Oklahoma George Washington Wired

 The George Washington Summer Institute applications are now available at the Oklahoma State Department of Education website.  Go to: teachers, social studies and you will be able to download the application.  Make sure to follow the directions EXACTLY on the application.  The institute is held in the summer at Mount Vernon.  If you are selected, you will fly to Washington, D. C., and spend almost a week living on the grounds of George Washington’s beloved Mount Vernon.  The attendees will meet renowned historians such as Joseph Ellis and David McCullough and, perhaps, meet media personalities such as Cokie Roberts.  Martha Washington will probably meet and greet you and David Hildebrand will play melodious melodies on a harpsichord.  You will be wined and dined throughout the event.  The group will have a private tour through the mansion (maybe even venture up into the cupola), the grist mill and the distillery.  Truly the attendees will feel like they have stepped back in time and are guests of our First President and Lady Washington. If you have any questions, please contact me, Jan McClaren.

On February 4 over 200 students from eight different classes from across northeastern Oklahoma had a “Revolutionary” experience at the University of Tulsa.  As the fifth graders from Hominy’s Horace Mann Elementary, Anderson Schools, Tulsa’s University School, Kendall-Whittier, Mark Twain, Skelly, and Union’s Peters Elementary hurried up the stairs of the University of Tulsa’s Allen Chapman Activity Center the excitement shone in their faces.  All these children were dressed in colonial attire as they were greeted by the Daughters & Sons of the American Revolution.  In the opening ceremonies, Allie Verner from Peters Elementary won first place in the essay contest for her entry, “What Freedom Means to Me.”  As the day progressed the schools rotated to different activities throughout the day.  George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens brought Martha Washington (Mary Wiseman) who was so engaging with the students.  Lyric Theatre from Oklahoma City performed “1776 Interactive” which is an audience-involved musical about the creation of the Declaration of Independence.  The Oklahoma History Center’s Jason Harris and Ben Clark taught the students how to drill like Revolutionary Soldiers.  Ben Franklin (Steve Smith) related some of the famous sage’s advice to the children.  The University of Tulsa’s Law Students debated the American Revolution as the Loyalists and Patriots. The George Washington Teaching Ambassador had the fifth graders singing and dancing about the French and Indian War and the Revolution.  After this whirlwind of Early American experiences the students were each given a large copy of the Declaration of Independence and George Washington Trading Cards. 

This experience was created by a committee that included the Principal of Kendall-Whittier Judy Feary, Dessa Weber of Kendall-Whittier, Kay Leslie from Union Schools, Debby Venable from Wilson, Beth Howard from Mark Twain, and the George Washington Teaching Ambassador.  Revolutionary Day was funded by donations/gifts from the George Washington Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, the President of the Oklahoma Foundation of Excellence Chip Oppenheim, Bob & Ann Kuykendall, the Kendall-Whittier Foundation, the University of Tulsa, the Oklahoma History Center, the D.A.R. & S.A.R., and the Oklahoma Humanities Council.

When I asked some first grade students what they knew about George Washington, one shy girl answered, “He chopped down his Dad’s Cherry Tree.” The ever-eager boy next to her broke into her story with, “and then Washington GOT BUSTED!”  I am sure the venerable Parson Weems would be shocked to see how far his tale has traveled.   

Historians now concur that Parson Weems made up the whole story about the cherry tree incident.  I have to admit when I read the story, “I can’t tell a lie, Pa; you know I can’t tell a lie.  I did cut it with my hatchet . . .Run to my arms you dearest boy, cried his father. . .” it does sound a little phony.  But wait, let’s look a little deeper into this early biographer of Washington.  Mason Locke Weems was born in Maryland in 1759, ordained as an Anglican priest in England, and had a wife and ten children.  “He supported his family by traveling the east coast promoting and selling popular books, preaching in various sanctuaries (including Pohick Church—where Washington often attended) and writing moral essays and biographies of American heroes, including the one he published on George Washington in 1800 (George Washington Diaries, Twohig).”  By 1825 Weems’ life of Washington had gone through forty editions, “and forty more were to appear in due course.  The cherry tree story was eventually incorporated in the popular McGuffey’s Readers which was read by thousands of children (The Man and the Monument, Cunliffe).”

