Back to Halifax

My husband, son, and I had the opportunity Saturday to visit Historic Halifax.  We were able to go inside a few of the buildings that my son and I had only seen the outside of before.  I took quite a few pictures.  And I imposed upon my son to take one of me.

The head hole is kid sized and the height is kid sized as well.  My son didn't just take the one picture; he took the whole process of my husband trying to squat down and get his large head in the hole of the man figure.  I was afraid we might not be able to get him back out.  I won't put all those pictures on the blog, but I can assure you I laughed and laughed when I saw them.

We spent some time touring the Owens House, c. 1760 and moved to current location before 1807.

 

 

Halifax was an important colonial port on the Roanoke River which provided livelihoods for merchants such as George Owens, who lived there.  The house is furnished with many antiques and some reproductions.  In the dining room is a lovely (walnut?) china cabinet. 

 

On the table is a striking epergne, and, for some reason quite unbeknownst to me, my husband was enthralled with the fragile dishes with the lattice edges. 

 

Under the table, is a reproduction floor covering.  It was made by first shellacking burlap, then painting it.  I thought that was clever.

 


  On the side table are two Delft vases and a Chinese tea box (under an English mirror).

 



The merchant's office has a maple desk.

 

In one corner are items which represent the kinds of goods a merchant of Halifax might have dealt in, such as furs, cider, cypress roofing shingles, and barrels of corn.

 

I love to see the wood grain of antique furniture pieces such as this round stand at the bottom of the stairs.

 

Our guide pointed out how difficult it would have been to climb the steep stairs in a long skirt with a child in one hand and a candle in the other.

Upstairs are the bedrooms.  A cornhusk mattress tops the rope bed that is the main piece of furniture in the children's bedroom.

 

 

I was taken with the antique embroidered picture in the hallway.

I was also fascinated with the pattern on this reproduction quilt.  It is old and worn enough for the cotton to show through but still quite an impressive sight.

 

Here is a bed warmer by an upstairs fireplace.

 

Here is a table and chair in the bedroom where the lady of the house might have rested and planned her schedule.

 

Even though this house is an example of prosperity in its day, I can't help thinking how our modern conveniences make life so much more comfortable.

 

(I have other pictures from our time in Historic Halifax which I will post on another day.)