Week 19 - Can you believe it?!?
Dearest Children, Grandchildren, Family and Friends,
In many ways this has been a quiet, peaceful week. It has been a bit physically demanding, at least for me, but it has been good. The temple is a lot more quiet than it was the first part of the summer. We can tell that school has started in many parts of the country because we aren’t getting many family groups into the baptistry and no more youth conferences and groups from far away. School doesn’t start in most places in the East until after Labor Day so groups around here have come but we just don’t the get volume we had in July. We cherish each patron who comes, though, and try to make their experience perfect for them. We were able to do quite a bit of work for our own family this week as we have been assigned as patrons and it was wonderful to be able to do that work. I suspect as we work through our last two months here that we will be doing a lot of patron work. But, that is good!!!
One experience we had that will remain precious to us happened on Friday. Sarah, a brand-new convert of about 3 weeks from our branch in Oneida, came to the temple for the first time to do baptisms for the dead. We were able to help her find some family members the Sunday before. We asked to be assigned to the baptistry that day, even though it wasn’t during our regular shift, and that was so special. Sarah was so excited when she walked into the temple and saw us there. She had a sweet experience in the font and then when she did the confirmations, she couldn’t quit crying. She went out to the window to look at the Sacred Grove and cried some more. The missionaries who brought her took her to the Grove afterwards and they told me today that she had a wonderful experience there. So sweet!!!!
On Thursday, we had another activity with the other missionaries, this one to the Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens and to the Granger Homestead. Grandad is putting a bunch of pictures in and talking about it from his point of view…..I will from mine. The first place, the Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens were very beautiful….especially the gardens...Grandad showed a bunch of pictures from that and I won't in my blog. They were reminiscent of the Huntington Library although not as extensive or well-cared for. This mansion was a summer vacation home for the couple who bought it in the late 1800s. They would entertain their very wealthy friends. Mainly, they wanted to show off their wealth and hospitality. It seems like such a waste. They also had farms and a dairy and the products from that were shipped to all their other homes, wherever they happened to be staying at the time.
In contrast, the other home, even though it was extremely large for it’s time, was built in 1816 as a family home. It was in the family for 4 generations and then was sold to a family friend by the last two girls who never married or had children. He lived in it for many years and then turned it into a museum. It was beautiful and well cared for and had a happier, homier, lived-in, loved feeling. It was my favorite place we have been so far so I am showing some more pictures. The different rooms were decorated in the style typical of one of the four generations who lived there. It was fun.
In one of the front rooms, shown below, there was a Clementi grand pianoforte, one of only 3 in playable condition in the world, the other two in Italy and England, according to the guide. I bought a CD of a concert given on the piano. So cool!!!
One of two facing front rooms. Shows the beautiful woodwork and fireplace. The chandelier is like one that was there but not original to the house.
These are indoor shutters, fascinating.
This isn't a good picture but is of a table owned by Dolly Madison and given to the Grangers as a gift when the first Granger, Ezekiel, was serving as Post Master General. The story goes that the Clintons wanted it back but the Museum board refused to part with it.
Most of the things and furniture in the house are original to the owners over the 4 generations living there. This is a beautiful silver tea set.
China. There are cupboards of dishes belonging to the family. This is just a small display.
There are 22 of the original 24 chairs purchased by the original Grangers in 1816. They have been recovered but the wood is original. Beautiful!
Alabaster Clock
"Modern" stove when the girls moved the kitchen from the basement to the first floor in the early 1900s
Bedroom done with things from the first generation
The second and third generations
The fourth generation
The maid's room - not sure which generation
A state-of-the-art bathroom from the fourth generation....early 1900s
On Saturday, we got another music treat. We were able to go to an organ recital with a bunch of the 6-month and site missionaries. It was at the Presbyterian Church in Palmyra, one of the “Four Churches” on Main Street. This is a famous landmark here in Palmyra because there are four large 19th century churches on four facing corners of Main and Canandaigua Highway (St Route 21). At any rate, they are celebrating their 200 year anniversary this year and part of that celebration was this concert. The man who gave the concert was their organist for many years but has since retired. It is a magnificent organ and he played it beautifully!!
