Oklahoma George Washington Wired

I cannot not help myself!  Every time I drive by the famous old Route 66 landmark, I think of Washington’s fishing industry.  The “Blue Whale” was built by Hugh Davis in the early 1970s as an anniversary gift to his wife Zelta (http://www.theroadwanderer.net/66Oklahoma/catoosa.htm ). The azure metal goliath and its pond became a favorite stop and swimming hole for both locals and travelers.  No one swims in the pond anymore, but the gargantuan sea mammal still makes for a great photo op!  George Washington’s fishing operation was also mammoth!  “In the Spring the Washington described the Potomac with ‘the greatest profusion of Shad, Herring, Bass, Carp, Perch, Sturgeon & ca (George Washington Pioneer Farmer, pg.  47). ‘”  The Pioneer Farmer book goes on to describe how the fish “provided a source of meat for the slaves and income for Mount Vernon as the salted fish were sold locally and abroad. . . Washington owned waterfront approaching ten miles in length! Every spring, herring and shad swam up the rivers of Tidewater Virginia and Maryland in order to spawn near the Great falls. . . During the opportune moments when the schools were running, Washington’s slaves stretched nets-some hundreds of feet in length and up to 12 feet in depth—across the water.  This was an annual event for which all hands at Mount Vernon—slaves, indentured servants, overseers—dropped their work to help in the intensive fish harvest.  Washington also allowed the poor in the neighborhood to fish form his shoreline for free if they first obtained permission fro an overseer.  Of all Washington’s commercial ventures, his fisheries remained the most consistently profitable. . . In 1772 one and a half million herring were hauled ashore to be salted and barreled for export (Pioneer Farmer, pg. 47-49).”  One and a half million fish caught in six weeks from his front lawn?  That certainly is a WHALE OF A TALE! 

Although George Washington never heard Judy Garland’s famous rendition, the rainbow, nevertheless, figured largely in one of his famous portraits.  The Lansdowne full-length artwork is by Gilbert Stuart.  Stuart was the premier American portrait painter of his time.  He expected to make a fortune off of Washington’s depictions.  I do not know how much the artist made off of his visual renderings of our first President, but the British gentleman who inherited the Lansdowne Portrait wanted to sell it to the United States for 20 million in 2001!  Through the generous donation of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation (which also generously supports the George Washington Oklahoma Ambassador Program) the country now is the proud owner of the work of art.  It resides in the National Portrait Gallery. 

“The painting was made in 1796 which was the last year of Washington’s presidency.  It was to be grand but not kingly—a representative of democracy.”  What?  Not just a portrait but a representative of democracy?  I have seen so many copies of the artwork that I never REALLY studied it.  Last summer at the George Washington Teacher Institute the educators went on a fieldtrip to the Gallery.  Our guide had us look at the painting for 30 seconds and then turn our backs.  She questioned us about what was on the canvas.  We pretty much got everything wrong.  Once we turned around the portrait seemed to come alive.  There were so many things that we never noticed—symbols that were representative of the new nation and George Washington.  The National Gallery has a wonderful interactive portrait online that teachers and students can use to explore all the elements, but I want to concentrate on just one—the rainbow.  “The advertisement for the first exhibit of the Lansdowne Portrait in 1798 read, ‘He is surrounded with allegorical emblems of his public life in the service of his country, which are highly illustrative of the great and tremendous storms which have frequently prevailed.  These storms have abated, and the appearance of the rainbow is introduced in the background as a sign.’    Rainbows represent hope, and because they are made of white light spilt into parts, it also symbolizes unity in diversity for a new nation.” 

As the George Washington Teaching Ambassador was on vacation in Jackson, Wyoming last week, imagine my surprise as a rainbow appeared in the sky as I entered the town.  It gently reminded me of our first President and how he remains a symbol of optimistic hope and patriotic citizenship to our nation.  “Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life.  The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray (Lord Byron).”  May we all be rainbows like George Washington. 

