Paca House

A late 18th-century garden was not just a beautiful thing. In those times, the flora around a house was as useful as it was attractive - perhaps more so. At the William Paca House and Garden in Annapolis, a free public talk slated for tomorrow morning will show how heavily a Colonial household relied on its garden - not only for gooseberries, apples and other fruits and vegetables, but for herbs and medicinal remedies. Sassafras and echinacea were big back then as remedies on both sides of the Atlantic, as a stroll through a replanted period garden behind the Paca House shows.

It was only two years ago that the rooms William Paca used as law offices during Colonial days stood empty in the 200-year-old restored mansion where he once lived on Prince George Street in Annapolis.But that was before Rose Marie Siriano came along and turned it into a gift shop filled with replicas of antiques, wooden hoops and tops, collector sets and jewelry worth thousands of dollars.Now, it brings in most of the revenue needed to keep open the house of the former governor, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

What it felt like at day's end to be William Paca - the wealthy lawyer who was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence, an early governor and a slave owner - is on display in his recently restored bedroom overlooking Prince George Street in Annapolis. In a window corner of the "best bedroom," there's a late light supper on a table set for one. A silk banyon - a kind of leisure suit for gentlemen back then - is draped on a chair for "Master Paca" to relax in after a daylong horseback ride home from a Baltimore court date.

Historic Annapolis Foundation welcomed the public to its sites Sunday for an observance of Maryland Day. Left, Maddy Lomvardias, 8, takes a stab at jousting, the state sport, at William Paca House and Garden. Right, a girl explores the interior of the Paca House. Below, Emma Hastings, 9, and Danielle Sinclair, 8, pose with re-enactor Andrew House at The Barracks on Pinkney Street.

Within days of marrying Mary Chew in May 1763, William Paca purchased two plots of land in Annapolis on Prince George Street. On that prime site, the future Maryland signer of the Declaration of Independence built a handsome brick colonial mansion that still stands. It took Paca two years to design the house and expansive garden, which became known as an elegant example of 18th-century European gardening techniques. Paca lived in the Annapolis mansion, now known as the Paca House, until 1780.

William Paca's 261st birthday Put on your red, white and blue and celebrate the birthday of one of our nation's founding fathers - William Paca - Sunday at the William Paca House. Paca, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and a three-time Maryland governor, would have celebrated his 261st birthday. Visitors of all ages can tour the Paca House and have their picture taken with a life-size model of Paca. Children can create and decorate party hats, play Colonial games and sign a birthday card.

Eleanor Barr of Severna ParkThe Volunteer: Eleanor Barr has been a volunteer with the Historic Annapolis Foundation since 1984.Ms. Barr, a Severna Park resident, became involved with the foundation because of her interest in history and preservation. She volunteers as a docent about two days a week at the Shiplap House and Maritime Museum in Annapolis.A member of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Annapolis, she taught in Anne Arundel and Charles counties before her retirement.Mary Salsich, the volunteer coordinator for the foundation, writes that Ms. Barr "is extremely generous with her time.

Maryland, our Maryland is celebrating its 370th birthday on March 25. And in its honor, an array of Maryland Day events are taking place Sunday in Annapolis. Maryland Day commemorates the first landing of colonists on St. Clement's Island in 1634. The colonists had traveled from Cowes on the English Isle of Wight and disembarked from two small ships - the Ark and the Dove. Maryland Day has been observed since 1903, when the Maryland Board of Education decided to devote one school day to Maryland history.

Volunteers who decorate the Hammond-Harwood House and the William Paca House, two 18th century architectural treasures located in Annapolis, are well versed in decking the halls of Colonial homes for the holidays.But Boots Michalak, chairman of the decoration committee for the Paca House, is quick to note that while feasting was quite elaborate during the 12 days of Christmas, decoration was spare at best. Many decorative customs, essential today, were simply not around in the 1700s.An 18th century home, or cabin or mansion, never hosted a decorated evergreen.

Maryland Day celebration Think you know more than a thing or two about Maryland's history and state symbols? Sure, you know Maryland was founded on March 25, 1634, at St. Clement's Island. And perhaps you know a few of the state symbols: the Baltimore oriole (bird), the skipjack (boat) and the black-eyed Susan (flower). But there's lots more to know about our state and its symbols, and if you've ever wanted to pick up more information, an appropriate place to start would be at an event celebrating Maryland Day. The Historic Annapolis Foundation celebrates Maryland Day on Saturday by opening its seven historic sites in Annapolis free of charge.