James Geddy House - Family Life Interpreters

Colonial Williamsburg - The Largest Living History Museum in the United States

At the James Geddy House, interpreters recreate different aspects of family life in an 18th-century upper middling household. Youth interpreters dressed in period clothing demonstrate typical activities of colonial children including play, education, music, dance and daily chores. Some of the children's activities that visitors may see include:

• practicing letters on slate boards


• assembling educational puzzles


• reading 18th-century children's books


• sewing samplers


• mending clothing


• making doll clothes


• playing board games


• playing card games


• rolling hoops


• walking on stilts


• games of ninepins

Built in 1762 by James Geddy, Jr., the Geddy House sits at the corner of Duke of Gloucester Street and Palace Green. In addition to serving as the family residence, the Geddy home was used for several different businesses ventures, including a foundry, gunsmith, silversmith and watch repair.

Mixed architectural details of several different styles are recalled in the design of the house, including English and Italian variations of Greek and Roman styles. The James Geddy House is one of the original 88 buildings in the Historic Area.

^{Source: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation}