When the first settlers arrived on the New World mainland in the early 1600s, they found a bounty of game, seafood, fruit and fowl for substance and food, as well as magnificent forests that would provide wood for warmth, cooking and shelter. What they didn't find were dairy or poultry products, for there were no cows or chickens. They also found a shortage of brandy, wine, beer and cider because there were few brewmasters. The later drinks were important because water was looked upon with disfavor in those days.
The settlers immediately sent word back to Europe, and within a few months, cows and brewmasters were on the way. Chickens began to appear, but history doesn't record how they arrived. They were most likely from New World Indian tribes, mainly in South America. Poultry quickly became a favorite, and today the average American consumes 100 pounds per year!
Preparation of meals took up much of the day. Menus grew to the point where they had to be written down in order to be remembered. The first published menus made their debut in the early 1700s. Previously, they were handed down through the family line. Soon, cookbooks were popular fund-raisers for church groups.
Bibles, Broadsheets (newspapers) and cookbooks are great sources of actual history of this country. Although first published in 1957, the Virginia Cookery -- past and present by Olivet Episcopal Church in Franconia offers previously unpublished manuscript recipes of the Lee and Washington families that were used during Colonial Times.
The Franconia Museum has a few of these valuable cookbooks that will make an important keepsake gift as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026. These recipes were on the tables in Virginia as the Revolutionary War was being fought, and were no doubt part of feasts as word arrived that the British had been defeated at Yorktown in 1781, five years after the 13 colonies had declared their independence.
Started as a fund-raising effort and a way to introduce the church to a growing community, the cookbook became a popular item throughout Virginia. It included recipes from the Old Dominion's network of parishes. The book grew to 450 pages in a six inch by nine inch format. Included are offerings from local Franconians and businesses. Those who have been around for a while will recognize the names.
The effort was spearheaded by Olivet's Cook Book Committee which included Mrs. Walter Husted, Mrs. William (Dorothy) H. Higham and Mrs. Charles E. Karsten, Jr. So far it has been printed 12 times, the last being in 1994. There are only a few books left, so act fast if you would like to own one. Reading it will be like studying a history book for the last 300 years. People are what they eat!
Pick one up at the Museum for only $15 dollars. Order by mail for $25 to defray the cost of mailing, packaging and electronic payment charges. Mail a check to the Museum at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310, or order online by clicking on franconiamuseum.org, then go to the e-store, locate the book and follow instructions.
The cookbook is dedicated to Dorothy Anderson Higham, one of Franconia’s famous daughters who supported Olivet and Franconia for many years. She was a teacher at Franconia Elementary School who rented a room from Kathie Higham and married her landlord's son, Bill. Dorothy and Bill had two sons, Bill, Jr., and Andy, both of whom have now passed away. Bill, Jr.'s wife, Nancy, and Andy's wife, Jane, manage the sale of the remaining cookbooks. Jane is the treasurer of the Franconia Museum.
There will be all sorts of elaborate reminders of the United States' first 250 years as a country. This cookbook is a down-home history of our country and Franconia that will remind you of our past every time you put one of its offerings on your family's table. And, you will be supporting Olivet (now a part of the merged congregations of St. Martin de Porres Episcopal Church) and the Museum, which will split the sales of the cookbooks.
The settlers immediately sent word back to Europe, and within a few months, cows and brewmasters were on the way. Chickens began to appear, but history doesn't record how they arrived. They were most likely from New World Indian tribes, mainly in South America. Poultry quickly became a favorite, and today the average American consumes 100 pounds per year!
Preparation of meals took up much of the day. Menus grew to the point where they had to be written down in order to be remembered. The first published menus made their debut in the early 1700s. Previously, they were handed down through the family line. Soon, cookbooks were popular fund-raisers for church groups.
Bibles, Broadsheets (newspapers) and cookbooks are great sources of actual history of this country. Although first published in 1957, the Virginia Cookery -- past and present by Olivet Episcopal Church in Franconia offers previously unpublished manuscript recipes of the Lee and Washington families that were used during Colonial Times.
The Franconia Museum has a few of these valuable cookbooks that will make an important keepsake gift as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026. These recipes were on the tables in Virginia as the Revolutionary War was being fought, and were no doubt part of feasts as word arrived that the British had been defeated at Yorktown in 1781, five years after the 13 colonies had declared their independence.
Started as a fund-raising effort and a way to introduce the church to a growing community, the cookbook became a popular item throughout Virginia. It included recipes from the Old Dominion's network of parishes. The book grew to 450 pages in a six inch by nine inch format. Included are offerings from local Franconians and businesses. Those who have been around for a while will recognize the names.
The effort was spearheaded by Olivet's Cook Book Committee which included Mrs. Walter Husted, Mrs. William (Dorothy) H. Higham and Mrs. Charles E. Karsten, Jr. So far it has been printed 12 times, the last being in 1994. There are only a few books left, so act fast if you would like to own one. Reading it will be like studying a history book for the last 300 years. People are what they eat!
