Archive for February, 2008
President Lincoln’s Cottage Is Opening to the Public, Sure Wasn’t Cheap
There’s a new house museum on the block. If by “block” I mean “east coast.”
It’s Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home, the home where President Lincoln vacationed for a total of about 13 months during his presidency.
(Thanks for the slideshow and heads up, New York Times)
The house is about three miles north of downtown D.C., and Lincoln often commuted during his stay.
Here’s what’s weird–nobody can confirm if Lincoln actually stayed there. In fact, he could have stayed down the street, according to the NYT article.
Also strange–those preserving the home did not exactly recreate the home. It’s restored, yet sparse. The little that is there is not an attempt to recreate the home as Lincoln would have had it. This is unusual.
Oh, and by the way–the project cost $15 million, including a visitor’s center in a nearby structure.
Note to those of you playing along at home: that is a lot of money.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Let’s pretend that the pending restoration budget for the Wren’s Nest $210,000 (it very well could be). That is not $15 million. No friends, it is just shy of 1.5% of $15 million.
Granted, they more or less started from scratch and, I’m sure, left no stone unturned. Obviously, we do not have that much work to do. But oh my.
Luckily, the good people at the Lincoln Cottage have put their Preservation Journal online so you may follow their work.
Their website gives also plenty of information about the cottage and grounds, plus they’ve maintained an impressive blog that I will thoroughly enjoy reading tomorrow. Goodness.
Categories: Big Money No Whammies, Historic Preservation, Really?, Trail Blazin' |
The Wren’s Nest’s Offer to Wrens
Though its been up a little while, I just stumbled upon the AJC’s list of unusual Georgia names, by category.
This is the greatest idea ever.
Now we know that there are 13 Wachovias wandering around Georgia, perhaps playing with their friend “Suave”. Four parents know what it’s like to yell at a toddler named “Senator”, and two children named Capers (plural!) get annoyed when you confuse them with their three friends named Caper.
But best of all?
There are 26 people in Georgia named Wren!
Thus, we would like to officially invite each and every Wren to take advantage of his/her newly implemented Lifetime Membership to the Wren’s Nest.
Come on down! We’ll be checking IDs.
Categories: Birds of a feather, Marketing Tricks |
Installing Outdoor Lighting for the Wren’s Nest
We’re having some electrical work done today at the Wren’s Nest.
(I love that tagline. What will their prices do–befuddle you? charm you? make you go “eh”?)
Frankly, it’s a little terrifying.
After a few situations with folks sleeping on our porch and tearing off our historically inaccurate window screens, we decided to get lights installed. Turns out it’s not so much of a change as it is an upgrade.
A long time ago, we had working lights that both lit up the house at night and worked as motion sensors.
We’re basically replacing the broken lights in the spots where they already were, plus getting rid of the wires by going underground.
Problem is, our electricians are using this very, very serious looking machine.
Yikes!
And they have to go under this very, very important walkway:
I mentioned repeatedly that I’d have a heart attack if anything happened to those stones, so they’re carefully digging a few up and placing them aside. So far I think they know what they’re doing.
It’s important to mention that this decision comes after a bit of homework. Still, there are some competing factors that affect who we hire to do the work:
- We’d like someone who has significant experience with National Historic Register sites
- We’d like someone who is from the neighborhood.
- We’d like someone who is cheap.
For structural changes to the actual house, of course #1 is really our only option. But for something like this #1 isn’t totally convenient. Plus, it’s a good opportunity to support small businesses in West End.
No complaints so far, but when there’s only verbal recommendations for reference, it’s kind of nerve-wracking.
That said, I’m sure they’ll do a great job. After all, I’ll be watching (uncomfortably) closely.
Categories: Technological Advances, West End, What Would JCH Do? |
Song of the South: History and Premier
Wade Sampson is apparently helping research the definitive history of Song of the South, the Disney film based on the Uncle Remus tales.
That article is due out this summer, but in the meantime, check out Mr. Sampson’s article on the premier of the film, published today. It’s got a lot of detail in there I’d never seen, plus reviews of the film upon its opening.
It even mentions our scary “diorama” of Uncle Remus and the little boy.
Guh!
Related: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
Categories: Atlanta, Song of the South, Uncle Remus |
Beltline Funding Falls Through, Buckhead Library May Be Demolished
So far it’s been a dark day for Atlanta preservation and development.
Literally. This is what it looked like on my way to work this morning.
Funding for the Beltline, Atlanta’s proposed loop of transit, trails, and parks, has fallen through.
One man legal show John Woodham contested the funding mechanism for the Beltline, and the Georgia Supreme Court was like, “Dude, he’s kinda right.”
Problem is, the funding mechanism–the TAD–has become an important revitalization tool for the city of Atlanta. Things like Atlantic Station wouldn’t exist without it.
