from the Engravers, the metal work on the pewter seal
has been completed. In other news, Journeyman Mike finished work on the pewter patterns of the drumhead
tensioner hooks and wingnuts for the Fifes and Drums.
The Foundry is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Gardener – The Historic Garden hosted three guests this week. Fallon Burner, Indigenous Historian,
American Indian Initiative, began the turning of the 2023 iteration of the American Indian Food Plot. The
Landscaping Department was kind enough to drop off a dragon arum for the edification of both Guests and
Gardeners. Known in the 21st century as a Voodoo Lily, the bloom produces a rotting meat smell to attract
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�flies for pollination. And Wednesday morning saw an eastern black swallowtail butterfly emerge from its
chrysalis and spend some time drying its wings before flying away. Welcome guests, all!
Fallon Burner experiencing the Zen of bed turning
Dracunculus vulgaris smelled like rotten ground beef while first blooming (left). Papilio polyxenes allows its wings to dry (right).
Apprentice Marc continued gaining experience in his quest to reach the next level of the Historic Gardener
Apprenticeship. The crimson clover was mowed using a scythe – only the second opportunity to use that tool.
More wattle fencing, in this case a corner to protect the edge of the American Indian Food Plot, was
constructed. Intern Andrew then assisted Marc in the splitting and repotting of tuberoses (Agave amica).
Stay tuned for the second attempt at making circular trellises, once these plants get taller.
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�Apprentice Marc CAREFULLY sharpens the Garden scythe. A wattle corner made from pollarded sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
Andrew adds fresh compost to a tuberose pot.
And finally, the Cooks of the Palace Kitchen were gifted the largest cabbage from our cabbage patch while also
taking away asparagus and two types of broccolis.
An impressive Brassica oleracea completely fills out the basket.
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�Two more varieties of Brassica oleracea join Asparagus officinalis on a trip to the Palace Kitchen.
It wasn’t just vegetables collected this week. Much effort was expended weeding the Garden.
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through
Saturday.
Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week, the Brickyard crew continued work on the piers for our tool shed and completed the
first of three Spring Workshops for “Daub to Dough”. With the help of some savvy and potentially fireobsessed kids, the basket weave of the structure was completed, then covered with a clay and straw mixture.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Finally, they got to work on their fire-starting skills using flint and steel to create a small fire within. This type
of structure would be used for small-scale cooking outside and can last quite a while if maintained.
The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday (12:00-5:00), and Saturday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Things have been steadily heating up here at Military Programs, both in terms of
Guest numbers and the temperature. We have been cleaning and reorganizing the Guardhouse in preparation
for our two-week maintenance closure later this month, trying to make this Guardhouse into a
“Guardhome”. We look forward to working with the Shoemakers to make some blackball to help maintain
our shoes and cartridge boxes. Alex is gearing up for his Hennage Talks on the defenses of the Delaware
River. Ren is working on a linen POW jacket for their 71st Regiment of Foot impression as part of their
Professional Development Grant and goal completion for the year. As always when “In Defense of Our
Liberty” is running, we are cleaning and maintaining about two dozen muskets a week to allow the Night
Program to operate. Some much anticipated Osnaburg linen is on its way to us for a special group project,
Hunting Shirts! We hope to work with the Weavers to dye them to 6th Virginia specifications, black with red
collar and cuff. So chic.
Watercolor of a Virginia Rifleman wearing a Hunting shirt by Richard St. George, Harlan Crow Library, Dallas, Texas.
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Musket Range – Today, we would like to take the time to extend a heartfelt thank you to some of the
Historic Trade Shops in town that have supported us through these last seven years. The Printers have
supported our efforts at the Range since before day one. They have made every paper we have used to make
the ammunition for the Musket and Fowler. To date, that number is around 100,000. We would not be able
to function without this crucial help the Printers provide us. Thank you. Next, we would like to thank the
Founders. For the last few years, the Geddy Foundry has been casting .69 caliber pewter balls for us to
distribute to shooters at the completion of their experience. These pewter Musket balls are cast and finished
at the Foundry by hand. To date, they have done several thousand for us. The support we receive from these
Shops enables us to make our Guest experience something truly special! It also opens up more opportunities
for us to highlight the Historic Area by showcasing these two Shops and others in our interpretation.
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm,
and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers are working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – All of the Silversmiths have been busy working on the list of projects, both commissions and
apprenticeship pieces.
Megan is cutting the bottom out of a bowl that formed a crack. This will be turned into two new pieces. She
also went down to the Engraver and engraved two trade silver medals.
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�Chris continues to polish her tray, and it is looking wonderful. Bobbie has soldered the rim of a new tray and is
filing and cleaning it up. Preston is working on more bowls and is polishing more jewelry. George has rolled
out more sheet from his ingots. This one will become one of Megan’s apprenticeship holloware pieces.
The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – The Weaver is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Thursday
(11:30-5:00).
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�Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop is closed April 9-14 for annual maintenance. On Monday, April
10th, at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Wheelwrights will present, “A Primer on Paint”. Long
before humanity created villages and towns, there was paint. Paint serves not only as an aesthetic
enhancer but as a means of preservation of wood and metal objects. Come join a Colonial Williamsburg
Wheelwright on a journey following the science and history of this often-ignored part of our lives.
On Wednesday, April 12th, at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Wheelwrights will present,
“The Road MORE Travelled”. Williamsburg is known as a sleepy, quiet southern town, but what did it look
like in its heyday? Join a Colonial Williamsburg Wheelwright as they take you onto the colonial Capitol's
streets to discuss what was rolling and who was driving.
Wigmaker – The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Blacksmith – Broadus Thompson; Cabinetmaker – Bill Pavlak;
Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cook – Abbey Shoaf; Farmer – Ed Schultz; Founder – Drew Godzik; Gardener –
Marc Nucup; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Military Programs – Ren Tolson; Musket Range – Jeffrey Thomas;
Silversmith – Megan Cantwell
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 14
�
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
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 14, April 8, 2023
Creator
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Publisher
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2023-04-08
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Text
THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
April 1, 2023
Sunday, April 2nd begins our second year of offering Trades and Skills Workshops. For the next three weeks
(through April 22nd), we will be offering Workshops as follows:
Sunday, Family Workshop: Tailor – In the 18th century, most people learned to sew in childhood. It
was a necessary skill at home and in all trades working with cloth or leather. Learn a variety of stitches and
how they were used. Limit of 10 participants.
Monday, Family Workshop: Cook – Learn basic garnishing and food decoration skills to create an
appealing dessert. Participants will sculpt and decorate their marzipan creations and learn other
decorating techniques from the 18th century to brighten up their dessert tables. Limit of 8 participants.
Tuesday, Family Workshop: Cabinetmaker – Join us for an in-depth, hands-on tour and
demonstration of hand planes–one of the traditional woodworker’s most indispensable tools. When
Williamsburg cabinetmaker Edmund Dickinson died in 1778, he was inventoried as having “81 planes of
various sorts.” Such a variety of tools would be suited for many tasks like making boards flat and smooth,
creating precise structural joinery, and making shapely moldings. We will demonstrate the breadth of work
done with these tools and give guests a chance to plane away some shavings themselves. Limit of 16
participants.
Wednesday, Family Workshop: Apothecary – Do you have what it takes to be an Apprentice
Apothecary? Participants will compound a medicine, identify medicinal ingredients, learn their uses, and
practice applying bandages. Limit of 8 participants.
Thursday, Family Workshop: Weaver – Local fabric production was very important in the years
leading up to the Revolutionary War. In this immersive workshop, we will use hands-on activities to
understand the great lengths Virginians went to in order to participate in the War – from organizing spinning
bees to wartime weaving. Limit of 12 participants.
Friday, Family Workshop: Masonry – Families will have the opportunity to build a small earthen oven
with the help of Masonry Trades staff. The necessary components are all around you and can likely be found
in your backyard! It’s dirty work building an oven from clay and sticks, but the result will let you bake bread,
cakes, or even a pizza. We’ll also explore how to safely light a fire with flint and steel, a survival skill that’ll
help you cook dinner! Limit of 8 participants.
Saturday, Family Workshop: Joiner – Throughout recorded history, craftspeople have used math to
create works of art. With a simple straight edge and compass, we will demonstrate exercises used to create
simple geometric forms that, when combined, can be the basis for the fashionable design and our tools. Limit
of 8 participants.
The Workshops will begin at 10:00 am. Their shops will be closed 9-10 am. All except the Masonry and
Cabinetmaker ones will end at 11:00, and the shops will open to the public at 11:30. The Masonry Workshop
will end at 11:30, and the site will open at Noon, while the Cabinetmaker will remain closed for the rest of that
day.
For all Family Workshops, Kids 7-14 will need to have a participating adult with their own
ticket. Children 14-17 need to have an adult present. The adults will need to have their own ticket if they
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 13
�want to participate. Otherwise, the adult may just observe. In this case, they will have a free “Chaperone”
ticket. Please be aware that the “Chaperones” cannot participate.
All participating tickets are $20.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Sunday through Tuesday, Wednesday (11:30-5:00), and Saturday.
Blacksmith – Over the winter, the Shop took a trip up north to Pennsylvania. The Museum of the
American Revolution in Philadelphia was one of our stops. They had just opened a new exhibit on a man
named James Forten. Forten was a free black sailmaker who was born in 1766. Throughout his life, he
became a very successful and wealthy business owner. Through his abilities as a business owner and his
influence in the Philadelphia community, Forten and his descendants were leaders in the Abolitionist
movement and the Philadelphia community as a whole.
Our Shop found this exhibit interesting on many levels. The first was the fact that Forten was a
sailmaker. In the exhibit space, they recreated a section of a sailmaker’s workshop and stocked it full of
materials and tools of the sail-making trade. Guests had the opportunity to pick up the tools, cut fabric with
shears, and learn about Forten's work. They were able to bring some of the feel of a trade shop into a
traditional museum setting, and guests seemed to really enjoy the ability to interact with the items. Ken
mentioned to us how he observed the interpreters encouraging guests to interact with these objects, which is
something I've been mimicking now back in the Anderson Forge.
We were also impressed by MOAR's ability to bring in objects from many sources to tell a
comprehensive story. The exhibit was material culture heavy and featured a large array in type. They
exhibited objects like a prisoner-of-war record which included Forten from his time serving in the Navy during
the Revolution to a drop leaf table that the Forten family still owned. I enjoyed how they were able to take
seemingly unrelated objects and patch them into the story of Forten's life and use examples related
specifically to Forten.
Shears made for MOAR by former CW Blacksmith Chris Henkels
The Blacksmith is open Daily.
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�Bookbinder – Good day from the Bookbindery. It is with great sadness I write about a friend of the
Bookbindery named Nolan. Nolan loved to visit Colonial Williamsburg with his family. His two favorite shops
were the Gunsmith and the Bookbinder. His family visited this past week, without Nolan. I am sorry to say
that Nolan passed away two months ago from complications brought on by Covid. They wanted to let us
know. I had gotten to know them a little bit and felt comfortable telling his parents about my grandson,
Julian, who has autism.
There are so many children who visit us here at Colonial Williamsburg who are on the Spectrum. In
fact, quite a few families who homeschool have children on the spectrum. The first children diagnosed with
what was termed Aspergers at the time, and is now ASD, were often noted to have a deep interest in History.
If that is true, it’s no wonder they find their way to us!
Small hands-on activities, tiny gifts, taking the time to smile and engage, warning folks before making a
loud noise like hammering (in case they have noise sensitivity), offering a seat to someone who looks like it
may be a help, these are all simple ways to create a welcoming space and engage with people on the
spectrum.
We are so very lucky to be able to engage in people’s lives like we do! If you are feeling discouraged, please
know that the work you are doing is affecting lives in positive ways; ways you may never even know. My
fellow Interpreters, you are making memories for people that matter.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�From Nolan’s Sister: “Hey, thank you so much for your help with my brother. His eyes really lit up
when we walked into your shop and he saw all of the paper, and it means a lot that you not only talked to
him about bookbinding, but also shared some of the paper. Gestures like yours and the memories you
helped us make mean so much.”
Our Best to You All.
The Bookbinder is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday. Their
Workshop will be held on Tuesday.
Carpenter – The Carpenters Yard is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Monday, their Workshop
will be held 10:00-11:00 followed by “Secrets of the Chocolate Maker” 11:30-2:30.
Cooper – One of the recent projects in the Cooper Shop has been the manufacture of several Artillery
Buckets, or Sponge Buckets, for use by Military Programs. These buckets are part of the equipment that go
along with a cannon, and hold the water used for swabbing out the barrel of the cannon between rounds
The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – As usual, it has been a busy week for the Engravers. William is finishing up trade silver for the
Silversmiths, cutting his copperplate, and cutting “Drummers Call” badges. Lynn is printing up some CW seals
and will be testing out some watercoloring on them. She is also working on mugs for graduating Fifes and
Drums members, repairing engraving, printing, and working with the Foundry on a few items.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Engraver is open Sunday through Thursday.
Farmer – The Farmers will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at
1 pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – This week at the Foundry saw Apprentice Drew give his first solo Hennage presentation;
congrats and well done! If you missed it, and you’re interested in the casting process of artillery mortars,
make sure to catch one of his future presentations on alternate Saturday afternoons beginning April 22nd.
We also opened the molds for our bronze and pewter Colonial Williamsburg seals. They came out great, and
we’re excited to see them all cleaned up.
The Foundry is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Gardener – With the danger of a light frost still a possibility for another week or two, the Historic Gardeners
must be careful not to plant out any seeds directly in the ground that would be harmed by sub-freezing
temperatures. This gives us an opportunity to catch up on weeding, pruning, and other chores for which it will
be difficult to find time once we are busy planting for summer. This week, we pruned the bay laurel, privet,
and paw paw trees, and we cleared many weeds from the pathways. We harvested broccoli, lettuce, leeks,
asparagus, parsley, and Welsh onions for the Historic Cooks at the Governor's Palace Kitchen. Several of the
plants we started in the first hot bed were large enough this week to be moved into bigger pots and placed in
the cold frame. In their place, we started seeds for the early frame melon, a historic melon variety that was
developed for early season production in a protected hot bed or wooden frame. Many new blooms can be
seen in the Historic Garden this week, including a number of ornamental flowers: eastern columbine
(Aquilegia canadensis), English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides
hispanica), and calendula (Calendula officinalis), as well as many of our trees including pear (Pyrus communis),
silverbell (Halesia sp.), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and paw paw (Asimina triloba).
Freshly weeded paths in the Historic Garden
Apprentice Historic Gardener Marc harvesting purple broccoli
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�A bountiful spring harvest from the Historic Garden
Eastern columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) in bloom
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – We have the main action parts aligned for the new spinet. Now, we will begin
some assembly, then prepare the oak walls. Come see it coming together.
And if you run into Ed, be sure to offer Congratulations! Ed Wright, Master Harpsichord Maker, began
his work at CW in the Musical Instrument Shop on April 1, 1983, and is celebrating 40 years of working
here! We are all so proud of all he has done and all of the accomplishments to come. Congratulations, Ed!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week, the Brickyard crew started preparing the site for the upcoming brickmaking season.
This means the highly sought after task of shoveling out the old clay and leaves from the treading pit must be
completed, and no-one was more excited for the task than Master Josh. We also received a visit from our
friends in Coach and Livestock, who brought us two 3-week-old lambs. The spunky pair explored the Brickyard
to their hearts content, with only a few escape attempts.
In other news, we also received our Brickyard t-shirts order, which will allow us to remain spiffy and
identifiable out in town for restoration work.
The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday (12:00-5:00), and Saturday, weather permitting.
On Saturday, April 8th, at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Masonry staff will present, “Who
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Designed This Place?” Join Master Bricklayer Josh Graml as he explores how 18th-century buildings were
designed and built as gentlemen architects plied their trade in Virginia. Where did they get their design
inspirations, and how did they translate English architectural forms to Virginia-born tradesmen?
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – March for the Milliners roared in like a lion ... and out like a
thunderously deafening tiger! On Tuesday, we hosted the final “Trades Tuesday” Livestream, which saw our
Shop transformed into a forest of cameras, screens, and wires monitored by six technicians. Quite a
difference from our first go-round broadcasting from the Shop in April 2020, with Justin alone with his phone
and tripod. We shared some stories from the 30 years of our "Gown in a Day" program and chatted with
viewers about everything from 18th-century workdays to sewing quality expectations to sustainability in
clothing to research methodology to the individualization of fashion. We've heard that viewership numbers
topped the charts, so we're glad to know we helped send "Trades Tuesdays" out with a bang.
In other news, Kate's suit of ruffles and her new blue petticoat are nearly complete, and she's eagerly
anticipating work to begin on her matching jacket next week. She's also continuing her research into the
visual representation of Jewish dress and cultural traditions in the 18th century. Our NIAHD Intern, Ishbel, has
been lending her hands to the child's silk petticoat for the new clothing exhibit, and has also accepted our
offer to stay on as our Brickman Intern this summer. Rebecca continues work on her blue version of the
Connecticut Historical Society cloak, in between keeping up with NAI homework and polishing the final
versions of the training materials.
Janea has been pouring her energy into the early planning stages of the November 2024 CW
"Symposium on Historical Dress: Collectors, Collecting, and Collaborations." Held in conjunction with our
curatorial department, the conference will highlight the opening of the new textiles gallery and celebrate a
number of key anniversaries in historical clothing at CW: the 90th year of "costumed" interpretation at our
Museum, the 70th anniversary of the Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop, and the 40th anniversary of the practice
of the trade of Mantua-making. In addition to two days of juried papers, the conference will also include a day
of workshops and some special evening programming (like we would ever let an opportunity for a fashion
show pass us by...). Stay tuned for more details as plans continue to progress.
Saturday (April 1st) marks our final presentation of "Disaster Strikes!" for Women's History Month.
The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Musket Range – We are preparing Alex and Andy for National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association training
later this month. They are practicing their skeet shooting skills. To qualify as Instructors at the Musket Range,
we learn to fire the rifle, shotgun, and pistol. The class is four days, where we also learn teaching and
classroom development. We will also go through the National Rifle Association's Range Safety Officer class to
be taught by Jeff, who is a Chief Range Safety Officer. We can’t wait to finish this and have Andy and Alex join
our Instructor Cadre.
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm,
and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Tuesday through Saturday.
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�Shoemaker – The Shoemakers will be working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – All of the Silversmiths have been busy working on the list of projects, both commissions and
apprenticeship pieces. Megan is polishing her bowl, and it is coming along nicely. Chris’ salver is also being
polished and is shining up beautifully.
Bobbie is working on the wire rim for another salver. We have twelve more we need to make for a client.
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�Preston has been polishing more jewelry and a mote spoon for the retail shop, as well as making more small
bowls.
George has been working on hammering out multiple ingots that will become small holloware pieces.
The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – On the counterbalance loom, we have been working on a run of hand
towels. The fabric is referred to as fustian because it's a combination of a linen warp and cotton weft. The
combination of fibers provides durability and absorbency, which is ideal for toweling. The cotton weft is
handspun by us, which is unusual. Typically, we do not weave with what we spin because we couldn’t keep
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�ourselves busy. A weaver in the 18th century would have been supplied with yarn from many, many
spinsters.
The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday through Wednesday, and Thursday (11:30-5:00).
Wheelwright – The Wheelwrights on Prince George Street have been working on a "market cart" for Coach
and Livestock. This vehicle will be used in lieu of the golf cart to move feed to the various lots and to transport
critters in style!