NOTE:  Almost all information came from the National Portrait Gallery website which is:   http://www.georgewashington.si.edu/portrait/index.html.

June 11, 2009 or June 11, 1773?

The General’s quote for the title of this article shows his avid belief that America’s future was located in the west.   “Washington correctly grasped that western migration would be the central theme of American History for the next century (Ellis, His Excellency).”   Last week I migrated to some of America’s most famous western areas. 

On June 11, 2009 I was crossing Togwotee Pass in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains that leads to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park.  The temperature was 32 degrees and it was snowing!  It looked like a winter wonderland instead of summer!  I could not help but think what Washington would think of snow in June.  I knew in my next Blog I would compare that date with one of his many diary entries in which he gave the weather for a typical warm, humid Virginia day.  As I was perusing the George Washington’s Diaries An Abridgment (Dorothy Twohig, Editor) imagine my surprise when I found his entry for June 11, 1773:

“Cloudy & exceeding Cold Wind fresh from the No. West, & Snowing.”

Wow!  The editor also added the information below in order to confirm his journal account:

“A memorandum in the Fairfax County Order Book for 1772-74 reads: ‘be it remembered that on the eleventh day of June one thousand seven hundred and seventy three It rain’ed Hail’d snow’d and was very cold.’”

So I guess both the General and I know what is like to experience a summer snow! 

 My journey continued through Yellowstone and the Teton National Parks.  Both are famous for their scenery and I was especially moved by all the beautiful waterfalls.  I thought immediately of the General’s vision for the Potomac.  “During his youth Washington had wandered the Potomac to its headwaters and had gone on over the mountains to where other waterways flowed downward to the Ohio River system.  If the rivers were to be made navigable to high points that could be joined by a short wagon road, the trade of the West would be induced to move along the Potomac.  At the fall line, where ocean navigation ceased, all goods would be transshipped from canal boats to larger vessels.   The community at the fall line was Alexandria, Mount Vernon’s near neighbor.  Alexandria would become (as New York was actually to do with the opening of the Erie Canal) the metropolis of the US.  Washington knew locks would be needed to get around the falls (Flexner, Washington The Indispensable Man, p. 196).    When Washington helped establish the Potomac Company for the above said purpose, he actively explored the waterway by canoe with the other directors.  He wrote much in his diary about the Great Falls, the Seneca Falls (rapids) and the Shenandoah Falls.  The General wrote that the Falls are of “sufficient depth for good navigation; and as formidable as I had conceived them to be. . .the principal difficulties lye in rocks which occasion a crooked passage(GW Diaries An Abridgement-August 3, 1785, Dorothy Twohig, Editor)”.  Although the Potomac Project was never the success Washington envisioned, his attempt to economically unite some of the states opened the door to a later meeting—the Constitutional Convention!  As I viewed the torrents of water from the Rocky Mountain snow-melt, I believe Washington would not have been able to build a navigable waterway on those rapids/falls either!  The General would have loved the wild, natural beauty of  Jackson Hole and Yellowstone—just like I did!

