Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Summertime

The Genteel Rogue: Simple Eccentric Tastes

I figured it was about time to "expose" your faithful blogger, the Genteel Rogue.  And, for no particular reason...just figured it would be a nice "filler"...and, it is my blog.  So, enjoy for what it's worth...I assure you that more content will be added from the WF very soon.  After all, the WF is the whole reason I decided to create this blog...and part of that is "ME".

I've been described in many ways, but the most confusing is this:  "Eccentric and Alarmingly Simple".  I like how that rolls off the tounge, not sure what it means...but, I like it.  Here are a few of my "likes"...(before there was facebook)

I like simple food, for the most part.  The tomato is my favorite "fruit"...and nothing is better than a cold tomato sandwich (tomatoes from Ripley, TN only) on a hot summer day.  On the flip side, I like more complex meals with exotic ingredients... but, usually reserve those for Autumn and Winter. I thought to post some of my favorite "eats and drinks" with recipes...but, that comes later.

If I'm not barefoot, I wear comfortable shoes.  Casual around the house and quick trips to the supermarket or run errands is an okay thing.  However, "casual" has it's place.   I have been ridiculed for years about a pair of shoes that I bought one spring that cost me more than a few paychecks...even with a discount!  My alligator shoes have been a signature piece of my wardrobe for nearly six years...and I have no intention of giving them up any time soon.

I like to collect odd things...skeleton keys, shiney things like silver pieces, shoe maker forms, coral, floral frogs, old pictures, tobacco boxes...and in the summer, picnic baskets.  A friend recently remarked at the sight of these baskets in the corner, "You've got a problem...there's help for you...seriously."  Not every one shares the need for unique collections...or shares the love of unique decorating...like the "papered" wall.  I used up five books from a Tennessee Williams collection and a bucket of paper paste to create the wall in my lounge.  It makes me feel happy....secure.

And, as a simple Southern boy, I like my dog.  Her name is Tallulah Mae Belle...she thinks she's Cleopatra, too.  Just months after adopting her she became afraid of walking on the wood floors in my apartment.  So, I bought an inexpensive runner and call it her "magic carpet"...and just like Cleopatra, she boards it like a barge and away we go...me, pulling her like Queen Cleopatra down the Nile.  She definitely keeps me in check though....my sweet LULA!

...and there you have it folks!  a few tidbits about how my noggin' works.

Southern Summers: Summer Scavenger Hunt

We're always looking for ways to keep things interesting at the WF.  Starting this week, and every Monday this summer, I'll be posting an image of something in the house that is currently displayed in our Southern Summers exhibition.  Come tour the museum to find this item or take a guess and post on facebook.  On Sunday, an image of the object and it's information will be posted on facebook and here on this blog.

Here is the first object.  Be sure to be as specific as you can...which room it's in or what purpose it served.



Afternoons in the WF

Honestly, some days are just better than others at the WF.  And all of us that have been charged with and serve the WF have our own special places and our own special things on or inside the property.  My personal space is sitting alongside our fountain.  And just after our June fundraiser, the fountain was cleaned and repainted...and, WOW!  The gurgling sound spikes the senses, but it's the bright cerulean blue that simply lures you to the crystal water!  At first, I was a bit taken back...thinking the color was too bright and distracting.  After seeing the fountain in the light of the late afternoon...I can't begin to think how any other shade of blue could possibly be more magnificent.  Simply, it's beautiful.  If you haven't seen it, please...stop by the garden anytime.

Another element that makes some days better than others is our guests.  We host unique and very diverse guests from all over the United States and much of Europe.  Usually we never stop touring once we start...it's just one after the other (which is fantastic, I wouldn't have it any other way).  Our senior docents tend to use a very detailed "script" (because it's tried and true), other docents have their own approach to serving as docent...focusing on their "favorites" inside the WF, and then....there's me.  I use a combination of techniques, depending on the interest level of the guest.  There are some guests that make you feel like you're at home and love to share experiences and reminisce.  That's a sure sign that it's a "better day".

