Wine Cellar Gets Some Attention
The Wine Cellar on our site is one of the few remaining original traces of the historic village of Azilum. Wine Cellars were built beneath residents' dining halls, which were separate from the main house, and which were connected to the cook house/kitchen by a covered walkway.
The Wine Cellar, which was excavated in previous decades, likely belonged to one of the houses owned by Mme. de Seybert, on whose property much of the present day historic site stands. Mme. de Seybert had extensive plots of land, as well as a mill.
Board Member Todd Carr took the initiative recently, as well as his weed whacker, rake and clippers, and began what is sure to be a lengthy job of cutting back and removing the weeds and invasives which have grown up inside the Wine Cellar.
We are grateful for Todd's enthusiasm and dedication!
Being on the board at Azilum means volunteering some of your time and talent at the site. This ranges from running the Gatehouse Gift Shop, to giving Tours of the LaPorte House, to lending some muscle and skill when it's needed: mowing, carpentry, repairs, you name it! Here, Board Member Dominique Vitoux of Lake Carey and Binghamton artist Rich Henry prep boards to be used to turn Azilum's Pavillion into an Art Gallery for the Susquehanna Solstice Festival.
More photos of our volunteers--we have so many they wouldn't fit in one post!
Photos:
The Labyrinth needs close attention all season long, and Rocky Finan
has volunteered for the task for a second year. Volunteer Katie Place repairs stone walls surrounding the labyrinth.
Fred Smith of Towanda painting Blacksmith shop.
Terry Fairchild of Standing Stone gives a spray
painting lesson during a work session.
Our wonderful cadre of volunteers have taken on a lengthy list of tasks during the autumn and winter--and they're still at it! All their efforts really make Azilum's historic site shine, and it takes a lot of work! Check out the photos to get an idea of what they've accomplished, and when you visit us this season, be sure to appreciate the results of their efforts! Photos: Neighbors to the task! Chuck Chilson of Azilum brought his front end loader one Saturday and prepared the new (old) bike rack pad.The Bike Rack is fashioned out of an old hay rake found on the property. Terry Fairchild did the welding from Brooks Eldredge-Martin’s design. Wyalusing neighbor and volunteer Tony Kolodzieg wrestles the ancient FA lilacs into shape.. The Labyrinth needs close attention all season long, and Rocky Finan has volunteered for the task for a second year. Volunteer Katie Place repairs stone walls surrounding the labyrinth. Fred Smith of Towanda painting Blacksmith shop. Terry Fairchild of Standing Stone gives a spray painting lesson during a work session. Board Member Dominique Vitoux of Lake Carey and Binghamton artist Rich Henry prep boards to be used to turn Azilum's Pavillion into an Art Gallery for the Susquehanna Solstice Festival.
The Gazebo at French Azilum, erected in the 1980s in honor of former resident and site director Martha Hermann, was recently refurbished thanks to Board Member Alison Sims and her husband Kyle.
The bushes surrounding the structure were trimmed back (desperately needed!), and the Gazebo itself received a pretty new coat of paint.
Keeping the grounds and buildinga at Azilum looking good takes many hands. Thank you to Alison and Kyle for being an inspiration!
We had a spectacular Civil War Day on Saturday, August 1, with Kurt Lafy and his hardy band of re-enactors. More than 100 people visited the site, enjoyed the skirmishes and cannon fire, marveled as the Blacksmiths worked their forge and petted King Solomon, a gorgeous 17 hand steed who came to represent the cavalry. Visitors enjoyed chatting with the re-enactors, as well as touring the site and the LaPorte House. Many spent the day, enjoying picnics under our pavilion and walking the nature trail down to our newly-refurbished river access.
This annual event is always a popular one, and this year with perfect weather, we were so happy that people came out to have a lovely day at Azilum.
Our Jane Austen Dance Afternoon and Tea was a success, even though we wore masks (optional) and wore gloves, and hand sanitized! We were outdoors under our pavilion — fortunate, since we had intermittent showers! — and once inside the LaPorte House for our Afternoon Tea our tables were socially distanced with limitd numbers per table. Everyone made out fine! Deborah and Savannah served each guest to also limit contact.
We learned three new dances, written specifically for the occasion.
Thanks to many volunteer hours and a grant from the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, the Susquehanna River Access at mile marker 260.4 R at French Azilum has been repaired and upgraded and is ready to welcome river travellers!
Because of flooding and severe storms in the past few years, the river access was in such poor shape it was barely passable. In January, when French Azilum Board Member Deborah Courville and FAI Member Nick Superko surveyed the site, a tree had also fallen across the access path, which itself had been further eroded.