Lawton Educators At a GW Workshop

Last Monday was Memorial Day, a day established to remember those who lost their lives in the service of our country. This patriotic holiday reminded me of a recent trip I made to Lawton to do a workshop for teachers and also an email I received from Don Clapsaddle.
Lawton is best known for its connection to Fort Sill, an active Army installation with the field artillery school. General Washington would have enjoyed visiting this military reservation that was staked out on January 8, 1869 by Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. Its first Indian agent was Colonel Albert Gallatin Boone, grandson of Daniel Boone. Daniel Boone was actually with General Braddock (and Washington) during the famous battle in the French and Indian War in which Washington had two horses shot from under him and four bullet holes pierced his clothing (and he still saved the remnants of Braddock’s battered troops). George Washington was a fighter who never gave up during the long Revolutionary War; so he would have appreciated Fort Sill’s most famous guest under “house arrest”, Geronimo. Geronimo is the legendary Apache who fought long and hard to maintain his tribes’ independence. Geronimo died at Fort Sill in 1909 of pneumonia. *
Don Clapsaddle is Chief of Staff of the Department of Oklahoma Military Order of the Purple Heart. The award was first given by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York on August 7, 1782 during the Revolutionary War to recognize distinction for meritorious action. The Purple Heart is currently awarded in the name of the President of the United States to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in action. According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization for combat-wounded veterans, the medal is “the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first award made available to a common soldier (Mount Vernon’s Website).” Mr. Clapsaddle explained to me how he discovered the forgotten ashes of a Veteran of the Vietnam War. His name was Private Warren A. Nicholls. The Private was wounded and paralyzed, and spent his life confined to a wheel chair. He died at age 39. Following his death his ashes, along with parts of his uniform, were placed in a footlocker. The old rusted footlocker was eventually sold for $5. When the contents were discovered, Mr. Clapsaddle was notified and he immediately took action. He, along with a local cemetery, constructed a memorial monument that now contains Warren’s ashes. A Memorial Day program related Nicholls’ story and gave this veteran who “slipped through the cracks”, a proper place of rest. The monument is now among the Oklahoma Hero’s, in the Field of Honor. General Washington would be proud.

*Information about Fort Sill came from : http://sill-www.army.mil/pao/pahist.htm

“All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do - that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.”

-First Lady Michelle Obama

As a female who grew up during the women’s movement, I have always admired ladies in the political arena.  Today, I would like to mention two—one from the past and one current political lady who have been obliged to “fight for the world as it should be.”

Elizabeth Willing Powel was George Washington’s favorite female companion during his presidency (excluding Martha).  Mrs. Samuel (Eliza) Powel belonged to Philadelphia’s leading mercantile family.  She was a strong, intelligent female who was not intimidated by Washington, but actually argued with him about governmental policy.  As the end of his first term approached, Washington desired to retire to Mount Vernon.  He told Eliza that a second term was inconceivable (Ellis 220).  Mrs. Powel knew that his leadership and wisdom were still needed if our fledgling nation was to survive.   She wrote a letter to Washington urging him not to resign but to serve a second term.   “She told him his pleasure as well as his duty lay in laboring ‘for prosperity of the people for whose happiness you are responsible, for to you their happiness is entrusted (Flexner 272).’” She continued, “Be assured that a great Deal of the well earned Popularity you are now in Possession of will be torn from you by the Envious and Malignant should you follow the bent of your Inclinations.   You know human Nature too well not to believe that you have Enemies.   Merit & Virtue, when placed on an Eminence, will as certainly attract Envy as the Magnet does the needle.’  In short, his host of admirers included ambitious men whose admiration barely concealed their latent hatred of his greater greatness.  As long as he retained power they would be afraid to show themselves.   But they were lurking in the background, poised to ravage his reputation and render his retirement less serene than he envisioned. (Ellis 220-221).”  Washington served a second term.

Sandy Garrett is Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Education.  Ms. Garrett is the only woman in our state’s history elected to that office.  She is now serving in her FIFTH consecutive elected term (OSDE Website).  Fifteen years ago Superintendent Garrett stated, “There are rights and there are wrongs in our society and it is time we got busy teaching our children about them.”  (Surely she was envisioning George Washington as a role model when she made this speech!).  Ms. Garrett has been busy in the last few decades trying to improve education in our society.  “She implemented the mandates of Oklahoma’s landmark Education Reform Act of 1990, the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and the state Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005.  The National Institute for Early Education Research recognized Oklahoma as a national model because of Superintendent Garrett‘s development of Pre-Kindergarten programs throughout the state.  Garrett also initiated the nation’s first statewide school safety hot line which has provided to local officials anonymous reports of suspicious or potentially dangerous activity in schools since 1998 (OSDE Website).”  Recently, while attending the Oklahoma A+ Schools Celebration at the Capitol in Oklahoma City,   Martha Washington (Jan) was photographed with our State Superintendent.

