c. 1827

B E D  A N D  B R E A K F A S T

HISTORY
The Sleighter House was originally built in 1827 as a female seminary. It served for many years as a finishing and boarding school for girls and gained a national reputation for excellence prior to The Civil War. Devastating fires in 1839 and 1857 left the house in ruin but was rebuilt and remained in use until the mid 1890’s. Evidence of the fires can be seen in the attic beams. Also located in the attic are carved initials of some of the girls that attended the female seminary. In 1898, a local druggist purchased the house for 150 dollars under the condition that it be moved a few hundred feet toward the south to its present location. It is believed that around this time the old cook house and grand columns were attached to the structure. Throughout the 20th century, it has been in private use. Bill and Laura Sleighter purchased the house in September of 2000. It was the first Showcase House for Washington’s April 2001 Tour of Homes with the gracious help of the township and local merchants.

FEATURES
• 4 large guest rooms
• Queen size beds
• Candlelight breakfast
• Morning coffee served outside rooms
• Shared bath
• Gift shop in the main parlor
• 95.00-125.00 per night
• Group and family rate packages

Space available for special events, rehearsal dinners, and receptions – perfect for small wedding packages.

   
The Bedworth Room

   
Moline’s Room
The Clover Room

OTHER FEATURES
• Walking distance to downtown square
• Bicycles available
• Picnic baskets can be ordered
• Floral arranging classes
• Candlemaking classes
• Other art and cooking classes
• Driving tour of Washington

                
The Upstairs Hall looking to the Balcony                        The Dining Room

The Gift Shop

ABOUT WASHINGTON, GEORGIA
Washington, Georgia is a place of history and legends. Here, one can experience Colonial America, the Confederacy, and Victorian Era while strolling along our streets. In 1780, a charter was issued for the town to be named after George Washington and was the first in the United States to use the name. George Washington visited in 1791. In April 1865, what was left of the Confederate treasury, estimated at over half of a million dollars in gold, was moved to Washington. The Confederacy was officially dissolved here by Jefferson Davis and members of his cabinet. The gold has yet to be found.

LOCATION
Washington is located approximately one hour and 40 minutes East of Atlanta, 40 minutes Southeast of Athens and one hour Northwest of Augusta. The Sleighter House is located in town just a short distance from the Square, north of Robert Toombs Avenue.

C L A S S E S

COOKING CLASSES
You walk into the house at 1:00. There is already a lot of activity going on. Laura, the owner, is busy working on the table scape. The chef is setting up working stations. We, first, talk about how to make a unique table with a minimal amount of cost. We go over placement of candles and flowers and the timing when you are throwing your own event. Now into the kitchen. Your chef, or chefs, for this day will go through each menu item. Then we cook! You are given all of the recipes to take home. Finally, we talk about beverage setups. At 5:00 you return to your room, relax. Slip into cocktail attire, grab a date, and return for a party at 6:30.

---

MENU SAMPLES

From  Hors d'ouevre Class
           June 14, 2003 (Flag Day!)
           Chefs: Misty and Rich Friedman

• Grilled fajita skewers w/chimichurri sauce
• Grilled Vegetable Platter w/fresh mozzarella and spicy bean dip
• Pierogi crostini w/toppings
• Fresh alder and herb smoked salmon w/vegetable relish
• Jerked Pork Ribs
• Caribbean Red Stripe Beer
• Sangria with a twist.

    
From  Breadmaking Class
           July 26, 2003
           Chef: Evelyn Bennett

• French bagettes
• Focaccia with basil and roasted red bell peppers
• Parmessean bread sticks
• Rosemary olive loaf
• Another Thyme swirl bread
• Chickpea, coriander, and roasted red pepper spread
• Tapenade
• Herbed feta spread
• Basil butter
• Oven roasted tomatoes
• Garlic flavored olive oil

  ---

CANDLEMAKING
Our class begins with some basic history and alternative ingredients. We will be using paraffin wax for this class. We will start our pillar candles because they will take the whole class to finish. Then we will make floating and votive candles. Now we break for lunch. Laura, your instructor will prepare, in the main house, a light lunch while some new wax melts in the back workshop. When we return, we will continue to add to our pillar candle. Laura will tell you her secret to taper candles. We will pour our tapers and top off our pillars. Everyone will leave with enough material to mess up their own kitchen. With good instructions, damage should be at a minimal, if any. We will cover during this class aromatherapy, adding colors to your wax, and how to make it affordable. Always remember to tell your friends, don't throw out old candles, you can melt them down to make beautiful new ones.

FLORAL ARRANGING
Do you have a party coming up? Do you have dried or silk flowers in the closet or basement that you keep meaning to do something with? Perfect. This class we will cover the basics of arranging and how to spend your money on the look you want to surround yourself with in your home. Everyone works on fresh, dried, or silk. Soak the oasis, or prep for dried and silk, then we move onto basic structural elements that form an arrangement into the context of their environment. Once we have worked on a few looks, we will break for a light lunch in the main house. Upon return, we will continue to work on dividing our flowers and possibly make more arrangements than you thought you could do before class ends. Laura owned a retail floral shop for over 10 years and will be glad to take you into any realms of the business upon classes end with questions and answers.

