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Text
THE COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
I n e r __ e r
re
VOL.
3
No.
MARCH 1982
2
The Greenhow Store
Store interpretation assumes a larger role at
We asked Mary Theobald, who coordinates
Historic Area products, to tell as about the new
the
Greenhow Store.
Apothecary visitors receive general informa-
Eighteenth century Williamsburg was a
commercial town boasting many stores,
tion -about the colonial apothecary and the
shops,
Office guests leam about the printers who sold
tavems,
markets,
and
smaller
sales
outlets.
At McKenzie' s
products and services he offered. At the Post
fairs where
merchandise routinely changed hands.
flee " King' s English" for distinction between store and shop.) Though fewer of
merchandise
these business establishments exist today
open its doors to the public and store interpre-
than
and
operated
a
postal
service
from this shop.
In the fall the ninth Historic Area store will
ago,
their
tation will take a giant step forward. John
overall
Wil-
Greenhow' s establishment across from the
liamsburg experience has never been more
Geddy House will be unique among the His-
significant.
toric Area general stores in its incorporation of
flourished
contribution
Part
to
of the
two
centuries
the
visitor' s
educational
mission
of the
an " exhibition store" within a working retail
Historic Area stores and shops is to repre-
operation.
continued, page2)
sent the role that retailing played in the
Gi everyday lives of eighteenth -century Virginians;
public
another aspect is
with
a
variety
to
provide
of authentic
the
eigh-
teenth- century products. To achieve these
educational
goals,
an
interpretive
T. A. C. T.
program
with two basic areas of emphasis was initiated
in the late 1970s:
store interpretation and
Thoughtful Actions Can Talk)
product interpretation.
Many interpreters have expressed an interest in continuing discussions begun dur-
Product
interpretation
dominates.
What
ing our 1982 in- service interpretive education session, " Diplomacy Under Pressure."
is a teetotum, how and why was it used?
How was the mob cap worn, by whom, and
when?
What
are
Pontefract
cakes
Although our formal classes cannot continue throughout the year, with this issue
and
where did they get their name? These are
just a few of the questions to which the
of The Interpreter we are introducing a spe-
sales/ interpreters respond every day. Of-
cial column addressing this important topic.
ten a printed card accompanies the item to
As you know, in our last issue we asked you to
explain
its
historical significance.
In this
suggest titles for this new feature; your sug-
way the educational message is delivered
twice, orally and in writing. Because many
gestions have been clever and varied. Each of
purchases are intended as gifts for people
your ideas underscored this column' s objectives:
1) to relate difficult visitor- related
not
signifi-
situations in which we' ve found ourselves,
cance is explained, these cards carry our
historical information one step further. The
situations absolutely requiring us to employ
present
when
the
product' s
dise must not be underrated. Long after the
diplomacy under presure; 2) to share successes in solving such dilemmas; and 3) for the
Department of Interpretive Education to sug-
visit
gest ways to handle encounters that have
educational
is
value
over,
the
of
authentic
gift
taken
merchan-
home
stirs
memories of Williamsburg and reinforces
stumped us.
continued, page3)
j) learning that has taken place.
the
1
�Greenhow, continued
While working his way through files at
the Virginia State Library, a Foundation re-
counting room" in the back of the store to
be
furnished with antiques and reproduc-
tions. A desk will be open and equipped
searcher came upon a series of sketches in
John Hook' s papers. Both the letters and
with money scales, sealing wax, quill pens,
the
a pipe, and other accessories for a busy
location of the originals is unkown. The
merchant. The bookcase will hold period
publications on bookkeeping and mer-
sketches
are
negative
photostats,
and
drawings were created in 1772 as a guide to
building or remodeling Hook's store in
Bedford County. Remodeling is more like-
chants' guides, as well as facsimile account
books and ledgers. A strong box will pro-
ly, as a carpenter' s account at that time
tect Mr. Greenhow' s money and valuables.