“I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history - knowing that my piece of the American dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me (First Lady Michelle Obama).”   Although many think that politics is still mainly a man’s domain, both Eliza Powel and Sandy Garrett have proved that women have made a positive impact on the blessings of America.

His Excellency George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis

Washington the Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner

http://sde.state.ok.us/Services/SG/default.html

Although everyone wants to go to Mount Vernon to see our first President’s home, most do not realize people can visit some of Washington’s innovative business enterprises.  Just a short jaunt from the mansion (Approx. 3 miles) is the reproduction of the General’s Gristmill and distillery which are both built on the original foundations.    As you approach the Gristmill you will see a huge waterwheel—just like the one that was attached to Sleeping Beauty’s (aka Briar Rose) cottage in Disney’s film version of the fairy tale.   As a young girl I dreamed of having that perfect little cozy lodge in the forest—little did I know that no one could have slept near one of those waterwheels.  It is LOUD!  I think it is also a MUST SEE at Mount Vernon. 

One of the earliest U.S. patents was for Oliver Evans’ mechanized Gristmill.  President Washington signed this third U.S. patent and was so impressed with the design, he immediately requested that one be built at Mount Vernon.  The mill is literally “a multi-storied machine with a building around it” (Steve Bashore).  The miller weighs the wheat or corn and then small, conveyor-type buckets carry it upstairs where it is cleaned in large bins.  The grain comes back downstairs from the hoppers through channels leading to the mill stones which grind the grain.  Another conveyor moves the flour/meal up to the top floor and, since the grinding makes it hot, it is cooled by a giant comb-like instrument which also moves it to a center chute that lets the finished product fall into barrels.   These casks were shipped out from Washington’s wharf along the Potomac River.  The whole entire system is run by the waterwheel.  With its many different functions and the need for the teeth in the gears to be precisely calculated, it is fascinating to watch both wheat and corn go through this whole process simultaneously!  Washington’s Gristmill is the only mill in the U.S. with an operating Oliver Evans system and, if you happen to be there on the first weekend of any month, you can see it in operation.  Although Sleeping Beauty could never have really slept in such a mill, I think both tourists and Prince Charming would be fascinated with this early Industrial Revolution machine.                                                                                            P.S.  If by any chance Steve Bashore is there, you will be in for a treat because I think he is the world’s greatest expert on the Oliver Evans’ Mill!                       NOTE:  Next door to the Gristmill is Washington’s distillery.  The General owned the largest whiskey distillery in American which produced nearly 11,000 gallons of rye whiskey in 1799.

Recently Reagan (one of my favorite former students and an avid reader of my Blog) sent me a picture from Roosa Elementary, a school where I visited and presented earlier this year. The photograph showed Reagan with George Washington!  Every year this school’s students have a Living Museum.  Each pupil selects a famous person from the past, researches the historical individual, and then becomes that personality.  Students and parents from across the district are invited to visit the museum.  Each Roosa re-enactor is frozen like a statue on an “upside-down” desk which has ribbons swaging from leg to leg to simulate velour-roped stanchions.  One of the legs has a bright colored dot (one of those sticky kinds) that the observer is supposed to “push” for the animation to begin action.  As the spectator presses the button, the historical visage comes to life to inform the viewer about his or her life and accomplishments.  After recounting their tale, the character returns to his/her motionless position.  Reagan said the George Washington (Corey Brown from Mrs. Burn’s third grade class) was darling (I bet the General would have blushed at that compliment!)!