The Wheelwright Shop is closed April 2-14 for annual maintenance. On Monday, April 3rd, at 4:30 pm in the
Hennage Auditorium, the Wheelwrights will present, “A Primer on Paint”. Long before humanity created
villages and towns, there was paint. Paint serves not only as an aesthetic enhancer but as a means of
preservation of wood and metal objects. Come join a Colonial Williamsburg Wheelwright on a journey
following the science and history of this often-ignored part of our lives.
On Wednesday, April 5th, at 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Wheelwrights will present,
“The Road MORE Travelled”. Williamsburg is known as a sleepy, quiet southern town, but what did it look
like in its heyday? Join a Colonial Williamsburg Wheelwright as they take you onto the colonial Capitol's
streets to discuss what was rolling and who was driving.
Wigmaker – Hello from the Wigmakers! We have nearly completed the items needed for “CW Lights”, and
we look forward to seeing everyone in their finery. We will soon turn our combs to the Doering Exhibition
wigs. Benton has completed his Brigadier wig and will try it on someone's head soon to see how it looks.
After it's completely styled, it will be on display in the Shop if you'd like to come by to see it. This is Benton's
first full-size wig for his apprenticeship. Edith has started a new netted caul while she awaits delivery of the
woven tape from our amazing Weavers for her Journeyman wig. Work also continues on the hairpiece for
Anna R. We will soon be doing interviews for both a possible Junior Interpreter position and Summer Intern,
so be on the lookout for new faces soon. As always, please feel free to reach out to us for any hair-related
needs or questions.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
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Volume 9, Issue 13
�Contributors: Blacksmith – Joshua Rachita; Bookbinder – Barbara Swanson; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Engraver –
Lynn Zelesnikar; Founder – Leanne Bellouny; Gardener – Teal Brooks; Harpsichordmaker – Ed Wright and
Melanie Belongia; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik; Musket Range
– Jeffrey Thomas; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo; Wheelwright –
Paul Zelesnikar; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 13
�
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 9, number 13, April 1, 2023
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
2023-04-01
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
March 25, 2023
Apothecary – While the Apothecary is closed for maintenance, Mark and
Margaret are spending some time in London. Thanks to gift money, they will
be visiting several medical museums to gain insight into the workings of the
medical profession during the 18th century. They will also be going to the
National Archives to search for information about Dr. Galt when he was in
London in 1767. I’m sure they will have plenty to share upon their
return. Sharon is spending time in the office catching up on paperwork to
prepare for our Pharmacy Student Intern this summer. Even though Mark and
Margaret are not here, she does have company. He doesn’t say much, but he
is amusing none-the-less. She is also spending time in the Library, working on
the Galt-Barraud Daybooks. She has recently found some intriguing entries
that Samuel Beall may have been treated for cancer.
From Margaret in London:
Mark and Margaret headed for London to visit sites related to the history of medicine. Among other exciting
encounters, they ran into RCP Fellow Dr. Henry Oakeley at the Royal College of Physicians Museum, who gave
a brief tour of some personal favorite apothecary jars there.
The Apothecary is closed March 26-31 for maintenance. It is open Saturday.
Blacksmith – Over the winter break, the Blacksmiths had the opportunity to tour some wonderful
museums in the Philadelphia area. I have always admired Pennsylvanian ironwork; but being from Houston,
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�Texas, I had never had the opportunity to see any in person. Over the last several years, one type of handle
ornament for cooking utensils has caught my eye. It is a pierced heart handle that shows up from that area.
My favorite version was a spatula that is seen in the Iron at Winterthur book. While touring Winterthur, we
were able to see and hold the original one. It is always such a treat to see original work in person and to
garner information about this work that is just not possible through a photograph. I've included a photo of the
original at Winterthur and another of my attempt at the same style, while in progress. The trip to
Pennsylvania was a great opportunity for me personally, as the newest Apprentice in the Shop, to get close
and personal with so much original work in a small amount of time. I really feel like I understand the nature
and habits in the work of our historical predecessors much more now.
The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – Good day from the Bookbinders. Research, research, research. I was recently asked for
some examples of literacy among 18th-century people other than the gentry. This is just a small portion of the
research I have been accumulating over six years, with Bookbinder Intern Mary Hannah Grier greatly adding to
this body of work during her tenure here. Thank you, Mary Hannah!
-In 1723, a group of anonymous enslaved people wrote to the Bishop of London asking that they be
released from bondage and that their children be educated.
-Between the years of 1748 and 1759, Presbyterian Minister Samuel Davies recorded that he
instructed enslaved men and women from each of his eight parishes to read. They in turn taught members of
their family and community; after which, it spread throughout Virginia.
-Across all colonies, there are over 5,000 runaway ads that list the enslaved person as being able to
read, write, or both.
-There were three other schools, besides William and Mary, in our town at various times:
• Started by Mary Page Whaley in 1696 in her backyard and named for her son, the
Matthew Whaley School served the poor children of Williamsburg.
• The Brafferton School was established to teach indigenous boys to read, write, practice
arithmetic, catechism, and the principles of Christian religion. Many later became
ambassadors and translators.
• The Bray School for African Children taught both free and enslaved children from
around Williamsburg and was a part of a greater network of schools. The curriculum
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�included reading, writing, arithmetic, and catechism. Some of these children were
attached to trade shops in town.
-Trades people were often taught to read, write, and perform simple math.
-There are many examples of the enslaved conducting business on their master's behalf, keeping the
books, and participating in the trade itself. Many people who were enslaved were adept at multiple trades.
There are many examples of women and daughters conducting business in the shops, as well as participating
in the trade itself.
-We also have evidence of indentured tradesmen being brought into plantations to train the enslaved
in a trade or skill; and sometimes, the instruction included reading and writing.
-There is archaeological evidence of over 200 writing slates under slave quarters at Monticello, with
some also being found in the fields.
-There is also the fact that many of the enslaved men, women, and children who were brought here,
already knew a trade or skill, and many were literate. Phillis Wheatley, a young poet who was enslaved,
already knew her Arabic letters before she came here. For many of the enslaved in the early years, English is
their 2nd or even 3rd language.
-And among most people, by this time, there is some knowledge that reading and writing are valuable
skills. There is great evidence to suggest that when someone learned to read and write, they did not keep the
information to themselves.
The Bookbinder is open Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – Jeremy’s corner table is back in the Shop
this week after having several photos taken for archival
purposes. Here are a few shots of it side by side with the
original table. The reproduction is on the left in each photo
with the original on the right. This reproduction is now living
in the Shop and is available for sale out of the Shop.
Photography by Jason Copes, The Colonial Williamsburg
Foundation.
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�The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we’ve focused our efforts on finishing new sawhorses for
the upcoming projects and getting some interrupted sills and studs installed on the Brickyard drying house.
The goal here is to install some exterior walls to help protect the staircase we will be installing later.
The Carpenters Yard is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. On Monday, March 27th, 4:30 pm
in the Hennage Auditorium, the Coopers will present, “Tracing Adam Waterford”. Adam Waterford was a
free Black man who worked as a cooper in Williamsburg around the time of the American Revolution. This
program explores how we know that, and what else we know and don’t know about him, in a discussion of
the documentary evidence that allows us to glimpse who Adam Waterford was.
Engraver – For the past two
weeks in the Engraving Shop,
William has been engraving on his
ships copper plate and lots of trade
silver that the Silversmiths have sent
down. He even tried his hand at
watercoloring one of his sea horses
that he recently had a chance to
finally print. Lynn has finished
cleaning up a large pewter model
that the Foundry has cast in pewter
and will be using to cast in several
other metals. She is also working on
badges for the Fifes and Drums
Corps’ up-and-coming “Drummers Call”. She has completed a request for a copper printing plate of a CW seal.
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�Test prints have been done, and a CW mark will be engraved next, and the printing continued. She is also
finishing up recuts on the Boston Massacre plate.
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�The Engraver is open Sunday through Tuesday, and Thursday.
Farmer – It’s the end of the second week in Farming’s new location,
Ewing Field. Plowing has commenced to get the soil ready for a portfolio
of crops grown in the 18th century. This year at Ewing, it will be tobacco,
corn, cotton, barley, pumpkins, turnips, cowpeas, and we are even going
to try indigo. A couple of days ago, Guest Earline Green visited us, and
she was so impressed by what was happening. She told us that she saw
her grandfather plowing with mules when she was growing up in
Mississippi in the 1960’s. She said he never believed in this new tractor
thing, and even when he was old, he kept a mule for plowing his garden.
Amazing how the connective tissue of 200-plus years ago extends into the
present! Earline saw us doing what her grandfather did - a window
through time.
Earline Green with Historic Farmers Kevin Tobias and Ed Schultz
The Farmers will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
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�Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in
Market Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at
1 pm on the Play House Stage.
Founder – This time in Foundry news … Journeyman Mike has completed work on the second pair of
sterling silver shoe buckles for the ladies down in the Millinery Shop. These, too, are copies of buckles that
were found on the Geddy site during the archaeology of the property. The pewter pattern for the Colonial
Williamsburg seal has been completed, and we will be making molds and pouring one each in pewter, bronze,
and sterling silver. Apprentice Leanne did some pattern modification/repair on a new project that came in this
week. We will be making handles and brackets for an artillery bucket that the Coopers are making. For some
reason, the originals were made in iron, which does not hold up well to water and gunpowder, so we will be
casting these ones in bronze. Apprentice Drew finished up another order of 500 musket balls for the Musket
Range. He also finished creating the PowerPoint slides for his upcoming Hennage Talk next week. Wish him
luck as this is his first solo presentation. All three of us have been continuing the finishing work on the salt
spoons, as well.
The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Wednesday, April 29th, 4:30 pm in the
Hennage Auditorium, the Founders will present, “Casting a Bronze Mortar.” Join Apprentice Founder Drew
to learn about the production of an 18th-century artillery mortar.
Gardener – As the weather warms up, lettuce is
beginning to be harvested and removed from the
Garden. Two rows were replaced with onion
transplants (sowed in January in our coldframe),
one yellow and the other red. A third row was
sown with seed to compare to the transplants.
Trellises begin to make their appearance,
which changes the Garden by adding elements of
height. The peas are sown in February, and as they
are now about four inches tall, it is time to give
them something to climb on. The second hotbed
has been filled with active hot compost and then
covered with a layer of topsoil. Sowed into the
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�hotbed were two types of dwarf French marigolds, hot peppers, tomato, basil, clove pinks, and Stokes Aster.
Plants from the first hotbed are already being ‘pricked’ out of the hotbed and potted up to live in the cold
frame until a space opens for them in the Garden.
We were visited this week by Darrin and the ox team, who delivered a load of hay with the leavings of
sheep. All this contributes to our compost pile, which we depend on for all sorts of uses.
Fruit trees continue to bloom, and even though we have had three nights of very cold weather, they
seem to be unscathed. We hope to see fruit on the pear trees this year, even though the squirrels make off
with all the fruit. Spring is finally here!
©Royal Collection Trust
Our Gardener is looking very much the part as a gardener. Note the blue apron!
The Colonial Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
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�Gunsmith – The Gunsmiths have continued with the reaming of Darrin's pistol barrels after being put on
hold for a couple of weeks. We have put through eleven reaming bits so far, with possibly another six to go.
Since Darrin is shaping these to be tapered octagon to round on the exterior, the tubes were necked down
during the forging to help refine the taper. That produced a fairly small starting hole in which to start
reaming. Pistols are usually larger in bore size than rifles, so these need to be enlarged to approximately .55
cal. The final bore size is yet to be determined.
Study material this week has been Great British Gunmakers, volumes 1 and 2, and The Complete
Handbook of Sandcasting by C.W. Ammen.
The Gunsmith Shop is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – Ed and Melanie had the opportunity to visit the William Harris spinet in Collections
earlier this week. Thank you to Amanda for making it happen! We did our preliminary study almost a
year ago (hard to believe!). It was nice to revisit the instrument since we've started working on our new one.
We took additional measurements, photos, looked at the old work and compared our plan of attack for the
new spinet. We continue research on the Harris Family of harpsichordmakers, as well. Stop by anytime!
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�The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Joiner – Greetings from the Joiner Shop! The tulips have bloomed in the garden behind the Shop, and
Spring has arrived. The Joiners are busy with a variety of projects as we move into the Spring season. Brian is
finishing up his copy of the pilaster from Smith’s Fort in Surry County, Virginia. Peter is carving and coping the
moldings on his arched framing pieces for his reproduction arched doorway from Menokin. Scott has been
fitting tenons and coping moldings on his raised-panel door parts for his reproduction Eastern Shore corner
cupboard. The door frame is assembled, and the next step is to raise the panels and fit them into the
openings. Laura is focused on laying out, cutting, and fitting dovetails for a drawer for her workbench.
The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – Greetings from the Leather Breeches Makers! The past several weeks have
been busy settling into a routine with our newly opened trade. We are enjoying the company of our tenants,
the Shoemakers, greatly. Workwise, Master Jay is making a pair of deerskin breeches for Shop display, and
Apprentice Emma is making a pair for a co-worker in the Masonry Trade. This pair of breeches, made from
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�deerskin, will help get her even closer to her Journeyman papers. Behind the Shop, the crabapple tree has
bloomed, and spring has come to the little stream with visits by ducks and songbirds.
Apprentice Emma doing a final fitting, making sure the knees lay right and double checking where the garter will sit.
Crabapple tree in bloom beside our Shop
The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week in the Brickyard, the crew continued their work on unstacking the kiln, while the
Apprentices delved deeper into the prep work for tile making this summer. Apprentice Nick uncovered more
information from the 18th century, which was in the original French text. Master Steve of the Tin Plate
Worker Shop was gracious enough to help us out, for which we are grateful. Apprentice Madeleine measured
the existing tile fragments from the Archaeology Collection to create a mold size. These measurements were
taken to the Blacksmith Shop, where Apprentice Josh will undertake the task of creating the mold. With the
measurements and a reference from the Ballenberg Museum in Switzerland, which the Apprentices visited last
December, it should be quite a task indeed.
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�The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner/Mantua-makers have been quite busy in the last few
weeks! As a Shop, we have been interviewing candidates for the Brickman Summer Internship as well as
continuing to present our Hennage programs – “Disaster Strikes!” (Saturdays at 4:30 pm) and “She Had on
When She Went Away” (Thursdays at 1:30 pm).
Apprentice Kate has made progress on a suit of ruffles for a jacket and petticoat, the latter of which is
nearly finished being hemmed. She’s particularly excited to get started on the jacket, which will be a project
that calls for the entirety to be pieced from 40” of fabric. Wish her luck! Journeywoman Rebecca has been
keeping the rest of the Shop well-informed of the things she is learning in her 16-week NAI course as well as
overseeing the work of our Junior Interpreter and making a short cloak out of a beautiful blue wool. Mistress
Janea has been working on a yellow silk petticoat for the upcoming Mary D. Doering Exhibit at the Art
Museum. The petticoat will go on display with a child’s yellow silk damask gown, for which the Shop will also
be making a bibbed apron and ruffles.
This Friday, we had the pleasure of welcoming a Guest to the Shop who brought with her a beautiful
antique fan, which we believe to date from the 1780s. We spent a delightful morning trading time spent in
front of the rest of the Guests and behind the scenes examining the fan and trying to uncover its secrets. We
hope to be able to tell you more soon!
The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (9:30-3:00).
On Saturday, April 1st, 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Milliners will present, “Disaster Strikes! The
Cost of Dressing in 1769.” It's 1:00 am, and you've just escaped your burning house with only the
nightclothes on your back and the slippers on your feet. What would it take to rebuild the "average"
woman's wardrobe? How many pieces might that include? What would those pieces cost? Using a 1769-70
merchant's account book from Louisa County, Virginia, the Milliners and Mantua-makers will demonstrate
the layers of a woman's everyday outfit and discuss the number of garments and other pieces that might
comprise her full wardrobe.
Music – On Friday, March 31st, 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, members of the Music staff will
present, “Phillis Wheatley and the Music of Freedom”. Join the Governor’s Musick in an exploration of the
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 12
�inconsistencies of the Age of Enlightenment ideal of freedom, as seen through the life and poetry of Phillis
Wheatley and the music of George Frederic Handel.
Musket Range – The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at
9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – Charlotte Larsen making the press ready for a run of the song she has set.
The Printer is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 12
�Shoemaker – The Shoemakers will be working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – Spring is here, and the Silversmiths are very happy to have the nice weather, and most
importantly, sunlight to work by. Megan has filed the excess solder off of her small bowl and has begun to
polish it. Bobbie is working on the rim for another salver, her bread basket, and letter charms. Chris is
polishing her tray with fine abrasive powder. Preston has been working on his bowls and polishing more trade
silver, as well as fitting handles to the wooden lids of our water and pickle tubs. George has been working on
camp cups and has poured a new spoon tin for sinking the bowls of our teaspoons.
An ingot of this size is more than enough to make this style of bowl that Preston and Megan are each creating.
Bobbie’s trade silver
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Chris sprinkling abrasive powder on her tray for polishing.
Volume 9, Issue 12
�George secured the spoon punch with tongs and wire over a copper bowl then poured liquid tin in to cast a new spoon tin (left). The
new spoon tin with the perfectly matched spoon punch (right)
The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – Mr. Logue, Apprentice, has been quilting fabric for a waistcoat for Mrs. Harris, Journeyman
Blacksmith. Mr. McCarty, Journeyman, has begun a pair of white silk satin breeches that will be used in the
upcoming Mary D. Doering Exhibit at the Art Museum.
Mr. Logue and Mr. McCarty spent Thursday morning collecting firewood for the Shop with some help.
While the weather will continue to get warmer, we will still need hot coals to heat our irons all summer long!
The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Our first Dye Day of the year couldn't have been better! The dyes gave
us beautiful, bold colors and allowed us to interpret the complexity and importance of dyes in the 18th
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 12
�century. We got a wide variety of shades that truly dazzled! With the colors we had, we were able to get
greens, reds, pinks, oranges, and blues.
The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – Hello from the Wigmakers! These last couple of weeks, we have welcomed many, many
Guests as the weather has improved. Edith has woven several rows of hair for her Journeyman wig. Benton
has removed his Brigadier wig from the block and is currently applying the last row to the outside edge, to
cover up the last of the binding. Debbie continues to weave human hair for a set of lady's curls for colleague
Anna R. Work on wigs for “CW Lights” also continues. Once those wigs and hairpieces are completed, we will
turn our combs and curling sticks toward the display pieces needed for the upcoming Mary D. Doering Exhibit
at the Art Museum. As always, please feel free to reach out to us with any hair care needs or questions.
Benton's wig, off the blockhead
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 12
�The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Sharon Cotner and Margaret Perry; Blacksmith – Joshua Rachita; Bookbinder –
Barbara Swanson; Cabinetmaker – Jeremy Tritchler; Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar;
Farmer – Ed Schultz; Founder – Drew Godzik; Gardener – Eve Otmar; Gunsmith – Darrin McDonal;
Harpsichordmaker – Melanie Belongia; Joiner – Scott Krogh; Leather Breeches Maker – Emma Cross; Masonry
– Madeleine Bolton; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Kate Hargrove; Printer – Peter Stinely; Silversmith – Megan
Cantwell; Tailor – Michael McCarty; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 12
�
Dublin Core
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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
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Title
A name given to the resource
The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 12, March 25, 2023
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
2023-03-25
-
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
March 18, 2023
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Sunday. It will be closed March 20-31 for maintenance.