Either way, it’s by no means clear how this will affect the stretch of the Beltline (supposedly) already under construction near the Wren’s Nest. Look to Fresh Loaf for answers throughout the day.
Next up–Ben Carter, the Streets of Buckhead developer, wants to demolish the Buckhead library.
The Streets of Buckhead is this huge mixed use project going up across town. The developers tore down a few city blocks to create Atlanta’s answer to Rodeo Drive.
The library in question is right in the middle of their development. According to a few folks who know more than I do, it also happens to be one of the most important buildings in Atlanta built during my lifetime.
I can’t say I’m surprised, but you’d figure that we’d have learned from our mistakes by now. I wonder how many more buildings we’ll lose before we realize that historic structures are important culturally and economically.
Update: Some save the library! people have created a blog. Go team!
Related: Place in Peril 2008, Beltline Cleanup, Atlanta Preservation Center, Atlanta Time Machine
Categories: Atlanta, Cruel Games, Good Questions, Historic Preservation, The Beltline, Trail Blazin' |
Savannah is the only thing more fun than the Wren’s Nest
While some people find Savannah delightful for all its neat public squares, or its prime riverfront location, or all the ghost-lore that accompanies just about everything, I find it so engaging because it’s where Joel Chandler Harris met his wife, Esther LaRose.
Stop snickering.
(Not here, but let’s pretend.)
Lain and I traveled to Savannah for the Savannah Book Festival, which was a delight. (If you ask nicely, maybe we’ll even tell you which books we bought.) There were plenty of signs of JCH in Savannah — look:
For example, an actual sign.
Or this familiar fella given an illegal home on the side of a information booth (the old gum is the artist’s flourish, methinks).
Um, this is awkward, but… it’s pronounced “Brer”.
We also happened upon the childhood home of Flannery O’Connor, another member of the Southern Literary Trail family.
This is Flannery’s abode, where they rent rooms out to, you know, live in. What if you were like, “Oh yeah, we can totally watch the game at my place. The entry fee is $5, though.”
She got a sign, too.
Neat thing: the docent at the Flannery O’Connor home hails from beautiful Bloomington, IN and majored in Comparative Literature (?!) at Indiana University. Sound familiar?
The point of this all is: you should go to Savannah. It is so beautiful and truly unlike any other city I’ve ever visited. Here are a few more photos to whet your palate.
Madison square, looking triumphant.
The marsh where we stayed, about 20 miles outside of downtown Savannah. Much thanks to the wonderful Cushing family for letting us trash their marsh house.
Forsyth Square. It’s not even springtime yet, and look how lovely it is!
Sigh. I want to go back.
Categories: Birds of a feather, Historic Preservation, Shirking Responsibility, Southern Literary Trail |
The Wren’s Nest is Big in Japan
Today’s a big day for the Wren’s Nest. Not only are we having outdoor lights installed (I challenge you to control your excitement), but we’re being filmed for a Japanese television show! We’re international superstars!
For those of you just tuning in, The Wren’s Nest is in the United States. That means that these filmmakers traveled at least 300 miles to get here from Japan. Big time!
Right now Lain is giving everyone the expedited tour. In fact, he just delivered the money line about being JCH’s great-great-great grandson (people eat that up, I tell you what).
In the meantime, I’ll be either:
- (a) liveblogging this exciting visit (I hope you appreciate the variety of events we choose to treat in this manner), or
- (b) pretending to live blog but actually posting another blog in the meantime.
Either way, I anticipate your satisfaction.
UPDATES!
The director, in the girls’ bedroom. Allow me to be girly for a moment and say “What a cute jacket!”*. Okay, thanks.
No, this man does not have a camera for a head. He has a head for a head. Derr!
This is the producer/ the person who speaks the best English, and thus our go-to. She’s standing next to one of our Japanese translations of the Brer Rabbit stories and, unlike us, is able to read the cover.
Here’s a close up of the book in question.
Something sure is hilarious.
UPDATE!
Here’s an action shot of Jeri talking to fidgety small children, our storyteller Ms. Woodie in the background, and behind her, the camera crew. Documented from multiple angles! Watch out!
The whole crew, hard at work in the library. While they worked we gallivanted around, as per usual.
And then they gave us gifts! We’re not entirely sure what they all are, but I will tell you this: we liked how they were wrapped.
Wow! What a great day at the Wren’s Nest. Even for Jeri, who began the day by remarking “Americans have too many opinions”. By the end of the day, she barely even cared.
So now we’ve got Japan down, in our list of places to conquer with love. If only we could lock down Atlanta…
*Actually telling the director she had a cute jacket proved to be our Biggest Language Barrier Issue of the Day. Luckily, awkwardness transcends language.