Pick one up at the Museum for only $15 dollars. Order by mail for $25 to defray the cost of mailing, packaging and electronic payment charges. Mail a check to the Museum at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310, or order online by clicking on franconiamuseum.org, then go to the e-store, locate the book and follow instructions.
The cookbook is dedicated to Dorothy Anderson Higham, one of Franconia’s famous daughters who supported Olivet and Franconia for many years. She was a teacher at Franconia Elementary School who rented a room from Kathie Higham and married her landlord's son, Bill. Dorothy and Bill had two sons, Bill, Jr., and Andy, both of whom have now passed away. Bill, Jr.'s wife, Nancy, and Andy's wife, Jane, manage the sale of the remaining cookbooks. Jane is the treasurer of the Franconia Museum.
There will be all sorts of elaborate reminders of the United States' first 250 years as a country. This cookbook is a down-home history of our country and Franconia that will remind you of our past every time you put one of its offerings on your family's table. And, you will be supporting Olivet (now a part of the merged congregations of St. Martin de Porres Episcopal Church) and the Museum, which will split the sales of the cookbooks.
________________________________________
For previous stories, go to franconiamuseum.org and click on history blog.
For previous stories, go to franconiamuseum.org and click on history blog.
FRANCONIA REMEMBERS
This is one of the Franconia Museum’s occasional articles highlighting the area’s history. If you would like a friend to receive these FREE articles, contact us at franconia.museum.newsletter@gmail.com Membership is also encouraged, so that we can continue our work. The Museum is in the Franconia Government Center, currently located at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22310. The hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Museum is a 501 (c) tax exempt organization, as approved by the Internal Revenue Service.
This is one of the Franconia Museum’s occasional articles highlighting the area’s history. If you would like a friend to receive these FREE articles, contact us at franconia.museum.newsletter@gmail.com Membership is also encouraged, so that we can continue our work. The Museum is in the Franconia Government Center, currently located at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22310. The hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Museum is a 501 (c) tax exempt organization, as approved by the Internal Revenue Service.
Join or contribute to the Franconia Museum electronically by accessing Franconiamuseum.org and clicking on Become a Member. You can also join the old fashioned way by mailing a check made payable to the Franconia Museum at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA, 22310. Levels of memberships and giving are presented below.
The Museum will soon move into new quarters at the relocated Franconia Government Center on Beulah Street, near its intersection with the Franconia-Springfield Parkway. We need your help to make the move, so please consider making a contribution or becoming a member for 2025. Contributions in excess of the membership fee are encouraged. The Museum is a volunteer effort, but there are also costs for insurance of our artifacts, printing and postage. Please help!
2025 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – PLEASE JOIN OR RENEW
Join us in celebrating our 24th year of preserving and protecting the history of our unique community. Our collections are growing, and we are starting to purchase electronic equipment for displays that will be available in the new Franconia Govt. Center coming in 2025 next to Lane Elementary and Beulah Park. Make the move with us by becoming a member! Additional donations are especially welcome! We are a tax-exempt, volunteer organization. There are no fund-raising costs! Come see us and learn about our past, present and future! Join us as a new member, renew your 2024 membership, or become a Lifetime or Founding member. We need to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors, and need volunteers to help man the Museum on Mon-Tues-Wed-Sat.
Annual dues $25.00 Donation $______________ Total Enclosed $_____________
or Lifetime Member…$350.00 (one time payment)
or Founding Member…$1,000.00 (one time payment)
Name............................................................................................................................................
Address.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
Phone.................................................. E-mail...........................................................................
Please complete application and mail with payment to:
Franconia Museum, 6121 Franconia Rd, Franconia, VA 22310
Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Questions: Call Carl Sell at 703-971-4716 or email sellcarl@aol.com
The Museum will soon move into new quarters at the relocated Franconia Government Center on Beulah Street, near its intersection with the Franconia-Springfield Parkway. We need your help to make the move, so please consider making a contribution or becoming a member for 2025. Contributions in excess of the membership fee are encouraged. The Museum is a volunteer effort, but there are also costs for insurance of our artifacts, printing and postage. Please help!
2025 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – PLEASE JOIN OR RENEW
Join us in celebrating our 24th year of preserving and protecting the history of our unique community. Our collections are growing, and we are starting to purchase electronic equipment for displays that will be available in the new Franconia Govt. Center coming in 2025 next to Lane Elementary and Beulah Park. Make the move with us by becoming a member! Additional donations are especially welcome! We are a tax-exempt, volunteer organization. There are no fund-raising costs! Come see us and learn about our past, present and future! Join us as a new member, renew your 2024 membership, or become a Lifetime or Founding member. We need to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors, and need volunteers to help man the Museum on Mon-Tues-Wed-Sat.
Annual dues $25.00 Donation $______________ Total Enclosed $_____________
or Lifetime Member…$350.00 (one time payment)
or Founding Member…$1,000.00 (one time payment)
Name............................................................................................................................................
Address.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
Phone.................................................. E-mail...........................................................................
Please complete application and mail with payment to:
Franconia Museum, 6121 Franconia Rd, Franconia, VA 22310
Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Questions: Call Carl Sell at 703-971-4716 or email sellcarl@aol.com
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