Blacksmith – This week, the Blacksmiths have been hard at work on a variety of goods: Mark has been
working on a rim lock; Aislinn on a sign bracket; Ken, Josh, and Broadus on gate hardware; and Alex on hoes
and axes. Kitchen utensils also occupied much of the Apprentices’ time.
To continue from Ken’s entry on our Shop’s trip to Pennsylvania and the various historic sites we
visited, I wanted to speak on Landis Valley, in particular. As a smith who has been working very closely with
our Farmer program, I have a special interest in Landis Valley’s collection. The large selection of ploughs, axes,
and other farming equipment, as well as tools like wagon jacks, gave me a great perspective on both
similarities and variety of form. Jennifer Royer, their Curator, was an excellent host who was both enthusiastic
about our interests and extremely accommodating, even when a small piece on a distant shelf caught our eye.
Although their selection of barshare ploughs was of particular interest for my current work, I was also greatly
excited by their collection of locks.
Because of Lancaster County’s heavy German settlement, German aesthetics pervade the ironwork just
as it does their other handicraft. German locks have some characteristics distinct from their English
counterparts, such as the use of levers instead of doorknobs, and more highly decorated escutcheon plates.
This preference for decoration reaches other products, too: decorative piercing in the handles of cooking
utensils, fanciful engraving on hinges, and other examples. This contrast with the English preference for “plain
and neat” aesthetics in the late 18th century is interesting because the function of the objects had little
difference between types. Whether English or German, the bolt arrangement inside a lock was familiar; bowls
of ladles and cooking spoons were of similar size; and the coulter, mouldboard, and share of a plough were
very familiar.
The greater appreciation for the functional aspects of these tools and hardware, as well as seeing tool
marks where they were left, has given me a greater understanding of how these things were made and what
elements were important, as well as what was variable from culture to culture or even user to user. As they
say, there's no accounting for taste.
Wherever you're from, and whatever you will, all's well that falls well at the foot of the anvil.
The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – This week, John has gotten the backs of his chairs almost complete, with just a small
amount of work yet to do. He'll move on soon to making the rest of the chair. Jeremy has been sampling out
some chair legs of his own, making decisions about his designs before he starts the heavy labor. Bill is making
up the interior parts for his writing table drawer, which is proving time consuming, to say the least. This week,
members of the Shop also ventured to Archaeology to look at Hay Shop artifacts with Curator Sean Devlin.
Thanks to Sean and his team for having us!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Carpenter – The Carpenters Yard is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. The Palace Scullery will be
open on Sunday, March 19th, 10:00 - 3:45, for “The Arts and Mysteries of Brewing”.
Cooper – The Coopers recently made some simple stands for washtubs to sit on, using some knotty wood
that otherwise would have been thrown away. In doing so, we stepped outside of our traditional coopering
techniques and into the world of simple lap joints. The accompanying photos show a few details of the work.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – The Engraver is open Sunday through Tuesday, and Thursday.
Farmer – A New Day began this week with the
Farmers’ first week at Ewing Field. Guests (Scott
and Krista from Georgia) came in the gate within
the first hour of opening. We started right off
harrowing our new field. Over this year, we will
grow tobacco, corn, barley, cotton, pumpkins, try
some indigo, and turnips.
Kevin Tobias harrows off the field.
The Farmers will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – It was a busy weekend for the Fifes and Drums as we wrapped up our last classes
before the performances started; attended the Youth Interpreter Expo to recruit for this fall's Recruit class;
and played not once, not twice, but three times for "A Common Cause to All." Now, we are starting our first
week of regular programming for the year. The Senior Corps did a great job on Wednesday, and the Junior
Corps is preparing for their first program as I type this. Come out to see us Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
at 4:40 pm on Market Square, or Saturday at 12:30 pm for our Capitol-to-Palace March followed by "The Art of
Fifing and Drumming" at 1 pm on the Play House Stage. This week will feature the Fife/Drum Sergeants (our
most advanced musicians) on the stage. Lastly, we'd like to congratulate Sam Carvajal for passing up to Lance
Corporal and Gavin Asbell for passing up to rank of Drummer! We have some exciting things in the works, so
stay tuned over the next few weeks!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market Square,
Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1 pm on the Play
House Stage.
Founder – The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – Physical changes to the Historic Garden were in much evidence this week. Pruning of sundry
plants was undertaken with muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia), blood peach (Prunus persica), and John
Clayton honeysuckle (lonicera sempervirens f. sulpherea) all being thinned.
Pruned muscadine grape vines are to the left with unpruned vines to right (left). Silhouetted John Clayton honeysuckle having been
pruned and artfully tied upon the Garden lamp pole (right).
Over a period of two days, Apprentice Marc wove previously coppiced black willow (Silex nigra) into a new
wattle fence beneath the blood peach tree. Willow is a determined plant and still continues to show life
despite having been cut some four weeks in the past.
Despite the appearance of ease, the inattentive Apprentice frequently caught his cap on the lower branches of the peach tree.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�Arguably the sturdiest wattle in the Garden!
Other spring chores filled the balance of the week
with the sowing of two varieties of spring radish
(Raphanus raphanistrum s. sativus) and scurvygrass (Cochlearia officinalis). Large scale spring
weeding began with the clearing of the dry bed.
Spring-planted radishes and scurvy-grass to the
left, overwintered swiss beet (Beta vulgaris) to the right.
With the removal of weeds, one can take note of the mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and echinacea (Echinacea pupurea).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�And finally, this week marked the blooming of a Gardener-favorite flower, the snake’s-head iris!
The Iris tuberosa is looking right at you.
The Colonial Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith Shop is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – From the Harpsichord corner … The plectra in the William Harris spinet were
originally made from the usual bird quill. Later in the 18th century, the instrument was altered with leather
plectra. The leather is not a single piece, but a laminate of thick, soft leather capped with thin smooth leather.
The two leathers are glued into a double layer block, then knifed into narrow strips.
The little holly tongues in the jacks have mortises that can hold such large plectra. We have
reproduced a method of hand chiseling out these tiny mortises, cleaning the holes with small needle files,
then inserting the leather, trimming it off, and then trimming the plectra to an angle so that it will pluck and
pivot in the jack, as usual. The photos show some of the tools used in the process, plus a picture of two
original jacks and two of our modern reproduction ones (with a penny for
scale). Small work, and holly holds up beautifully if the worker is careful
and methodical.
Chiseling mortise for leather plectra
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�Finish chiseling mortise
Leather laminate and jack tongue with sleeve hole
Leather laminate, cut leather strip inserted into tongues, and a finished tongue
Modern leather plectra detail (l). Modern reproduction leather plectra with scale penny (c). Original Harris Jacks Leather (r).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�Smoothing the Mortise with Square Needle File
Ours is certainly not a fast method, but it works. Even though we have a method for producing these
leather plectra, we will make our new spinet with traditional bird quill. And yes, there is a subtle difference in
the tone, leather producing a slightly more mellow character which suited end-of-18th-century tastes more
and more.
Come and see the work, we’ll have them out to show. Cheers.
The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week in the Brickyard, the crew became acquainted with the new spring schedule just in
time for it to feel like spring! If you have visited us recently, you may have noticed that we have two sets of
gates, quite exciting for us. Our wide entrance for materials and such now has two gates which were crafted
by the Apprentice Carpenters, the dream team of Mary and Harold. Otherwise, this week, we continued to
unstack the benches which created the fire tunnels of last year's kiln.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday, weather permitting. On Monday,
March 20th, the Masonry staff will present, “Who Designed This Place?” Join Master Bricklayer Josh Graml
as he explores how 18th-century buildings were designed and built as gentlemen architects plied their trade
in Virginia. Where did they get their design inspirations, and how did they translate English architectural
forms to Virginia-born tradesmen?
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Tuesday, Wednesday,
Friday, and Saturday (9:30-3:00). On Saturday, March 25th, 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the
Milliners will present, “Disaster Strikes! The Cost of Dressing in 1769.” It's 1:00 am, and you've just escaped
your burning house with only the nightclothes on your back and the slippers on your feet. What would it
take to rebuild the "average" woman's wardrobe? How many pieces might that include? What would
those pieces cost? Using a 1769-70 merchant's account book from Louisa County, Virginia, the Milliners and
Mantua-makers will demonstrate the layers of a woman's everyday outfit and discuss the number of
garments and other pieces that might comprise her full wardrobe.
Music – On Friday, March 24th, 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, member of the Music staff will
present, “Phillis Wheatley and the Music of Freedom”. Join the Governor’s Musick in an exploration of the
inconsistencies of the Age of Enlightenment ideal of freedom, as seen through the life and poetry of Phillis
Wheatley and the music of George Frederic Handel.
Musket Range – Training for Andy and Alex is going very, very well. Both of them are now gaining
confidence in their interpretation of history. The number of Guests is up as the warmer weather is
approaching. Jeff continues his HTS Leadership Training. Scott is going to attend the NMLRA Gunsmithing
Training Conference in Kentucky this June, where he will build a rifle.
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am,
1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – Fresh from the press, "A new SONG."
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�The Printer is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers will be working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmiths continue to work through their long list of projects. With Preston’s help,
Megan has soldered her bowl, and she is now working on filing off the excess solder. Bobbie is working on a
reproduction of an 18th-century sweet meat basket. She and Megan decided it looked like a hat, and with the
Wigmaker’s help, they turned it into a fashionable accessory. Look out, Milliners and Mantua-makers, we’re
coming for your fashion accessory turf! Chris is continuing the first polishing stage for her tray. Preston has
taught Megan how to solder holloware and has also soldered his bowl together. George has been hammering
out more ingots and is also working on a camp cup.
Megan’s soldered bowl
Megan modeling the silver “hat”
Chris’ tray
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�Preston’s bowl
George’s cup
The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Work on the bed rug marches on. With one full panel done, we are
celebrating the halfway point. The fabric has helped illustrate to Guests young and old just how timeconsuming fabric can be, and while it is a unique type of cloth, it's recognizable to many. It truly looks like a
1970s shag rug. Most folks guess that it is a rug, but many are unaware that rugs don't go on the ground in
the 18th century. It's an opportunity to discuss how the meanings of words change over time as our language
adapts to an evolving world.
We are also working on plain fustian hand towels. With an unbleached linen warp and an undyed
cotton weft, these towels are rather plain, but they will certainly be useful. We always hope the fabric we
make will actually get used!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – This week, we have made significant progress towards two of our big projects for the year:
the Small's plough and the velocipede. You can see the so-called "sock-mandrel" casting pattern has been
shaped out (the weird pointy wedge thing pictured). This required some intense drafting and making a
specialized bevel gauge that was offset by 16 degrees. The casting pattern will be utilized by the wonderful
folks at the Geddy Foundry to cast a cast-iron mandrel for our Blacksmiths to make the ploughshare. Also, the
Engravers completed the engraving for the massive 30" diameter protractor that we will use to help shape out
the mouldboard of the Small's plough.
Meanwhile, the velocipede project is moving along swimmingly. Both wheels are made and ready for
tiring, and the saddle has been upholstered by the Leather Breeches Makers.
Stop by anytime to chat with us about these awesome projects!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�The Wheelwright Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Wednesday, March
22nd, 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Wheelwrights will present, “The Road MORE Travelled”.
Williamsburg is known as a sleepy, quiet southern town, but what did it look like in its heyday? Join a
Colonial Williamsburg Wheelwright as they take you onto the colonial Capitol's streets to discuss what was
rolling and who was driving.
Wigmaker – The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
Women’s History Month Tour – On Saturday, March 25th, 11 am-12 pm, departing from the
William Pitt Store, join us for “Women at Work!” We have all heard that a woman’s place was in the home
during the 18th century, but it was far from the only place. Join us for a walking tour discussing the oftensurprising realities of women’s labor, skills, and rights in 18th-century Williamsburg and the Colonial
Atlantic World. We will explore roughly half a mile of sites, stories, and continuing research into hidden
history. Limit of 25 guests.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Blacksmith – Alex Hinman; Cabinetmaker – John Peeler; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Farmer – Ed
Schultz; Fifes and Drums – Rebecca Sterner; Gardener – Mark Nucup; Harpsichordmaker – Ed Wright; Masonry
– Madeleine Bolton; Musket Range – Jeffrey Thomas; Printer – Peter Stinely; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell;
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo; Wheelwright – Murphy Griffin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 11
�
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 9, number 11, March 18, 2023
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
2023-03-18
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
March 10, 2023
Apothecary – We're diving into school group season but still working
hard behind the scenes. Sharon is hunting for Virginia references to cancer
for a new Hennage program she's developing - on Wednesday, she also
officially received her Masters' Papers! Mark, in addition to compounding
a lovely conserve of rosemary flowers (pictured), has just completed
apprenticeship level 4; feel free to either congratulate him or quickly solicit
18th-century medical services before his consultation fees go up. Margaret
continues to contemplate madness (academically) and is making her way
through the level 2 surgery modules. Those impacted by Mark's fee
increase can see Margaret for heavily discounted trepanning & cataract
couching.
The Apothecary is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and
Saturday.
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith is open Daily.
Bookbinder – Good day. Occasionally, the Bookbinders like to highlight some of the people who step through the
doors of the Bookbindery and into our hearts. The beautiful Marie-Helaine of Canada is one such person. She visited
with us several times, clad in an exquisite handsewn period gown, and was curious about a
multitude of subjects. Recently, we received
beautifully handwritten thank you notes and a
precious gift. Marie sent us copies of engravings
by Martin Engelbrecht of German Bookbinders
and Booksellers, circa 1730. Thank you, MarieHelaine! Where would Colonial Williamsburg be
without people like you? We are grateful for
your friendship.
The Bookbinder is open Monday,
and Thursday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker – For the past several weeks, we've been joined by Sarah Pelluconi, a History major at the
College of William and Mary. As part of the NIAHD program (National Institute of American History and
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�Democracy), Sarah will be interning in the Hay Shop a couple of days a week through the Spring Semester. In
addition to learning about the history of the Trade and its practitioners, Sarah will be learning some
fundamental hand skills. Our goal is to have her make a beautiful walnut candle box with dovetailed corners
by the end of the semester. To reach that end, Sarah has been practicing cutting dovetail joints, sharpening
tools, planing boards flat ... and cutting more dovetail joints.
This past Tuesday, Jeremy, John, and Bill had the opportunity to visit Collections and study a few chairs.
Jeremy has chosen to create a set of chairs inspired by one chair in our Collection which is thought to have
been in the Palace when Lord Dunmore left Williamsburg in 1775. The chair was then said to have been sold
at auction in 1776 and purchased by the Galt family.
Jeremy studied and measured the original chair
and is considering what it might look like with
different front legs. The original chair has straight
legs, so what might it look like with cabriole legs
instead? The idea for this change in design has
been inspired by a chair in the collection at the
Museum of Southern Decorative Arts which is
believed to be from Annapolis, Maryland. The
backs of the two chairs have similar center panels,
or splats, while the rest of the chairs are noticeably
different. Jeremy is approaching this project from
the viewpoint of “What if a client saw these chairs
in the Palace and wanted something similar but
with different legs?” We’ll see in the coming weeks
what comes of this little design experiment.
Chair at MESDA
Dunmore chair
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we’ve focused on completing a few smaller projects. Mary
and Shelby have been making new sawhorses for the upcoming projects. Bobby and Matt hung the Armoury
gate frames and installed the pales. We will be installing the hinges and fasteners in coming weeks.
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�The Carpenters Yard is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cook – It’s smoking time over at the Palace Kitchen! Since the first weekend of December, three of our four
hogs from the butchering program have been packed in tubs of salt in our Smoke House in the beginning
stages of our next batch of Virginia Hams. As of last week, we pulled the hams out of their tubs, washed them,
dried them, and strung them back up in the Smoke House. On Sunday, our order of green Hickory wood was
delivered, so on Monday, Barbara filled up the ring in the Smokehouse, and the smoking of the hams has
officially started! So, if anyone sees smoke coming from the Palace over the next several days, never you fear,
it’s just the hams.
We are also gearing up for our busy Spring Season! Our Workshop, “Play With Your Food”, starts
shortly. Guests will be able to come into the Kitchen and get hands on with creating personal and unique
garnishes for plating that they will be able to bring to their own dining tables at home. Spring’s round of
Chocolate Programming will also be starting before long, as well as the next Brew Season, where we will be
crafting four new batches of 18th-century beer in the Scullery. We would also like to thank our friends over at
the Coopers for the beautiful new wash tub Apprentice Jackie kindly made for us a few weeks back.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cooper – In the Cooper's Shop, we have been working on some wash tubs
and stands. In the case of the stands, we've been using some material that
we would otherwise throw away as it's too knotty to be used in making
containers.
The Cooper is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. On
Monday, March 13th, 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Coopers
will present, “Tracing Adam Waterford”. Adam Waterford was a free Black
man who worked as a cooper in Williamsburg around the time of the
American Revolution. This program explores how we know that, and what
else we know and don’t know about him, in a discussion of the
documentary evidence that allows us to glimpse who Adam Waterford
was.
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�Engraver – The Engraver is open Sunday through Tuesday, and Thursday.
Farmer – Farmers Ed and Kevin attended the Southeast Regional Association of Living History, Farms and
Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM) in South Carolina last week. Plenty of good presentations, especially on
interpreting sensitive issues, rice culture in Lowcountry South Carolina, and growing and processing indigo.
We led a half-day workshop on understanding mules and plowing. Ed worked with the farmer at L. W. Paul
Living History Farm to plow with the participants, and Kevin taught them how plows work. They were thrilled
to get to plow rather than just talk about it. We wrapped it up with a plowing match. The power of hands-on
learning!
Pet the Mule
Planning the workshop with the site’s farmers
Plowing with a single mule
The Farmers will be at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – Hello from Fifes and Drums! We are in the final push to prepare for performances
starting again, and the kids have been working diligently to learn their music. We'll be out on the field again
starting next Wednesday at 4:40 pm. In other exciting news, Staff conducted a round of interviews with our
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�highest ranking Senior Corps members and have decided to appoint them to Leadership positions within the
Corps. Congratulations to Isabel Kantor as Drum Section Leader, Spencer Johnson as Bass Drum 1st Sergeant,
and Jacob Hower as Fife 1st Sergeant! You can identify them during marches by their colored epaulettes
(silver for Sergeant Major, red for Section Leader, and green for 1st Sergeants).
The Senior Corps drumline having class during setup for the HTS Department Party on Wednesday.
The Fifes and Drums will be performing Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market Square, Saturday
at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1 pm on the Play House
Stage.
Founder – Here at the Foundry, we are celebrating the end of a very successful run of Winter Workshops;
we sold out every week! We also delivered a pair of silver shoe buckles to the Milliner and Mantua-makers for
use in their “Disaster Strikes!” Hennage program this Saturday. And of course, we’re busy producing musket
balls for the Range. Research-wise, Apprentice Drew has finished writing his upcoming Hennage presentation
and is starting on the slides. His first presentation will be later this month on March 29th! Apprentice Leanne
has been diving into occupational diseases of working with toxic metals, so very comforting research indeed.
