DATE: Thursday, July 17, 1997               TAG: 9707170065

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   45 lines

GIRLS CAN ENJOY 19TH CENTURY REVELRY

A N AFTERNOON of 19th century fun and games for young ladies will be offered Sunday at ``Anna Mary Riddick's 10th Birthday Party'' at Riddick's Folly.

Anna Mary was the granddaughter of Mills Riddick, who built his four-story brick home on Suffolk's Main Street in 1837. Townspeople of the day who thought it foolish to build a 20-room house with 16 fireplaces called it ``Riddick's Folly.''

Anna Mary celebrated her 10th birthday in July 1851, and the occasion is the subject of a children's book, ``The Birthday Secret: Anna Mary of Riddick's Folly.''

Families arriving for the party will be ushered into the back parlor, where Missouri Riddick, portrayed by Starr Matton of Virginia Beach, will welcome her daughter's guests. Anna Mary will be portrayed by 10-year-old Alice Pretlow of Suffolk.

The visitors will hear Missouri Riddick talk about events of the day, and make her favorite toy, a chromatrope - a colored disk with a cord threaded through the middle. And there will be birthday cake.

On Aug. 24, Riddick's Folly will host another of its popular Pleasant Company events, ``Back to School With Addy, an American Girl.''

Addy is the story of a 9-year-old black girl who escapes slavery in North Carolina and travels with her mother to freedom in Philadelphia.

Debbie Canty, an historical interpreter for School and Group Services for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, will portray Addy's teacher, Miss Dunn.

The children are invited to bring their dolls and will experience a school lesson similar to Addy's. They will work with slates and slate pencils, practice penmanship and make and color paper boxes for school supplies. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

WANT TO GO?

What: Birthday Party

When: 2 p.m. July 20

What: ``Back to School With Addy: An American Girl''

When: 2, 3 and 4 p.m. Aug. 24.

Where: Riddick's Folly, 510 N. Main St., Suffolk

Both events are free. Reservations required. Call 934-1390.

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