Yesterday was just one of those days.  While I was on schedule to cashier in the museum shop, our docent on duty was already covered up with guests, having to bring in straggling guests, and jump around in her usual dialogue (which always keeps us sharp)...there were four guests to arrive that just captured my full attention.  So, I locked the door, put the phone in my pocket, and away we went!  The guests included

Lyda Kay Ferree with VIP MidSouth Magazine (in which we'll be spotlighted in the September issue) and her gentleman friend (and I do mean Gentleman...what a guy).  The other two were the most sincere and precious mother and daughter guests I have hosted in quite some time (Apparently, the Mississippi river is sole property of this Montana mother..."Ms. Terri's River").  Her daughter, Tiffani, would roll her eyes and grin.  Hosting these four wonderful folks is a docent's dream...we strolled through the mansion discussing achitecture, history, fine art, culture...we even got a visit from Miss Mollie...it's days like this that makes me a much better person. 

I take the WF and her history very personal, as if this were my very own.  And when I host graceful folks, it makes me so very proud, honored, and a bit humbled.  Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum is a place for EVERYBODY to come and enjoy the rich history and experience the gracious customs of such a genteel era.  So, come share a glass of iced tea and a "better day" with us very soon!









Uncovering the Past: Painted Ceilings

As a docent serving the WF, I have a theory of "saving the best for last".  My tour generally comes to a close in the third floor hall.  After rambling about coin silver, wedding gowns, Confederate generals, and porthole windows...I end with the highlight of the tour...the tin ceiling.  We recently discovered, through repair work, that the third floor ceiling had been painted.  The painted ceiling had never been documented as being painted.  Upon research, we found that the painting may be stencil work done in the "Fontaine Era".  Of course, the decision to leave a partial painted ceiling has raised a few questions while giving tours.  The simple truth is that we felt it represented who we are as a preservation group.  We don't restore...we repair...we preserve.  The stenciled ceiling is an interesting detail used to explain how preservationists hold on to aspects of history.  In this case it would be a nod to interior design and artistic craft during the turn of the century.  If this is indeed "Fontaine Era", this might have been commissioned by Elliott Fontaine, as his bedroom suite was on this floor.  Elliott was 34 when he passed, giving him just enough time to cultivate and create his own space in the family home.  Be sure to tour the third floor when visiting the WF, it's an unexpected treat.

While a bit blurry, you can see the stencil of ivy, vines, and broad lines.  The colors are peaceful and neutral...as was a popular design choice of the day...bringing the outside, inside...

Southern Summers: Annette Kellerman

Annette Marie Sarah Kellerman (6 July 1887 – 5 November 1975) was an Australian professional swimmer, vaudeville and film star, and writer. She was one of the first women to wear a one-piece bathing costume and inspired others to follow her example.

She is often credited for inventing the sport of synchronized swimming after her 1907 performance of the first water ballet in a glass tank at the New York Hippodrome.

Kellerman was famous for advocating the right of women to wear a one-piece bathing suit, which was controversial at the time. According to an Australian magazine, "In the early 1900s, women were expected to wear cumbersome dress and pantaloon combinations when swimming. In 1907, at the height of her popularity, Kellerman was arrested on Revere Beach, Massachusetts, for indecency - she was wearing one of her fitted one-piece costumes." Kellerman negotiated with the court by sewing a pair of stockings into the suit, making it more “competition friendly”.

The popularity of her one-piece suits resulted in her own line of women's swimwear. The "Annette Kellermans", as they were known, were the first step to modern swimwear.

In 1908, after a study of 3000 women, Dr Dudley A. Sargent of Harvard University dubbed her the Perfect Woman because of the similarity of her physical attributes to the Venus de Milo.



Southern Summers: Textiles

Drapes and rugs were cleaned and removed from the home every May for “spring cleaning”, something many of us still do. Light lace or sheers were hung for privacy in the windows and woven natural fiber mats were used as light floor coverings. In fancier rooms, hand painted canvas mats were laid down. Muslin or canvas was used to “slipcover” fine furnishings to protect from soiling and to create cooler aesthetic in the most heavy and darkly decorated rooms. Lace tablecloths replaces heavy embroidered silks and bedding was changed out to sheer cotton, boucle coverlets and net lace overlay.