The Foundry is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – This week, the Historic Garden experienced slightly cooler temperatures and even the threat of
frost. Despite the warmer spring, we still have a danger of freezing temperatures here in our part of Virginia
until mid-April, so the Gardeners are patiently adhering to our usual planting schedule. Many Guests to our
site over the last few weeks have posed the question, "Is this warm weather normal?" The answer to that is
"no." According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, February 2023 in Virginia was the
warmest observed in the 129 years that NOAA has been keeping climate records. For those interested in how
an early spring can affect plant and animal activity, the USA National Phenology Network (usapn.org) has some
very interesting graphs and information. As the weather warms and the days lengthen, many of the
vegetables we planted in the fall to overwinter will start to mature. The broccoli plants have started to
produce, and we were able to send our harvest to the Cooks at the Governor's Palace Kitchen along with
lettuce, Welsh onions, and a variety of herbs. The seeds we sowed in the hotbed last week have begun to
germinate, and our second pile of horse manure measured at a whopping 155 degrees at its peak and is now
ready to be turned. This week, the Gardeners finished pruning the muscadine grape vines, sowed a row of
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�crown peas, and pulled several wheelbarrow-loads of weeds from the Garden. New blooms in the Garden this
week include peach (Prunus persica), leucojum (Leucojum aestivum), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), and
heart's-ease (Viola tricolor).
Purple broccoli in the Historic Garden
Seeds beginning to germinate in the hotbed
Muscadine grape vine after a pruning in the Historic Garden
Heart's-ease (Viola tricolor) in bloom
The Colonial Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith Shop is open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Harpsichordmaker – From the Harpsichord corner …
Forgive our silence lately … but we have been really busy. As you can see from the photos, the baseboard is
close to shape. We have attached the risers that will support the wrest plank (that big thick piece of pinkish
beech). It will be the heaviest assembly in the spinet since this will hold the tuning pins and part of the string
band, so everything must fit well with the best, freshest hide glue we have. Thanks to Broadus, Mark, and Ken
at the Armoury for making small nails for this assembly on very short notice. We really appreciate it.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�Melanie has been working on the blocks that will cover the chromatic, or accidental, keys. On the
original Harris Spinet that serves as our model, the blocks are not ebony but an unidentified wood that was
stained black quite thoroughly. We are making our blocks from pear wood with a topping of ebony for
durability, and so there is no concern about stain wearing away from the player’s fingers touching them. It is a
regular way of saving on precious materials (yes, they were concerned about that back in the 1760s). The pear
section of the block will be painted black, so unless you look really hard, you can’t tell the difference. You can
find historical mirror frames made from pear stained black for an ebony imitation effect. The wealthy buy the
real ebony, the rest of us buy the imitation so we can also participate in the same fashion. Lots of parts, lots
of different woods … come see how it is all starting to come together.
Armoury sprig nails
Chromatic key covers in progress
Chromatic keys in progress
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�Lots of different woods in all this!
William Harris 1764 keyboard closeup
The Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Joiner – Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The Joiner Shop has exciting news! Three of our staff have been
elevated to new titles. Brian Weldy is now Master Joiner of the Shop. Peter Hudson and Scott Krogh are now
Journeyman Joiners. They received their papers from Colonial Williamsburg this week in a special ceremony
attended by colleagues, family, and friends. Congratulations to Brian, Peter, and Scott!
The Joiner is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Masonry – This week in the Brickyard, the crew continued work on unstacking the kiln, where they found
some rather glorious glazes. This glazing can be found as part of the reconstructed and original buildings in
the Historic Area, like the Ludwell-Paradise House. This unique look is caused by the buildup of potash on the
face of the brick over the five-day firing. This potash is produced from the hardwoods, like oak and hickory,
that we burn throughout the kiln, which is why you see glazed bricks in the fire tunnels.
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�Otherwise, this week, you may have missed the crew paving and laying piers in the Yard but fear not!
You will be able to see them do it all over again very soon.
In more fashionable news, Master Josh had his second fitting for leather breeches. Soon, he will be
able to compete with Journeyman Carpenter Matt for the title of most fashionable Tradesperson in the
Building Trades Yard.
The Brickyard is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – On Saturday, March the 4th, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of
our "Gown in a Day" program by ... you guessed it ... making another gown in a day. Armed with reproduction
fabric made by the Weavers and 5.5 pairs of very willing hands (the three of us plus our two Interns, Rachel
and Ishbel, plus a borrowed Apothecary (Margaret) for part of the day), we set to work at 9:00 am. Our
inspiration for the gown's style is a 1769 print of "A Lady's Maid Soaping Linen”: it's a simple stomacher-front
gown with robings and single flounces at the elbows. The pressure was on, since the gown had a very firm
deadline: not only were we working to get it done in the day because of the parameters of this specific
program, but also because it's going to be featured in this Saturday's "Disaster Strikes!" program at the
Hennage.
Kate performed the role of "customer" to much acclaim. Janea did the cutting of the sleeves and
bodice while Rebecca pleated and stitched the back, Ishbel worked on the sleeve flounces, and Rachel focused
on the petticoat. By mid-day, we were ready for the first fitting, which joined the fronts to the back. Sewing
during the afternoon slowed a bit as our eager visitors kept returning to check on the progress and ask for
updates. By 4:00 pm, the bodice had been stitched, and it was time for the shoulder straps and sleeves to be
set. We kept the needles flying until 5:00 pm, when the gown was mostly done; by the end, all that remained
was to stitch the hem and attach the flounces to the sleeves. In the final reveal at the conclusion of the
program, Kate modeled the nearly complete gown with a handwoven reproduction kerchief made by the
Weavers, which will also appear in this Saturday's program. As soon as the door was closed and locked, it was
time to take advantage of our lovely, wide, flat countertops to allow our weary fingers (and the rest of
ourselves) the briefest of respites.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�We're going to resist sharing a photo of the completed gown...because you have four chances to come
and see it in person at the Hennage over the next four Saturday afternoons! In the meantime, many thanks to
Rachel and Ishbel for being with us for the day, to Margaret for sacrificing part of hers (and to Sharon for
permission for her to be a temporary runaway Apprentice), and to Ed for being our official photographer and
for keeping us supplied with necessary quantities of donuts and pizza. We appreciate you all and couldn't
have done it without you!
The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (9:30-3:00). On
Saturday, March 18th, 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Milliners will present, “Disaster Strikes! The
Cost of Dressing in 1769.” It's 1:00 am, and you've just escaped your burning house with only the
nightclothes on your back and the slippers on your feet. What would it take to rebuild the "average"
woman's wardrobe? How many pieces might that include? What would those pieces cost? Using a 1769-70
merchant's account book from Louisa County, Virginia, the Milliners and Mantua-makers will demonstrate
the layers of a woman's everyday outfit and discuss the number of garments and other pieces that might
comprise her full wardrobe.
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�Music – On Friday, March 17th, 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, member of the Music staff will
present, “Phillis Wheatley and the Music of Freedom”. Join the Governor’s Musick in an exploration of the
inconsistencies of the Age of Enlightenment ideal of freedom, as seen through the life and poetry of Phillis
Wheatley and the music of George Frederic Handel.
Musket Range – We at the Musket Range welcome our other new
Firearms Instructor, Alex Smith. Alex comes to us from Montana. Alex
has done Civil War reenactment and worked at the recreation center at
Cal State at East Bay. Alex has experience with match locks because of his
participation in Baskerville's Company of Shot and Hampden's Green
Coats. Attendance at the Range has been picking up steadily as the
warmer weather has arrived.
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
with sessions at 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer – The Printer is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers will be working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmith Shop is as busy as ever. Megan is continuing to work on her bowl, letter
charms, and sleeve buttons. Bobbie is working on her tray and has started to make a reproduction of an 18thcentury sweet meat basket. Chris is also working on her tray. The early stages of polishing can take quite a lot
of time, and it is necessary when making something as smooth and reflective as a tray. Preston has been
working on more silver bowls and helping Megan with hers, along with polishing a number of jewelry items for
the store. George has been hammering out another ingot that will eventually become silver sheet.
Megan’s letter charms
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�This is the 18th-century sweet meat basket Bobbie is starting to reproduce (left). The start of Bobbie’s sweet meat basket (right).
Chris’ silver tray
Preston’s trade silver ready for the store
George’s ingot
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�The Silversmith is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – As mentioned last week, Dye Day fast approaches! We have finally
selected the four colors we will be dyeing with: cochineal, turmeric, logwood, and indigo. We will be able to
get red, yellow, purple, and blue. As we often say, "some of our dyes are expensive, some of them are
complex, and some of them are gross." These four dyes are no exception. Stop by the Dye Yard on March
22nd to see what colors we cook up!
The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – Pictures of the completed repair of a wheelbarrow.
The Wheelwright Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Wednesday, March
15th, 4:30 pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Wheelwrights will present, “A Primer on Paint”. Long before
humanity created villages and towns, there was paint. Paint serves not only as an aesthetic enhancer but as
a means of preservation of wood and metal objects. Come join a Colonial Williamsburg Wheelwright on a
journey following the science and history of this often-ignored part of our lives.
Wigmaker – Hello from your favorite Wigmakers! This week, we finished up all of the Full Bottom wigs for
Evening Programs and turned our combs to the upcoming “CW Lights”. We have also continued to work on
our respective projects. Edith's fingers have been flying over her tressing frame to produce row after row of
human hair wefts for her Journeyman project. Benton has one or two more batches of horsehair left to frizz
for his Brigadier. Debbie put aside her netting to start working on a new hairpiece for one of our Dancers. She
has taken a piece from our inventory apart and will blend in a lighter shade for a better color match, then
begin weaving the hair. We had a very sweet Guest this past Sunday with her daughter, and they commented
that they needed to head home but kept going to "one more site" before they left. The mother said our Shop
had to be their very last stop as they should have headed out one and a half hours before, but as she exited,
she turned around and said, "Thank you all for all your hard work because without you, there would only be
empty buildings to look at." I do not believe she meant any slight to our amazing Building and Masonry
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�colleagues, by the way, but it was nice to hear the appreciation in her voice for the people that bring this place
to life. This past week, we also had a mini hair dressing session with Alex and Ren from Military Programs.
They were learning simple styling techniques to incorporate into their interpretations at the Guardhouse.
On Wednesday night, Debbie was presented her Master's Certificate and would like to thank Ted and
Justin for believing in her, and Edith and Benton for helping her get to this point. Reminder: starting with the
Spring schedule, the John Coke Office will be open Friday through Tuesday, so please plan accordingly if you
need our services.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
Women’s History Month Tour – On Saturday, March 18th, 11 am-12 pm, departing from the
William Pitt Store, join us for “Women at Work!” We have all heard that a woman’s place was in the home
during the 18th century, but it was far from the only place. Join us for a walking tour discussing the oftensurprising realities of women’s labor, skills, and rights in 18th-century Williamsburg and the Colonial
Atlantic World. We will explore roughly half a mile of sites, stories, and continuing research into hidden
history. Limit of 25 guests.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Bookbinder – Barbara Swanson; Cabinetmaker – Jeremy
Tritchler; Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cook – Abbey Shoaf; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Farmer – Ed Schultz; Fifes
and Drums – Rebecca Sterner; Founder – Leanne Bellouny; Gardener – Teal Brooks; Harpsichordmaker – Ed
Wright; Joiner – Scott Krogh; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik;
Musket Range – Jeffrey Thomas; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell; Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – Pamela Russo;
Wheelwright – Paul Zelesnikar; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 10
�
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
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Title
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 10, March 10, 2023
Creator
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Publisher
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2023-03-10
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Text
THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
March 4, 2023
Anthony Hay Shop:
Cabinetmaker – This past week, John had been getting lots of work done on his chairs, finishing the
splats, shaping out the crest rails, and beginning the glue-up process of the backs of the chairs. Bill has been
puzzling out the complicated drawer to his writing table, and Jeremy has been going through chair designing,
combining features he likes into something pleasing to his eye.
The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through
Saturday.
Apothecary – Exciting news from the Shop as Sharon has recently completed her transcription of GaltBarraud Ledger A! As the weather warms up, we're looking forward to preparing new batches of syrup of
violets with the wildflowers that spring up around the Historic Area. Mark and Margaret are also on the hunt
for millipedes (see: "Millepede Wine"), so if anyone has leads on millipede sightings, let us know.
The Apothecary Shop is open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – For the last two weeks, the Armoury has undergone periodic maintenance. While the
Shop was closed, we had a brief opportunity to travel as a group for study and team building – a luxury that
comes infrequently to a seven-day operation like the Armoury. While we devoted part of our closing time to
winter training, we also managed a research trip to Pennsylvania. Our Mechanic’s Adviser reports for the next
few weeks will share highlights of our trip and visits to collections of other museums.
I want to start by thanking the Davee Foundation for their generous support of our educational travels,
and give a special thanks to Shari Monaco, Historic Trades Administrative support, for her work in finalizing
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�arrangements for transportation and lodging, including some last minute changes. All the arrangements
worked out perfectly. Thanks, Shari!
In the course of our trip, we visited the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; The Museum
of the American Revolution in Philadelphia; historic sites relating to the Muhlenberg Family in Trappe,
Pennsylvania; the Winterthur Museum in Wilmington, Delaware; and the Mercer Museum in Doylestown,
Pennsylvania. I have asked each member of the travelling party to give a write-up on one of the sites and
share the experiences over the next few weeks. I will be sharing our experience with Winterthur.
The Historic Trades Department has enjoyed a decades-long working relationship with Winterthur and
the University of Delaware through their graduate program in Early American Decorative Arts. We have
hosted University of Delaware – Winterthur graduate students for most of my forty year career here at
Colonial Williamsburg. It has been a great partnership that has introduced many graduate students to preindustrial technology and better understanding of materials, which fosters a better understanding of early
material culture, strengthening their skills as curators and conservators at museums and institutions around
the country. That large fellowship network has fostered the reciprocal relationships that give us extraordinary
access to collections such as the ones that we visited on this trip. It is quite rewarding to see museum
professionals, with whom we shared a Historic Trades experience, now managing programming, curating
collections and libraries, and performing restoration and conservation on important pieces of our common
material culture.
When contacting Winterthur to arrange this trip, I reached out to Metals Curator Ann Wagner, a
graduate of the UDEL/Winterthur program, and she graciously welcomed us into the collection, sharing
highlights of the extraordinary ironwork in the museum. Winterthur has many of the classic American iron
objects from New England and the Mid-Atlantic – styles that we residents of the Chesapeake can only dream
of making, since we largely have to live within Virginia’s preference for the “simple, plain, and neat” style.
New Englanders, the Dutch of New York, and German-influenced iron of Eastern Pennsylvania, had a much
more exuberant style than the early settlers of Eastern Virginia. We do see some of the Pennsylvania German
influence in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, but alas, that is a bit out of our range of influence.
For most of our time working with University of Delaware/Winterthur graduate students, the leader of
the “American Craftsman before 1800” Class was Charles Hummel, Former Chief Curator and Curator Emeritus
for Winterthur. Over the years, I developed a friendship and good working relationship with Charlie, and I
always viewed him as a giant in the field of scholarship in Early American Industry and Technology. Charlie
authored one of the best books to analyze a surviving eighteenth-century business, the Dominy Family of
craftsmen from Long Island, New York, in his work titled With Hammer and Hand. It is a classic study of a
multi-generational business that began in the mid-eighteenth century, which examines the business through
documentary and material study – as do our Historic Trades workshops. Charlie’s writings were a major
influence on my early career and taught me how to analyze and interpret workshop records and material
culture – tools and products of the shop.
Although Charlie is in his 90’s and has lost much of his mobility, when I contacted him about a possible
meeting during our visit, he responded “I would love to be your host at Winterthur, but my age does not
permit that. I have alerted Ann Wagner and Catherine Roeber, in the hopes that one or both may
accommodate the best hand metalworkers still functioning in this country”. High praise for our program
from one of the giants in our industry. Charlie did contact me to say that he could not miss us on our visit, and
so we met with him for about an hour and a half in the Winterthur Library.
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�More on what we saw in our next MA installment.
The Blacksmith Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday.
Tinsmith – The Tin Shop is open Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturday.
Brickmaker – The Brickyard is open Sunday through Thursday, weather permitting.
Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we finished hewing the locust posts for the wagon shed
project for the Farm site. We also completed the framing for the Armoury gates. They still need to be hung
and the pales installed. We are also starting the process of building new sawhorses. These are always
something we seem to need more of.
Most importantly, we want to welcome our newest Apprentice, Shelby Christensen. She joins us
originally from Michigan, where she studied Sociology at the University of Michigan. She moved to Richmond
a year and a half ago with her partner and two cats. She spent a summer as an instructor at a timber framing
school and has worked as a historic preservation carpenter.
The Carpenters will be at the Carpenter’s Yard Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Colonial Garden – This week marks two events relating to the hotbed. The first hotbed was filled with the
awaiting manure that has been heating in our back work yard. When the temperature cooled to 110F, we
heaped 6-8 inches of soil on top of the manure. The next day, the hotbed measured 100F. Two days later, the
hotbed was sown with parsley, calendula, various flowers, and artichoke. In preparation for the second
hotbed, our entire Shop, and Summer Intern, picked up fresh horse manure from the Bassett Hall pasture.
Two large flowerpots were filled with soil and sowed with Indian Cress (Nasturtium) then placed in the
corners of an unheated hotbed. The plants will vine out and spill out over the pathways making quite a show.
Another spring activity was pruning the Muscadine grape vines on our arbor. The peach tree is the next and
the last of the spring pruning, just in time as spring is arriving early. Not to be fooled, we are ever ready for an
icy blast which we know is quite possible this time of year. We’re happy for the fact that we have straw mats
waiting in the wings to cover the hotbeds when needed.
Weeding continues as always. The asparagus bed is usually the first very weedy spot that needs
attention before the spears start to appear. And yes, two asparagus spears have already poked their heads
above ground.
Blooming are anemones, daffodils, tulips, Redbud tree, and wild plum. The Green Gage plum is still
giving quite a show.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 9
�The Colonial Garden is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cooper – The Cooper Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – The Engraving Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Foodways – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Foundry – The Foundry is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-4:30).
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith Shop is open Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Joinery – Hello from the Joiner Shop! We’ve had quite a few Homeschoolers and Guests through the Shop,
even with this roller coaster weather. Projects are moving along and starting to take shape. Scott’s corner
cupboard is living up to its name and fitting perfectly in one corner of the Shop. He’s looking to have it
finished by the fall.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 9
�Scott assembling the mortise and tenoned frame for the lower door of the cupboard
Laura is dimensioning some yellow pine stock for her work bench drawer using a marking gauge. She’ll use
this board for one of her drawer sides.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 9
�Brian is refining the reeding on the Warren House Pilaster using a hollow moulding plane.
The panel goes here
named into the
rebate.
The inside of the portico with an
ovolo/quarter round moulding
Peter has sawn out the curved stiles for his portico, chopped out the mortise for the mid rail, and has secured
the piece to his work bench to plane out the rebate for the panels and carving out the ovolo moulding.
Menokin Portico showing the frame and panel construction
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 9
�Steve is inspecting his work on his walnut pipe box. His next step is to dovetail a small drawer.
The Joinery is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Military Programs – Military Programs staff continue to make use of their winter to attend trainings
and prepare for the spring season. Staff also continue to work on their goals and projects. Kevin and
Matthew are researching bat and ball games and recreational games that soldiers played, and anyone who
sees military staff playing Cat on the Market Square or by the Magazine are encouraged to come and join in!
