MadSnapper N Beau: Gamble

Showing posts with label Gamble. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Skirts on Fire

The Gamble Mansion was built shortly after the Second Seminole War ended, opening the area for settlement. Robert Gamble, a major during the war, built a sugar plantation on the Little Manatee River, starting in 1844. He was a bachelor, and yet he built a lavish 10-room two-story mansion on the Gamble plantation. Its tabby walls are nearly two feet thick, and it has wide shaded verandas wrapping around three sides of the house. The photos are from one of several visits I have made there, it is 6 miles from our home.

Gamble Mansion was destroyed during the Civil war, and was in ruins, when Dudley Patton, bought the plantation for $3,000 back taxes.

The one above is called the Mansion, this is the Patton House, and the other house on the plantation and was built in 1872. This is the one I would live in, if given the choice.

Above is the in fireplace inside the mansion and below are the biscuits they were cooking when we took the tour.

There were no cabinets, and the cooking pots were stored under the huge kitchen table.

Click to enlarge for details.

The women that were cooking had on long period dresses and when I asked why there was a cloak hanging on the door, I was told it was the 1872 fire extinguisher.

(There was a red one behind the door, like the one in my kitchen now. that was then and this is now)

She explained that during that period of time, fire was the #2 killer of women, with childbirth #1.

Most of the skirts/dresses were cotton. Cotton is very flammable, and even getting close to hot coals, would burst into flames burning quickly. Did you know you can burn cottone balls? that they burn like wood and smell like wood when burning.

No, I have not tried the cotton balls in my closet. YET

In every room that had a fireplace, there were woolen blankets or a woolen cloak, kept close by to smother the flames on the skirts that dragged into the hot coals and burst into flames.

this cloak is the equivalent of the fire blankets I purchased last week, to use in my kitchen in case of fire.

For the history of Gamble Mansion is, HERE the link to its history on Florida Chamber of Commerce.
The label Gamble includes many of my photos on several visits. Twice I went to Civil War Reenactments. The Biscuits were for the soldiers outside in tents. No, they would not let me have one.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Gamble Plantation - Dog Tent

click to enlarge to see button holes

We were told this is called a "dog tent" and they borrowed the idea from Napoleon's army. Enlarge to see the buttons.

Each soldier carried one half folded and in his back pack. It could be buttoned together to form a tent for two or a lean-to for one...

They used sticks to hold it up in the middle, and carried cord to use if there were no sticks.

The trees at Gamble mansion or 40 to 150 years old.

There may be a few that were there during The War Between The States.

X marks our SUV in the parking lot

We love our Spanish moss, hanging in the trees. We do NOT love the pollen falling like rain. I looked down at the camera LED and it was covered in yellow pollen and all over the camera. When we got in the Kia to leave, I had to use the window washer because the windshield was covered in yellow powder.

I never had an allergy in my life until I was just over 60 years old. so what is up with that? now pollen and perfume are my enemy. The month of March is Bob's month to be sick all month with allergies.

These very old oaks are a common sight here

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Gamble - Ladies Wear

Ladies Wear from Civil War Era

Wal-Mart was out of their brand of Fabric Softener and without thinking, I bought Snuggles Softener. I came home and stripped the linens and washed, dried and put back on the bed...

After lunch, I grabbed my Kindle for my daily read/nap and propped up in bed.

Coughing, sniffing and choking, I thought OH NO.. my perfume allergies kicked in and I thought how dumb can you be.. you know to sniff something new before you buy it...

Not thinking AGAIN, I yanked off the offensive sheets and put the extra set on. That night when I laid in bed, I said OH NO...

Bob says What Now?

I said "the reason these sheets are extra is I can't stand the feel of them, that is why I bought the new sheets"...

WHAT? he says... "I can't stand the way they feel on my skin, like laying on cardboard." he rolls over and is instantly asleep while I toss and turn.

Ball gown and Day Dress

The next morning when he said I can't believe you are still complaining about these sheets and I said Just consider me The Princess in The Princess and the Pea.. WHAT? he says

Would you know what I meant? CLICK HERE for the story by Hans Christian Anderson..

I went to Dollar General Sunday and and bought softener with no scent, came home and stripped that bed for the 3rd time to wash the sheets. Guess what? I went to buy Fabric Softener and came home with 7 items and left what I went for sitting on the counter.... Back to the store and you know the rest of the story.

The Civil war ladies would have thought me quite MAD... no washer, no dryer, no FABRIC softener... no car, no Dollar General 4 minutes away... plus I bet the sheets they slept on were like a board, if they even had sheets.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Gamble- Irish Dancer to Kilts and Scouts

Irish Dancers

I found this sentence in the newspaper explaining our Heritage week events, read it out loud. What is wrong with it?

