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NORFOLK |
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70 percent of the 18th century furniture is original
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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