I have relatives visiting me in DC this weekend. So today we went to Mount Vernon, George and Martha Washington’s estate south of DC. I’ve been to Mount Vernon many times over the years. But I haven’t been there since starting this blog, so certain things stood out that I hadn’t noticed before.
Apparently the Washington’s were quite fond of ham and bacon that came from hogs raised on the estate. “Virginia Ladies value themselves on the goodness of their bacon,” said George Washington in a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette. According to another sign posted near the Smokehouse at Mount Vernon, “because of its savory bounty, the smokehouse was an occasional target for raids. The structure was built without windows, but in one instance, a thief tore away a siding plank to gain access.” Now that’s a serious pork craving.
President Washington raised a rare breed of Ossabaw Island Hogs that date back to the Spanish explorers of the 17th century. Washington’s hogs ran wild in the woods until they were caught, fattened on corn and potatoes, and slaughtered for food each fall.
I’ve lived in DC off and on over the last 15 years, and after living here for a while it’s too easy to begin taking the things you are surrounded by for granted. So it’s always a treat to discover something new about a familiar place. And as a result, I’ve earned a new level of respect for our first president!