Education Blog
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17th Century Medicine: A Major Obstacle Faced by the Jamestown Colony
The Englishmen, inexperienced in surviving in this new wilderness, fell ill with terrible diseases often caused by their poor water supply. Many experienced salt poisoning, dysentery, typhoid, or even a mixture of these. Furthermore, they unknowingly arrived during a significant drought which further degraded their water supply and quickly led to food shortages and desperation…
A Letter to Our Community: Like So Many Before Us, We Will Endure
Hello, everyone! My name is John Ericson and I am the Outreach Coordinator and one of the Museum Interpreters here at St. Luke’s Historic Church & Museum. Though we are unable to open our doors for tours during this time of social distancing, we are striving to continue our mission of educating…
The Pyland Family of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, and Newport Parish
By Kelly McMahon Willette, CG® Historic St. Luke’s Church’s survival since the 1600s means that it, both as a church and an institution, has shepherded hundreds of early Virginia families through its doors, its catechism, and its legacy. Because of Isle of Wight...
A DREAM COME TRUE: Gen. Joseph Bridger’s Whitemarsh
By William P. Carrell II The author of the cryptic epitaph on the gravestone of Gen. Joseph Bridger (by 1631/2-1686) now in the chancel of St. Luke’s Church queried: “does nature silent mourn and can dumb stone make his true worth to future ages known?” Whoever that...
The Misconception of Memory
The Misconception of Memory: Part One Written by Research Assistant Lauren Harlow What is history? What is memory? Are these two words synonymous, or do they hold their own meanings? Very plainly, history is the use of collected facts and primary sources in...
Who Lies Beneath the Baptismal Font?
Who Lies Beneath the Baptismal Font? Written by Research Assistant Lauren Harlow “Whose time-tinted bones are slowly reverting to dust at the bottom of a shallow grave in the [“Old Brick Church”]?” (Smithfield Times, 1956) This is one of the many mysteries which...