L E C T U R E S

CANDLEMAKING

A demonstration of floating, votive, tapers, and pillars candles and the best way to use them. We will also cover aromatherapy and the proper use of scent throughout the house.

1 hour
4.00 per person (20 -30 people)
5.00 per person (10-19 people)
Includes wax to make a votive for each person to take home

FLORAL ARRANGING
A demonstration on table decorating, buffet decorating, and other ideas for around the house. Some do's and don'ts. Ideas for special events. The rules for public decorations. How to order flowers and a question and answer period while the instructor finishes her table designs. The flowers can be used in house or for a special event outside of the Sleighter House the group's luncheon or dinner.

1 hour
5.00 per person (20-30 people)
6.00 per person (10-19 people)
This includes supplies — flowers and materials

SOAPMAKING
Demonstrations that will show the easy melt and pour method. This uses vegetable glycerin and all other natural products. We will cover aromatherapy and other skin soothing materials. Brief history of soapmaking, including soap made at The Calloway Plantation.

1 hour
3.50 per person (20-30 people)
4.00 per person (10-19 people)
This includes a handmade soap out of an antique mold to take home

ARCHITECTURAL RUBBINGS
We will explore some of the local history and use graphite and crayon blocks to rub off a little history onto to paper for you to take home. We will start at the graveyard of some of our most famous people. The instructor will also show some of the other interesting rubbings that have been found around this area and surrounding counties.

1 hour
4.00 per person (20-30 people)
5.00 per person (10-19 people)
Weather permitting, includes one rubbing per person (casual dress)

Please note: 2 hours are required between lectures for setup and teardown. Most of these classes can be 2 hours with added demonstrations, a price adjustment, and hands on for all the participants.

I N S T R U C T O R S

Laura Sleighter
Laura owned a retail floral shop in Atlanta for 8 years and currently handles the flowers for weddings and special events. She is a consultant for new floral shops. She lectures and numerous garden and womens clubs around the southeast. Laura and her husband Bill bought an antebellum home in Washington, Georgia in September of 2000. She has a separate workshop where she holds classes. Laura became interested in candlemaking after a trip to New England and now has her own line of candles that are sold throughout Georgia and in her gift shop at the Sleighter House. Bill and Laura currently run a Bed and Breakfast.

Misty and Rich Friedman
Misty is a graduate of Johnson and Wales. Misty has been on the staff of both Johnson and Wales and the Culinary Art Institute of Atlanta. A native of Commerce, Georgia, she combines her small town southern sensibility with a sophisticated culinary palate. Rich was brought up in the vibrant and diverse culinary world of New York City. Rich graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. and is currently the Executive Chef at Coca Cola Fountain Division in Atlanta. Misty and Rich met while she was the Catering Director at Georgia State University and Rich was the Executive Chef. They are married and live in Lilburn, Georgia.

Evelyn Bennett
Evelyn Bennett was chef-owner of the award-winning Another Thyme Café in historic Washington, Georgia for 21 years. She always served only artisan, hand-made breads in the café using the most healthful ingredients available.

Jules Podomnick
Jules Podomnik has over 20 years of catering and hospitality background. She is Owner and President of Above and Beyond Catering. She is currently working at The Ritz Carlton Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the 20 years she has developed and created several recipes and training classes in the field of entertainment. Along with teaching classes she is available for small catered events on premises. Her educational background is in party planning and event coordination. Jules is the recipient of "Who's Who" in the National Archives for female caterer in 2000 and 2001. She created and operated a state-of-the-art catering and mobile catering business for over 2 years in Avon, Ohio. One of her major accomplishments was to work with the community founders to build a fund raising program to help the mentally handicap and the local high school students. She help raise over $20,000 that was given to the community.

Judy Bruning
Judy pursued a career in art after becoming a recipient of the National Scholastic Art Award in High School, by first attending Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where she majored in Fine Art. Later, relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, Judy furthered her talents by earning a degree in Commercial Art. Afterwards she enjoyed a successful career as an Art Director, working for a variety of notable advertising agencies in Atlanta. Currently, she resides in Washington, Georgia where she teaches art classes, continues her graphic design work and enjoys painting for a number of galleries.

T E S T I M O N I A L S

"I so enjoyed the cooking class I took at the Sleighter House. It was a wonderful break in a busy schedule... Not only did I learn some "tricks of the trade", we enjoyed the fruits of our labor with a great celebration after the class. Loads of fun!"
—Gail Boyd

"I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Washington, Georgia. Laura Sleighter is great. She not only teaches in a fun and friendly way, she and her husband also opened up their beautiful antebellum house for a nicely prepared lunch for all of the students. I would definitely recommend the trip out to visit! Thanks!"
—Judy Miller Benefit Specisli

"When I heard about your candlemaking workshop, I new it was for me. The trip to Washington Georgia was beautiful. The house, full of positive energies and antiques, absolutely breathtaking. The techniques for the candlemaking were just what I needed to start my own candlemaking business. I now make beautiful candles; charge them with positive energies, love, joy, and happiness."
—Einat Granov, Atlanta, Georgia