Bees, thousands of bees love the Mansion

I was surprised to see this swarm of Honey Bees that had collected above the 2nd story window on the northeast side of the Mansion.   I immediately called a wonderful friend, Clayton Armstrong, that is a bee keeper among many other skills.  He immediately drove over from Paris and advised that the colony was building combs, but would not survive the winter in that exposed location.  We both care about the future of wild honey bees and Clayton volunteered to collect the bees with the help of his daughter Julie Wood.   He  went home to collect his custom built bee vacuum and enlist the help of his daughter.  Julie, being the more nimble, put on the protective clothing and climbed out onto the window sill.  It was amazing to see her carefully vacuum the thousands of bee into the special cage.  The bees remained somewhat docile, but some would explore the keeper's mask that Julie wore.  It had to make her nervous!  No one likes to be stung.  With father coaching, they managed to collect most of the bees and transport them to a hive on the Armstrong farm.  With this plan, Clayton could monitor the bees and later divide the colony and move half the bees back to the grounds of the Benjamin House in a hive that would allow them to survive the winter.

Front Yard Transformation

The LICHTE  tree splits and city arrives!

Last Sycamore falls - Jan 2013

Brian of BK  Concrete and Tree Removal

Trees live a long time.  Some live longer than others due to genetics or luck.  The 2011 Tornado damaged nearly every tree in the yard and the soft maples were the most easily damaged.  Before the Tornado, high winds split a huge tree that was from the Lichte Ash/Cottonwood hybrid stock that was brought to the area by the doctor many years ago.  As the many giant elms of long ago, this tree was  also lost.  The city dropped half the tree to avoid damage to their power lines and BK finished the job in fine fashion.  He and his crew also dropped many of the tornado damaged trees.

Dorothy Carothers Dulaney!

Marilyn Shepherd & Dorothy Carothers Dulaney

While eating dinner, my wife struck up a conversation with a lady and the subject of the Benjamin House came up.  She became animated an told us of her youth when she was friends with Eddy Jo Johns.  She recounted how she always admired Eddy Jo's graceful, ladylike ways.  "I was a bit of a Tom Boy, myself", the petite Dorothy giggled.  Together they played and the Benjamin House became a backdrop that they have never forgotten.  Stories like this are exciting for us and we hope to discover more.

Christmas - Anniversary - New Year!

 Jo Kampschmidt, Roger & Debbie Bowe, + Ivy JoAnne

The Holidays are great with family.  A key to remember is that it doesn't have to be YOUR family.  Like so many people, our days are busy but the kids are in Texas and Japan.  So, we borrowed family from our friends.  High School friends, their children, Jo Kampschmidt's family, Kathleen Wilham, and  several others helped Marilyn and I celebrate Christmas, New Years, and best of all - our Anniversary!  The weather was cold with a threat of snow, but we had the house warm and lighted from basement to belvedere.  One friend visiting for the first time had wondered about finding the house on such a dark night.  They said that as they traveled west on collage street they had no doubt when they sited the Benjamin House.  In fact, they said,"Oh my gosh"!  Another friend from high school said that he saw the house when he was passing Hunnewell (laughing).  The new visitors had a lot of questions and Kathleen bailed me out on the tough questions.
The biggest family was Jo's with son Don and wife, Leigh;  daughter Debbie with her husband Roger and their daughter and grand daughter.  They arrived from as far away as San Jon, New Mexico.  Having lived in New Mexico, I really enjoyed talking with them about the food, customs, and weather.

Wild weather worth the dinner!

Lee Ann, Kathleen, Mike, and Marilyn  meet at Shelbina's Senior Center

The snow and wind was fierce, but we made it to the Shelbina Senior Center for a Christmas dinner.  Marilyn and I met Kathleen Wilham of the historical society and Lee Ann Oliver, who does a great job of managing the Shelby County mo.gen. website of historical information.  If you have not visited the website or historical building, you are missing a real treat.  Information about the Benjamin House and Shelby County is still being discovered thanks to their research.   Local people still have stories to share and we hope to gather them.  J.D. Davis (90) did not make it to the dinner due to the weather, but he must have a lot of stories.  And, I met  Dorina May Richards who knew Jane Todd (resident 1955-60) and asked if Jane had been back to the house.  Jane, we miss you!  Also, an Email arrived from Eddie Jo Johns Lawrence asking about the house and  we hope that she can visit again.  The last time she was here, the house was a construction mess.  I am surprised that she will even talk to me!  So, keep going rain or snow and a bright day can arrive.

Doors and More.........

The size & etched glass are perfect (with work)

Lovely old hinges & knobs

There has been much thought about the old grey painted window (not original) that was located above the door to the basement staircase.  We have measured and searched for a way to fill the void that the old sash had left and how to provide access to the wall behind for painting or other treatments.  Then Eureka, an estate sale door that came from southern Illinois seemed to be the answer.  It was the proper width, era, and design to help light flow to the staircase while allowing future paint or plaster work.
 

Latch to allow access

Now is the work of cutting, stripping paint, and installation of the window.  So much to do and time is running short on us.  Tic Toc, Tic Toc, Tic Toc........

Sonny/Chuck Magruder loved Christmas at Mansion

Reflections everywhere

MY FAVORITE ORNAMENT PEEKING AROUND THE TREE

This year seemed special as we decorated for Christmas.  Lights and ornaments went on the tree, candles (about 75) were placed in the windows, and the Belvedere got its own tree at the top of the house.  While lighting the tree and seeing the reflections in the large pier mirrors of the parlor, I kept thinking of the joy that this room had brought young Charles Magruder.  He was Sonny or Chuck to most people and nice to all.  His partner, Valerie Shondel,  told me of how he would reflect back to his childhood joy at descending the grand staircase and entering the parlor.  The tree, reflections, decorations, and memories stayed with him forever.  Thank you Valerie for bringing a special joy to our Christmas with your story of Chuck.  Christmas is a time to share with everyone past and present  In this way, Sonny can be with us  each Christmas season.

Sonny's first view

       Does anyone else have a story about Christmas at the mansion?