Ramsdell House: Ceredo, West Virginia

Z.D. Ramsdell House

Back in May, Mrs. Present and I traveled to nearby Ceredo, WV for a sneak peek of the recently restored Ramsdell House. Many of the objects displayed were found in the home. Please enjoy the pictures. I have a bit of history concerning Z.D. Ramsdell, his house, and the town of Ceredo at the end of the post. Links to more information on Eli Thayer, Ramsdell, and Ceredo are also…

“Harriett Beecher Stowe's Old Home, Mandarin, Fla.”

Black and white printed image of the house of Harriet Beecher Stowe.

After Bonaire’s slavery abolition in 1863, most slaves received land. Together, families took turns helping to harvest and celebrating the crops througout Simadan. Similarly today, families and friends gather to help harvest sorghum and maize, while the farmer supplies food and drink (rum) in the kunuku. While doing the harvest they sang Mi Deseo to stimulate progress. This song was nearly to get lost. Boi Antoin sent me a recording of an improvised version recorded during one of those Simadan parties. We have modified it to Mi Deseo. In Rincon, Bonaire they pronounce it as "mi densio". With an abundant of "high spirits" it sounds indeed different.