Monday, June 19, 2006
Betsy Ross
Father's Day was one for the history books. My long-suffering husband got a day-long visit to the City of Brotherly Love. First, he got to drive the "world's largest parking lot" (Schuylkill Expressway). Then a tour of the city on one of those duck boats (www.phillyducks.com), with crazy tourists quacking their duck bill whistles. Then a long walk in 90 degree heat to visit Elfreth's Alley (the oldest occupied neighborhood in America), the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross' house, and Ben Franklin's grave.
Although I've lived near Philadelphia almost all my life, I'd never been to Betsy Ross' house. A tiny little brick house with some nifty artifacts inside. There was a beige quilted petticoat in very nice condition. There is some question whether or not Betsy really did make the first flag. Seems there really isn't any documentation just the story Betsy told about George Washington coming to visit her about making a flag. He wanted 6 pointed stars, and she said she couldn't get the flag and a dress for Martha completed, so she made the stars 5 pointed ones. Good story if nothing else. Betsy's descendents have made little flags through the years and a few were on display. It seems that her descendents were also good seamstresses, and made these little flags to show their stitching ability.
I kept thinking about how hard life was then. Old Betsy had 3 husbands during her lifetime, ran an upholstery shop, made flags for the Navy and made musket balls. Very sobering.
Although I've lived near Philadelphia almost all my life, I'd never been to Betsy Ross' house. A tiny little brick house with some nifty artifacts inside. There was a beige quilted petticoat in very nice condition. There is some question whether or not Betsy really did make the first flag. Seems there really isn't any documentation just the story Betsy told about George Washington coming to visit her about making a flag. He wanted 6 pointed stars, and she said she couldn't get the flag and a dress for Martha completed, so she made the stars 5 pointed ones. Good story if nothing else. Betsy's descendents have made little flags through the years and a few were on display. It seems that her descendents were also good seamstresses, and made these little flags to show their stitching ability.
I kept thinking about how hard life was then. Old Betsy had 3 husbands during her lifetime, ran an upholstery shop, made flags for the Navy and made musket balls. Very sobering.