In June, Heller Excavating of Laceyville, under the oversight of Courville and Superko, removed the dead tree, cleared underbrush, re-graded the ramp, installed slope erosion protection, planted grass seed, and surfaced the ramp with stone. The blue and yellow flag of French royalty with its fleur-de-lis design has now also been mounted on the mile marker post, along with a brochure caddy.
The campsites at the top of the ramp have been cleared of brush: two useable tent pads and a fire ring, plus a picnic table and benches invite travelers to stop and enjoy a rest and a meal. A third campsite with another fire ring, bench and picnic table, at a small distance up the hill from the one at the top of the access ramp, will be made useable shortly.
The River Access is now an eye-catching sight along the river, its flag snapping in the breeze, beckoning kayakers, canoeists and all river travellers to pull in and find out what Azilum is all about.
Come help us dust, polish, clean, weed, plant and do some minor repairs throughout our site!
On May 16, Saturday, from 11-3 we will be in the Gatehouse, LaPorte House and Museum Cabin, as well as the historic gardens. We need four teams, one for each zone, to clean and merchandise the Gatehouse, clean the LaPorte House, clean the Museum Cabin and displays, and weed/plant in the gardens.
Please contact us at 570-265-3376 or call Deborah directly at 570-996-7534 and leave a message if you are able to help. Bring some friends and do it as a group!
Thank you in advance.
Check out the article on Azilum on Mainly Museums’ website!
Even though the mercury has been cracking 90 regularly across the broad fields of The French Azilum Historic Site lately, we had some great visitors and wonderful opportunities to share the site with them! Justin and son Xander stopped at Azilum just about at the half way mark of their 100 mile kayaking trip down the Susquehanna. They witnessed a spectacular sunset, caught a glimpse of Elizabeth, one of the bald eagles who nests near the site, and were intrigued by Standing Stone. They very kindly sent us some photos, too! A foursome of friends (originally from the area but now one duo resides in Florida) visited as well, braving the humidity, thunderstorms and high temps. History buffs, they fell in love with Azilum and its story, and we hope they will return, perhaps for one of our events!
We're excited that our annual Kids' Day at Azilum is only a couple of weeks away! SATURDAY, JULY 6, 11-4 Admission Donation: $5 for adults, $2 if accompanied by a child under 14. ALL KIDS 14 AND UNDER ADMITTED FREE! Come and visit the unique historic site the whole family can enjoy, with special activities and entertainment for the children. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on our grounds, or under our picnic pavilion! Old-fashioned games for the kids: croquet, bean bag toss; and an historic scavenger hunt (with a prize for the winner!) Tour the beautiful riverside site of the only refugee colony in the world established specifically for French nobility, learn a little history, and visit the LaPorte House. Surprise entertainment!
We had a wonderful group of devoted Downton fans--and a couple who have become fans now!--on Sunday for our Downton Abbey Afternoon. Visitors were welcomed to the LaPorte house to the now-iconic strains of the theme music from the beloved television program. Everyone was delighted to view the vignettes from the show set up throughout the house with authentic period clothing reminiscent of the costumes worn on the program. They also enjoyed trying on our replica Edwardian hats, and taking photos in front of the eight foot square banner featuring the cast of Downton in front of Highclere Castle--the filming location.
Following the tour, competition was surprisingly fierce for the Downton Trivia Quiz, with two top scorers--who then received two really great prizes for their efforts.
The Afternoon was capped by a three course Tea featuring savories and sandwiches including shrimp and sweet pea, cherry fig chutney cream cheese, mini prosciutto and gouda quiches, and cucumber hummus rounds; four types of scones (lemon ginger GF, apricot, vanilla chai chocolate chip and strawberry), and desserts including a chocolate strawberry trifle, orange cream pound cake, and Peach Melba tartlets. Four different types of tea were also available throughout.
We will be having another Downton Abbey Afternoon on September 22, focusing on the newly-released film, with updated new vintage clothing displays and vignettes that evoke scenes and important moments from the film.
The Afternoons are significant fund raisers for French Azilum--ALL of the admission donations from visitors goes to the site for maintenance and upkeep. Admission donation for the September Downton Afternoon will be $25 if paid before September 6, $40 after that, and you must pre-book as no one will be admitted on the day of the event who has not booked ahead.
Please note: we can no longer hold seats for anyone who has not paid. We sell out quickly, so mark your calendars and BOOK SOON!
OYEZ! OYEZ! The Renaissance Day at French Azilum was a great success. The SCA delighted and informed our many visitors, who watched some ‘melées’ and mock skirmishes, archery challenges, and fencing. They also were able to see some of the Mediaeval and Renaissance crafts and weapons up close. We will be hosting this event again next year, so be sure and check back with us. It is unique to this area so you do not want to miss it!
