Monroe, Number Five

Dan's mom was here for two weeks taking care of the kids while I was gone and then making life fun for us all when I had finally returned.  One day last week we made it to Ashlawn-Highland for a tour of the farmhouse of James Monroe, our fifth President of the United States. 















With his permanent residence in his native Northern Virginia, James Monroe built this house to be closer to his good friends and mentors, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. I couldn't take photos inside the house. The tour guide repeatedly referred to him as "Number Five", and to Jefferson as "Number Three" and Madison as "Number Four". I had never though of them in succession like this, and I know it's no coincidence that their homes are all so close to us here in Central Virginia.

The 300 year-old white oak in front of the house was impressive enough to inspire a photo shoot. 

I became quickly enamored with the quaint, compactness of this presidential home with its rolling brick walkways. The original "Highland" house is the white house--the yellow clapboard was added by the owners of the house to which Monroe sold the home before retiring to Oak Hill in Leesburg.

Monroe was a practical man. He had grown up working in the fields of his family's farm in Northern Virginia. A wealthy uncle funded his education at William and Mary, and he joined the Continental Army in 1776 as part of the gentry, and, therefore, an officer. He spent the rest of his life in politics and will always be considered one of the founding fathers. It's good to be reminded how humble his start was. He didn't die in debt after running his farms and businesses efficiently. That cannot be said of his neighbor at Monticello.

I didn't ask a lot of questions about the historical accuracy of the gardens, but I can't imagine that this house would have stood here without gardens to support it. Virginia heat and humidity grow awesome gardens.

I feel so fortunate to live here near the "Constitution Highway". I feel like I understand these men after stepping into their homes.