A $4.5 million gift from Forrest E. Mars Jr. will fund the reconstruction of Anderson’s Blacksmith Shop and Public Armory, a Colonial-era industrial site that supported the American Revolution.
Mars, the former CEO and chairman emeritus of the famous candy maker Mars Inc., recently was elected to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s board of trustees. His donation will fund reconstruction of and create an endowment for the site.
The shop and armory belonged to James Anderson, who was appointed public armourer in 1776, and after the war grew his small blacksmith shop into a work site that eventually employed 40 people. He added an armory, kitchen, privy, two storage buildings and a tinsmith’s shop, which will be recreated with Mars’ gift. These buildings will be built on the site of the present blacksmith’s shop in Colonial Williamsburg.
A few years ago, Mars donated $5 million to rebuild a Colonial-era coffeehouse
Filed under: colonial williamsburg, williamsburg va |
Mr Williamsburg, Revolutionary ideas on real estate!Hampton Roads Virginia 
Leave a Reply