George

A month or so ago, we were ministering for the church in Morrill, Maine and took an afternoon away to drive to Ellsworth. We took a walk around town and came upon Woodlawn, a lovely old estate that was owned by the Black family when American Maine was just a toddler. 

This historic estate was an unexpected surprise. It had, of course, been there all along, but we had never known of it. Surrounded by 180 lovely acres, the house was built by Colonel John Black in the 1820s. He was a timber man, who recognized lumber as one of Maine's most lucrative resources. His father-in-law was General David Cobb, who had been an aide to George Washington. Obviously, this family lived in high places. 

Though the original of Mr. Washington once hung in this house, this painting is a copy. It hangs on the wall of a spiral staircase. I could not resist getting my picture taken next to his. It reminded me of how glad I am to be an American. Not just the flag, but paintings such as this one are reminders of our heritage and the leadership that steered our country through troubled times and helped it become what it is today. 

http://www.woodlawnmuseum.com/Summer2006_web.pdf