Greenhow Store, Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

The Greenhow Store in Colonial Williamsburg offers a variety of colonial items similar to those sold by Mr. Greenhow in the 18th century including wrought iron, willow baskets, fabrics, tinware, and porcelain. 

Greenhow Tomb, Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, Virginia

This unusual tomb belongs to John Greenhow, a local merchant, and is located in the Bruton Parish Church yard.  We thought not only the shape unusual but the extensive inscription. Click here for photos related to Greenhow and here for Bruton Parish photos.

Macaroni Prints At The Greenhow Store, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

We went through the Greenhow store in Colonial Williamsburg when family visited recently and saw these "Macaroni" prints.  To be a macaroni was an insult which is why and how the term is used in the song "Yankee Doodle."

One website uses this quote from the book Georgiana by Amanda Foreman to explain the term, as follows:

‘The term ‘macaroni’ was coined to describe the fashionable young fops of the 1770s. The term probably originated in the 1760s when members of the short lived Macaroni club brought attention to themselves by their prediliction for all things foreign, especially food. Macaronis were much criticised in the press. The Oxford Magazine complained: “There is indeed a kind of animal, neither male, nor female, a thing of neuter gender, lately started up among us. It is called a Macaroni. It talks without meaning, it smiles without pleasure, it eats without appetite, it rides without exercise, it wenches without passion.”‘

There seems to a macaroni print available many members of society.

The Hitching Post At Greenhow Store, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

In the waning hours of the day, the sun casts long shadows and calm and quiet begin to settle on the bustling colonial capital of Virginia.  The barrels and crates used to hold goods for shipping and storage line the stairs and the wooden bucket that offers the carriage horses a cool drink between their appointed rounds sits idly under a tree near the unoccupied hitching post

In a rare moment, we were able to photograph the Greenhow Store on Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg without horse nor human with which to contend.

Shoemaker Shop and Greenhow Tenement, Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

The Shoemaker's shop, next to the Greenhow Tenement, is working through it wood pile trying to stay warm during the winter season. The exhibits in Colonial Williamsburg create authentic conditions and use wood fires (along with modern heat and air conditioning) in the shops. 

Greenhow's Store, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Greenhow's, one of the small shops in Colonial Williamsburg, offers a variety of items for sale for every member of the family.

Greenhow Store Interior, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

 



Colonial Williamsburg offers a variety of colonial fare for purchase in its stores. The Greenhow store offers toys, pewter, and more.

Living In Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

Colonial Williamsburg has hundreds of restored or reconstructed buildings on its 301 acre site. The sites are interpretted by costumed employees, like the one in the first photo. The second photo shows the house from which she exited.  Employees are often given the chance to rent the homes in the historic district that are not used for public exhibition.  This lady walked from this home, around the corner to the Greenhow Store, and right to work.

Red Delicious Decor, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This Christmas decoration over the door of the Greenhow store in Colonial Williamsburg looks good enough to eat.

Christmas Decorations at Greenhow Store, Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

Each year Colonial Williamsburg decorates a number of the historic buildings in traditional colonial manner as part of its Christmas celebration which is officially started with the "Grand Illumination" on December 5.

We will post several of the decorations in the coming weeks.

Devil In The Details, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

 

 

Recreating and preserving history is a monumental task. Colonial Williamsburg does so to a grand degree even down to the window treatments on the Greenhow Tenement.

The Auction, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

In a time without ebay and other internet auction sites, auctions were open air events featuring a fast-talking, charismatic front man who sold goods to the general public. This auctioneer is affable, charismatic, and a wonderful showman who gathered quite a crowd as he sold items from Greenhow's store on the commons in the shadow of the courthouse in Colonial Williamsburg.

Greenhow Store, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

 

 

The shops in Colonial Williamsburg display colorful signs to catch the attention of passersby.

Colonial Girl With Odd Leggings, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

 

This girl happily played outside the Greenhow Store on Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg. The locals were quite confused by the odd leggings and shoes she wore.

Leather In Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

In colonial times, without synthetics, everything was made of natural materials which were readily available. As the photos show, round flasks, powder shot flasks, leather bottles (above) and fire buckets (below) were just some of the items made from leather for everyday use. Leather from different animals was selected for use depending on the item to be made and how and where it would be used. Click here for more information. These photos are from the Greenhow store in Colonial Williamsburg.