Colonial Williamsburg 1936

[Music] la like turning pages of an old album the doors of the College of William and Mary are open carrying us into the past as we look down the Duke of gla street toward the colonial Capital nearly a mile distant before we visit this restored city of Williamsburg named in honor of King William III of England we stroll upon the campus of the second oldest college in America in front of us we see the original academic building named in honor of Sir Christopher Ren who designed it in the 17th century in This Old House on the campus lived the college President the bordon building the first school for Indians in America to harmonize with the older buildings Colonial architecture has been adapted to the new dormitories and Halls along the first block of Duke of gler Street the main thoroughfare of Williamsburg commercial buildings in colonial style have been erected some with brick Salvage from old demolished structures to give a pleasing appearance of age in restoring Williamsburg to its original appearance all houses not authentically of that period were demolished those dating from colonial days which were in need of repair were restored and many important structures which had disappeared entirely were re-erected the th Williamsburg today is the only city in America that appears as it did when England ruled in Virginia behind this front is one of the finest little theaters in the world this might be an Old Colonial Mansion but see what it really is a chain grocery shop even the signs are in keeping with the restored City not all the shops are in the business area some are located in the residential district and housed in small structures harmonizing with the surroundings the original Apothecary of Dr Blair is preserved as a museum the modern fire department occupies a reconstructed [Music] building the modest but up today courthouse on one side is a strong modern jail on the other is the public library across the square is the attractive Old Courthouse now used as an archive nearby is the original Powder Magazine that figured so prominently in the revolution when Governor John Murray the Earl of Dunmore had the contents removed an act that precipitated the outbreak of the revolution in Virginia root Paris Church the principal place of worship and claimed to be the oldest Episcopal Church in America was erected in 1710 to replace an earlier church that became inadequate when the seat of England's colonial government was moved from Jamestown to Williamsburg among the old buildings which still stand is the with house home of the first professor of law in America across the street is the former residence of St George Tucker who succeeded Professor wi at William and Mary in this little house lived William leing ston behind the white fence is the site where in 1716 he erected the first theater in the new world in the process of turning back the pages of History to Colonial days 458 structures were demolished and all evidence of Modern Life removed in addition Gardens of that early era were laid out and planted precisely as they had been at that time when this was was accomplished Williamsburg once again began to assume the aspect it had as capital of the Virginia colony the three most important structures were completely re-erected as The Originals at various times had been destroyed by fire one is the Raley Tavern the present building is an exact reproduction of the tavern which stood on this site named in honor of Sir Walter Raley the man who sponsored the first attempt to colonize Virginia it was the outstanding hostelry of its day with an atmosphere of dignity and elegance it compared favorably in all but size to fine hotels of America today Rondevu of leading people patronized by the governor and other leaders of the colonies and visited by important persons from England it was the center of activities and in it were held many balls and other billion social functions which made it popular and widely known the colonial Capital the second of the three important restored buildings stands at the end of Duke of gler Street in a 17th century coach are carried the guides who are employed to conduct visitors through the public building these guides all of whom are women are called hostesses and in harmony with their surroundings are dressed in style reminiscent of colonial days after the seat of government had been moved in 1699 from Jamestown to Williamsburg the erection of the beautiful Capital was started and it was formally opened 6 years later the the first structure was destroyed by a disastrous fire in 1747 and had to be rebuilt the second was also burned in it until 1779 met the Assembly of Virginia and here were enacted some of the outstanding events of American History the Union Jack still fly as a bite that so many times witnessed the acts and the results of speeches which changed the course of history in the right wing Patrick Henry made his impassion plea for the repeal of the Stamp Act and here were adopted the resolutions which called upon the Continental Congress at Philadelphia to declare the colonies free and independent of England the replica of the historic building now stands as a silent Monument to its glorious past the most important reconstructed building is the governor's Palace it stands at the head of the palace green which is about halfway along the Duke of gler beach in colonial days this beautiful green 200 ft wide never failed to evoke favorable comment the palace residence of the governors was the largest and most luxuriously furnished building in America more than 15,000 equivalent to five times that amount today was appropriated and spent upon its construction and repair in making the estate the most magnificent in the colonies many thousands of pounds from private sources were also spent as well as the revenue from a two Shilling tax on every hugs head of tobacco exported the social life at the palace was in keeping with the Grandeur of the estate and it was claimed to have been unequaled in America and surpassed in England only by the Royal [Music] Court visitors are conducted through the palace and ouses by the hostesses the kitchen court is a particular place of interest here is the old [Music] well and right next to it is the salt house from the kitchen Court a path leads down through the vegetable garden to the fish pond an artificial Lake entirely within the palace enclosure we can perhaps better understand the importance of the colony of Virginia when we know that it comprised in territory what are today eight states Virginia West Virginia Kentucky Ohio Indiana Michigan Wisconsin and Illinois an area exceeding 355,000 Square mil or more than the present combined area of the British Isles France Belgium Switzerland and Austria the top of the mound over the old Ice House affords a splendid point from which to view the rear of the gardens and the palace the landscape aspect of the gardens are faithful reproduction of The Originals and we may wander through them at our Leisure and admire the artistic designs of those who first laid them out the box garden adjoins the Revolutionary burial ground where 158 soldiers who died while the palace was being used as a hospital are buried stately tree box add dignity and age to the presid grounds as they did to those of earlier days while Williamsburg was the seat of the Virginia government the palace served as residents for nine Governors seven English and two American Governor Spotswood was the first English Governor to occupy the Mansion when it was completed in 1710 John Murray Earl of dunore the last Patrick Henry was the first American Governor Thomas Jefferson thei resided in it until the seat of governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia was moved to Richmond in 1779 2 years later during the Yorktown campaign and while it was being used at the hospital the palace was destroyed by fire the idea of restoring Colonial Williamsburg originated with one man and was made possible through the generosity of another who defined it as an Endeavor to restore accurately and to preserve for all time an important city of America's Colonial period