Alex continues to prepare for his Hennage Talk on defending the Delaware River and other research pertaining
to fortification and military engineering. Ren is working to finish their project with Michael Ramsey on the
71st Highlanders and will be going to the Archives to work on transcribing the pocketbook of John Lysle, a
member of the 71st, which includes his account of the battle of Yorktown. Chris continues to learn the skills
necessary to become an Armorer and is working on critically needed maintenance to the muskets in our
collection to get them looking ready for our main season!
We have an adorable addition to the Military table display this week. The baby booties were made as
part of a collaboration between Ren and the Shoemakers. They are a recreation of the Davenport pair by
Shoemaker Apprentice Victoria. Made from scraps of British uniforms provided by Military Programs, deerskin
soles, and silk ties, the original
booties were made by Sgt.
James Davenport and his wife
Esther from a captured British
uniform. We hope to help
facilitate questions and
interpretation about soldier’s
families, camp followers, and
prisoners of war, so Guests
have a more holistic
understanding of a soldier’s life
and the army as a career. A
career that, for better or worse,
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 9
�shaped not just soldiers’ lives but that of their wives and children.
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Tuesday, and Thursday
through Saturday (9:30-3:00).
Musket Range – February is in the books, and March has
arrived. Our seventh year-in-operation anniversary. We
cannot wait to see what the next seven years has in store for
us. We would like to introduce our new Instructor, Andy
Prochnow. Andy came to us from the Florida Park Service,
where he was a Park Ranger at Fort Clinch Park, which was a
3rd system fortification from the Civil War era. Andy brings us
experience in the emergency services where he was a
dispatcher and firefighter. He and his wife Kristian moved
here recently for her job in the Navy. Help us make him feel
welcome to the CWF Family.
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday,
and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and
3pm.
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office – The Printing Office is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Bindery – The Bookbindery is open Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers will be working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday through Saturday.
Silversmith – A whole host of items are being created at the Silversmith Shop. Megan has filed and fit the
base for her bowl and is working on polishing the bottom before soldering it into place. She is also working on
her first sleeve buttons. Bobbie and Chris have finished two types of sleeve buttons for the Milliner’s
program. Bobbie has made silver octagonal buttons, and Chris has made
them in brass. Chris is continuing to stone her tray. Bobbie is chasing and
setting the well of her tray. Preston has been working on more silver bowls
and helping Megan with hers. George has been hammering out another
ingot that will eventually become silver sheet.
Megan’s sleeve buttons in progress
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 9
�Chris’ sleeve buttons in progress
Bobbie’s finished sleeve buttons
Preston’s finished bowl (left). George annealing a silver ingot (right). The dull red color indicates it has reached 1100F.
The Silversmith Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – We have selected the date of our first Dye Day of the year: March
22nd. Over the next few weeks, we will be preparing our materials for the dye pot and cooking down dye
stuffs. The preparation process takes a few days at the least, and weeks at the most. If you have anything
you'd like us to dye, please bring it to us no later than the 15th.
The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – This week has had the Wigmakers elbow deep in full bottom styling. The full bottom is a late17th-century to early-18th-century wig that involves many loose, flowing, luscious curls (think of Captain Hook).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 9
�We're also continuing regular maintenance. Edith, Debbie, and Benton continue working on their respective
projects. It's been a busy week!
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: Anthony Hay Shop – John Peeler (Cabinetmaker); Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Armoury –
Kenneth Schwarz (Blacksmith); Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Colonial Garden – Eve Otmar; Joiner – Brian Weldy;
Military Programs – Alex Arnold; Musket Range – Jeffrey Thomas; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell; Weaving,
Spinning, and Dyeing – Pamela Russo; Wigmaker – Edith Broward Edds
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 9
�
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 9, number 9, March 4, 2023
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
2023-03-04
-
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Text
THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
February 18, 2023
Anthony Hay Shop:
Cabinetmaker – This past week in the Cabinet Shop, John has been devoting hours to the shaping of
elements of his side chairs. He recently finished the work on the shoes that hold the splats in the center of the
chair back and has gotten most of the piercing work done on the splats themselves. Jeremy has gotten his
tabletop and drop leaf attached to the frame and now only has finishing touches left to do. Bill is cutting the
joinery on the drawer to his writing table, which is only the beginning to this elaborate work.
The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Apothecary – The Apothecary Shop is open Sunday through Wednesday, and Saturday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith Shop is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Tinsmith – The Tin Shop is open Sunday, Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturday.
Brickmaker – This week in the Brickyard, the crew continued their work unstacking the kiln while also
preparing to build piers for our tool shed. With the bricks staged, the next steps are to raise the building up,
dig below grade, and to prepare the mortar. Once that is completed, the tool shed, a structure moved from
our old Yard, will sit on bricks once again.
Otherwise, this week, we received two deliveries of wood, out of a total of eight, which will be used in
future kiln burns. With such an abundance of wood comes an abundance of stacking. If there is only one
thing more exciting than stacking bricks, it has to be stacking cord wood. It's as good as done with the
combined powers of Apprentice Nick's gumption and Journeyman Kenneth's strength and agility.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�The Brickyard is open Sunday through Thursday, weather permitting.
Carpenter – This week, the Carpenters continued work on the Farm
storage building at the Windmill site. We will have it completed on
Saturday, February 18th. The siding is completed, and the shuttered
windows are almost all installed. Just one remains to be fit. The
Gunsmiths might recognize the boards that make up the shuttered
windows as the salvaged boards from your old forge roof that we
replaced last year. By early next week, we will be back at our Yard
focusing on the next project. Finishing a building project is a fun feeling,
but now we have to try and forget all of the numbers we’ve been storing
in our head and reset for a new set of numbers.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�The Carpenters will primarily be at the Carpenter’s Yard Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Colonial Garden – Signs of an early spring are beginning to appear all
around the Historic Area. Daffodils, crocus, and Roman hyacinth are all in
full bloom in the Historic Garden. As is tradition, the Gardeners planted a
row of pease on Saint Valentine's day. The variety we chose this year is
marrowfat, a lovely English shelling pea. This week, we also transplanted
lettuce seedlings into individual pots and harvested lettuce and turnips for
the Historic Cooks at the Governor's Palace Kitchen. The pile of horse
manure we collected last week is heating up quite nicely, and we will soon
be filling our first hotbed of the season. Last Friday, the Gardeners were
able to witness the relocation of the Bray School building. We were
delighted to realize how visible the new site is from our Garden, and we
look forward to watching its transformation over the coming year.
Spring crocuses in bloom at the Historic Garden
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�Apprentice Historic Gardener Marc planting peas
The Bray School viewed from behind the Historic Garden
The Colonial Garden is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cooper – In the 18th century, a cooper in need of material to make iron hoops could simply walk into a store
like John Greenhow's and purchase hoop iron. It was material produced specifically to meet the demand for
such stock in coopers shops. Today, getting material to make our iron hoops is a little more involved, and it
requires the help of our behind-the-scenes staff here at Colonial Williamsburg. The metal arrives at CW in
large sheets which we cut down into the strips we need to make the hoops, as we did this week.
The Cooper Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – The Engraving Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Fifes and Drums – It's been a quiet week so far at Fife and Drum. We are fine-tuning our music and
marching for our President's Day performances this Sunday and Monday. Come out and see us at the 1:00 pm
ceremonies! In other news, I'd like to welcome Private Parker McHugh to the Junior Corps! He is the sixth
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�member of the 2020-2021 Recruit class to pass up and join the Junior Corps. That's all for now. Wish us luck
at President's Day...s!
Foodways – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Foundry – The Foundry is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-4:30).
Gunsmith – In the Gunsmith Shop, Darrin has been getting some help reaming his pistol barrels, which
takes two people to operate. Each reaming bit cannot be any larger than 1/64" bit-to-bit, or else it is much
too tough on the person cranking the wheel. After running five bits through the barrel, Darrin had to stop and
repair one bit and make another one in order to continue.
The Gunsmiths also had a welcome visitor for a few days. Broadus from the Anderson Blacksmith Shop
worked with them while their Shop received some well-deserved maintenance.
Study material is from various issues of the Virginia Gazette and the Pennsylvania Gazette as well as
the book The Gunsmith in Colonial Virginia by Harold Gill, Jr.
The Gunsmith Shop is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Historic Farming – The soil amendment project has begun at Ewing
Field! One half was removed to one foot deep due to quarry rock the size of
walnuts every four inches. The rest was spread out, and now 455 cubic
yards of a soil/compost mix is being applied. Farmer Ed learned a lot about
soil amendments at Great Hopes Plantation, where he turned two acres of
ground-up parking lot into fertile fields. This project will take multiple years,
and this is a great start!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�Joinery – Hello from the Joiner Shop. Peter is in his last week at Winterthur, and we hope to see him back
on Monday. Scott has moved on from planning and dimensioning stock to chopping out mortises for the
lower door frame on the Corner Cupboard. (So maybe not so quiet.) In addition, Scott presented a program
on Thomas Jefferson and John Hemmings for the Joiner Shop’s Hennage Program. Brian finished attaching the
last moulding on the pedestal from the Warren House pilaster and will move back to working on the fluting.
He had a little trouble with the blade for his fluting plane chipping. He’ll take it over to the Blacksmiths to see
if something can be done with it. Perhaps the metal was too hard and brittle, or the bevel was too fragile and
thin.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�In the meantime, he’s finished planing out the base moulding.
Laura continues working on her dovetailed drawer while learning about plane maintenance, dimensioning
stock, and layout. She took a study trip over to Bruton Conservation Collections to measure a stool as a
possible Apprentice project.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�The Joinery is open Sunday and Wednesday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday.
Military Programs – Military Programs staff continue to make use of their winter to attend trainings
and prepare for the spring season. Staff also continue to work on their goals and projects. Kevin and
Matthew are researching bat and ball games and recreational games that soldiers played, and anyone who
sees Military staff playing Cat on the Market Square or by the Magazine are encouraged to come and join in!
Alex continues to prepare for his Hennage Talk on defending the Delaware River and other research pertaining
to fortification and military engineering. Ren is working to finish their project with Michael Ramsey on the
71st Highlanders and will be going to the Archives to work on transcribing the pocketbook of a member of the
71st, John Lysle, which includes his account of the battle of Yorktown. Chris continues to learn the skills
necessary to become an armorer and is working on critically needed maintenance to the muskets in our
collection to get them looking ready for our main season!
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – In between training sessions, preparations for our three March
programs continue. Rebecca has completed alterations on a cotton gown and petticoat for "Disaster
Strikes!". Without time to make something completely new, we decided to channel our 18th-century mantuamaking foremothers and update (except that we back-dated in this case!) an already existing gown to the
fashion of the year required. In this case, we took a gown and petticoat cut for 1775 and have time-traveled it
back to 1769 with some alterations to the sleeves, the neckline, and the petticoat trim. With that done, she's
now trimming a reproduction of a cloak that will also be featured in the program.
Meanwhile, Kate diligently pushes forward with her stays. She also spent some time researching
imagery of pregnant women who are actively working, so that we can study more closely how clothing styles
and choices changed to reflect a woman's lifecycle and the demands of her everyday reality. Kate has come
up with a collection of very intriguing depictions that we're all looking forward to examining in greater detail
soon.
Janea has been focused on the second of our Delaware gowns, this one a 1798 white muslin with long
sleeves and a drawstring bodice. As fabric decreased in weight and increased in fineness towards the end of
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�the century, the quality of stitching in the garment construction had to increase as well. This gown is thus
being stitched at 16-18 stitches per inch; to give you a comparison, many gowns from earlier in the century
were stitched at only 8-10 stitches per inch.
We also received news that the Weavers have finished the fabric for our March 4th "Gown in a
Day". The plotting of the gown's style can now begin in earnest. There's never any rest for our needles!
The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range is finalizing its interviews this week. We've already hired one new
staff member and hope to have the other within the next week.
In between training and operating the range, Scott has been learning more about inletting this week. The
process of carving out the necessary wood to insert a metal part. Used in the process of creating stocks for
firearms, Scott will use this in the future to help repair Musket Range stocks as the wood erodes in certain
places or in the event of accidental breakage. The Range would also like to thank our Landscaping folks for
helping us with a fresh coating of Marl on the shooting pavilion and pathway areas on the site. This not only
helps get rid of low spots that pool water when it rains, but also provides a fresh and tidy look for guests
coming out to see us.
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am,
1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office – The Printing Office is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Bindery – Good day from the Bookbindery. The month of February has been good busy. We would like
to acknowledge and thank all the people who made the Winter Training Symposium possible. I am constantly
reminded of the talent throughout this Foundation, and this is no exception.
The Bookbinders each have personal research projects to keep us busy over the coming year. Our
Supervisor, Dale Dippre, is reading an interesting book called Trust and Inspire by Stephen M.R. Covey. Donald
Mason is looking at the effects that Committees of Public Safety and the shadow government had on Loyalist
Virginians, with a more in-depth look at Printers and Bookbinders.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�Barbie Swanson is researching the history of an interesting book that was bound here in 1744 for the Byrd
family of Charles City County. The New York Conspiracy is an account of the trial surrounding the Revolt of
1741 by both enslaved and indentured people. We will keep you posted on our progress. Cheers!
The Bookbindery is open Sunday, Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturday.
Shoemaker – Val and Nicole have just finished their Library and Brafferton training. The Shop went through
internship applications and will start the interviews in March. Nicole resumes work on her Hennage Talk, and
Val continues with the book, Trust & Inspire. Victoria is getting ready to start another pair of slippers with
mock round closing, and then she will be on to dancing pumps. Nicole is working on a pair of strong shoes for
herself, and Val is fixing a pair of pumps for Robert Weathers.
The Shoemakers will be working at the Leather Breeches Maker Monday through Wednesday,
Friday, and Saturday.
Silversmith – Work never stops at the Silversmith
Shop. Megan has soldered the base for her bowl, and
Preston is teaching her how to round out the base
and angle in the top. Megan and Bobbie continue to
work on sleeve buttons for the Milliner and Mantuamaker’s upcoming March program, Bobbie has
soldered the wire backs to the octagonal sleeve
buttons made with the Blacksmith’s punch. Chris has
started the process of stoning her tray, a very time
consuming but necessary rough polish. Bobbie
continues chasing and setting the well of her tray.
Preston has polished a number of jewelry pieces for
the retail store. George continues work on his mote
spoons and ingots. The whole Shop has been
attending the Winter Symposium training sessions at
the Hennage.
The base for Megan’s bowl
Chris stoning her tray with a Water of Ayr stone (left). Bobbie’s sleeve buttons (middle). Preston’s jewelry and bottle tickets (right).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�The Silversmith Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – Wig maintenance continues as usual. Edith is blending and separating hair in preparation for
weaving. Benton continues frizzing and weaving, and Debbie's net continues to grow. As always, if you have
any tonsorial needs, please reach out to us.
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: Anthony Hay Shop – John Peeler (Cabinetmaker); Brickmaker – Madeleine Bolton; Carpenter –
Matt Sanbury; Colonial Garden – Teal Brooks; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Fifes and Drums – Rebecca Sterner;
Gunsmith – Darrin McDonal; Historic Farming – Ed Schultz; Joiner – Brian Weldy; Military Programs – Alex
Arnold; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik; Musket Range – Justin Chapman; Printing Office and
Bindery – Barbara Swanson (Bookbinder); Shoemaker – Val Povinelli; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell; Wigmaker
– Edith Broward Edds
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 7
�
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 9, number 7, February 18, 2023
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
2023-02-18
-
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PDF Text
Text
THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
February 11, 2023
Anthony Hay Shop:
Cabinetmaker – Things are settling back down in the Cabinet Shop with this year’s conference now
behind us. John has resumed work on his walnut side chairs and is moving along quite well with fitting and
shaping parts for the chair backs, and Bill has returned to working on his mahogany writing desk.
Jeremy has made good progress over the past couple weeks on his corner table. The table is now
standing on its own three legs with a bottom nailed on. The final stage is to complete making the triangular
tops. One top is attached to the main table with a pair of hinges, which effectively turns the entire table into a
standing, lidded box. The second top is a drop leaf which hangs down in front of the table. It will be hinged to
the first top with a rule joint along the long edge of the tabletop. The entire table is really quite unique and
has been a great skill-building exercise. One of the skills Jeremy was able to explore was cutting dovetails in a
45-degree corner joint. In the Shop, we frequently employ dovetails at 90-degree joints, but seldom do we
find ourselves straying into other angles. This was a good opportunity to revisit the procedure of dovetailing
and really focus on it a little more.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�All three Cabinetmakers have also been making time in their schedules to attend the staff Winter
Symposium training going on this month at the Hennage Auditorium. There has been a lot of good historical
information shared, and we look forward to more still to come.
The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through
Saturday.
Apothecary – This week, we all continue to attend winter trainings. Margaret gave a Public Hospital
lecture segment on February 7th and is excited to reprise it for the second training session on the 14th.
Continuing his research into specialty subjects, Mark will be preparing and performing a lecture for a group of
rheumatology professionals in May (including a discussion on gout, his personal favorite subject.) Sharon
found an intriguing entry in the Galt-Barraud Account Book - a double amputation performed for "Jacob"
under John Allen's 1786 account. According to the entry, the doctors were paid for a month's worth of care,
and that month's care cost Allen 22 pounds 10 shillings. We don't have a daybook for 1786, so this is the first
mention of this case, and we're still wondering about Jacob's identity - a fascinating case!
The Apothecary Shop is open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith Shop is open Saturday. It will be closed February 6-17 for maintenance.
Tinsmith – The Tin Shop is open Saturday. It is closed February 6-17 for maintenance.
Brickmaker – This week, the Brickyard crew continued their efforts to unstack the kiln as more pallets of
brick make their way to the soon-to-be Bray School site. As the kiln shrinks, we begin to see the color
variation of well-fired bricks going from a red to a deep brown. Soon, the tunnels themselves will be the only
part left to unstack!
Otherwise, this week, Journeyman Kenneth and Apprentice Nick paid the Blacksmith Shop a visit to fix
some brickwork. With the Shop closed, they were able to lay some bricks, fix up a forge, and redo some
paving.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The Brickyard is open Sunday through Thursday, weather permitting.
Carpenter – This week, the Carpenters have continued to work on the Farm site. We should be finished up
next week. We’ve got the door widened, cut to height, and hung. We’ve also continued to make half lapped
boards for the shuttered windows. Mary and Harold have only a couple more courses of clap boards to
install. We’re all happy to be this close to the end of the project.
The Carpenters will primarily be at the Carpenter’s Yard Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Colonial Garden – The true harbingers of spring in the Garden are the appearance of the first daffodil and
the cleaning of pastures of manure for the first hotbed. With warm temperatures, it made for easy work.
Once the bed of the truck is full, the contents are moved to the Garden, where it is piled high with a mix of hay
and some water. We have found that dry piles do not begin to break down and give off heat. Many thanks to
Coach and Livestock for the horse manure.
This week, cauliflower was harvested and taken to the Palace Kitchen, where I am sure it will be
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�cooked and presented in only the very best way. Training continues with the Winter Symposium, and
everyone in the Shop has a research project that they are working on. In the winter season, we close to the
public two days a week, but we still must tend to the Garden with opening the cold frame, hot beds, and
uncovering the lettuce and parsley. Watering the cold frame where lettuce and onions are germinating with
warm water and checking for slugs on lettuce all still need to be done daily. We order seeds and supplies and
tend to all the usual Shop maintenance like first aid kits. Spring is close by.
