A Wedding at Graeme Park: Glo & Walt

It seems like we just wrapped up wedding season 2013, and here we are starting back up again for 2014. Glo and Walt lucked into the best weather yet this year and had a perfect evening for their guests to enjoy dessert, cocktails and dancing in the Open Aire Affairs tent at Graeme Park (they had their ceremony and dinner off site).

Their decorations were simple, pretty and personal, featuring fun canvas prints of the couple, initials, a color palette of soft gray and mustard yellow with gold glitter accents, flowers, and tulle.

Guests were greeted at the entrance to the tent with a garland of felted wool pompoms and paper lanterns over the large dance floor.

The guest book area had a poster with small hearts for the guests to sign, the couple's initials in mustard, and a few old suitcases with a gold glitter sign, baby's breath and other flowers and a photo of the couple featuring the groom carrying one of the suitcases used on the table.

Tables were covered in simple cream cloths with an assortment of casually arranged flowers, tulle material, and lots of twinkly candles dipped in gold glitter.

The gold glitter was carried through to the "Mr. and Mrs." banner that adorned the sweetheart table.

 The dessert buffet was catered by JPM Catering of Armore and featured a fanciful assortment of sweet treats for guests to nibble with their coffee and cocktails.

Congratulations Glo and Walt and thank you for choosing Graeme Park for your celebration.

William Keith's "Stone of Strength"

We featured William Keith's "lifting stone" last summer in one of our "What is It? Where is It?" challenges, and since then have been contacted by a Scotsman named Peter Martin, who has spent many years researching stones such as these for a book he's writing, and who has provided us with a lot more information. Our experience on telling visitor's about the stone and Keith's use of it as a test of strength for workers he was considering employing, is that the stories are often met with doubt. Mr. Martin has provided us with a very detailed explanation of the cultural significance of these stones and their application to Sir William's background which has given us a more complete picture of what the stone is, why it is here, and how it was likely used.

While our stone is unique in America (it may be the only one, at least with historical affiliations), they were common in many other countries, and are especially associated with the Gaelic-speaking areas of Scotland, such as Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, where Keith was born. Martin has compiled a list of nearly 100 such stones in Scotland, over 30 of which are still extant. The stones were used as "tests of manhood" or "clach-neart" (pronounced Clack Neersht or Clack Nyert depending on dialect - "stone of strength"). Young men between the ages of 10-14 were welcomed into manhood when they could lift the stone from the ground most likely just to the ankles (some contend to the waist). Men of the clan would gather and challenge one another to lift the stone as a form of entertainment and competition (Highland Games consist of many of these types of strength competitions). Stones were lifted for military purposes to determine the strongest men at arms, and they were lifted for remembrance (being remembered for being strong was inherent in Gaelic male culture). Many stones were traditionally located at the gates of great houses, which is in keeping with Keith's standing and with the legend that ours was originally located at the entry. Stones used by "commoners" were often located near churches. Martin feels absolutely certain that Sir William himself would have lifted our/his stone on a regular basis -- it was his part of his culture, it was his stone, and it was absolutely ingrained into the belief system of the Gaelic people that you did not ask someone to do what you yourself could not. The mushroom shape may have made the stone tricky to lift because of the effect of the shape on the center of gravity.

The idea of it being used as a test for employment is a little less clear. While the practice was more common in Sweden, it was not part of Scottish Gaelic culture. There were however strong ties between the two countries so it seems certain that the Scots would have at least known of the practice. The idea of it being used as a test of strength for slaves was practiced by the Barbary Coast slavers. It was not so much to see who was strong enough to lift the stone, but to examine the muscle tone of the slaves while the stone was being lifted. The early 20th century writers who identified Keith as having used his stone in this way may have had more knowledge of this aspect of history than of Gaelic traditions and just made an assumption that that was why he had it and what he used it for.

Martin contends that the stone is much more than just a test of strength used by Keith and his friends though. He believes it demonstrates Keith's class, religious and political leanings, which are also ingrained in the strength culture specifically of the Gaelic speaking areas of Scotland. Keith was baptized into the Anglican Church of England, and was therefore Episcopalian in his beliefs. Had he been a member of the Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian, there would be no lifting stone at Graeme Park, as the Presbyterians loathed Gaelic culture and anything to do with it. Presbyterian church leadership revolved around a council of elders, while the Episcopalians retained a more Catholic form of a hierarchical leadership with the Bishop as the head. The Presbyterian Church leaders saw the Gael as Irish because of the shared language, and as the Irish were Roman Catholic the Gaels of Scotland were seen in the same light. Their desire was to wipe out this part of Scottish culture and make the country more English so a traditional Gaelic "stone of strength" would not have been used or owned by a Presbyterian. Furthermore, Keith was a Jacobite, or a supporter of the restoration of the Catholic Stuart King James II to the throne of England. The fact that there is a lifting stone at Graeme Park emphasizes Keith's Jacobite and Episcopalian views in that he retained an aspect of his Gaelic culture that was seen by the Presbyterians as "Irish" or "Popish". Keith's upbringing within the Scottish clan system, his religious, and his political views place him firmly within the cultural grouping of people who actively engaged in stone lifting.

Hopefully I've done justice in summarizing the rather complex bit of information Mr. Martin was kind enough to put together and send to us. The original paper is located in our files at Graeme Park if anyone should so wish to read it and gain further understanding.

2014 WWII Weekend at Graeme Park

Even though spring seems far away and it feels like we may never see the grass again, our committee has been hard at work planning the 2014 WWII Weekend at Graeme Park, which will take place on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4. Once again, we have a ton of great entertainment, interesting period displays, and of course the battle reenactment in store for you.

Reenactors representing troops from America, Germany, Great Britain and Poland are all on board again this year so you can see the differences in camp set-ups, equipment, vehicles, and battle tactics. WWII veterans will be on hand so we can honor them during a special ceremony and many have stories, books, photos, and displays to share. We're also adding the Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show this year and bringing back the Society Music Makers for a swing band concert. Please review the schedule for an action packed weekend and plan to spend the day (or the whole weekend) with us.

Saturday, May 3
Vendors & Displays - 10:00 - 4:00
Flag Raising & National Anthem - 10:30
Tours of Keith House & Kitchen: every 30 minutes between 11:00 and 2:00
Weapons Demonstration - 11:30
Abbott & Costello Show - 12:15, 2:00, 4:45
Swing Dance Demo & Lesson - 1:15
Battle Reenactment - 3:00
Honoring of Veterans - 4:15
Swing Concert & Dance with the Society Music Makers - 5:30

Sunday, May 4
Vendors & Displays - 10:00 - 3:00
Flag Raising & National Anthem - 10:30
Tours of Keith House & Kitchen: 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 2:00, 2:30
Weapons Demonstration - 11:00
Live Patriotic Music - 11:45
Abbott & Costello Show - 12:30, 4:15
Battle Reenactment - 1:30
Honoring of Veterans - 2:45
Swing Dance Demo & Lesson - 3:30