Historical Sites Spark Creativity in My Writing Journey
Michael and I took a vacation to North Carolina. Traveling incites creativity, and I enjoy immersing myself in historical sites.
Recently, we visited two nineteenth-century North Carolina farms, one of which was the Bennett Farm near Durham. In the log construction home of a farmer, two generals, Major General William T. Sherman (Union) and General Joseph Johnston (Confederacy), met three times to negotiate and sign the papers for the Confederates' surrender in April 1965.
The surrender at Appomattox was considered the end of the Civil War, but it was finally over in the Bennett’s homestead, located on the road between Durham and Hillsborough.
Although the home and kitchen were reconstructed, the historians capture the past as accurately as possible. At the Bennett Place, the kitchen was a separate building, which makes sense considering the chances of fire and cooking heating the living space during warm months. Our historical interpreter gave a thorough presentation on the events of the surrender but also explained the antique relics and their usage I could learn from.
I imagined my character in her kitchen and wondered how she would use the tools displayed here. I knew of the Dutch Oven as I had researched it for Song of Jaybird. Hattie used a similar one to make her ash cake, and the coals on the lid evened her cooking. I also recognized the iron spider pan.
However, the information of another tool used was new to me: the blow poker, a long, slim iron pipe with a hook at the end. A handy tool, the hook allowed you to move the fireplace crane and lift pots onto it, and women could blow air onto their fire, acting like bellows safely without leaning too close.
There are little things to consider. During the Civil War, there were shortages and the need for improvising, such as using a corn cob wrapped in a string for “candle” light, thorns for dipping into ink to write, or roasting acorns and chicory nuts for coffee.
It was helpful to lift the heavy iron used in pressing seams to tailor clothes; the Bennett’s made to sell, or the size of shears they cut the fabric with made on their loom, is also on display.
An heirloom garden inspires writing to make the most of describing scents, vegetables they grew, tripods for beans, and delicate blueberry blossoms.
The Horne Creek Farm near Pilot Mountain was a 1900 homestead using exterior paint instead of the unpainted buildings of Bennett’s Place.
We were able to walk through a heritage apple orchard, which will benefit the writing of my current project.
Fortunately, the trees bloomed with white and pink blossoms, and large bumble bees were everywhere. Their buzzing was constant, along with a rooster crowing, goats bleating, and the nervous kecking of guinea hens.
What experiences have you enjoyed visiting historical sites? How does visiting a site differ from reading about history in a book? Please leave your comments below; I would love to hear from you.
https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/bennett-place/plan-your-visit