Harvest of cauliflower
First pasture cleanings for the hotbed
The Colonial Garden is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cooper – Asking about the projects in the Cooper's Shop, our Apprentice, Jackie, is currently working on a
tub for the Palace Kitchen. The walls are done and the bottom is underway.
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�The Cooper Shop is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Engraver – In the Engraving Shop this week, we have been enjoying the training classes. William has been
working steady on his ships copperplate, and Lynn has been working on some custom orders and finished up
the buckle pattern for the Founders to use.
The Engraving Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Fifes and Drums – We made it through our Annual Meeting! For all of January, Staff at F&D has been
preparing for our meeting with every Corps member and their parents. We talked about the year we've had,
did a set of annual trainings, planned for the year ahead, and gave out awards to truly outstanding Corps
members. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event run smoothly, especially our trainers, Laura
Sinclair, Katherine Pitts, Burke Humphrey, and Mike Capone! Among the topics discussed was a change to our
spring schedule. Starting in mid-March, we'll be marching Wednesday-Saturday. Saturday will be a march
from the Capitol to the Palace, followed by the kids themselves doing an interpretation on their instruments
for Guests. We ended our meeting with announcing the 2023 winners of our Memorial Awards.
Congratulations to David Degaraff, Isabel Kantor, and Duncan Pavlak! Another round of congratulations to the
Junior and Senior Corps winners of the Outstanding Achievement Award, David Degaraff and Chase West!
Staff thanks you all for your hard work over the past year and for the excellent role models you have been for
your peers! That's all for now as we buckle down to prepare for President's Day(s) with the Senior Corps.
Foodways – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday.
Foundry – We actually have to start with some news from a couple weeks ago that we missed: Apprentice
Leanne completed her first brass pour! Again, we just melted some scrap into ingots, but she was able to get
used to the feel of a different metal, and we were able to clear up some clutter. This week, we were able to
share our expertise a little more than usual. Journeyman Mike had the chance to Zoom call with a 5th grader
and his mom from California who decided to pick brass casting as his research project for his school’s Colonial
Day! We also sent along some photos and a video of some casting so he could get a better idea of what it’s
like. Apprentice Drew and Leanne also got a chance to pass along some knowledge when Alex from Military
Programs came down to our Shop to learn more about musket ball casting. We’re also looking forward to
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�some brand new projects with preparations underway for our part of Apprentice Wheelwright Murphy’s plow
project.
The Foundry is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-4:30).
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith Shop is open Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Historic Farming – Earlier this month, Farmer Ed gave a presentation to all CW interpretive staff at the
Hennage Auditorium as part of the Winter Symposium. The theme is “Connecting to Historic Agriculture”.
Shown in the photos are the first segment in which the audience is encouraged to connect with farming as
part of one’s own history and the history of Virginia in the 18 th century. The message in this part is that we are
all farmers through our connection to farming, whether we think of it at breakfast, lunch, or dinner; through
our great-great-grandparents who farmed with horses like mine; or the people that we interpret here at
Colonial Williamsburg. Farming is at the core of their existence and ours as well. It is what made the colonial
Capital of Williamsburg possible.
Ed connects the audience with farming, “You are the farmer” (left). Interpreters portraying real people share their connection with
farming, “They are the farmers” (right).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 6
�Joinery – Hello everyone. It’s been a little quiet in the Shop Guest-wise, but we’re keeping busy with many
projects and a bit of training. Laura is working on one of her apprenticeship requirements by making a
dovetailed box in the form of a drawer for her workbench. For the next few weeks, Peter is studying painted
furniture at Winterthur Museum in Delaware. He’ll be back the week of February 19th. Though much of
Scott’s time this week has been spent in training, he has made progress on the framing members for his
corner cupboard’s door. Brian is finishing work on his Woodworking Symposium 2023 pilaster project, before
moving on to the Bray School, and a few in-house projects.
Above is a moulding Brian created for the pedestal. It’s held upside down in a “sticking board” to help
plane the moulding. You can see in the picture below part “H” is the piece being worked. From The Magnum
of Parvo, Halfpenny.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 6
�A particularly beautiful shot of the Bray School move taken by our Apprentice, Laura Hollowood.
The Joinery is open Monday through Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday.
Military Programs – In addition to divisional trainings this week, Military Programs has been working
on preparing for upcoming Hennage Talks as well as putting the finishing touches on site cleanup and
reorganization of the Guardhouse. We are looking forward to hearing Alex's upcoming talk on defenses of the
Delaware river in April. Chris Grieb has been diligently working on advancing his knowledge of gun repair and
is in the midst of refinishing two different muskets for the Department. Chris is also getting ready for an
upcoming class in June at the 2023 NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar. He will be taking a six-day class entitled
"18th-Century Carving Practices & Techniques" with gunsmith Mike Miller. He is beginning the process of
learning gun repair with some basic inletting and tool sharpening. Kevin is working diligently on his research
project for the summer to be presented at the Hennage, as well. Ren continues to collaborate with Michael
Ramsey on their 71st Highland Professional Development Grant project, which is producing some interesting
insights on POWs in Virginia. Matt is initiating one of his reading goals for the year, working toward
completing his first stage of the Military curriculum.
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – In between
sessions of winter training, work continues on our
projects for First State Heritage Park in
Delaware. The blue silk gown is nearing completion,
with half of the skirt now attached. All that remains
is to stitch in the other half, attach the shoulder
straps, and sew the hem, so it should be finished next
week. Our March "Disaster Strikes!" program is
rapidly approaching, but we've also made some
headway this week on our long list of garments to be
completed for that, including finishing up a petticoat,
an apron, and some ruffles. We're also proud to
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 6
�report that our NIAHD Intern, Ishbel, has completed her first project as well: a silk workbag to store her
sewing tools.
In behind-the-scenes news, we spent Tuesday morning filming a segment for our upcoming
Livestream. The Livestream will focus on the concept of sustainability in fashion - remaking garments,
updating trims, upcycling fabrics - and will integrate the three-gown project we did for “Gown in a Day” this
past summer. To introduce the audience to our process and the research that went into creating the program
and the gowns that it featured, we wanted to include a short video that shows the extant 1810 gown and our
study approach while in Collections. Many thanks to Neal Hurst for making this possible, and for the
Livestream team (especially Bill, Lane, and Justin) for their patience in listening to us gush about an old gown
all morning.
The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range has conducted 90% of our interviews to fill our two open positions for
Musket Range Instructor. Jeff is beginning to work through the process of learning Kronos as a new
Supervisor, as well as attending Ted Boscana's Trust and Inspire Leadership training this week. Scott is also
endeavoring to learn gun repair, alongside Chris Grieb from Military Programs, to enable the Musket Range to
be more self-sufficient. He has begun learning inletting starting with a side plate as well as starting to learn
basic sharpening. Scott is also looking forward to attending a class at the NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar in
Bowling Green, Ohio, in June to take a six-day class entitled "Assembly & Finishing of a 1760’s Colonial Kit Rifle
or Southern Iron Mounted Rifle Kit by Jim Kibler" with gunsmith instructor Wayne Trout. In addition, the
Musket Range is still selling enough to keep Jeff and Scott busy in every other moment. We're so very looking
forward to having some new folks coming on board!
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am,
1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office –
Charlotte Larsen from The College of William and Mary setting type for a broadside containing the lyrics for a
new song regarding events in Boston Harbor, December of 1773.
The Printing Office is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 6
�Bindery – Good day from the Bookbindery. When applicable, the Colonial Williamsburg Printing Office
creates our Master and Journeyman Certificates. The type for these certificates was meticulously set by
Journeymen Chad Jones and David Wilson. The typeface is Caslon. The paper pictured here was handmade in
Kent, England, and may be of interest as the mill at which it was produced closed decades ago. As usual, I am
in awe of my multi-faceted and talented colleagues. Cheers!
Dale Dippre signing a Journeyman Certificate
The Bookbindery is open Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers have been taking advantage of our Research Day falling on Thursdays to
attend sessions of the Winter Symposium. In the Shop, Val has been preparing us for upcoming projects by
transporting and clicking (cutting) sole bends. He’s currently starting a pair of common shoes for Tim
Logue. Nicole finished a pair of common shoes for Teal Brooks, and the Blacksmiths kindly made rims to
reinforce the heels. Victoria is putting the finishing touches on a pair of heeled slippers before starting her
first pair of dancing pumps. All three Shoemakers have cobbling to do alongside new work. The Leather
Breeches Makers continue to be gracious hosts, and we’re doing our best to avoid staining their lovely buff
leather with our Shoemaker’s wax!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 6
�The Shoemakers will be working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmiths are once again busy silversmithing. Megan continues to work on her bowl,
the base of which is coming along nicely. She and Bobbie are also working on sleeve buttons for the Milliner
and Mantua-maker’s upcoming March program. We would like to thank the Blacksmiths for making us a
punch to use in the making of some of the sleeve buttons. Chris has been diligently working on cleaning up
the solder on her tray feet and filing some small imperfections away. Bobbie continues chasing and setting
the well of her tray. Preston has polished a number of jewelry pieces for the retail store and is helping Megan
with the vase of her bowl. George continues work on his mote spoons and ingots. Bobbie and Chris ventured
to Collections to study sleeve buttons for the Shop to reproduce.
Megan’s sleeve buttons in progress
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Chris’s tray
Bobbie’s tray
Volume 9, Issue 6
�Preston’s trade silver and bottle tickets
George’s mote spoons
The Silversmith Shop will be open Sunday through Wednesday and Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – Annie's huck is off the loom, which means it's time to set up the
next project! We will be making an all-brown bed rug for a customer. We often get asked how long it takes to
set up our looms, and we generally budget an hour per hundred threads. This could take days or hours
depending on the project at hand. Luckily, this bed rug should only take three hours. Pictured is the warp on
our mill.
The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday through Wednesday and Saturday.
Wheelwright – We apologize for the lack of updates, but the Shop has been busy. Other than the
mandatory Winter Symposium sessions, we have continued on the Velocipede, nearly finishing the front
wheel. We are also building a Market cart for Coach and Livestock to deliver feed and transport critters about
the town.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 6
�Front wheel of the Velocipede (left). An image from W. M. Pyne's Microcosm (center). Murphy testing the cart seat (right).
The Wheelwright Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – Greetings and salutations! The Wig Shop doesn't have much new to report this week, as we
have been deep into Winter Symposium training. Edith continues to make progress on her Journeyman wig,
while Benton continues to separate and frizz his horsehair. General maintenance is ongoing, and we've begun
some early Spring cleaning of both the Shop and John Coke Office. On that note, we have seven cloth covered
wig boxes with zipper fronts that we're willing to part with if anyone has a need for them. Just reach out to
Debbie if you're interested. As always, feel free to ask if you have any tonsorial needs or questions.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Anthony Hay Shop – Jeremy Tritchler (Cabinetmaker); Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Brickmaker
– Madeleine Bolton; Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Colonial Garden – Eve Otmar; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Engraver
– Lynn Zelesnikar; Fifes and Drums – Rebecca Sterner; Foundry – Leanne Bellouny Historic Farming – Ed
Schultz; Joiner – Brian Weldy; Military Programs – Justin Chapman; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca
Godzik; Musket Range – Justin Chapman; Printing Office and Bindery – Peter Stinely (Printer) and Barbara
Swanson (Bookbinder); Shoemaker – Nicole Boileau; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell; Weaving, Spinning, and
Dyeing – Pamela Russo; Wheelwright – Paul Zelesnikar; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 6
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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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
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2015-
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Title
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 6, February 11, 2023
Creator
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
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2023-02-11
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
February 4, 2023
Anthony Hay Shop:
Cabinetmaker – Life for the Cabinetmakers is slowly returning to "normal" after a long weekend
hosting and presenting at the 25th annual Working Wood in the 18th Century conference. The event, which
focused on a wide variety of furniture and architectural ornament, was a great success with about 200 inperson attendees (for the first time since January 2020) and approximately 150 virtual attendees. The
Cabinetmakers led a variety of pre-conference activities with Jeremy Tritchler teaming up with the
Harpsichordmakers to host a Hay Shop open house, John Peeler discussed furniture in the Everard House as
part of a special buildings tour, and Bill Pavlak led a tour at the Art Museum of furniture made and used in
Williamsburg. Our Volunteers, Chris Viewig and Steve Roberts, also stepped up and assisted with the building
tours and open house.
The conference has always aimed to be a place where scholarship and craftsmanship come together
or, as we often phrase it, a bridge between benchwork and book work. We lived up to that promise as a cast
of in-house and guest presenters illuminated the lives and work of early craftspeople through object study,
craft processes, and documentary research. Our renowned pool of guest presenters included scholar Brock
Jobe, woodcarver Mary May, cabinetmaker Frank Strazza, and craftsman/interpreter Jerome Bias. Colonial
Williamsburg staff contributed many programs as follows: Master Joiner Brian Weldy demonstrated fluted
architectural pilasters, Journeyman Joiner Peter Hudson explored making a paneled archway, Apprentice
Carpenter Harold Caldwell introduced attendees to African-Virginian carving and symbols, Conservator Chris
Swan and Intern Claire Martin explored the art and science of Japanning, and Curator Tara Chicirda spoke on
one of Colonial Williamsburg's most distinctive tall case clocks. In addition to playing the role of conference
host, Master Cabinetmaker Bill Pavlak teamed up with Apprentice John Peeler to offer two presentations on
the sculptural features of a Rhode Island block and shell bureau table from the Collection. Regular readers of
the Adviser will be familiar with the preparations they had been making for the past couple of months. Bill
focused on carving shells and shaping the drawer fronts and prospect door. John focused on
shaping/decorating drawer dividers, creating curved moldings, and sculpting the swelled ogee bracket feet.
In addition to the dedicated work of presenters, the conference owes its success to the knowledge and
skills of many people from across the Foundation. As we roll the credits on this year's event, we would like to
extend a heartfelt "thank you" to all involved!
First, we'd like to offer a tremendous amount of gratitude to Whitney Thornberry, Manager of Educational
Conferences, who works tirelessly to make all of this possible.
From Historic Trades and Skills: Ted Boscana, Brian Weldy, Peter Hudson, Laura Hollowood, Harold Caldwell,
Mary Herbert, Matt Sanbury, Melanie Belongia, Ed Wright, John Peeler, Jeremy Tritchler, Bill Pavlak, Ken
Schwarz, Josh Graml, Steve Roberts, and Chris Viewig.
From Museums, Preservation, and Historic Resources: Tara Chicirda, Chris Swan, Claire Martin, Dani Jurowski,
Matt Webster, and Amanda Keller.
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�From Development: Karen Hartman and the staff of the St. George Tucker House.
From the Art Museums: Mary Cottrill, Cari Rillo, Christian Crabbs, Michelle Smith, Valerie Eppilito, Eric App,
the Museum Cafe staff.
Camera Operators: Charles Tinsley and Mike Durling.
Banquet and Hospitality Staffs at the Williamsburg Lodge and Art Museums.
Educational Conferences Team: Whitney Thornberry, Debbie Walden, Natalie Stevenson, Season Gallagher,
and Tom Savage.
The conference planning committee consists of Ted Boscana, Tara Chicirda, Bill Pavlak (chair), Chris Swan,
Whitney Thornberry, and Brian Weldy.
Bill Pavlak roughs out a blank for a convex shell carving
Guest lecturer Brock Jobe gives the opening keynote
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�Guest presenter Frank Strazza demonstrates marquetry techniques
Guest presenter Jerome Bias discusses Thomas Day
Guest presenter Mary May carves Philadelphia rococo elements
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�John Peeler demonstrates ogee bracket feet
Some of the demonstration samples Bill and John made for the conference
The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Apothecary – Sharon met with Jennifer Guadagno of the Department of Historical Clothing & Dress to talk
about research. Together, they focused on locating period resources about women's health concerns and
stay-wearing. Mark has just completed a key research project for Level 4 of his apprenticeship: a report on
18th-century infant feeding recommendations! Come see the brand-new binder in our Shop and be sure to
ask him about this exciting topic. Meanwhile, Margaret has been continuing with the Public Hospital work,
putting the final touches on her part of the Winter Symposium session.
The Apothecary Shop is open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith Shop is open Sunday. It will be closed February 6-17 for maintenance.
Tinsmith – The Tin Shop is closed February 6-17 for maintenance.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�Brickmaker – This week, the Brickyard crew continued their efforts to unstack the kiln and move the fired
bricks off site. While we do love unstacking and restacking bricks, we had the distinct pleasure of participating
in the winter training. Master Josh was particularly inspired by Farmer Ed's jovial and informative discussion
of farming throughout time; he thought fondly of his ancestors cultivating potatoes. Otherwise, this week, we
paid a visit to our friends the Wheelwrights to discuss the potential of a new wheel well, quite a bit more
robust compared to the original.
The Brickyard is open Sunday through Thursday, weather permitting.
Carpenter – This week, the Carpenters are continuing to install the last of the siding on the Farm storage
building. We also are running half laps to build four shuttered windows. The Blacksmiths did a great job
making the hardware for the door! We are re-using one of the front doors of the old Blacksmith Shop on this
building. Unfortunately, only the strap hinges were left on the door. The smiths made the rest of the
hardware for us to hang the door.
The Carpenters will primarily be at the Carpenter’s Yard Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�Colonial Garden – Beyond the winter planting of leafy greens, visitors to the Historic Garden will note the
presence of cover crops. Cover crops are, as the name suggests, planted to cover the soil rather than to be
harvested. While preventing ground erosion during wet weather, cover crops also enrich the beds – notably
adding nitrogen to soil. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) was promoted as a cover crop in the 18th
century and currently can be found in the bed designated for the American Indian Garden. Our crimson clover
is a bit lower to the ground than we may like due to the presence of hungry rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus).
Two naturally occurring covers share the bed with the clover. Henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) and
speedwell (Veronica officinalis) are early spring weeds that many lawn owners are familiar with. These
Eurasian herbs are naturalized in Virginia, edible, and have some medicinal history. Speedwell, in particular,
was used as a tea substitute by France during the 18th and 19th centuries when British maritime blockades
cut Europe off from sources of Camellia sinensis.
Henbit (pink blooms) and speedwell (blue blooms) among crimson clover
The broad beans (Vicia faba) continue sprouting out of the ground, promising an impressive number of plants
for the spring.
Shells and gravel kicked in from the pathways accumulate in the soil
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�This week’s research centered around searching 18th-century editions of The Virginia Almanack, many of
which were published in Williamsburg, for references to “monthly observations on gardening”. These fruitful
efforts will be the subject of a future article or lecture. Of note, however, was the discovery of an early use of
the term lima bean in Virginia.
Title page from 1776 almanac in New York Public Library
The Colonial Garden is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cooper – The Coopers attended the first sessions of Winter Training this week. Production in the Shop is
currently focused on buckets and tubs for use in the Historic Area.
The Cooper Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – This week, goals were entered. Lynn is updating William's progress for the year, and together,
they are coming up with ideas to meet apprenticeship requirements this year. And like for everyone else,
winter training has begun. William's copperplate work continues as the sunlight allows, as well as some
drawing exercises. Lynn is continuing work on Wheelwright Murphy's protractor. William also fit in a sterling
silver ladle the Silversmiths made.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�The Engraving Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Fifes and Drums – It's been a quiet month at Fife and Drum, but there's been a flurry of activity behindthe-scenes. The adult staff are preparing for the Annual Meeting with all Corps-members and their families.