A few prints and maps will decorate the
walls. The Greenhow team limited the in-
mentions moving the counting house and
various kinds of repairs to Hook' s prop-
trusions
erty.
of
the
necessary
twentieth cen-
merchandising
requirements: the
cash registers will be quiet and shielded
John Hook came to Virginia from Scot-
tury
land as a very young man. After working as
a bookkeeper in a couple of Virginia stores,
he formed a partnership and established a
from public view, and the specially designed lighting fixtures will be inconspicuous.
wholesale store at Warwick in Chesterfield
Another feature of the John Greenhow
County and the retail store in Bedford.
Until recently the paucity of concrete in-
Store will be its accessibility to physically
formation on store interiors prevented the
Historic Area stores from claiming too close
trances to Historic Area stores and shops
are several steps above sidewalk level, it is
a
eighteenth century
difficult for guests in wheelchairs to enter
counterparts. Last year a field study by the
them. One plan under consideration for
Greenhow is a lightweight ramp, concealed in a pile of barrels and shipping
resemblance
to
their
Colonial Williamsburg
Foundation
handicapped
archi-
tects into eighteenth and early nineteenth-
visitors.
Because
the
en-
crates near the front door, which the sales/
century Virginia stores provided knowledge
interpreters could quickly pull up to the
entrance. No steps or barriers should im-
on shelving, counters, and other aspects ofthe
interior arrangements of stores. Information
from the field survey was substantiated and
pede the movements of our handicapped
amplified by the eleventh -hour discovery of
guests, once inside. The lighting levels will
the only known drawings of an eighteenthcentury Virginia store.
the
be sufficient for the sight- impaired, while
The Foundation incorporated part of the
Store,
creating
the
most
will
allow
those
con-
dise.
new discovery on the northwest wall of the
Greenhow
lower counters
fined to wheelchairs to see the merchanIn addition to the usual sales /interpret-
au-
ers, the Greenhow Store will be staffed by
thentic shelving in any Historic Area store.
John
One of the sketches shows the arrangement
Greenhow
himself. Five
actors. will
rotate in the role of Mr. Greenhow, discus-
and dimensions of a group of pigeonholes sur-
sing the difficulties of managing a large
rounded by shelves. Pigeonholes were evident in several colonial stores. William Al-
general store and of acquiring only " the
merchandise for the customers.
best"
lason' s store in Falmouth, for instance, had
an unspecified number of them, as did
Thomas Jones' s store in Williamsburg. The
Weather permitting, Mr. Greenhow may
take to the street to oversee the delivery of a
wagon load of goods or to entice passersby
with descriptions of his wares. Whenever
feasible, interaction between Mr. Green -
drawing of Hook' s store also indicates ten
drawers under the counter; the drawers are
labeled for coffee, pepper, allspice, ginger,
saltpeter, allum, brimstone, medicine, in-
how and " his employees and apprentices"
digo, and cash. The counter extended across
in the store will add another dimension to
the entire width of the building —
twenty feet.
the interpretation.
The products sold in the Greenhow Store
Armed with this information, the curators, architects, and historians set to work
on the Greenhow Store. They re- created a
will mirror as much as possible the items
continued, page4)
2
�through Sunday, May 2. Garden Week in Wil-
Occurrences
liamsburg, with its tour of selected area
homes, falls on Tuesday, April 27.
Visitors will be interested to learn about
People were,
well, different in the eigh-
these events. Let them know about them.
teenth century. And one could scarcely
find a more peculiar — hilarious —group
or
of eighteenth- century Englishmen and wo-
And there may be some events you have
men
than
those
who comprise
the
characters of The Male Coquette,
yet to see. Now is your chance!
cast of
or, 1757.
T.A.C.T., continued
The great Mr. David Garrick wrote this
comedy, a faithful adaptation of which now
George Collins' s sessions afforded us prac-
graces the boards at the Lodge Auditorium.
tice in resolving certain difficult incidents by
Harvey Credle and his talented troupe of
employing some time tested principles of per-
actors have produced this delightful evening,
sonal interaction. Although these principles
which it would be your great ill fortune to
remain constant, there is no end to the variety
miss. Dates are Saturday, March 6, 20, and 27,
of tight situations in which an interpreter
and April 17.
