Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold
A Trip on the Marjorie: Cuba and Jamaica, 1900
In March 1900, Bessie Van Wickle took possession of the new 174-foot yacht that her husband Augustus had commissioned two years earlier. It was built by the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works in … Read more.
12-Year-Old Marjorie Van Wickle’s Dress, c1895
This pale green child’s dress was worn by Marjorie Van Wickle when she was 12 years old. The dress was made by B. Altman Co., New York. It has a high-waisted lined bodice with a … Read more.
Coming Attractions
May is often a time for celebrations. From weddings to graduations to Memorial Day parties, May can feel like a whirlwind. In the gardens, May begins to settle down by mid-month. Tulips kick off the … Read more.
Trees and Tulips
Spring is a riot for the senses. The birds and toads are singing, the trees are blooming, and the gardens are bursting out of their winter rest. I finally feel like my co-workers and I … Read more.
Halley’s Comet, 1910
On May 26, 1910, Estelle Clements saw Halley’s Comet; she wrote in her diary, “Fine sight of comet in p.m.” It was an historic occasion to which she gave short shrift, going on to write … Read more.
Exuberant April!
Daffodils are here and they were worth the (long!) wait. The grand view through the Bosquet is really stunning right now. In this big beautiful sea of daffodils there are numerous varieties. Over the past … Read more.
Hope!
Considering the weather we have endured the past two weeks, I would say my previous post was overconfident. Spring was not here yet. I was feeling hopeful and buoyed by the sunshine. It was naive … Read more.
It’s finally spring
Could it be? Is spring finally here at long last? Yes! In the past week I have seen honey bees gathering food from spring flowers – I have seen spring flowers! Iris, primrose, daffodils, snowdrops, … Read more.
Accident on the Road to Ravenna
In the spring of 1910 Bessie and William McKee were in Italy with their daughters Marjorie and Augustine. The family had traveled on the R.M.S. Carmania from New York to Naples, where they were met … Read more.
Teasing of Spring
Snow. Again. Though I was born and raised in Rhode Island, I still find March to be a total heart breaker. February teased with beautiful sunny days. Every where I looked I could see the … Read more.