Dolly Madison and the drop leaf table
A while back, I got a call from the director of Belle Grove Plantation, a Nat’l Trust property.
http://www.bellegrove.org/about.html
They had recently completed a major renovation of several rooms in the mansion, and as a part of the project, had a bigwig from a prestigious DC gallery to come and oversee the hanging of the four portraits that hang in the parlor. A month or so after their grand opening, wherein the descendents of the mansions 18th century owner were invited for a family reunion, the caretaker arrived one morning to discover that the Charles Peale Polk portrait of Dolly Madison, the original owner’s sister, had fallen off the wall. Said portrait is not small, about 4’x5′, and is one of four that were part of the original furnishings of the house, built in 1797.
Miraculously, the canvas was not harmed at all, but its frame in falling, had two of its corner joints broken. And the freshly painted chair railing below the painting had sustained a pretty good gash, as well as the edge of the top of a cherry drop leaf table standing against the wall below the painting.
I repaired the frame and the chair rail damage in situ, and brought the table back to the shop for repair here. It was fun while the table was here telling shop visitors what happened: “Dolly Madison fell on it and broke it.”
Ray
Replies
Ray,
Well now, I wasn't aware that Dolly was phat.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
That is quite a prestigious assignment. Congratulations.
Frosty
"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
Frosty,
I'd done conservation work for Belle Grove before. Always nice when they come back for more. The Madisons and I go way back, but taking her out of the frame was the first time I laid a hand on Dolly, I swear ;-) I reproduced James M's dining chair for the Greensboro Historical Museum (NC) years ago. Now have one of those copies on loan at Madison's home, Montpelier, in Orange Cty, VA, and am hoping for a commission to build a set of 12 to replace those that were there originally.
Ray
How did you fix the table? I would think matching the color of the old wood and finish would be very difficult. I mean, you are the guy to do it, but I'm just really curious what was involved.
Sam,
I laid a patch in the top. Old wood, matching nearly as possible in grain direction, figure, and color. Carve an excavation small as possible, glue patch in, shave down flush. Stain as needed, build up finish, rub out.
Ray
Good to see work coming in.. especially of such high quality. Did Dolly exclaim when she fell.. I've fallen and I can't get up? Well... I suppose you weren't there when she fell and probably a good thing. :>)
Regards...
Sarge..
Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia
Sarge,
Dolly was a proper Southern lady. I'm sure if anything she only said, "Oh! Dear me."
A friend once said in admiration of a prim and proper lady, "She wouldn't say 'Sh-t', if her mouth was full of it."
Ray
Yes.. she indeed was Ray. And left a legacy that goes far beyond sewing and patriotism. Why.. I'm chewing on a Dolly Madison snake cake at this very moment and washing it down with a R C Cola. Don't get no better than that unless you pour a bag of salted peanuts in the top of your Coca-Cola in a 6 oz. bottle. Then you got a full meal for sure. :>)
Regards from the junk-yard dog...
Sarge..
Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia
Hi Sarge,
I thought in GA, that was a "Co'-cola" ;-)
Snake cakes must be a local delicacy. Here in VA, we mostly chop their heads off with a garden hoe, and throw 'em over the fence. haha
Are you familiar with the humor of Lewis Grizzard? Heard him on a cd do a riff on a couple from Ohio who met up with a GA highway patrolman. Hilarious commentary on dialects. "Lemme see yo' drib'm lidens.".... "What'd he say?"
Speaking of RC Cola, I bet you remember brother Dave Gardner. "You gonna be here, when John gets in?" "Man, if YOU ain't John, I'm GONE!"
Have a good weekend,
Ray
I am familiar with Brother Dave. Knew Lewis through Lanny F. (who is now deceased also) and read probably every daily column in the AJC and book he wrote. Ole "Catfish" (his dog) is gone now also. Catfish was mentioned about as much as a "Great American" who was a freind of Lewis's.
About everyone in Georgia was a freind of Lewis's actually. He got around as I used to run into him often at a BBQ joint down by Atlanta Federal Pen when they let me out for recess. Just kidding on that last part. ha.. ha...
Regards to you and yours and have a good week-end Ray...Sarge..
Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia
Sarge,
"down by Atlanta Federal Pen when they let me out for recess."
Tell it all, brother. Tell it all. haha
Ray
Sarge,
"down by Atlanta Federal Pen when they let me out for recess."
Tell it all, brother. Tell it all. haha
Ray.....
Well... how was I supposed to know making moonshine was against the law? I don't get out much. ha.. ha...
That was Harold's BBQ Ray.. been around for decades down by the Pen. The parking lot was packed every week-day as people drove over from businesses in down-town Atlanta to eat there. One of Lewis's favorites along with Sprayberry's down in Newnan.
There are and have been some real characters in Atlanta in the past to include Lewis.. Ludlow Porch (local AM radio shows.. Ted Turner.. Lester Maddox (who was governor and rode bicycles sitting on them backwards around Grant Field at Ga. Tech football games chasing the Rambling Wreck car full of cheer-leaders) and who could possibly forget Hosea Williams. Hosea had been stopped by the police so many times before his departure from earth for DUI an accountant couldn't keep count. Was never convicted on any count as far as I know and not even charged in most.
He was found with his Cadillac once straddling a side-walk he leaped over.. car still running.. in gear and not moving as it had left the road and run into a thick row of hedge bushes in someone's yard. Hosea was sleeping behind the wheel when the police got there. When ask what he was doing his reply was... I was a little sleepy so I just pulled up here on the side-walk to catch a little nap. ha.. ha... haha
Charged on that one with an alcohol count 3 times over the limit but.. as always someone down at City Hall tore up the charges and Hosea just kept on being Hosea until his death a few years back now. Many more stories but I suppose this a WW forum. I'm waiting on finish to cure so.. I suppose I'm in a story telling mood with nothing I can do but be patient until it does.
Regards...
Sarge..
Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia
Edited 8/29/2009 10:15 am ET by SARGEgrinder47
Edited 8/29/2009 10:18 am ET by SARGEgrinder47
Edited 8/29/2009 10:19 am ET by SARGEgrinder47
Don't get no better than that unless you pour a bag of salted peanuts in the top of your Coca-Cola in a 6 oz. bottle. Coca-Cola?
In Texas we used Dr. Pepper. Bottle or a can!
EDIT: I recall boiled peanuts?
Edited 9/3/2009 12:14 am by WillGeorge
I grew up around Atlanta Will.. Atlanta was southern town where Coca-Cola was invented and International H.Q.. So.. didn't matter if you were drinking Dr. Pepper.. Orange Crush.. Red Rock Cola.. Royal Crown.. Pepsi.. etc... when you had a soft drink you had a COKE regardless of actual brand. ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
Boiled peanuts were done at home in a big, black pot. You purchased a pack of roasted.. salted peanuts in a small cellophane bag for a nickel usually made by Planters. You also parched (roasted in oven on a pan with shell intact) peanuts at home.
The winds have shifted.. Atlanta is no longer a southern town and we have to be politically correct now don't we.. or maybe not! There possibly might still be pockets of rebellious hold-outs that could care less if we are politically correct or not... even though I can't thing of one soul that fits that category. Insert 5th Amendment here please.. :>)
Sarge..
Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia
Edited 9/3/2009 9:44 am ET by SARGEgrinder47
Never heard of Red Rock Cola.. !
Must be a southern thang (?) or.... I just got around the block to often. :>)Sarge..
Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia
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