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When Eliza Abraham and Moses
Myers were married in 1787 they chartered a boat and moved from New York
to Norfolk.
Myers was the first Jewish settler in Norfolk.
Within four years, he had established a five-vessel fleet for his
import-export business and built a classic Georgian townhouse.
The oldest four-square
portion of the house was constructed of 18th-century English ballast
bricks. In 1796 the Moses Myers House was expanded from 10 to 13
rooms. From the outside you can clearly see the difference between the
English and American bricks. Five generations of Myerses lived here and 70
percent of the furniture is original. Moses Myers was a community leader
and his home reflects his successful life style.
Myers was president of the
common council, a major in the Virginia militia, consul from the United
States to France, the Netherlands and Denmark, president of the Assembly
Ball, superintendent of the Bank of Richmond and collector of customs.
From the moment you pull the
old English bell to gain entrance, you'll be intrigued by this remarkably
well-preserved old city mansion. The Myerses did not carry door keys;
servants were always on hand with a massive one pound key to unfasten the
English triple box lock. The entrance hall still has the original four-inch
native heart pine floor boards and a decorative snowflake pattern plaster
ceiling.
In the formal parlor you'll
see Gilbert Stuart's portraits of Moses Myers painted when he was in his
early fifties, and of Mrs. Myers when she was in her early forties. The
parlor's Portuguese tole chandelier is a curiosity---the light prongs
surrounding the eternal flame bear the supposed likeness of Christopher
Columbus. The mantle decoration around the parlor fireplace also reveals
the visage of an important historical figure. George Washington gazes out
from the rosettes flanking the fireplace on this unique mantle.
The dining room is regarded
as one of the most beautiful in the South. Here the Myers' family
entertained the Marquis de Lafayette, President James Monroe, Daniel
Webster, Stephen Decatur, Henry Clay and General Winfield Scott. In the
china cabinet you'll see Mrs. Myers’ apricot Spode tea and coffee set. The
white, grey and silver decor combines with the black and white patterned
canvas matting on the floor to create a surprisingly modern look.
The Myerses were all musical
and their music room has a pianoforte and harp. The family reputedly had
the largest collection of musical books in early American, with George
Washington a distant second. The three Myers daughters copied musical
scores in quite a number of books.
Displayed in the upstairs
hallways are the dueling pistol possibly used in the 1820 Barron-Decatur
duel. Another room has a seven-lock iron money chest that Myers anchored to
the floor with iron bolts. There is also a grand harmonicon. Only five of
the 25 glasses have survived, but it is enough to give visitors a look at an
instrument for which both Beethoven and Mozart composed.
Over the Myers's bed is a
carved acorn, symbol of fertility. It obviously was effective; they had 12
children. In Mrs. Myers's bedroom you'll see her oriental sewing
worktable. The back bedroom had a six-foot modified sleigh bed. Before
ending your tour be sure to visit the outside kitchen and the garden.
The mansion is open from
April through December, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Tuesday through Saturday.
On Sunday it opens at NOON. From January through March the house is open NOON
to 5:00 P.M.
Tuesday through Saturday and closed on Sundays, Mondays and major holidays.
This is one of the few historic homes in which Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival
of Lights, which occurs in December, is celebrated. Candles are lit in a
brass menorah for each of the festival's eight days. Admission is charged.
Directions: From I-95 in the
Richmond area, take I-64 east to Norfolk, then follow I-264 east to the
Waterside Drive Exit. Take Waterside Drive
to St. Paul's Boulevard, then turn left on Market Street and right onto Bank
Street. The Moses Myers House is at the corner of Freemason and Bank
streets.
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