Today Ms. Dillard’s 8th grade class from Aylett County Day School visited Menokin.
The group learned about the relationship of the Fibonacci Sequence and the golden ratio as it related to the enlightened thinkers of 18th century Architecture and Design.
Afterwards they toured the Menokin Visitor Center and House, and hiked down to Cat Point Creek to get a view of the new kayak landing. 
This bright group of students was able to see how conservation at our site teaches about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) through architecture, history and science.
It was a great day! Enjoy your holiday break!
Tag Archives: Menokin
Grand Opening: Public Access to Cat Point Creek
This Saturday, November 14th, is the Grand Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the new access road to Cat Point Creek! We are so excited to provide this new recreational opportunity here in Richmond County.
Join the Menokin Foundation for the grand opening of the road from 11AM to 1PM on Saturday. RSVP to the Menokin Foundation: 804-333-1776 or menokin@menokin.org. Let us know if you plan to bring your kayak or canoe and join in the inaugural launch from the Menokin shore!
Here is a sneak peak of what to expect along the new trail…
Walk or drive down the trail…
…and enjoy the wildlife and plants along the way.
The parking area provides parking for four vehicles, with one spot reserved for handicapped visitors.
A short walk from the parking area to the water.
View of Menokin Bay from the Menokin kayak launch.
The new access road and canoe launch at Menokin has been made possible thanks to a generous grant from the National Park Service – Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network. The Menokin launch site now includes parking and a turnaround, as well as an improved soft landing for canoes and kayaks into the creek. New interpretive signage for the trail and will help to raise visibility for this important natural resource along the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
Thank you to the National Park Service and to our local community partners who have helped fund this project: Wood Preservers, the Beirne Carter Foundation, Chesapeake Conservancy, Patrick F. Noonan, the National Trust for Historic Places, the Campbell Foundation, and others. We are still looking for donations to help complete our match for this grant. Contact Christina Markish for more information and to pledge your support: 804-333-1776 or cmarkish@menokin.org.
The New “Descendants” of Francis Lightfoot Lee
The Rappahannock Chapter is the first SAR chapter to be formed in
Over one hundred people attended the ceremony, with SAR leaders from both the state and the national level on hand to participate. There were also several members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Children of the American Revolution (CAR) present.
Menokin is pleased and honored to have been the host of this momentous occasion.
Thirteen men were inducted with a total of 17 initial charter members – and more than 40 additional men, many of whom were in attendance yesterday are working on their research and applications.
Back row: Carl Strock, Clem Rawlings, Nathan Parker IV, Nathan Parker III, Mathew Parker | Front Row: John Garrett, Luther Derby, William Croxton, Gregory Burkett, Wright Andrews
A Whole New World – St. Margaret’s Paddle Club Explores Cat Point Creek
By Alice French
Kevin Goff, the new Director of the River Program at St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock, VA, has created this co-curricular activity group called SSOAK: Science, Service, and Outdoor Adventure Krew.
This particular group goes out with SMS faculty Cupper Dickinson and Kevin on weekday afternoons, and will soon be launching larger scale SSOAK activities on weekends for other students who want to participate.
October 12th was the second time they have visited Menokin since our new road was completed. One of the girls said that “Menokin was her favorite of all the places we’ve been kayaking the past 5 weeks”.
Kevin added, “Mine too.”
A Kayak Trip Along Cat Point Creek
By Christina Markish
Menokin’s newly improved road to Cat Point Creek featuring a kayak and canoe launch and turn-around is complete! The new trail features a turn-around and parking for at least four vehicles down on the waterfront.
The official ribbon cutting ceremony opening the road will be Saturday, November 14th at Menokin. A special thanks to the National Park Service for their $99,000 grant through the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network to make this project a reality!
While the road was not yet complete, a group of ladies known as the “Kayak Divas” took a trip down the trail and launched their kayaks from the Menokin shore for a little early exploration. The Divas included past President of the Menokin Foundation, Helen Murphy, and former board member, Penelope Saffer, amongst other leaders involved with Menokin. The reviews are in: the ladies said the kayak trip was as good as Dragon Run!
Launching from the Menokin shoreline, the ladies turned theirkayaks towards the right and headed out. Early wildlife encounters included a bald eagle siting – what a beauty! As the ladies continued towards the Westmoreland County border, past duck blinds and fishing holes, the creek narrowed. It began to wind through beautiful wildflowers, bushes and trees. Yellow flowers were in bloom everywhere… it really was beautiful!
