Gilded Asheville: Day 3

 Jozef, Taylor, and Jeremy enjoyed the tea service we were served at the Smith-McDowell House Museum this morning.  

 Here, Tristan sips her tea.  We learned much of the protocol for proper Victorian behavior including that it was customary to seat guests at a table by alternating men and women and that it was rude to talk to someone across the table from you; you were only to speak to those immediately beside you.  We also learned that all food should be passed to the left.

 The curator, Lisa Whitfield, cinched Taylor into the clothing of a Victorian lady, starting with a corset...

 ...and continuing with a bustle.

 Here, Taylor models the finished ensemble.

 The front parlor of the Smith-McDowell House Museum shows the large amount of decorative objects with which Victorians bedecked their homes.  Our docent informed us that Victorians thought that wherever the eye may fall, it should see something beautiful.

 We posed for a group photo on the stairs leading up to the second floor of the Smith-McDowell House.

 Here, Jozef examines documents in the Special Collections archive of the UNC-Asheville Ramsey Library.

 Jeremy examines a pamphlet.

 Dr. Fenn and Taylor examine some realia that is part of the archive.

Here, Taylor thumbs through a photograph album found in the UNC-A archives.

Brenda Seright Williams was our guide on the HerStory tour of downtown Asheville this evening.  Here, we stand on the porch of the boarding house where Thomas Wolfe grew up.

 The group follows Ms. Williams along the sidewalks of Asheville. 

Ms. Williams told us about the S&W building, reportedly haunted by the ghost of a murderous waiter!

 Ms. Williams described the architecture of the Asheville City Hall (in the background).

 In the van on the way to dinner.

 Here, the students enjoy a dinner at historic Pack's Tavern.