The summer wardrobe for the ladies would still include a corset and several layers, though very light cotton was used for each layer. During the daytime, cotton, lace, and linen dresses would be appropriate. Evening silks were worn for special events and entertaining. Hats, umbrellas, and fans were the traditional summer accessories. Gentlemen would layer lightly with a cotton shirt and bowties, light summer weight wool replaced heavier wools in suiting. Near the turn of the century, linen and seersucker suiting came into fashion. While seersucker suiting had always been known as a “poor man’s suit”, the Southern gentleman embraced the light fabric for it’s ability to wick moisture away from the body and to cool by trapping air in the “puckered” hand of the garment. The straw skimmer hat replaced the silken or wool derby as a “summer must” for gentlemen. Summer swim wear was, on the other hand, stuffy and very modest. Gentlemen wore “one piece” swimsuits constructed of a tank top and shorts sewn together. Some suits may have been made in two pieces with a belt. Ladies were covered from head to toe including stockings and gloves! These suits were usually linen, but covered most of the body.

 



Southern Summers: Architecture

Architecture and design was bold, luxurious, and even a bit outrageous in the homes along Millionaire’s Row. However, there was scientific thought and practical attention given to every detail. For example, the thick walls insulated the home both in the winter and summer. The simple height of the ceilings (16’, 14’, and 13’)was more science than aesthetic pleasure. As hot air rises it is trapped in the ceiling, eventually moving upwards through the stairwell, moving through the transoms over the doors and up to third floor. During the evening hours, the upper level porthole windows would be opened to allow the heat to escape. The port holes were designed in such a way as to vacuum the hot air out and away from the house. Louvered shutters were opened throughout the home during the evening time to allow cooler air to circulate through cross ventilation. At sunrise, the east shutters were closed, by noon they were closed. The shutters were then closed on the western side until after sunset. On the cooler (and stormy) days, all the shutters were left open. And, yes, the windows remained open through most of the summer months. “Summer” porches became common living (and sleeping) spaces in the morning and evening to escape the interior stuffiness.



Southern Summers

Southern Summers

June 10 - August 2, 2011

Ahhh, the sweet scent of magnolia floating through the thick air, sipping "iced tea", and taking multiple showers a day...definitely going to be a great "Southern Summer".  Please come cool off with us at Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum!  We're open Wednsday through Sunday from noon until 4 PM!

Heat, oppressive humidity, Biblical storms and plaques of insects. This is a Southern-style summer. While the conditions seem intolerable, we native (and honorary) Southerners seem to adapt and make the best of mother nature’s fury. We always have and always will, it’s in our nature. More than any other time of the year, we cling to many seasonal traditions developed by our 19th century forefathers. Step into “Southern Summers” to learn how early Memphians “kept their cool”, even in the most intolerable situations.



Junebugs and Juleps: Frozen Mint Julep

Last summer, I spent some time in San Francisco.  The friend I was visiting treated me to some of the best local fare and drink the city offered.  She's a southern girl to the core, but she enjoys trying new things...especially the exotic food and drinks offered by San Fran.  And, while all of the establishments were amazing I found "the needle in the haystack".  Apparently, there is a huge population of "Southern Propers" living in the middle of the bay city.  Complete with a laundry list of diners and bars that cater to native Southerners that have moved west.  I was missing the taste of the south by midweek, so I entered one of these establishments.  To my surprise, there was an entire drink menu dedicated to the mint julep!  One in particular caught my eye like a shiny new coin...the frozen mint julep.  This experience and the frozen libation, in part, was the inspiration behind the Junebugs and Juleps benefit.  So, I'm sharing this recipe so that you, too can experience the traditional southern beverage with a twist.

3 ounces bourbon whiskey

1 1/2 teaspoons simple syrup

1 1/4 ounces fresh lemon juice

8 fresh mint leaves

3/4 cup crushed ice

1 sprig fresh mint 

Directions:
Place mint leaves, bourbon, simple syrup and lemon juice into a blender and pulse once or twice.

Add 3/4 cup of crushed ice and blend until slushy.

Pour into a chilled old-fashioned glass and garnish with mint sprig.