Divisional
might find himself /herself. So, " adaptability"
in- service training may be
soon becomes the emblem of a successful
over, but there are still opportunities to
learn before the onset of summertime and
interpreter.
its attendant busy days. The Research De-
scriptions of incidents you would like ad-
partment' s
dressed here, and we encourage you to
continue sending them. Our teaching in-
lecture
series
continues
Many of you have already submitted de-
with
Shomer Zwelling talking on " Robert Car:
ter:
The Seasons of a Man' s Life"
on
terpreters
review them and
begin discus-
Thursday, April 15. This presentation will
sing possible solutions. Then the rest of us
take
in the Department of Interpretive Education share our thoughts on the matter. By
place
at
Botetourt
Theatre,
Swem
Library, the College of William and Mary,
at 8: 00 P. M. It is certain to be very much
the time it makes its rounds in our department, your situation has had the benefit of
worth your while.
An Evening of Military Life" makes its
1982 debut on St. Patrick' s Day, Wednesday, March 17, at 7: 00 P. M. This is the third
year for this lively program of historical
about seventy to eighty years of combined
interpretive experience. At times we may
want to refer the really complex ones to the
Foundation - ide Hospitality and Courtesy
w
instruction and dramatization. The thirtysixth Garden Symposium opens Sunday,
Committee chaired by Steve Elliott. We all
March 28, and concludes on March 31.
assistance is really needed.
hope our responses will assist you when
April brings its usual bounty of showers,
Well, I've kept you in suspense long
flowers, and visitors. Easter, which falls on
April 11 this year, will be celebrated at Col-
enough. You must be wondering who won our
Easter militia review at 8: 30 A. M. and a
Name- The New Column Contest." ( The
envelope, please.) Our winner, Anne Potts, a
hostess in the Department of Exhibition
dinner play at the Lodge at 7: 00 P. M. on
Saturday, and a Palace Garden Party from
Buildings, has won a $ 20. 00 gift certificate to
be used at the Information Center Bookstore.
2: 00 to 3: 30 p. M. and Capitol Concerts at 8: 00
I envy Anne this award. There are many attractive books there. By the way, I too had
what I thought to be an appealing title for this
column. I wanted it to be called " The Sticky
Wicket." Members of my staff, however, told
onial
Williamsburg
with
the
traditional
P. M. and 9: 00 P. M. Easter Sunday. Friday,
April 16, marks the premier of a new evening
program titled " An Assembly at the Capitol."
It is a gathering of visitors to the town for
music, dance, and diversions at the Capitol.
It' s another production of Mr. John Moon and
the talented people in the Company of Colonial Performers. Williamsburg Garden Tours
9
me that I simply didn' t qualify for the " Name The- New -Column Contest." They needn' t
wasn' t cricket. Congratulations, Anne.
have told me, though. From the start I knew it
begin on Saturday, April 24, continuing
continued, page 5)
3
�Greenhow, continued)
Greenhow Store, you probably wonder
how all of this could affect your daily in-
that John Greenhow advertised in the Virginia Gazette in the 1760s. " Large, rich and
noble China bowls" will sit on the shelves,
Pontefract cakes" will make mouths wa-
terpretations. What might craftspeople, es-
ter, " fish hooks" will tempt the " compleat
say about stores in general and Greenhow
window
angler," "
nails,"
glass," "
corts, hosts and hostesses, and visitor aides
in particular?
and
We suggest that you avoid extremes. The
other " materials for buildings" will interest
stores
the home renovator, while " working canvas
and
of
all
silk"
worsted
should
silver
shades," "
and "
sizes,"
appeal
ribands,
to
the
they
thimbles
thread,
not "
precisely
souvenir
portray
nor do
shops,"
eighteenth- century
stores. Only an exhibition store where no
and
sales are transacted could aspire to this lat-
needleworker.
ter description.
Many new products are being developed
exclusively for Greenhow,
are
and
though some
shops
The Historic Area stores
are active
places of business,
representing the commercial aspects of the
overlap with products in other stores is
period,
necessary.
where
visitors
can
team
about
Just how much product overlap should
eighteenth- century lifestyles and purchas-
exist was a problem encountered early in
ing habits through the products that were,
the planning stages. The desire to infuse
and are. available.
