NEWS
Notebook
Photo by Will Reintzall
Old-fashioned wheat: Several days a month throughout 2022, catch resident baker Justin Cherry (Half Crown Bakehouse) pull loaves out of a reproduction 18th-century clay oven. The grains are authentic to the time period, and, when possible, ground at George Washington’s Gristmill. Check the calendar on the website for dates.
Listen Up: The final four episodes of the well-received podcast series, Intertwined: The Enslaved Community at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, have been released. A podcast about the enslaved community at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Intertwined tells the story of the more than 577 people enslaved by George and Martha Washington at Mount Vernon. Told through the biographies of Sambo Anderson, Davy Gray, William Lee, Kate, Ona Judge, Nancy Carter Quander, Edmund Parker, and others, this eight-part podcast series explores the lives and labors of Mount Vernon’s enslaved community, and how we interpret slavery at the historic site today.
The final episode looks at how interpreting slavery has become intertwined with interpreting the Washingtons at Mount Vernon, and collaborative efforts with descendants of the enslaved to tell a story of lives bound together.
Intertwined is narrated by Brenda Parker and is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association and CD Squared. It is cocreated and cowritten by Jeanette Patrick and James P. Ambuske.
Listen to the podcast at georgewashingtonpodcast.com
Proper shelter: The architecture team has restored the historic area cattle shed to an authentic 18th-century appearance, with a new thatched roof. In 1793, Washington wrote that rye straw “will be useful for thatching sheds, for the Cover of my Cattle; which I should wish to do before the winter … sets in.” As rye straw is not an option today, the staff is using river reeds, which are bundled and tied to the roof frame.
In Appreciation
Sue Keeler (1935–2022)
Sue Keeler began her impressive career at Mount Vernon in 1975 as a member of the very first team of Mansion interpreters. She was quickly promoted to the role of interpretive supervisor, a post she filled for more than 25 years.
During her tenure, she was sworn in as a conservator of the peace, a badge-carrying position, and was an active first responder. She was also a driving force in developing some of Mount Vernon’s most popular guest experiences, including the Garden and Landscape Tour, Slave Life Tour, Death and Funeral Tour, Project Enlightenment, and even the Character Interpretation Program. Her portrayal of Eliza Powell was a guest favorite.
Sue treated every visitor as if they were the most important guest Mount Vernon ever had, which is why she became the renowned manager of protocol. As a trusted ambassador, she toured Mount Vernon with presidents, foreign heads of state, and A-list celebrities. These special guests all came away with a new appreciation for George Washington, as one only needed to stand within five feet of her to absorb her enthusiasm.
In her 40 years of dedicated service, she witnessed tremendous changes at Mount Vernon—landscapes, interpretations, organizational structures—and all the while, her passion for George Washington and her devotion to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association remained constant.
Sue Keeler retired from Mount Vernon in 2015, but her legacy continues. All who knew her will remember her as the gracious and generous heart of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. She will be missed.