A Hofwyl-Broadfield Christmas

In the previous post we walked the grounds of this historic site in Brunswick, Georgia. The Hofwyl Plantation was a rice plantation in the early 1800's.  Five generations of one family lived in the home until Ophelia Dent passed away in 1973, leaving her estate to the state of Georgia.GaStateParks.org/HofwylBroadfield

Diane and Austin on front porch



 




 Let us take you on a tour of the inside of this historic home.  The ladies parlor is home to a 1785 mahogany secretary/bookcase and short stature chairs to accommodate the ladies of that time.












In the photo of the window you can see the doors under the windowsill that were added so that when open would add more air circulation.



doors under windowsills

The wide plank pine floors were left natural and were scrubbed with lye each Spring.  The rugs were cleaned, rolled up and stored for the summer to help keep the home cool.



dining room



1840  walnut spool bed

As Ophelia aged, her bedroom was moved to the first floor.  The 1840 single walnut bed with spool turnings is covered with a counterpane that Ophelia continued to knit up until her passing.  This beautiful work was done with size US 0 needles.



Upstairs we find several bedroom.  One bedroom houses a rare Charleston Rice Bed.  Love the trundle bed sliding out from under this interesting bed.

rice bed

Also on the second floor was the "sick room".  This room was only accessible by an outside staircase.

The old kitchen is my favorite room, more primitive than the elegant home. The kitchens were built away from the main house because the the fire danger.

Santa's Workshop or the cooks quarters is the next room on the tour.

Santa arrived for the 33rd Annual Candlelight Christmas at Hofwyl.  He kept looking for milk in the dairy barn where cookies were a plenty but all I could offer was hot wassail.

The servants quarters,

servant's quarters

servants bedroom