When asked for film, calendars, modern
each of the three general stores with its own
character and appearance was strong, but it
books,
ran counter to the historical evidence that
you might direct visitors to the nearest gift
all eighteenth -century general stores im-
shop ( Inn, Lodge, Motor House), the Infor-
ported
and
inventoried
essentially
or other twentieth -century items,
mation Center, or Merchants' Square. Ex-
the
same items. For example, to offer candles at
Prentis Store while omitting them from
Tarpley' s and Greenhow would mislead
O
plain
able inside the Historic Area. When asked
the
public
to
suppose
that
merchandising approach that was
not
categories.
by
Take
categories
but
candles
an
as
not
avail-
If asked whether all the stores carry the
same items, perhaps you could say that,
while in the eighteenth century Greenhow,
Prentis, and Tarpley stores offered much
adopted distributes products between the
stores
products are
for a place to buy a snack, suggest the
Raleigh Tavern Bakery for baked goods and
cider, or Tarpley's and Greenhow for
candy, dried fruit, and fresh fruit in season.
specialization
was the rule.
The
why modern
within
example
once again. Nearly all general stores in the
eighteenth century inventoried candles of
the same sort of products, today each has
different areas of emphasis so that every
store is worth a visit. When escorting a
group by a store, encourage the visitors to
some sort, and all three general stores in
the Historic Area today will offer some can-
dles. But only one will carry all of the available bayberry and beeswax, dipped and
return after the tour ( no ticket required) to
molded candles in all sizes.
A similar situation in eighteenth- century
examine the vast array of interesting products
stores may have resulted from the uncer-
teenth- century Virginian. After Greenhow
tainties of transatlantic shipping. No one
store could keep a stock of all items at all
unique store —talk with John Greenhow and
and discover what was available to the eighopens in the fall, urge guests to visit this
times. Where general stores did differ was
his employees about the store and its prod-
often
The
ucts, see the exhibition counting room, and
storekeeper who had just received a ship-
learn more about this important aspect of
in
merchandise
availability.
ment from London presumably had a wider
eighteenth- century life.
fresher selection of merchandise from which
Have You Heard
to choose, whereas a competitor whose deliv-
What a good issue the January 1982 William
and Maly Quarterly is? All of the articles deal
with the theme " The Family in Early America." Check your departmental library or the
ery was not expected for several weeks might
run a bit low on some goods.
Unless you are one of the actors or sales/
interpreters slated to work at the new John
Greenhow Office for a copy to borrow.
0
4
�T.A.C.T., continued
To begin our new column, members of the
offer the full range of exhibitions to our
Department of Interpretive Education have
visitors, along with the many other golden
chosen the following situation. ( Note that, as
opportunities of the season!
always, the person who submits the incident
will remain anonymous because it' s the inci-
Bill Tramposch
dent and not the individual that' s clearly being
addressed here.)
What if a visitor should pose this question, " Half the buildings here seem to be
The King' s English
closed, and I' ve paid full price for a ticket.
Why ?" Perhaps you' ve experienced this
many times already. There obviously are
Brimstone —
formerly the common vernacular name for sulphur, which was used in
many positive directions in which your
answer may go. Remember always the importance
of maintaining
the
visitor' s
gunpowder, fireworks, metal- working pro-
self -
cedures, as a medicine, cloth whitener, and
esteem, of listening empathetically to the
a wood preservative.
complaint, and of assisting the visitor in plan-
Counting room — office in which the
an
ning around the given situation.
There
are
why fewer
obviously
buildings
financial
are open
store' s bookkeeper kept the records of the
reasons
in
business.
the
winter. We suggest that you assure the vis-
Gallipot — small glazed earthen pot, espea
itor that there is plenty to see on any single
cially one used by apothecaries for oint-
day and point out that his ticket is valid for
ments and medicines.
Poll comb —a comb for the hair of the head.
Pontefract cakes —licorice candy, not too
more than one day. And while the alternat-
ing schedule means some buildings will be
sweet, from Pontefract, England.
closed every day, at least one of each type
of building is always open —either Wether-
Shop —a retail establishment characterized
burn'-s -or the Raleigh, for example, is open
by its specialization in one particular area;
each day. Those buildings that were closed
today may well be open tomorrow or when
often a part of a craft operation, such as a
millinery shop or blacksmith' s shop; example: McKenzie' s Apothecary Shop.
