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Archives For November 30, 1999

Christmas and New Year’s Eve at Medway

By mchughck
Posted on 18 December 2014 | 10:25 am — 

Known as “Charleston’s Grandest Dame,” Gertrude celebrated New Year’s Eve with a lavish costume ball at Medway for over half a century. This post includes photos of party-goers, staff, and menus, as well as Gertie’s annual Christmas card sent to friends and family.

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Gertie as a showgirl, circa 1950

 

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Gertie and Bokara, 1955

 

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Gertie was sure to get photos of each guest in full costume upon their arrival, 1955

 

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Two guests, 1955

 

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Bokara and guests, 1955

 

 

 

 

 

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Opulent dinner in full costume, 1955

 

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The buffet line, 1955

 

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A full band plays the night away, 1955

 

 

Christmas dinner, circa 1926-1929

Christmas dinner, circa 1929-1932

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Gertie’s Christmas card, undated

 

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Christmas, 1973

 

 

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Christmas, 1972

 

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Christmas, 1974

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“The whole staff, Christmas ’56”

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“Xmas Day – ’56”

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Gertie’s Christmas card the year after she returned from being a German Prisoner of War during WWII.

 

 

 

Medway Plantation

By mchughck
Posted on 4 December 2014 | 2:07 pm — 

Gertrude and Sidney purchased Medway Plantation in the spring of 1930 after stumbling across it during a countryside horseback ride. They took on the task of restoring the historic plantation even though Medway had no heat, no electricity, and no running water. This post shows just a small amount of the materials held in the College of Charleston’s collection, including archaeological surveys, staff lists, Medway Timber Company materials, and more.

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Realtor’s posting for Medway, listing the plantation for $100,000.

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Realtor’s photo, undated 1929-1930

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Realtor’s photos, undated 1929-1930

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Realtor’s photo, undated 1929-1930

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“Reasons for and against Purchase of Medway,” holograph on envelope, undated 1929 (written by Sidney or Gertrude Legendre)

Interior renovation pencil sketch, undated 1930

Interior renovation pencil sketch, undated 1930

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Staff list with days worked and amounts paid, 1931 May 21.  The Gourdine family maintained the grounds for over three generations

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Dinner list for December 13th (year not noted)

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Medway game book (front cover), 1934-1961. Includes date, hunters, location, game hunted, and remarks.

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Medway game book interior. When away from Medway during World War II, Gertrude marked pages “WAR!!” in red pencil and captioned, “Sidney joined navy and went to Pacific; Gertie joined OSS, was sent to Europe and was taken prisoner by Germans 26 Sept 1944, escaped March 22, 1945.”

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Correspondence from Thomas A. Edison’s Ediphone Service Company, 1937 March 29.

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Bing Crosby often visited Medway and enjoyed going on shooting trips with Gertrude and friends. Photo from “Medway 1966” album.

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Toni Frissell portrait of Gertrude and family at Medway, undated 1941-1949.

The following are photos from an archaeological survey and sampling project at Medway’s Back River/Pine Grove area in 1992.

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Archaeological dig at Medway, undated 1992.

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The dig site, undated 1992

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Beginning excavation, undated 1992

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Specimens discovered, undated

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Specimens discovered, undated

Photos of luncheon and demonstration held for Medway Timber Company.  

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Presentation in the “Trophy Room” at Medway, undated 1955-1956

"Bucking pulp tops - poles peeled in woods," undated 1955-1956

“Bucking pulp tops – poles peeled in woods,” undated 1955-1956

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Demonstrations, undated 1955-1956

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Worker with harvested logs, undated 1955-1956

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Timber Company luncheon on the lawn at Medway, undated 1955-1956

 

 

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