There, we will talk about the year we've had, give some reminders to the group, do most of our annual
trainings, look to the year ahead, and give awards to those who have been truly outstanding. Among these
awards are three scholarships for graduating seniors. We will proudly announce the winners in next week's
edition! In addition to all that prep, we have been using this time to work on the fundamentals with both
Corps and prepare for the upcoming year of performances. To help with this process, we appointed David
Degaraff as Sergeant Major. This leadership position is the highest a Corps member can rise in our program.
Congratulations, Sergeant Major Degaraff! We'd also like to welcome Morgan Shimp, Darian Guillory, Dominic
Le Gouellec, AJ Harvey, and William Mason to the Junior Corps as new Privates. Lastly, a big thank you to the
Foundry for making new J-hooks for the drums! We'll get going on replacing the old ones and start our year
sounding our best!
Foodways – Foodways has had quite the busy few weeks! We successfully made it to England and back
again, having seen and learned much. Over the course of the trip, we delved into the kitchens of two Royal
Palaces, a fellow living history site, The British Library, the Victoria and Albert Museum, a walking tour of
London, and the Mill at Winchester. The fellow historians and interpreters that we worked with and met
along the way were all wonderfully accommodating and invaluable in their knowledge on historic foodways
during the 18th century and the surrounding periods. Since being back in our newly painted Kitchen at the
Governor’s Palace, we have started the projects that will follow us into 2023. Dom has been diligently putting
together a presentation for future talks and trainings on the operations of the Governor’s Kitchen in relation
to the household. Abbey put together a full report on the research trip to England (complete with pictures),
Barbara will be looking to add new 18th-century cookbooks to our collection, and Frank has been guiding us
while we gear up for the spring Workshops and programs. This coming week, we will be traveling to
Richmond for the 20th annual Historical Chocolate Society Convention, hosted by MARS, INC.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday.
Foundry – Another week has passed, and another Workshop has sold-out. We were also able to attend
the beginning of the Winter Symposium. Journeyman Mike has continued to work on the silver shoe buckles
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�for the Millinery Shop, while Apprentice Leanne finished up her Courthouse Key, and Drew finished another
order of 500 musket balls for the Musket Range.
Leanne & Drew’s Courthouse Keys
The Foundry is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-4:30).
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith Shop is open Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Historic Farming – Retired Historic Farmer Wayne Randolph, who farmed at Colonial Williamsburg for
thirty-seven years, visited us to talk about our barshare plow. Wayne pioneered the research of the
“Pennsylvania type” barshare, and it is the only known reproduction of one in North American museums. In
2007, we went to the Landis Valley Farm and Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to select an original on
which the replica was based. Historic Trades Carpenter (at the time) Steve Chabra did the woodwork, and
Master Blacksmith Ken Schwarz did the metal work. We have used this plow for fifteen years and know the
dynamics of plowing with it very well.
Wayne Randolph
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Underside of plow
Volume 9, Issue 5
�Wayne plowing in 2012
Joinery – The Joiners are finally loosening their cravats and letting down their hair now that the 25th
Woodworking Conference is behind them. The presentations were top-notch, and everyone has taken a bit of
inspiration back to the Shop with them.
Scott has been dimensioning and dressing the stock he'll be using for his corner cupboard's paneled
door. He's been using a combination of hatchets, draw knives, and planes to do that work.
Laura is planing material for her first dove-tailed drawer that will give her much needed storage space
on her workbench. The drawer will be built of pine, so she's getting a better feel for the predominant material
used in the Shop.
Brian has been hard at work finishing the pilaster that was part of his presentation at the conference
and is now eyeing the lathe that he started back in 2020.
Peter is going to be menacing for a Maker's Fellowship with the Winterthur Institute for the next two
weeks, but before leaving, he has managed to test-fit the first section of his paneled arch! There's a lot going
on, and everyone is excited to keep working on their projects!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�The Joinery is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – On Sunday, we relocated to the Education Studio at the Museum to
teach a workshop for the companions of attendees at the Working Wood Symposium. We’ve done workshops
for the conference for years, and it’s always fun
to catch up with the familiar, friendly faces that
return again and again. Since the conference was
virtual the past two years, and we all missed the
opportunity to congregate and sew together, we
decided to make this “return to in-person”
workshop extra special. Instead of offering a
single project, we decided to host a pincushionmaking extravaganza and offered six different
pincushion shapes, both 18th- and 19th-century
in origin, from which our participants could
choose. These included a bunny, a mouse, a
carrot, a heart, a square, or a slipper. From the
smiles at the end of the day, we think we can
safely say that fun was had by all, and we look
forward to seeing everyone back again next year.
In other news this week, the revival of “She Had On When She Went Away” premiered on
Thursday. We’re thrilled to be reunited with Hope, Dierdre, and Zakiyyah to continue to share the selfliberation stories of Betty, Sarah, and Lucy for a new group of Guests this winter. Preparations continue for
our March Hennage program as well. Our needles have been flying through garment after garment to put
together four different 1769 outfits, and we’re starting to feel the pressure with only a few more weeks to go.
In between winter training, we also spent some time in Collections this week studying and measuring some
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�extant pieces that require some reproduction millinery items for the new textiles exhibit that will be opening
in July.
The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Tuesday (12:00-4:30) and Thursday through Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at
9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office – The Printing Office is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Bindery – The Bookbindery is open Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoe Shop’s production continues along the lines of last week. Nicole has one more lift
to add to finish shoes for Teal Brooks, and she is currently building an instep leather for Mark Hutter. On
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�Thursday, all three of us attended the “People, Land, and Seasons” training at the Hennage. Val renewed his
certificate for the Historic Area Building Use Agreement and continues reading Trust & Inspire for next
Monday’s meeting. Victoria, alongside Ren Tolson of Military Programs, was contacted as a member of the
Gender and Sexual Diversity Research Committee to give advice and edit a script for PBS focused on
Thomas/Thomasine Hall. This request was based on previous research and programs made about the Hall
case that we have done for June’s Pride and October’s LGBTQIA History Month Programing. She was excited
to be consulted and can’t wait to see the future content!
Shoe for Teal Brooks
Instep leather for Mark Hutter
The Shoemakers will be working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmiths are trudging through the gloomy weather with hopes of spring. Megan
continues to work on the tray rim, rings, and her bowl. Chris almost finished the repair work on silver arm
bands for our colleagues at the American Indian Initiative. Bobbie has been chasing and setting the well of her
tray. Preston has been polishing his finished bowl as well as a ladle. George has rolled out more ingots and
has gathered up pieces of a silver tankard that has been on the to-do list. Megan has been reading Women
Silversmiths 1685 – 1845.
The arm bands Chris has been repairing
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Bobbie’s tray is more defined after chasing the lines
Volume 9, Issue 5
�Preston’s finished projects
The silver tankard in progress
The Silversmith Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – Our green and red cotton stripe has been up and running for over
a week now, and it's looking lovely. While it may appear like a very fine fabric, in the 18th century, this quality
of fabric wasn't particularly expensive. Our looms are not the latest and greatest 18th-century technology.
Therefore, we cannot hope to produce the nicest things that were being worn and used. The loom this fabric
is on is 11th-century technology at the very minimum!
The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�Wigmaker – Hello from your favorite Wigmakers! This past week, we continued to plow through
maintenance work and progress on our projects. Edith did a filming at the Powell House with colleague Mem
for an upcoming exhibit in the DeWitt Wallace. She dressed Mem's hair on camera, and it came out
beautifully. She has completed the netting for her Journeyman wig, as well. Benton has been doing some
preliminary diving into a new transcription of Edward Charlton's Account Book in coordination with Librarian
Doug Mayo at the Rockefeller Library and Historian Cathy Hellier. Debbie has been reading materials for an
upcoming training and sifting through old documents that pre-date her time with CW to determine what can
be kept and what can possibly be archived at the Library. We have received new requests for Evening
Programs and will begin to style those soon. As always, please feel free to reach out with any tonsorial needs,
large or small.
Photo credit: Neal Hurst
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: Anthony Hay Shop – Bill Pavlak (Cabinetmaker); Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Brickmaker –
Madeleine Bolton; Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Colonial Garden – Marc Nucup; Cooper – Jon Hallman; Engraver
– Lynn Zelesnikar; Fifes and Drums – Rebecca Sterner; Foundry –Drew Godzik; Historic Farming – Ed Schultz;
Joiner – Peter Hudson; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik; Shoemaker – Val Povinelli; Silversmith –
Megan Cantwell; Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – Pamela Russo; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 5
�
Dublin Core
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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
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2015-
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Title
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 5, February 4, 2023
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Publisher
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
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2023-02-04
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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
January 27, 2023
Anthony Hay Shop – The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichordmaker is open Monday and Wednesday
through Saturday.
Apothecary – This week, we're keeping busy finishing our Performance Management SMART goals (that's
Sialogogues, Mundifiers, Astringents, Relaxants, and Thoriacs, right?) but also continuing with some individual
projects. Mark will be making a new batch of syrup of lemon juice, a sweet, acidic agent to cleanse the throat
and cool the body. Sharon is a third of the way through cross-checking the Galt-Barraud Ledger A - finding
individuals like Mr. Godfrey, who in 1798 paid Dr. Galt for six months' board. Margaret gave a virtual talk on
mental illness and the Public Hospital to the Teacher Institute on January 19th and is learning more details of
patient life by going through 19th-century treatment records.
The Apothecary Shop is open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – With the woodworking conference in town, the Blacksmith Shop has been focusing on
tools relevant to the attendants: Ken has been working hard on chisels, holdfasts, and hatchets; Mark on
knives for marquetry; and Aislinn, Alex, and Josh on hammers big and small. Broadus has been sticking to
kitchen utensils, filing and finishing spoons and ladles, and Alex has been working on calipers, as well. For this
week’s Guest comment, we heard the following: “We come here to see the Historic Trades, because where
else in the world can you see such unique talents as those of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Tradespeople?”
During the Shop’s Research Day, most went to the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library to study architectural
drawings of the gates that were reconstructed for the Governor’s Palace. The group then moved on to
archaeology to study pieces recovered from the Anderson site, while assisting archaeologists in properly
identifying objects based on our extensive knowledge of period ironwork. Alex was the main exception,
spending the day at William & Mary’s Swem Library. He read through the Jerdone Family papers for
descriptions of Providence Forge, the nearest ironworks to Williamsburg, which produced bars of iron for
forging, as well as axes, hoes, and a few other implements. Whether decorated or plain, keep it out of the
rain, for all’s well that falls well at the foot of the anvil.
The Blacksmith Shop is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Tinsmith – This week, our first day was busy in the Tin Shop. We are still down one person, but it did
not feel like it as we had both our Intern Soren and Caitlin, a visiting tinsmith from the Frontier Culture
Museum, working with us. As usual, we are filling out orders, many from outside the Foundation.
This year is the Tin Shop’s “tin anniversary” (ten years), and we had commemorative caps made for
ourselves. The first Tinsmith was hired on July 1st, 2013, and the Shop officially opened that same year in the
fall. Inspired by the Armoury’s logo originally designed by Erik Goldstein, from which the banners, CW initials,
and crossed sabers were borrowed, the Tin Shop logo shows a horn-paned lantern typical of those used in the
navies of the period, and the years 1778 – 1780, the period of activity of the Historic Shop. Yes, all the
lanterns of that type that we have examined were green.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�Both Caitlin and Soren are seen here working on gill cups.
Lately, Steve finished two iron candlesticks and a horn-paned lantern (lanthorn).
The commemorative cap with the logo
The Tin Shop is open Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�Brickmaker – This week in the Brickyard saw continued work on unstacking the kiln, and some paving as
well. The paving in question is under our drying shed, as it requires a level ground surface. Establishing this
paving will allow the Carpenters to have a surface to work off to start on siding. Otherwise, this week, the
crew pondered goals for the months to come, and then some.
The Brickyard is open Sunday through Thursday, weather permitting.
Carpenter – This week, the Carpenters have started to make the half-lapped boards for the shuttered
windows at the Farm site. Mary and Harold have both continued to install the clapboard siding for the gable.
On Thursday, Mary and Matt helped with the behind-the-scenes tour at the Robert Carter House for the
woodworking conference, and Harold will present onstage at the Hennage for the conference, as well. It’s
always a busy time of the year.
The Carpenters will primarily be at the Carpenter’s Yard Tuesday through Saturday, weather
permitting. The site will be closed 12:30-2:00pm on Tuesday, January 31.
Colonial Garden – It is still very much winter in the Historic Garden, but some of the plants have started
to respond to the lengthening days as we approach spring. Greens from daffodils (Narcissus spp.) and
Leucojum (Leucojum aestivum) are visible around the Garden, our recently planted broad bean (Vicia faba)
seeds are starting to germinate, and our overwintered cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) plants have started to
form heads. This week, the Historic Gardeners finished the annual turning of our compost piles and, on the
warmer days, did some weeding and cleaning around the Garden beds. We sent several lettuces, two
varieties of turnips, sweet potatoes, dried peppers, and an assortment of herbs to the Historic Cooks at the
Governor's Palace Kitchen.
This week also contained a noteworthy date in history for the site of our Garden: January 21st, 1776,
the day that the house formerly rented to cabinetmaker Peter Scott burnt to the ground. In a letter to George
Washington, Edmund Randolph writes, "Mr. Custis's Tenement, where Scott lived, opposite to the Church, was
burned to the ground, by the Negligence of some of the Soldiers, who had been quartered there. The Wind,
being due South, the out-house escaped Flames. The Difficulty of saving the Church became thereby very
great. The Country are surely answerable for this Damage, as it accrued in their Service."
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�A head of cauliflower starting to form (left). Lettuce, turnips, sweet potatoes, dried peppers, and herbs from the Garden (right).
Volunteer Chip and Apprentice Marc turn the last of the compost pile
The Colonial Garden is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, weather permitting.
Cooper – The Cooper Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – The Engraving Shop has been getting used to our new schedule change and working on our
goals for the year. There have been a few custom orders completed, and a few new ones for which we are
preparing. There has been lots of drawing, as usual, and getting in some practice. William has worked on
custom orders including a heart pendant and is today working on a sterling ladle and completing a copper
plate. Hopefully, the Shop will fit in some printing here soon.
Lynn has been working on an 18k wedding ring for the Silversmiths, a pewter buckle pattern for the
Founders is being engraved (this will be a pattern for casting), and Wheelwright Apprentice Murphy’s Paul
Bunyan-sized protractor is being cleaned up. The protractor was delivered with the brass sheet mounted, and
there will be some stoning and hand polishing before the engraving can be laid out. The layout will be
penciled on, then hand cut.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�The Engraving Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Foodways – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Foundry – This week started off with another sold-out Workshop. While Apprentices Drew and Leanne
helped guide the Guests through the finishing work on their spoons, Journeyman Mike made sure to replenish
the supply so our full crowd this coming Saturday will be able to, as well. That afternoon, since the forge was
still hot, and we didn’t want to waste it, we all worked on replenishing our supplies of pewter buttons. If you
need any for upcoming projects, be sure to stop by; we have plenty. We Founders have also been looking
ahead for the year to develop our SMART goals, so exciting projects will be coming up soon!
Workshop
Casting spoons
Leanne and Drew both casting buttons
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�Buttons
The Foundry is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30-4:30).
Gunsmith – This last week in the Gunsmith Shop, Darrin has been casting some brass mounts for the set of
pistols. After packing the damp sand around the wood patterns, the patterns are then removed, forming the
cavity where the 2000°+ molten brass will flow. There is an old phrase that comes from casting metal, "They
broke the mold when they made you". The mold is destroyed to remove the casting, so each one is unique.
Now the filing begins.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�The Gunsmith Shop is open Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Historic Farming – Apprentice Kevin Tobias
and Ed Schultz did some filming at Ewing Field
this week for the Development Department. The
new Farming site is completely funded by
generous contributions from Donors. We are
very grateful!
Kevin is filmed by Layne Chappell.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�The Innovation Studio filming team of Layne Chappell, Da-Veia Brown, and Leslie Clark, and Farmer Kevin Tobias.
Joinery – The Joinery is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – Greetings one and all from the Leather Breeches Maker Shop. With our
second week behind us, we are beginning to get ourselves settled in and are getting comfortable with our new
direction.
We are very excited this week to have a special guest join us in the Shop. Mr. Sam McGinty has joined
us from the Frontier Culture Museum, where he is their Costume Coordinator. Thanks to an exchange
program that is being developed between The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and The Frontier Culture
Museum, he is here receiving a crash course in the trade of Leather Breeches Making. Sam is no stranger to
the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation having worked for three years with our Military Programs Department
and is excited to be back for this opportunity. Sam will be with us through Monday, January 30th. Please feel
free to stop by to say hello and check out his progress.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�In other, less happy, news, Journeyman Jan Tilley will be taking some time away from the Shop due to the
aggressive advancement of his cancer. He would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming outpouring of
love and support and hopes to be able to reach a point in his treatments where he will be able to return. He
does ask that any and all who feel so inclined come down to the Leather Breeches Maker Shop and write a
small missive in a book that was graciously presented to him by our colleagues in the Bookbindery.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�Thank you to everyone who has stopped by to visit our new operation, and we look forward to serving you in
all of your Leather Breeches needs.
“Non Sanguinem in Corio”
“Don’t Bleed on the Leather”
The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Military Programs – Military Programs has been working diligently on finalizing their goals for the year,
as well as adjusting to their new curriculum! Military Programs is officially the second Skill to implement a
curriculum to advance their skills and knowledge as the Department moves into some exciting years ahead.
Unfortunately, we are also adjusting to the loss of Josh Bucchioni, who has recently departed from our
staff. We wish him the best in his future endeavors, and as a tribute, would like to show off two of his newest
creations before he left.
FRENCH FLAGS
The flags (Drapeaux) carried by French forces in the American Revolution had a much larger variety of styles
than those used within the British Army. For the most part, the French regiments that served in North
America were divided into two battalions. The 1st of the Battalions carried a Drapeau Colonel or Colonel’s
flag. This was generally a white flag with a white cross and white embroidery, though a few units carried
something a bit different to reflect that regiment’s background. Many American artists and others that tried
to depict or describe the Drapeau Colonel did not do so correctly, and so many modern reproductions based
on these accounts are filled with errors. The 2nd Battalion of the regiment carried a Drapeau d’Ordonnance or
Ordonnance flag, that was usually much more colorful with its four quadrants varying in color and design
depending on the regiment. These designs were reflected in the embroidery upon the Drapeau Colonel.
For much more detailed information, see the upcoming book to be published by Mr. Steven Hill of DuPage
Military flags. Mr. Hill was kind enough to contribute his thoughts and research into the French flags below.
The Régiment de Gâtinais was a new regiment within the French Army that had been formed in 1776
by separating the 2nd and 4th Battalions of the Régiment d’Auvergne. The new unit was numbered behind
the Auvergne in seniority (17th & 18th) within the French designation system. The designs of the
Drapeaux for the Gâtinais was also an offshoot of the Drapeaux used by the Auvergne, of which the cantons
had been violet and black in opposition. For the new ordonnance flags, the outer portion of each canton was
cut off, rotated one canton over, and resewn diagonally. The unit served with distinction at the Siege of
Yorktown, and elements participated in the assault on Redoubt #9. Their performance in the assault earned
them a new regimental title granted by the King, “Royal
Auvergne”, in 1782.
