Historic Rosedale Plantation

"Did you know Rosedale Plantation is a tri-part house? Rosedale is symmetrical outside, but on the inside it is asymmetrical. It is a beautiful house." (4th grader)

This 13-room Federal-style mansion housed the Frew, Caldwell and Davidson families. Students viewed original mahogany faux-grained paneling, French wallpaper from 1800, and hand-carved classic mantels. Jenny, the Caldwell's cook, was one of 20 slaves that inhabited the Plantation. Students toured the cellar where Jenny would cook and the gardens from which she would gather food.

"There were some very pretty gardens. The herb garden was my favorite part. It was neat to look at all the medicinal and bug-repellant herbs they had back then. Some of them even worked!" (7th grader)

Dr. David Caldwell and his wife, Harriett, educated eight children in the early 1800's. "In the schoolhouse, she showed us what the boys and girls would have studied. The two curricula were very different. The girls would practice sewing, while the boys would explore. Hmmmm...does this seem right?" (7th grader)