Local historian C____ S____ talks of the life of Liza and William Fogerty in front of the home they built during a walking tour of Fogertyville, one of the events of Heritage Days

Young Irish dancers and men in Kilts

I giggled when I read the sentence and thought how does one build a home while on a walking tour?

A Very Happy Scout explaining what each flag was for

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Heritage Week - The Drummer

While MadlySnapping the beautiful drum, the drummer picked it up and gave me a few rat-a-tat-tats.

I turned and there was the Baynews 9 Photographer aimed at us. OMG.. I backed up quickly and the pretty lady said. Are you from here? I said yes, and she said may we interview you on camera?

I said no thanks, and took a few snaps of the news guy taking a video of the drum.. I am thinking mine is just as good.... I hope MadSnapper doesn't show up snapping pics of the drummer..

Monday, March 2, 2015

Heritage Week - Confederate Army

Sunday, March 1, while reading about Heritage week, I read in the paper the Confederate Army would be camping at Gamble Plantation.

Bob ~~was coerced~~ volunteered to go with me to see The Confederate Army..

His comment was "It's not MY heritage, I am a Yankee..." (please don't remind me, she says)

Walking from the parking lot, the above shot is the mansion from the side, with clouds looming. Photo taken at 10:42 am Below is the front of Gamble Mansion, taken at 10:49..

the weather was perfect, cloud/sun/cloud/sun and 78 degrees.

(Bob JOYFULLY followed me)

"LOOK BOB", there's the army...! !

we found the army TENT and FIRE..

One tent, One Fire means One man army...

My comment "we did have more than a ONE man army" didn't we?

Wait, there's the Bugler, the drummer boy and the lady camp follower.

.We spied a Medic.. which was fine. we only needed one Medic to care for

4 people.

The bugler, the drummer and the medic and lady camp follower.

Just Sayin... again

TO BE CONTINUED....... the next post involves a One DRUM..... sitting by the One tent, with One Fire...

CLICK HERE to see Confederate Army in 2010 same place same ME

Monday, March 22, 2010

Patten House

The second house on the Gamble Plantation was built by Dudley A Patten in 1872.

In 1872, Major George Patten bought the property for delinquent taxes of $3,000 and since the mansion was in disrepair from the war, he built this house for his family. Unable to maintain the mansion, the land was subdivided and sold.

In 1925, the United Daughters of the Confederacy purchased the property and deeded it to the State of Florida. Gamble Mansion and Patten House have been restored to the appearance of their respective years.

this completes my series of post on Gamble Plantation

mystery photo for today is below.

Who can guess what this is?

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Cisterne Cisterna Cista Kiste

cisterne, from Latin cisterna, from cista, box, from Greek kistê, basket

the photo is the ruins of a Cistern, a receptacle or covered reservoir built to catch and store rainwater. Ginny you were close with water running in something, Barbara got it right, she sent me an email with the answer.

The two photos above are on the side of the property and must have been to provide water for the slaves and workers on the plantation and maybe for watering a garden when needed.

Now this is NOT your average cystern, the low building in the above picture is the cystern for the mansion.

Major Gamble didn't trust well water, so he had a massive 40,000 gallon cistern built to accommodate the fresh water needs of the plantation. It included a filtration wall and was stocked with fish to eat the mosquitos and bugs. When slaves would raise the bucket, they had to be sure there were no fish along for the ride.

The cistern still stands and this is the inside view of the cistern, notice it is almost empty, we are still in a drought, during the rainy season it will still hold the 40,000 gallons, MINUS the fish. click on photo to see the dirty water.

at the back of the cistern theree is a breezeway, or "dogtrot." The kitchen is located on the ground floor, just behind the grape arbor and the door is easy access to this bucket. Water for the house would have to be brought inside bucket by bucket. I do hope they did not drink it, but it sounds to me like they did.

Information gathered from Gamble Plantation

We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:17

Saturday, March 20, 2010

The House That Gamble Built

DawnTreader your first guess was correct. this contraption is a Match, that is what the docent told us. She said it is a piece of lighter wood and it is wedged in this piece of iron, with wood to hold it with. In a home the size of this one, their would be many, many candles to light and this was the safest way to do it.
the homes were lit by candelabra and chandelier. think about how many matches it would use up to light just one. This was also used to light oil burning lamps.

by looking at this home, would you think it was made with bricks like the one below?

this is a Tabby brick and is what this lovely home is built from.

Tabby, a mixture of oyster shells, lime, sand, and water, was found throughout the southern Atlantic Coast plantations as an inexpensive building material

Original tabby was made from a mix of slurry of water, homemade lime, local sand, and oyster shells. Occasionally, aggregates of broken glass, brick or other similar products were added. The mixture was poured into a wooden form or rectangular bottomless cradle made of finished boards approximately two inches thick. The sides were held in place by dovetailed braces. The tabby was tamped and leveled by hand.