After winding through the narrow creek for nearly two hours, the ladies hit a stopping point where a tree blocked them from proceeding much further (without having to do the limbo) so they turned around to head back to Menokin. On their return, they raved about the beauty they encountered between the wildflowers and eagles. It is a trip they plan to repeat again once the new trail is complete!
Interested in launching your kayak or canoe from the Menokin shore? The trail is open to the public and launching is free! Just contact the Menokin Foundation to make a reservation: 804-333-1776 or menokin@menokin.org.
And please join us November 14th from 11:00am – 1:00pm for the grand opening of the new trail at Menokin. The event will feature food, refreshments, a nature hike, ribbon cutting ceremony, and – of course – the opportunity to be one of the first to launch your kayak or canoe from the Menokin shore using the new trail!
Menokin Keystone Jewelry
Looks what’s new in the Menokin Gift Shop? This gorgeous piece of jewelry – designed and produced by Carol Koch (sister of our very own Alice French) – is fashioned from the iconic keystone that once graced the entrance to Menokin and is now on display in our Visitor’s Center.
The pendant comes in sterling silver and solid brass. All three are available for purchase in our online SHOP and at the Menokin Visitor’s Center.
A perfect gift for all the Menokin enthusiasts on your list!
Price Reduced for Historic Trades Carpentry Class at Menokin
We have reduced the price for the Carpentry Workshop taking place next weekend: individuals pay $150; students with valid ID pay $100 and organizational groups of three or more pay $125 per person. Sign up now as space is limited. Registration closes on Wednesday, October 7.
A new view of an old friend
After five years of friendship with this old house, I have photographed her from (I thought) every angle.
But a site visit yesterday revealed a new platform just built for the stucco removal mock up (more on that to come) that literally opened a new window on Menokin.
Historic Trades Carpentry Workshop
Conservation at Menokin
October 9-10, 2015
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students will learn about material preparation and historic precedent: hewing, sawing, riving building materials.
Students will have an opportunity to rive and dress shingles, lath. Students will learn about layout of timber framing, will use traditional chalk line, squares, chisels, saws, mallets and augers to cut mortise and tenon joints, and will assemble some framing.
Students will learn about joinery, and see a demonstration of the bench work of the joiner’s trade. Students will have an opportunity to work with planes, layout tools, chisels and mallets, rulers and gauges, and try their hand at making simple moldings.
We will provide all materials and tools. If students wish, they are welcome to bring any personal antique tools with them they would like to talk or learn about.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
MATT WEBSTER
Matt Webster is Director of the Grainger Department of Architectural Preservation for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He oversees the preservation of over 590 original and reconstructed structures in Williamsburg’s Historic Area. Matt previously served as director of Preservation at Drayton Hall in South Carolina, as well as Director of Restoration at Kenmore in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
GARLAND WOOD
Garland Wood as master carpenter leads Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Trades carpenters. Over the last thirty years this team of tradesmen and women have made the materials and framed and finished over 40 buildings in Williamsburg’s Historic Area, while presenting the trade to the curious public.
TED BOSCANO
Ted Boscano is a journeyman joiner at Colonial Williamsburg, having first trained under Garland Wood as an apprentice carpenter. Ted’s interest in finish work led him to pursue bench work, and he now leads the Williamsburg’s Historic Trades joiner shop in the traditional production of windows and doors, molding and furniture.
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY – October 9
- Arrival and check in: 8:30 – 8:55 AM
- Workshop starts: 9:00 AM
- Lunch break: 12:30 – 1:00 PM (A light lunch is provided
- Workshop ends: 5:00 PM
SATURDAY – October 10
- Menokin VC opens: 7:45 AM
- Workshop starts: 8:00 AM
- Workshop ends: 12:30 PM
Pre-register for Historic Trades/Carpentry Workshop
WHEN:
October 9 – 10, 2015
WHERE:
Menokin Foundation, Warsaw, VA
WHAT:
Very hands-on and interactive course work; instruction and techniques will be covered for the following:
• Shingle making
• Chopping mortises
• Making tenons
• Peg making/drawboring
• Planing
• Using molding planes
• Discussion of paneling work, sashes and doors
• And more!
About The Instructors
Matt Webster
Historic Preservation Architect
Garland Wood
Master Carpenter
Ted Boscano
Joiner and Carpenter
By pre-registering, you are expressing an interest in attending the workshop and would like to receive detailed information when it is available. Pre-registration is not binding in any way.