This creative learning activity made me remember (with longing) the time I spent in the Donald W. Reynolds Educational Center at Mount Vernon.  ATTENTION EVERYONE:   If you are planning to go to Mount Vernon (close to D.C.) this summer do NOT just run through George Washington’s house (which is a MUST SEE).  You NEED to the experience the dynamic educational museum!  It is ENGROSSING, RIVETING, AND GRIPPING!  I have been in the Center at least a dozen times in the past year and I find something new every time!  This is a family-oriented exhibit that is very “hands on” in its approach—made especially for active boys!  Although there are MANY cool areas, my favorites include:

1.                           The Revolutionary War Theater where it snows (a lot) on the audience during the Valley Forge winter—I am still trying to figure at how it disappears when it lands on my hands! 

2.                           The three countenances of Washington that look so real I always think he is going to start talking to me.

3.                           Washington’s false teeth (NOT WOODEN) and his toothbrush-which always make me hesitate to eat candy!

Anyone would love to spend a day (or NIGHT) in this museum!

NOTE:  For the next several weeks I am going to be writing about different venues to see and do during your visit at Mount Vernon.  Airfares are cheap, so everyone load up and head to our First President’s home!

George Washington frequently used the Biblical reference “under the shade of my vine and fig tree” when referring to his beloved Mount Vernon. Anyone who has been privileged to visit our first president’s home could understand why he would enjoy sitting on his 94 feet piazza on a beautiful spring day. Recently, it was also a gorgeous spring day in eastern Oklahoma as I headed to Rhoades Elementary in Broken Arrow. I was wishing I could be outside under any “vine and fig tree” instead of being in classrooms all day long . . . and then it hit me! I will take the second graders outside! So during each period the classes eagerly learned about George Washington’s house and farms—from the crops to the cupola and the treading barn to the tunnel. The students were amazed with rustication. Although the General’s house looks like it is made of stone, it is really wood. Washington had the boards cut to look like stone blocks and then “dashing, as long as any will stick, the Sand upon a coat of thick paint” (Washington’s words). Once the sand and paint dried the boards appeared to be stone. All the second graders (and I) decided they wanted the job of throwing the sand! After the pupils’ heads were full of learning, we took buckets of sidewalk chalk outside. Each group of students illustrated one of Washington’s animals—from his Hog Island Sheep to “Royal Gift” (the very cantankerous donkey sent as a present by the King of Spain). The students had a great time creating their chalk masterpieces. And me? I, of course, was seated under the shade of a vine and fig tree!

The George Washington Teaching Ambassador was scheduled to spend the day at the Oklahoma Christian School, so I left my house at about the same time George Washington started making his rounds on the farms (the General got up at 4:00—I slept late—until 4:30!). It was a beautiful day as I ventured into the school’s parking lot, wondering where to stop and unload my equipment. Suddenly I noticed a giant “blow-up” Uncle Sam beckoning me with his arm to come forward (O.K., so maybe it was the “wind sweeping down the plain” that was making his arm move). As I looked closer at that American icon, I noticed a large sign that said, “Welcome Jan McClaren.” What a delightful salutation! The BEST parking spot had an American flag flying, reserving the space for me. Janet Bass, the school’s Media Specialist, came running out to greet me.

As I entered her library, I was amazed to see the entire domain was decorated in red, white, and blue, dozens of books about Washington were displayed, tables were covered with crisp, white tablecloths, and beautiful budding red flowers adorned each one. After explaining Washington’s innovative farming techniques to the youngest pupils, singing, “General Washington had a Farm in Ol’ Vir-gin-i-a” to the tune of Old MacDonald had a Farm, and discussing the first President’s leadership qualities with the older students, the school provided a wonderful faculty luncheon in my honor. In the afternoon, winners of a reading contest were invited to a Tea with “Martha Washington” (me). The students bowed and curtsied as they entered the room. The children (and Martha) enjoyed tea and biscuits while listening to some of Washington’s favorite music. As I repacked my car and backed out of the parking space, I noticed that the wind must have changed for Uncle Sam was now waving good-bye to a tired, but happy, George Washington Ambassador as she sailed away to her next Oklahoma destination.