You might recall that a week ago Friday I went with the docents from the Historical Society for a day off the island.  We met at 10:30 and left Cedar Key in a convoy of about four cars, all heading first to The Ivy House of Alachua Restaurant.  The beautiful house above was once owned by George, a member of our Historical Society.  Now turned into individual dining rooms, it was easy to visualize it as a private home.

Our group had our own dining area and we enjoyed a delicious chicken salad on croissant with a fresh garden salad.  I apologize for the darkness of the photos......my batteries were low.

They were still decorated for Christmas, with their tree up and it added a cozy and warm ambiance to a cloudy, rainy day.

Following lunch, we headed to the historic Haile Homestead in Gainesville.  We were fortunate to have a private tour with Karen, the docent.  And again I apologize for the next photo.....I just realized that my batteries were totally dead, because the rest of the photos that I took at Haile didn't come out.  However, this is what the outside of the house looks like from their brochure.

The homestead is a unique Classic Revival style plantation home with Cracker influences.  It was built by Thomas Evans and Esther Serena Chesnut Haile from 1854 to 1856.  The 6,200 sq. ft. home has been carefully restored to its original appearance.  Enslaved craftsmen constructed the house out of native materials.

Haile Homestead is in its original location on a 40-acre remnant of what was once a 1,500-acre Sea Island cotton plantation.  The Haile family farmed the site until the latter part of the 19th century, after which it became a place where Gainesville's elite came for parties hosted by Evans Haile, a gregarious attorney in Gainesville and one of the youngest sons of Thomas and Serena Haile.

The house itself was similar to many others that I've visited around the world.  However, this one was quite unique in one particular way.  It had talking walls.  Yes, talking walls.  No.....we couldn't actually "hear" them.  We read them.  The Haile family had the unusual habit of writing on the walls. (To think I got punished for doing this as a toddler) Shopping lists, wise sayings, agricultural records, lists of party-guests, old-time prescriptions and recipes and just plain doodling cover most of the walls of this fascinating historic relic.  It was amazing to me to read the original writing on the white-washed walls, some of which dated back to 1859!  It's been documented that the walls revealed over 12,500 words.  Notations were found scribbled on the walls of almost every room and in many closets.  Most of the writing was done in pencil.  Notes made in ink have faded to light brown

I was particularly drawn to the right of the fireplace in the master bedroom where there were height charts of some of Serena's grandchildren.  I did the exact same thing in my previous home in New Port Richey.....on the inner door jam, I penciled in the various heights of my two grandson's Julien and Forrest with little notes over fifteen years.  I'm sure the new owners painted over it.  Perhaps this is why I was so captivated with the talking walls at Haile Homestead.  How nice to think that all these years later those words have all been preserved.

It was a most enjoyable and full day complete with lots of chatting and socializing.  We returned to the island at 4:30 and just as we approached the Number Four Bridge......the sun came out, welcoming us back home.

See you here next time........