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As the bus rolled up to Pemberton Hall, a historic site in Salisbury, Maryland, the chalky white dust from the road surrounded us in a thick cloud. We filed off the bus and impatiently lingered around the dew covered grounds, waiting for the tour guide to meet us.
When you first look at this old house, built in 1741 by Issac Handy, you immediately wonder what it was like to live in colonial times. Our attention was drawn to the salt-glazed bricks on the exterior of the house glistening like diamonds in the glorious morning sun.
The fresh piney aroma wafted in our direction from the nearby grove of trees. We enjoyed a new sight as our tour guide came to greet us. She was fully dressed in colonial garb. As we walked in the house we saw the Prussian blue walls and the handcarved paneling. A vast, inefficient fireplace stood regally in the front of the room. Chair rails guarded the walls in the public room from blemishes caused by frequently moved furniture.
The parlor room was painted in an inexpensive Spanish brown hue and was only half the size of the public room. The eleven children that occupied the house did their schoolwork there. The fireplace in this room was smaller and more efficient.
Even smaller than the parlor was the bedroom. The amazingly tiny bed could hold up to five children or three adults. The matress was stuffed with straw that needed changing frequently. A feather matress went on top of the straw one for comfort. A solid wood frame supported these matresses and ropes underneath served the same purpose as our modern-day box springs. If you've ever heard the phrase, "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!" , this was the time period the phrase was originated. "Sleep tight" meant to tighten the ropes at
night. "Don't let the bed bugs bite" refers to the bugs that would inhabit the aged straw.Finally we proceeded into the kitchen, which was added on in 1786 and was used to make everyday necessities. An enormous loom stood silently in the corner of the room. Also in the kitchen was a small table which had homemade candles on top of it. Making candles was time consuming so the family reserved them for special occasions. Burning reeds served as an alternative to using candles. Another fireplace was in the kitchen and it was bigger than the one in the parlor. An elaborate cast-iron wafflemaker hung by the fireplace. An assortment of pots and pans hung on the back wall.
As we departed the colonial house, it seemed to diminish in the background. We learned a lot about colonial times and enjoyed ourselves in the process. We hope you now have a mental image "Through Our Eyes" of our local landmark, Pemberton Hall.
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