ONE MINT JULEP - Buddy Morrow

Junebugs and Juleps: The Perfect Mint Julep

(And, while the juleps served this weekend will be served as authentic as possible, silver julep cups will not be available.  If you wish to bring your very own julep cup, as I will, we'll be more than accommodating.  Bottom's up, y'all!)

Mint leaves

Crushed ice

2 tablespoons mint syrup

2 tablespoons water

2 ounces good-quality Kentucky bourbon

Preparation:

Crush or muddle a few mint leaves in the bottom of an 8-ounce Mint Julep Cup (using the back of a spoon to crush mint leaves) until mixture forms a paste.

Then fill the Mint Julep Cup 1/2 full with crushed or shaved ice. Add prepared mint syrup, water, and bourbon. Stir until the silver cup is frosted on the outside. NOTE: A glass tumbler will not frost on the outside.

Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.

Southern Summers: Dogday Delicates

Ladies would often lunch at mid-day then retire to the sanctuary of their chamber to rest. Dresses and corsets were removed and light cotton gowns and undergarments became the preferred “afternoon uniform” during the dogdays of summer. Rest and relaxation in the solitude of cool white linen later gave way to an evening filled with entertainment…and more layers of clothing!



Our lady is wearing a dressing gown in the most sheer cotton with empire waste tied with silk ribbon. The bodice of the gown is pieced together in ribbon lace panels and detailed with modest ¾ sleeves trimmed with cotton lace. A more youthful camisole and bloomers fit the young lady. The camisole is loose fitting cotton for cool comfort and is detailed with cutwork flowers and a silk drawstring neckline. Her bloomers are a delicate match to the camisole with the same cutwork detail at the knee.



Southern Summers: Wedding Belles

Nothing brings summertime to mind like a June bride. Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum houses a handful of wedding dresses and gowns dating from as early as the 1870s until the early 30’s . Showcased are three wedding dresses from our textile archives.


One month after her father was elected Mayor of Memphis, Miss Alma Verney Malone married Thomas Harrison McKnight at the First Methodist Church of Memphis. The dress is made of bobbin lace with a pearl beaded collar, demi-train and Chantilly lace ruffles on the sleeves.  (my favorite accent: the delicate detail of the bumble bees embroidered on the bodice)
(dress in center)

 

This traditional turn-of-the-century dress is satin with a light embroidered silk and lace overlay. The bodice is light silk and ribbon lace. The full train has a beautiful drape and hemmed with a lace ruffle.
(dress on left)

A lovely two piece wedding dress worn in 1890 by a Dyersburg, Tennessee bride by the name “Darnell”. The dress is made of crepe and satin with metal beaded trim on the bodice.
(dress on right)



Southern Summers: Cold Supper

The expression, “If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.” literally jumps to mind when serving up a “cold supper”. As most southerners will tell you, it’s best to do all your hard labor in the early morning during the summer. This is, without a doubt, the best advice we have taken from our southern forefathers.

A “cold supper” is the last meal of the day served…well, cold! Usually this meant that the bulk of the cooking was done in the cooler morning hours. The food would be laid to rest in an icebox for the day. When suppertime came, the meal was a welcome refreshment.

When the table was set, the food was served in covered dishes or had cheesecloth laid over to protect from the insect population. Cut glass and crystal serving dishes were also used to provide a light, cool appearance. Sheer or lace linen placemats and napkins were used for a less formal feel.

A popular “cold supper” served at the turn of the century, now a tradition for many families during the summer months in the American south:

cucumber and tomato salad with vinaigrette

relish tray and deviled eggs

bean salad

cold tomato consommé or tomato aspic

sliced cold cured ham

cold fried chicken and potato salad

sherbet or iced strawberries and cream

sweet iced tea with lemon or mint

The dining room table is set with light scalloped plates,sparkling crystal pieces and stemware trimmed in gold.  The china is Haviland pattern called "Meadow Visitors".  The collection is the Goyer-Lee wedding china.  Service pieces are stored in the china hutch with an assorment of silver and crystal pieces on display.  This would have been a typical setting for the Fontaine family.