This reproduction (right) is fairly straightforward in its
white-on-white-on-white configuration, with the embroidery
matching the color changes in the Ordonnance flag. Since no
original French flags of this style are extant, there is some
speculation as to how wide and thick the embroidery was on
the flag. The decision was made to perhaps over-emphasize
the stitches in order to have them more visible and show a
difference in texture on the flag. The idea was to have the flag
appear as more than just a “surrender” flag that the average
person assumes it to be.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�This reproduction (left) was slightly more complex because a
number of modern sources not only disagree on the colors
used, but also in their placement on the flag. Going back to
the original French regulations, the Gâtinais used the same
color scheme as the Auvergne, and that was clearly
documented violet and black. The most common mistake is
that many modern sources rotate the flag 90 degrees from the
orientation of this reproduction. The original sources say
nothing about which way is correct, and in fact, it could have
varied at different times. The best source we have depicting
this flag during the war are several versions of the painting
“The Surrender of Yorktown” by Louis-Nicolas van
Blarenberghe. Van Blarenberghe was very precise in his
details of the French Army and had a number of witnesses
give him notes on the surrender. He depicted all of the French Drapeaux with a great degree of accuracy. The
Drapeaux of the Régiment de Gâtinais were depicted as seen to the left, and his works were the guide for
these reproductions. https://americanhistory.si.edu/american-revolution/yorktown-triumph-alliance/siegeand-surrender
Siege and Surrender | National Museum of American History
This French perspective of the Yorktown surrender was the Comte de Rochambeau’s copy of a
painting done for King Louis XVI. It emphasizes the British soldiers, in red, parading in humiliating
surrender at Yorktown before their French enemies, decked in blue.
americanhistory.si.edu
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – Ishbel Newton, our NIAHD Intern, begins her semester adventures into
our 18th-century world today! We hope she will enjoy her time with us - you know, a little sewing, some fun,
some study, and some skilled sharing with our Guests, amongst other good times.
In other endeavors, we are working on the two gowns commissioned by the Delaware First State
Heritage Park and the clothing we are making for our “Women’s History Month” program – Disaster Strikes!
The rational for this program is framed around the idea of:
Whatever is a girl to do if the house burns down and all you have to wear is your sleeping shift,
slippers, and a blanket? Fortunately, you had the presence of mind to grab your pocket with your
pocketbook on the way out the window, so there is money available. Well, a complete outfit from skin
out, head-to-toe, is among the first order of business.
This program explores the cost of one single complete ensemble based on the prices set down in a 1769-1770
daybook from Louisa County. What fun we have had debating the cost of an Irish linen gown at 1s 6d a yard
verses a Virginia Cloth fabric at 2s the yard! Thanks to our wonderful Weavers down the street for helping us
with that particular question.
But our best and biggest news this week: Kate has completed her Apprenticeship curriculum for Level 1
and is now working industriously into the next phase of her studies.
Your regular correspondent will be back next week.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range, as with all other staffs, is finalizing our goals for the year. This is
exciting for us because it's happening while we are in the process of transitioning to a new Supervisor, Jeff
Thomas. Jeff has been with the Musket Range since its creation in 2016, and no one knows the unit
better. We wish him great success as he works into his new role. Also, for the first time since its beginning,
one of our staff, Scott Bradford, is endeavoring to learn gun repair and maintenance along with Christopher
Grieb from Military Programs. They have also been collaborating on some new program ideas for the future
experiences for CW Guests to try out at the Range and see at Military Programs. We will keep you posted as
things develop.
Finally, as mentioned previously, the Musket Range is hiring! We are still accepting applications for
two new Musket Range Instructor positions, so if you know someone who might be a good fit for us, please
encourage them to apply!
The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at 9:30am, 11am,
1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office – Friday, January 27th, 2023, was a big day for the Printers. We have finished
printing, sorting, and folding sections of “Every Man his own Doctor” and shifted to newspaper printing for the
foreseeable future.
The Printing Office is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Bindery – The Bookbindery is open Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday.
Shoemaker – Val, Victoria, and Nicole are working on their goals for the 2023 Goal Planning on UKG. Val is
reading Trust & Inspire by Stephen M.R. Covey, for his February and March meetings. Victoria is almost done
with a pair of slippers, and Nicole is nearly done with a pair of common shoes for Teal Brooks. Val is closing
uppers for a pair of shoes going to Tim Logue. To continue with Victoria’s apprenticeship, the Shop just made
a batch of black wax, which is used to coat our sewing threads. Val is starting to put together an order list for
the Shop’s leather dressing project.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�Victoria making black wax
The Shoemakers will be working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Silversmith – The Silversmiths are busy … silversmithing! Megan continues to work on the tray rim, her
mote spoon, trade silver, and her bowl. Chris has flattened her tray and is doing repair work on silver arm
bands for our colleagues at the American Indian Initiative. Bobbie has been chasing and began the process of
setting the well of her tray. Preston has finished a silver gurney bowl and continues to work on more. They’re
very popular items among our Guests. George has been rolling sheet silver from our ingots and has been
hammering out more spoons. Bobbie has been deciphering more of Ann Craig’s will.
Megan’s various projects under her work bench (left). Chris malleting the silver arm bands back into shape (right).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�The silver armbands are starting to look much more uniform.
Bobbie setting the well of her tray with a mallet
Preston’s gurney bowl
The Silversmith Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Tailor – This week, the Tailors have been busy collaborating with other Shops, Sites, and Departments
across the Foundation. Master Mark Hutter has spent several afternoons teaching the interpretive staff of the
Palace to decipher the lists of clothing and textiles ordered for Lord Dunmore and his household, and to better
understand what those items tell us about the people, both free and enslaved, who occupied those spaces in
the 18th century. From silver-laced livery uniforms worn by footmen to strong shoes and durable linen
Oznabrigs worn by those who labored on the Governor's plantation, and from the fashionable earrings "set
like daimonds" (sic) ordered for Mrs. Scott, a high-ranking servant in the household, to his Lordship's own
high-quality but unadorned suits, the clothing described gives insight to the activities, personalities, needs,
and experiences of the people of the past.
Journeyman Michael McCarty has begun working with Mathew Gnagy, the new Manager of the
Department of Historical Clothing and Dress (formerly the Costume Design Center) to learn digital pattern
drafting methods using the Illustrator program. While we will always draft the patterns for the garments that
we make using historic hand-methods, we can employ digital-methods when recording patterns from original
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�garments, which can help to minimize handling of the antique and better ensure its preservation. McCarty is
also working with Gnagy to pattern a new suit for Nation Builder Mark Schneider when he portrays the
Marquis de Lafayette during the hero's return to the United States in 1824. The coat for the new suit is based
in part on a rare original from the collection of The Museum of the Daughters of the American Revolution that
McCarty and Hutter studied, patterned, and published in the exhibit catalogue, "An Agreeable Tyrant."
This week, Hutter and Apprentice Tim Logue spent time with Gnagy and staff examining original gloves
in the CWF Collection. Although glove makers were a trade unto themselves in the 18th century, Hutter and
Logue have previously studied and made gloves in order to have accurate accessories to the clothing that they
produce as Tailors. They are pleased to work with HC&D staff as they venture into glove making to provide
appropriate hand-wear for CW's costumed interpreters. One of the original gloves in the CWF Collection has a
feature of special historical interest: the ink stamp of the original maker, along with a small paper stamp glued
to the interior recording the three-pence duty paid. From 1785 until 1794, a minor tax was levied against the
dealer of each pair of gloves sold in England. This was part of a much larger effort to increase government
finances in order to pay for the late war.
Original coat in DAR collection, accession # 81 (left). Stamps inside original glove in CWF Collection, accession # 1936-596 (right).
Gloves made by Hutter based on originals worn by George Washington.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – We've had an exciting week! We had to do some re-arranging of office furniture in order to
prevent any fire hazards, and it has resulted in both Debbie and Edith being much happier with their desk
placement. Benton is still in his same general location, but his desk orientation has changed a bit, as well. So
far, we've enjoyed having more open space for moving around. In project news, Edith continues to work on
her linen netting for her Journeyman wig. Benton is making headway on his Brigadier wig, and Debbie has
been working on a new netted silk base. As always, feel free to reach out to us for any tonsorial needs.
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: Apothecary – Margaret Perry; Armoury –Alex Hinman (Blacksmith) and Steve Delisle (Tinsmith);
Brickmaker – Madeleine Bolton; Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Colonial Garden – Teal Brooks; Engraver – Lynn
Zelesnikar; Foundry – Leanne Bellouny; Gunsmith – Darrin McDonal; Historic Farming – Ed Schultz; Leather
Breeches Maker – Jan Tilley; Military Programs – Justin Chapman; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Janea
Whitacre; Musket Range – Justin Chapman; Printing Office and Bindery – Peter Stinely (Printer); Shoemaker –
Val Povinelli; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell; Tailor – Mark Hutter; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 4
�
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 9, number 4, January 27, 2023
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
2023-01-27
-
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Text
THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
January 20, 2023
Anthony Hay Shop:
Cabinetmaker – This week, John and Bill are busy pulling together materials and content for their
presentation at this year's Working Wood in the 18th Century Conference. They are making last-minute
demonstration parts and getting their thoughts together to show attendees. Jeremy has gotten the difficult
parts done on his corner table, joining one of the sides of the triangle table to the others with angled dovetails
at 45°. He will be finishing off the table in the coming month.
Harpsichordmaker – From the harpsichord corner … Melanie has finished the basic assembly of the
register, which will guide the jacks. Now, it needs very careful final shaping in anticipation of mounting it early
into the spinet’s basic assembly. That’s a ways off,
though. We are re-sawing big (for us) white pine
boards that will later come together for the baseboard
of the case. Lots of sawing, planing, and constant
sharpening of tools. The floor of the corner starts
looking like a hamster cage.
Early in the process comes the bending of the oak
board for the one curved wall of the case. So, we must
make slats that fit into the main form and adjust them
to the correct heights. Once the oak has been softened
in water for a few days, we bend over the slats with the
block and wing nut screws. It can stay there until
needed later. It’s hard to imagine that a musical
instrument will become the end result of all this
strange prep work. Come visit and see where we stand
Assembled register ready for refinement
on this first phase.
Bending form
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
White pine baseboards and frame saw
Volume 9, Issue 3
�The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichordmaker is open Sunday and Monday.
Apothecary – The Apothecary Shop is open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – This week, the Armoury got to take a field trip to the Frontier Culture Museum in
Staunton, Virginia. We were joined by Tinsmith Jenny, as well! We caught up with old colleagues, while they
took us around their site and into their collections. The highlight of the trip was seeing a very nice pair of fiveleaf "Cocks Head" hinges on an original 17th-century door. These were a rare example because they had a
foliated decoration in between the top and bottom sections on each hinge. In addition to our field trip, we've
remained hard at work on kitchen utensils, hardware, and wrapped up items for sale for the woodworking
conference next week.
We'd also like to share our favorite Guest quote this week. A repeat visitor told us that his motivation for
coming back was "getting to see the best of the best" when it comes to Trades. We always are motivated
when we hear these reviews and hope the rest of our colleagues do also from this Guest's comment.
The Blacksmith Shop is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Tinsmith – The Tin Shop is open Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturday.
Brickmaker – This week in the Brickyard, our favorite past time (unstacking bricks) continued with all the
vim and vigor we have. As we unstack layer by layer, the gradient of brick hues becomes clearer, from lighter
orange to deep red. As the kiln gets smaller, the bricks are palletized so that they can leave the Yard for future
use. You'll have to forgive us for some modern intrusions as we won't be storing them on site.
Otherwise, this week, Apprentices Nick and Madeleine visited their pal Sean Devlin in the Archaeology
Collections to learn more about what flat roof tile looked like in Colonial Williamsburg. This visit, plus their
previous research, will help greatly in the experimental phase of tile making this summer.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 3
�The Brickyard is open Sunday through Thursday, weather permitting.
Carpenter – This week, the Carpenters have split their time between the Farm site and our Yard. Mary and
Harold installed the upper window trim and kept installing the siding. Bobby and I have been focusing on reworking the door. We’ve had to plane and half lap a new board to make it the width we need. While at the
Yard, we’ve continued to hew the locust posts for the next couple of projects. The next step for us is making
four shuttered windows. That work should start next week.
The Carpenters will primarily be at the Carpenter’s Yard Tuesday through Saturday, weather
permitting.
Colonial Garden – The Colonial Garden is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, weather
permitting.
Cooper – Following up on an inquiry from our colleagues in the Tin Shop about staved canteens, we're going
to spend some time researching the subject in hopes of finding a good example from our period that we can
try to reproduce. We started out by looking at examples of staved canteens in our collection here at Colonial
Williamsburg. Included are some pictures of one of them.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 3
�The Cooper Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – The Engraving Shop is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Foodways – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Foundry – This past week saw another group of Guests work with us as temporary apprentices for the
second of our sold-out Winter Workshops. It already looks like tomorrow’s Workshop has sold out, too.
Journeyman Mike was busy this past week. He poured pewter spoons to replenish our stock for the
Workshops, filed the pewter patterns we made of the drumhead tensioner hooks for the Fifes & Drums Corps,
and began work on the sterling silver shoe buckles that were ordered by the Milliners for one of their
upcoming Hennage programs. Apprentice Leanne completed her first silver pour by pouring the molds she
and Drew made last week, which contained the above-mentioned shoe buckles, as well as tray feet for the
Silversmiths and some salt spoons. Leanne also continued working on her bronze Courthouse key, while Drew
cut all those musket balls off their gates and has begun filing them for the Musket Range. They haven’t asked
for musket balls for a while now, but we know they’ll come calling before long.
Leanne’s first silver pour
Sterling silver castings
The Foundry is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday (11:30-4:30).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 3
�Gunsmith – The Gunsmith Shop is open Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Historic Farming – Looking over the year: Tobacco
The tobacco crop was good in 2022 with vigorous growth and just the right amount of rain. Here are some of
the highlights of the year:
A good-looking tobacco plant after a good rain
We found some tobacco hornworms, but not many.
Tar on Ed’s hand after fifteen minutes of checking leaves for worms (left). Mike Cecere cutting a tobacco plant (center). Tobacco
hanging to cure (right).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 3
�Apprentice Kevin Tobias’ first hand of tobacco
Chris Custalow planting “rustica” tobacco that North American Indians grew.
Tobacco Hogshead carrier made by Wheelwrights.
Joinery – The road to Working Wood in the 18th Century 2023 continues (but the end is in site - next
weekend!). Brian and Peter continue to prepare for their respective presentations. Brian’s pilaster has some
new parts to it. Since pilasters, like other popular architectural forms, are often modeled off of Greek and
Roman examples, not only is there the upright section with fluting (decorative channels), there is also a
decoratively molded base and capital. Much like the columns they are meant to imitate, there can be a range
of styles used. Brian has based his off of Smith’s Fort (Warren House), a historic home in Surry County. Peter,
meanwhile, is working on the very top of his portico, where the arch sits. He’s busy shaping out the curves,
which is aided by a plane specially made for the job. This is because most of the planes in the Joinery are
meant to be used in a straight line on a flat board. Special shapes call for special tools. The photo below
shows one of the four pieces he needs to complete. Two of the curves meet together to make the full
arch. When finished, this portico will have raised panels covering it.
Scott has been making headway on his corner cupboard. In addition to the face frame added on last
week, the casing has now enclosed around the shelves with two returns. These returns fill in the space
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 3
�between the face frame and the back of the cupboard, which faces the wall. Eventually, these returns will
have pilasters as well, lending a nice polish to the finished item.
Laura has made a couple sample dovetails, so now it is time to apply these to making boxes. Her first
box will actually be a drawer for her workbench. After deciding on the size of the drawer, she’s just begun to
prepare her stock of pine boards, planing them to the correct size and ensuring they are flat and square.
The Joinery is open on Tuesday.
Leather Breeches Maker – We are pleased to report that the Leather Breeches Maker Shop opened on
the 15th of this month with great success! We have had the opportunity to speak to amazing Guests and are
happy to say that our new Shop has been well received. We are very thankful to our fellow Trades for the
help provided in moving items and getting the Shop ready. Thanks also goes to Curatorial for their advice in
this process. The work of making is well underway with two new pairs cut this week and the finishing up of
other pairs. We look forward to your visit soon!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 3
�Apprentice Emma cutting a new pair of breeches on the first day (left). Master Jay and Journeyman Jan, opening day (right).
The Leather Breeches Maker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Tuesday and Thursday
through Saturday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday with sessions at
9:30am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office – We are not only printing pamphlets. We also have some newly stitched Gardening
books to trim. These will go to Prentis Store for sale.
The Printing Office is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 3
�Bindery – The Bookbindery is open Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers will be working at the Leather Breeches Maker Tuesday, Wednesday,
Friday, and Saturday.
Silversmith – Multiple projects are on the docket at the Silversmith Shop. Megan continues to work on the
tray rim and is laying out a mote spoon to pierce. Chris has been filing and fitting the steel plates used to
flatten the trays. Bobbie has been chasing the body of her new tray. Preston has soldered the base onto a
small silver bowl. George has been rolling sheet silver from our ingots and has been hammering out more
spoons. Bobbie has been deciphering more of Ann Craig’s will.
Megan’s mote spoon with a pressing and a drawing of the original spoon in collections (left). Chris’ tray and one of the steel plates
she has been fitting (right).
Bobbie chasing her new tray (left). We would like to thank our friends at the Leather Beeches Maker for giving us a piece of leather
for use in the tray chasing (center)! Preston’s small silver bowl (right).
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 3
�George’s spoons
The Silversmith Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – We have finally finished all the blankets! The final run was pulled
off the loom just moments ago (Thursday afternoon). The next warp is already loaded, and we are beginning
threading. We predict the threading will take us around nine hours to complete, and then we will be ready to
weave a red, green, and white cotton pinstripe. This fabric is copied from the sample book Joe and I studied at
the Met back in November. I find it rather moving to be making something that hasn't been made for
centuries. Bringing it to life again sparks such a unique feeling. We are looking forward to seeing what it will
become in the skilled hands of our Milliners/Mantua Makers.
The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Wigmaker – Hello from the Wig Shop! We have been making our way through all of our maintenance
lately. As programming goes down for the Winter, our maintenance picks up because it's a perfect time for
everyone to bring in their items. So, if you need us, you're likely to find us elbow deep in shampoo,
conditioner, mousse, and hair! Edith has made great progress in the linen netting for her Journeyman Project
and is continuing to collect the other materials needed. Benton has been separating, frizzing, and weaving
horsehair for his Brigadier wig. Debbie has nearly finished the curls for Robin and has been concentrating on
maintenance. As always, please feel free to reach out to us for any tonsorial needs.
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: Anthony Hay Shop – John Peeler (Cabinetmaker) and Ed Wright (Harpsichordmaker); Armoury –
Joshua Rachita (Blacksmith); Brickmaker – Madeleine Bolton; Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cooper – Jon
Hallman; Foundry – Drew Godzik; Historic Farming – Ed Schultz; Joiner – Laura Hollowood; Leather Breeches
Maker – Emma Cross; Printing Office and Bindery – Peter Stinely (Printer); Silversmith – Megan Cantwell;
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – Pamela Russo; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 3
�
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/.
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
2023-01-20
Title
A name given to the resource
The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 3, January 20, 2023