Round pins set at regular intervals held the cradle in place during the entire process. The tabby air-dried in its cradle for two to three days. After it hardened, the form and pins were removed and placed atop the first pour or “round” for subsequent rounds, thus building a wall in a layer-like fashion. The finished wall was then brushed with a broom before stucco or whitewash was applied

It took six long years to build this mansion, but it still stands today after 167 years. I don't think the houses we build now will last that long, do you?

Can you guess what this is? it is the subject for tomorrows blog. Also made from Tabby. I must tell you, i said yesterday I only had one more blog from my day trip. WRONG. I think I have THREE more. We shall see what we shall SEE

Friday, March 19, 2010

Gamble Plantation Vist Continued

.The American Civil War (1861–1865) was a major war between the United States (the "Union") and eleven Southern slave states that declared their secession and formed the Confederate States of America, led by President Jefferson Davis. The Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party

On the grounds of the plantation, there were several Confederate Army tents and soldiers to help us relate to how the soldiers survived 150 years ago in the swamp lands of Florida. this is the Gunner, he was the powder man for this cannon, which they fired when my back was turned and made me jump 2 feet high.

In 1865, the Confederacy collapsed after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House.

The war produced about 970,000 casualties (3% of the population), including approximately 620,000 soldier deaths—two-thirds by disease. The causes of the war, the reasons for its outcome, and even the name of the war itself are subjects of lingering controversy even today. Wikpedia

. By the end of the war, Federal funds had paid for an estimated 840,000 horses and more than 430,000 mules. Confederates officers and mounted troopers were required to provide their own horses although they were reimbursed at a daily rate of forty cents. If the horse was killed, he was required to find a new one or he might be transferred to infantry service.

During the American Civil War, more men died from disease than died from actual combat. Exact numbers are hard to come by especially on the Confederate side since many of the records were lost or destroyed. Estimates, however, put the total number of Civil War deaths at over 600,000 for both sides combined. Of that number, just over 200,000 were from combat and the rest were from disease and other causes.

soldiers cleaned the camp, built roads, dug trenches for latrines, and gathered wood for cooking and heating. Finding clean water was a constant goal: the lack of potable water was a problem that led to widespread disease in both armies

The campgrounds themselves were often abysmal, especially in the South where wet weather produced thick mud for extended periods in the spring and summer; in the winter and fall, the mud turned to dust and living in tents would have been a terrible hardship due to mosquitos and other bugs, fleas and ticks and chiggers that are common in Florida and also extreme heat would be very uncomfortable,

"If there is any place on God's fair earth where wickedness 'stalketh abroad in daylight' it is in the army," wrote a Confederate soldier in a letter to his family back home. Indeed, life in the army camps of the Civil War was fraught with boredom, mischief, fear, disease, and death.

Camp musician and the woman was hand piecing a quilt.

On the light side.........One of the most popular questions park rangers get when giving tours around Civil War battlefields is: “Did the soldiers have to fight around all of these monuments?” They could only smile and say yes: They knew exactly were to die

General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate forces, traveled with a pet hen that laid one egg under his cot every morning

One more blog coming up and I will be off the subject of my visit to the plantaiton.

What is the item in the middle of this photo with the wooden bottom? Answer tomorrow.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Easier Said Than Done!

Betsy and George are RIGHT, they guessed it right away.
Are you ready for this??? The answer to why they did not build closets in the 19th century IS: Each home owner was taxed On Every Room In the House. A closet would be considered a ROOM and more taxes would be owed. I had no idea!

the kitchen of the mansion was my favorite room. This is what we saw when we stepped through the door. the fireplace covered almost the whole wall. the smell of baking bread and bacon and coffee were tantalizing. I imediately hoped they were selling what they were cooking.

enlarge the photo to see the bacon sizzling, the coffee perking (boiling)

Before you go further can you guess what the pot is in the lower corner?

Now you can see it is a dutch oven. Can you guess what is in it? My favorite aroma was wafting out of it.

Did you guess biscuits? This is their oven and used to bake bread then, you raked hot coals out and sat the oven on the coals, put the biscuits inside (not the kind in a can at the store) put the lid on and piled hot coals on top of the lid. Be careful your long skirt does not catch on fire.

They did not run down to Starbucks or Barnies for coffee, they opened these containers, the dark is roasted, the light is raw coffee beans. Yes, you guessed it.

they had to ROAST it themselves in this next contraption.

this is a coffee bean roaster, it sits on hot coals and you have to manually turn the handle to make it roast evenly. NEXT....

Grind it yourself! Yum. then you have to put it in a pot and carefully hang in the open fireplace. And I thought my coffee maker was HARD.

For tomorrows post, do you know what this is?