Our Favorite CW Interpreter

No matter where we've lived in Virginia, we've always enjoyed having folks visit us. I mentioned in yesterday's post that we would often invite guests to stroll down Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg when we lived there years ago.

Sometimes our favorite costumed interpreter, Tom's sister, Sue (a.k.a. Aunt Toots), would take us through the historic buildings in her tour group. We especially enjoyed being on her tours of the Governor's Palace because she always went above and beyond her official duties as tour guide. Her performance was great!

Here's how it all started. Back in 1997 Sue came to visit us, and we took her on a tour of CW, of course! It happened to be the exact week Chinese President Jiang Zemin was visiting the area, and Palace Green was roped off so the crowds couldn't get too close to him. I never was able to get a picture of him that morning, but we sure had an enjoyable visit with Aunt Toots that fall.

Soon after she returned home, we received a call saying she'd decided to move to Virginia from Connecticut and get a job in our town. Her goal: become a CW interpreter! 

She practiced her trial speeches for us--what fun that was to watch her preparing for her new role and seeing her rewarded with an interpreter position! Actually, she worked first for Sherwood Forest, the plantation home of John Tyler. She was able to acquire experience there and eventually became a historical interpreter for Colonial Williamsburg.

Below is a picture of our family and visiting relatives standing in front of the Courthouse with Aunt Toots in her colonial garb. Tom's sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews, plus my mom, came to visit so they could see where Aunt Toots was working and to hear her CW speech. Wow! Everyone in that picture is now almost ten years older! And also Sue moved back to Connecticut after awhile.

It's been lots of fun this week digging through some old pictures (makes me want to start scrapbooking again...when the yardwork is all done). Tomorrow I'll be posting some final pictures from Jamestown to wrap up our week of highlighting Jamestown's 400th Anniversary Celebration.

~Deb

Comments

[Bet]

Neat! I remember coming to hear Sue do her thing in Colonial Williamsburg too! She did a great job.

I always thought that would be a fun thing to do. Wonder if she misses doing it now? A perfect opportunity for you to comment, Sue! :)

[Tammy]

I had forgotten all about Sue working there.I can remember getting your letters and pictures from this "era".

The pictures on Caleb's blog brought back memories of going to Williamsburg.Of course like his family and friends I have taken pictures of family memebers in the stockades.

[Toots]

Wow! I'm the subject of a blog posting, I feel honored. Thanks for saying what a great job I did. Especially to you Bet, because as I recall, you came on my pirate tour when I was having a very off night. I never thought I went above and beyond my duties, I was just being me, and trying to make it as fun for the visitors as it was for me.

To answer your question Bet, yes I do miss it. Although there were times in the summer months that I thought I might scream if I had to comment on the wallpaper in the Wythe House one more time, it is the most fulfilling job I've had. I especially value the friends I made there. Even though I've been gone for almost six years, I'm still in contact with many of my friends from there. As a matter of fact, when I left, one of my friends gave me a C bracelet so I would always remember Williamsburg. I wear it everyday, and when I'm having a bad day at work(like today), I look at it and fondly remember my time there.

Thanks again Deb, for the neat post. I had forgotten how horrible Colonial clothes, and glasses make one look!