They had a camera to his side so we could see his hands and feet. So cool!!!
The parishioners were endearing!! They were so anxious that the Mormon missionaries like their church and organ and organist. After the concert, we told them how impressed we were and they were so pleased. I think we were able to do a good PR work!! For the most part, the missionaries are very well-accepted here.
Well, that pretty well brings us to the close of yet another week. They are flying by and before we know it we will be on the homeward trek. We think of all of you often.
Love you and miss you!!!
Mom/Grandma/Sandy
In many ways this has been a quiet, peaceful week. It has been a bit physically demanding, at least for me, but it has been good. The temple is a lot more quiet than it was the first part of the summer. We can tell that school has started in many parts of the country because we aren’t getting many family groups into the baptistry and no more youth conferences and groups from far away. School doesn’t start in most places in the East until after Labor Day so groups around here have come but we just don’t the get volume we had in July. We cherish each patron who comes, though, and try to make their experience perfect for them. We were able to do quite a bit of work for our own family this week as we have been assigned as patrons and it was wonderful to be able to do that work. I suspect as we work through our last two months here that we will be doing a lot of patron work. But, that is good!!!
One experience we had that will remain precious to us happened on Friday. Sarah, a brand-new convert of about 3 weeks from our branch in Oneida, came to the temple for the first time to do baptisms for the dead. We were able to help her find some family members the Sunday before. We asked to be assigned to the baptistry that day, even though it wasn’t during our regular shift, and that was so special. Sarah was so excited when she walked into the temple and saw us there. She had a sweet experience in the font and then when she did the confirmations, she couldn’t quit crying. She went out to the window to look at the Sacred Grove and cried some more. The missionaries who brought her took her to the Grove afterwards and they told me today that she had a wonderful experience there. So sweet!!!!
On Thursday, we had another activity with the other missionaries, this one to the Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens and to the Granger Homestead. Grandad is putting a bunch of pictures in and talking about it from his point of view…..I will from mine. The first place, the Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens were very beautiful….especially the gardens...Grandad showed a bunch of pictures from that and I won't in my blog. They were reminiscent of the Huntington Library although not as extensive or well-cared for. This mansion was a summer vacation home for the couple who bought it in the late 1800s. They would entertain their very wealthy friends. Mainly, they wanted to show off their wealth and hospitality. It seems like such a waste. They also had farms and a dairy and the products from that were shipped to all their other homes, wherever they happened to be staying at the time.
In contrast, the other home, even though it was extremely large for it’s time, was built in 1816 as a family home. It was in the family for 4 generations and then was sold to a family friend by the last two girls who never married or had children. He lived in it for many years and then turned it into a museum. It was beautiful and well cared for and had a happier, homier, lived-in, loved feeling. It was my favorite place we have been so far so I am showing some more pictures. The different rooms were decorated in the style typical of one of the four generations who lived there. It was fun.
"Modern" stove when the girls moved the kitchen from the basement to the first floor in the early 1900s
On Saturday, we got another music treat. We were able to go to an organ recital with a bunch of the 6-month and site missionaries. It was at the Presbyterian Church in Palmyra, one of the “Four Churches” on Main Street. This is a famous landmark here in Palmyra because there are four large 19th century churches on four facing corners of Main and Canandaigua Highway (St Route 21). At any rate, they are celebrating their 200 year anniversary this year and part of that celebration was this concert. The man who gave the concert was their organist for many years but has since retired. It is a magnificent organ and he played it beautifully!!
The parishioners were endearing!! They were so anxious that the Mormon missionaries like their church and organ and organist. After the concert, we told them how impressed we were and they were so pleased. I think we were able to do a good PR work!! For the most part, the missionaries are very well-accepted here.
Well, that pretty well brings us to the close of yet another week. They are flying by and before we know it we will be on the homeward trek. We think of all of you often.
Love you and miss you!!!
Mom/Grandma/Sandy
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