Categories: Fame and Fortune, Technological Advances |
West End Foreclosures Continue, According to CNN Money
Yesterday CNN Money reported the 100 worst hit zip codes for foreclosures in December of last year.
Yikes! 30310, the home of the Wren’s Nest (and yeah, okay, a few other things), was the only representative from Georgia.
It’s not all bad news, however.
For those of you looking for to move inside the Atlanta perimeter, there are some ridiculous deals over here, assuming you’re not afraid of renovating an awesome old house in a cool neighborhood. If Patrick and Steffi can do it, how hard can it be?
In case you’re thinking of moving to West End or Westview, here are a few pluses–
- You can hang out with us anytime. Dinner… literally, anytime.
- There’s a Krispy Kreme right down the street.
I’m sure there are more reasons, but hey–let’s not get greedy.
In truth, West End is a great place to spend most of my time. The neighbors are friendly, the neighborhood is convenient to everywhere, we’ve seen a lot of recent investment, and it’s definitely not as dangerous as the media may try to spin it.
If anything, now is a great time to invest. Ten years from now it will have been a no-brainer. Seriously, check out that Westview website, look at how much the houses cost, and try to pick your jaw up off the floor.
Categories: Atlanta, Bravery, Shameless Promotion, West End |
Gullah Geechee in the Economist and the Super Bowl Pandas
This week’s Economist reports on the ratio of golf courses to Gullah / Geechee preservation along the Georgia and South Carolina coast.
Briefly, Gullah is a culture unique to the lowlands and barrier islands of South Carolina. Geechee is more or less the same thing, but in Georgia. Due to its relative isolation, the Gullah / Geechee culture is the “most” African in North America.
Their way of life is and has been under threat from development for quite some time.
Anyway, one of Joel Chandler Harris‘ characters, Daddy Jack, is Gullah.
He’s significant because his dialect is faithful to the Gullah dialect and completely different from that of Uncle Remus, who is from middle Georgia.
At the time of publication, Uncle Remus and Daddy Jack were seen as refreshing changes of pace from the typical and offensive portrayal of blacks so common in the 19th century. The sensitivity devoted to their dialect is pretty remarkable.
These days though, it’s easy to lump them all together.
For example, yesterday evening, the editorial board of the New York Times likened the offenses of “worst commercial of the Super Bowl” to that of Uncle Remus.
It’s not like Harris drew a couple of pandas and gave them ching chong accents to shill for whatever it is they’re selling. Nor did Disney’s Song of the South do anything to Uncle Remus like Salesgenie did to these pandas.
Am I saying we should be seeing Uncle Remus commercials at the Super Bowl? Well no, of course not.
And I see the guy’s point in mentioning Uncle Remus, kinda. But in my mind, Uncle Remus was exactly what the pandas aren’t. Thus, no need to bring it up.
Categories: Historic Preservation, Song of the South, Uncle Remus, Very Serious Posts With No Funny Business |
100th Anniversary of Joel Chandler Harris’ Death
Some of you may have noticed that this year is the 100th anniversary of Joel Chandler Harris’ death.
Others of you may be wondering who Joel Chandler Harris is. And that’s okay! You’re new here, and we understand.
Either way, here’s our new Joel Chandler Harris commemorative logo:
Any thoughts?
Note: this is not to be confused with our other logo, which is oddly absent from our website, but all over our brochures, stationary, etc:
One of our goals this year is to increase our membership base to 500 different households. We figure that people like round numbers and neat pictures so much that we could find 500 of them who are interested in being a part of the Wren’s Nest.
Since people also like quirky things, we’ll be temporarily amending our membership options too.
See here, where we have all sorts of membership tiers you can join at?
Well this year, we’re not going to have anything to do with it! Instead, we’ll have just two levels–
$100 Joel Chandler Harris Commemorative Membership
and
An entirely different amount of your choosing, should you not be content to give $100. Hey, it’s your world.
The $100 level will come with one children’s book and an audio CD of our storytellers (plus, of course, free admission to the Nest). If you don’t have kids or grandkids, great! You can give them to someone who does, and not have to worry about their next birthday present.
Does this sound cool to you? Would you–theoretically–give one hundred big ones to support the Wren’s Nest? If not, what would entice you to become a member? Seriously, we’re way open to ideas.
Finally, I should mention a few of our sponsors here, since all the time people ask me who designs all our stuff.
For the website, 100 year logo, and day-to-day awesomeness, our friends at Lampe-Farley do our bidding.
For our logo and our brochure, the good people at Huey + Partners graciously volunteered their time and talent.
Categories: Big Money No Whammies, Fundraising, JCH, Marketing Tricks, Nonprofit Management, Ridiculous Demands |