Day 189 Lovin' Apalach

We got to know more of "Apalach" as the locals call it. We are definitely in the best marina in this town. Pic 1 & 2 are the views from the back of Sundowner.  John and I started the day doing laundry at a disgusting, inter-city laundromat. $5.50 a load and a quarter for 4 minutes of drying. I don't know how the neighboring area can afford to wash clothes. Shameful. After that fun experience, we visited the Orman House. A prominent merchant built this place in 1838. It took 2 years since they brought the wood down from his home state of New York. The timber industry had not developed here yet so they had no lumber mills in the area to build a home of this caliber. The outside is constructed of hand fired bricks and tabby mortar which had oyster shell in it, a commonly used material.Thomas also built a number of warehouses along the waterfront (pic 3). The family owned over 20 slaves and 22 lots in the city.  I didn't realize that half the population of Florida were slaves at that time. The Orman's did quite well until the Civil War. They lost all their investments and Thomas was left with a small accounting business in his old age. The original family owned the mansion and grounds until 1994 when they sold it. It was a B & B until 1999 when the state acquired it. Went to the fish market afterwards and bought more shrimp to boil and share at docktails. Most of the Loopers went to see a local play that we will see tomorrow night. John and I wandered downtown to the Tap Room and had scrumptious oysters on the half shell. Ran into Chris and Alice from the sailboat, Leslee. Stopped by a local bar to check out the music then hit the hay. Gotta be in good shape for tomorrow since Gary is coming to visit again.