When trying to figure out today’s Mystery Photo, think along historical lines. That’s a hint of a clue for you to use. And when you send in your idea to elliott@brack.net, remember to include your hometown.
Several readers recognized James Madison’s home, Montpelier, in Orange, Va. Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill, wrote: “This is Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison, in Orange County, Va. James Madison (Jr.) was the fourth president of the United States. When Madison was growing up, he lived with his family on a small plantation called Mount Pleasant, also in Orange County. In the early 1760’s, the plantation’s slaves built a brick Georgian home a half mile away and the family moved there and renamed their estate Montpelier. Madison inherited Montpelier (and more than 100 slaves) when his father died in 1801.”
Other readers who got this right include Steve Ogilvie, Lawrenceville; Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex., who added: “After his father’s death, Madison continued to run the family plantation, during which time from five to seven generations of African Americans were born into slavery at Montpelier, with as many as 100 slaves being known to work the land at one time. It is clear that Madison had many demons to fight in the conflicting nature of his plantation ownership and his pivotal role in drafting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. As an example, fearing a slave rebellion at Montpelier in 1783, Madison freed one of his slaves. Yet after the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791, Madison did not update his will to free any of the slaves that worked at Montpelier.”
- SHARE A MYSTERY PHOTO: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: elliott@brack.net and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
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