Store —
an Americanism indicating a retail
establishment characterized by a wide assortment of merchandise typically including cloth, tools, food, household articles;
the visitor returns. You may even have time
to assist the visitor in the planning of his
day.
Too, our winter visitors benefit greatly
from interpreters who can be more " open"
examples:
to interpret in the directions of the visitors'
interests. On these days of low attendance,
Tarpley' s, Prentis, and Green -
how. A store in England usually meant a
our visitors also can more freely imagine
warehouse.
fewer vis-
Teetotum — top with numbered sides used
a
itors, fewer distractions, and fewer lines all
in games especially produced for children
afford
and " polite company" to replace dice,
how life was in Williamsburg:
each
visitor
a
more
personal
en-
which
counter with eighteenth -century life. This
is an intimacy that the Foundation has al-
were
too
closely associated
with
gambling.
ways tried to preserve; the closing of the
Duke of Gloucester Street to traffic and the
intentional
separation
Center facilities
of the
Information
The Interpreter is a bimonthly publication of the Department of Interpretive Education.
are but two examples of
Editor: Barbara Beaman
Assistant Editor and Feature Writer: Lou Powers
Editorial Board: Bill Tramposch, Cliff Burket, George
Collins, Harold Gill, Dennis O' Toole, Jane Strauss,
this commitment to free the Historic Area
from "
alien
and
inharmonious
surround-
ings."
In
short,
the
winter
schedule
and
Sumpter Priddy III, Shomer Zwelling
1982 by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
the
flexibility of the ticket structure combine to
5
�
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
Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter
Description
An account of the resource
<p><em>The Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter</em> was a newsletter published July 1980-September 2009 by the education and research departments of Colonial Williamsburg and authored mainly by staff researchers and interpreters. Its purpose was to disseminate information germane to the current interpretive focus of the Historic Area uniformly across the various departments involved with historical interpretation. Some of the articles sprang from the need to impart new research or interpretive information to staff while others were inspired by employee questions or suggestions. In the earlier issues, standard sections include “The King’s English” which explained various words or terminology encountered in 18th century life, “Occurrences” which noted different programs and events of interest to employees and visitors, and “The Exchange” which was a guest column that offered the perspective and knowledge of non-research department employees on various subjects. Later issues had regular columns about historical subjects, archaeology, gardening, new books at the Foundation library, “Cook’s Corner” about foodways, “Interpreter’s Corner” concerning issues of interpretation, and a Q & A section. The number of issues published per year varied as did the length of the newsletter.</p>
<p>Several supplemental publications sprang from the Interpreter including <em>Fresh Advices, Questions & Answers</em>, and A<em> Cultural Time Line & Glossary for Williamsburg in the Eighteenth Century</em>. Fresh Advices offered discussions of recent research conducted by the Foundation and opportunities for applying it in the Historic Area. It was published infrequently from 1981-1987. <em>Questions & Answers</em> began and ended as a column in the <em>Interpreter</em>, but also existed as a supplemental publication from 1980-1989. It functioned as a means to answer common interpreter questions to the research department about eighteenth-century history and culture, Williamsburg area history, and Colonial Williamsburg itself. The one-time 1990 publication <em>A Cultural Time Line & Glossary for Williamsburg in the Eighteenth Century</em> consisted of a oversize poster-sized timeline and a glossary booklet. The time line included notable events in the Age of Enlightenment in the categories of politics, philosophy and religion, education, science and technology, fine arts and architecture, and performing arts and literature. The glossary was an expansion on selected entries from the time line to give more information on people and events that directly or indirectly influenced the development of colonial Virginia society.</p>
<p>An index to the <em>Interpreter</em> and its supplemental publications may be found here: <a href="http://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/library/_files/Interpreter.pdf">Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter Index, 1980-2009</a>.</p>
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 Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter, volume 3, number 2, March, 1982
Description
An account of the resource
The Greenhow Store -- T.A.C.T. (Thoughtful Actions Can Talk) -- Occurrences -- The King’s English