Why did Weems pen this tale?  First, I think he wanted people to know the honesty of Washington.  He was trying to inspire all Americans to strive for that same integrity.  Washington once wrote to Alexander Hamilton, “I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain (what I consider the most enviable of all titles) the character of an honest man (GW to Hamilton, August 28, 1788, transcription, The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799).” In the over 20,000 papers of our first President, it really is hard to find a lie—-maybe just a little more flatterer to a friend than the person deserved.  Although Weems is the man held most responsible for many commonly held myths about George, I believe the author was trying to make the General seem more human by writing these anecdotes. 

I will probably get blasted by the great historians of Washington, but I have just enough romanticism in me to believe that the Cherry Tree Incident might be true.  Why?  George Washington knew Mason Locke Weems.  In March of 1787 the General wrote in his diary:

Saturdy 3d.  The Revd. Mr. Weems, and yg. Doctr. Craik who came here yesterday in the afternoon left this about Noon for Port Tobo (Pg. 313, George Washington’s Diaries An Abridgement, Dorothy Twohig, editor).

Who is to say that Washington did not sit on the Piazza on that beautiful spring day, converse with the two men, and relate a story he remembered fondly from his childhood?  Augustine Washington did not have cherry trees (I am sure that is an added flourish from Weems), but maybe there is a kernel of truth in this oft-told tale.  Who knows, maybe George did GET BUSTED!

The fifth grade classes of Chelsea, Oklahoma visited with the George Washington Ambassador on Wednesday.   The students’ teacher, Mr. Battles, had the small portrait of George Washington (that I had given him last fall) matted and framed and resting on a table easel.  As the students entered the room they gathered around the portrait and enthusiastically discussed our first President.  The school’s principal came in to listen to the presentation about the general.  I explained to her about the large, framed “painting” of Washington that any principal can request for their school.  She was so excited (and so was Mr. Battles) that I am sure the Chelsea “Green Dragons” will soon have a new iconic artwork in their hallways!

The George Washington Ambassador visited Mrs. Brown’s Class at Grissom Elementary this week.  This is a picture of Mrs. Brown, one of her classes, and, of course, the President!

The George Washington Ambassador visited Mrs. Potter’s students at Fisher Elementary.  The class is shown gathered around the portrait of our first President.  Any school that is interested in receiving one of these beautiful paintings needs to contact George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens.  The information is on their website.

Peters Elementary fifth grade students learned about George Washington and his famous teeth.  Three students tried (unsuccessfully) to crack some walnuts like our first President.  Some girls tried to simulate his “dentures.”  It made their mouths look a little distorted, too.  While Washington’s teeth were made of lead, pulled teeth, and animal teeth, the girls just used plastic ones!  All of the students sang and danced to a song about the Revolution, “U. S. of A.” 

      Washington looked forward to his private life under his “vine and fig tree” at Mount Vernon when he retired from the presidency.  Unfortunately, a quiet existence would not be the case.  “He once wrote, ‘I am alone at present… Unless someone pops in, unexpectedly—Mrs. Washington and myself will do what I believe has not been done within the last twenty year by us—that is to set down to dinner by ourselves.’ Washington never knew when he came in from his afternoon inspection of the farms what company would share his table.  Often there were strangers who ‘come as they say, out of respect to me (pg. 714 Freeman).’” 

      As I have traveled throughout Oklahoma I have often thought about Washington’s visitors.  These “strangers” were always extended kindhearted hospitality by the General and Martha.  Oklahomans have them same type of considerate generosity.  Last week I was driving to Hominy in the icebox-like weather the state is experiencing.  I stopped at a store to get a cup, lid, and some hot water for my tea bag.  When I tried to pay at the counter, the cashier smiled and said, “No charge, keep warm, and have a great day!”   It made my day!  It is great to know that, like Washington, Okies are generous, friendly people. 

Hominy students "rock out" about Washington

Anderson students "go nuts" over Washington

The floor was littered with torn wrapping paper and bows at our home Christmas morning (We survived the Christmas Eve blizzard even though the electricity went off for about four hours.).  Everyone had gathered around the Christmas tree to watch my three-year old granddaughter tear into all the presents.  She has asked Santa for a baby doll and baby doll clothes—-and she received both; BUT Addison’s favorite gift was (What else?) an umbrella decorated with scenes of MOUNT VERNON!  The parasol came with markers to “color in” the designs.  Although “keeping in the lines” is not yet one of her aspirations, I can tell she has great artistic potential (spoken like a true grandma!).  The holiday break taught me that Mount Vernon is a favorite for all our family—young and old!