Edith Bolling Wilson Museum - Wythevile - VA

Today we visited the Edith Bollings Wilson Museum.  Edith was born in Wytheville in 1872  and was the 7th of 11 children.  She married Mr Gault, a wealthy Jewelry Store owner in Washing DC.  Following his death 12 years later she became quite wealthy.  She was the first woman in DC to own and drive an electric car.

The museum depicts her life from her humble beginnings at her birthplace and childhood home.  She grew up to become one of the most influential, controversial, and historically significant women of the 20th Century.    

She was introduced to the recently widowed President Woodrow Wilson, less than one year, and they married in 1915.   During WW1 as part of rationing she introduced gasless Sundays, meatless Mondays  and wheatless Wednesdays.

Edith was a distant descendant of Pocahontas.

A chronology of her life.

As the First lady she was the first Chief of the Girl Scouts which continues today for First Ladies.

She was indeed a controversial figure in America with many believing that after her husband's stroke she situated herself in a surrogate role where  she decided on what was important to be taken to her invalided husband.
Irrespective of what anyone may think, to the folks in Wytheville, Edith is a star.  They even have a mural depicting her life.

This small town has some very interesting stories.

Cheers,

Beverley and Ross 

Skeeter's

Skeeter's is the home of the Skeeter Dog in Wytheville, VA.  It has been providing these world famous dogs since 1929.

Walking into the restaurant is like walking back into nostalgia.  The red seats are original depicting a time passed.

The history of the place is documented below.

Here is a copy of the menu.

An example of the Dog's.

You can enjoy your Dog with a soda in the original bottle.

As can be seen there is nostalgia in every corner.

Following you can see the ambience and charm of the place.

More to follow on what this country town has to offer.

Cheers,

Beverley and Ross 

Guilford Court House Museum , Greensboro, NC

Today we enjoyed lunch with Martha and Don who are friends of Pat and Rick our next door neighbours in Jerrabomberra.  Pat kindly introduced them to us and we enjoyed lunch at the Village Tavern.  It was a vey nice place to lunch and Martha and Don were delightful company.  We were so pleased to have met with them.

They suggested that we may may like to visit the Guilford Court House which was close by.  

Guilford Court House was the site of the Battle of Guilford Court House during the American Revolution War.  This battle was fought on 15 March, 1781, at  the site now know as Greensboro.  A 2,100 - man British force under the command of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis defeated Major General Nathaneal Greene's 4,500 Americans.  The British Army lost a considerable number of men during the battle ( est 27% lost). However, the British still won the battle.  Eventually the Americans won, it was " he largest and most hotly contested action" in the American Revolutionary southern action, and lead to the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.  Recreation of this battle is commemorated at this site.

There is the opportunity to drive around the battle area and the trees are beautiful.

Driving through the battlefield there are many monuments to be seen marking events of the battles fought here.

This particular one relates to a local here who lost his life at this site.

His gravestone.

Inside the museum there are many displays which details the story of the battles and the men involved.

This is the medical kit of the time.

The dress of the time.

This is some of the ordinance found in the surrounding area.

The rifles of the time.

 Re-enactment

 The actors of the day.

 The music of the day. 

 It was vey interesting to learn more about  the fight to become America.

Cheers,

Beverley and Ross 

Greensboro - NC

We arrived in Greensboro, North Carolina yesterday.  The sun was shining and we settled into the RV Park with no problems.  Today however, it is raining and will be for the next few days.  Never mind as we donned on our wet weather gear and acted as tourists only to find out that on Monday's in this city lots of things are not open.  This did not stop us. Before we give you and overview of our day a little on the history of this city.  Greensboro is the the third most populous city in North Carolina.  In 1808, it was spelt  " Greensborough", in 1895 it was changed to its present spelling. There is lots to see and do in this city.

We decided to visit the The International Civil Rights Center and Museum. It is situated in the building which formally housed the Woolworths which was the site of a non-violent protest in the civil rights movement.  Four students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University  started the Greensboro sit-ins at "whites only" lunch counter on 1 February, 1960. The next day there was 20 students. So the fight for equality continued.  

The museum is not all that big but it has a wealth of information.  We undertook a guided tour and came away with a greater appreciation why the fight for Negro equality was such a battle.  Racism and fear prevented the Negro for many years from the rights and respect they were entitled.  

As mentioned it was rather a wet day but it did not stop us walking around the city.

There have been some very creative folks in this area such as Lunsford Richardson, the creator of Vicks VaporRub.  We keep a jar in the RV as well as in our home. 

It is also the home of Wrangler Jeans.

Lunch today was Middle Eastern food.  No alcohol served but great food. Beverley enjoyed a chicken dish.

Ross had lamb which was very tasty.

On the way back to the car we popped into Liberty Oak for a cocktail.

Tomorrow we are having lunch with Martha and Don who are friends of our next door neighbor in Jerrabomberra.  It is indeed a small world.

Cheers,

Beverley and Ross