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Robert T. Bennett
Robert was born in New Gulf, Texas, which was America's last company
town. It was during W.W.II that the company, Texas Gulf Sulfur, was
so important to military manufacturing. At age two, the family moved
to Houston so his older sister (who introduced us at her Christmas party
-- thanks Joan) could attend Rice University. Robert graduated from
St. John's Episcopal School and won a scholarship to Columbia University
in New York City! After getting his mechanical engineering degree
(which explains why he says products that don't work are badly designed)
he got his master's degree in space physics from Rice University, back
in Houston.
So armed, he went to work in the aeronautics department of General Electric
in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. He bought
and restored half a dozen houses on the Main Line and eventually
got his architecture degree from Drexell University's evening program.
Combining engineering, physics and architecture resulted in award winning
solar design. When he couldn't find the 
charts
he needed for solar design, he developed them and produced a book "Sun
Angles for Design," which is a bible for solar designers today. His solar
homes and buildings appeared in publications throughout the country, including
Popular Science, Parade magazine and Mechanix Illustrated.
About five years ago he met and married me. We decided to pursue a life in the country where Robert could further his architecture design innovation with "Dynamic Architecture." However, I've had him so busy with restoration of Melrose and twelve other properties, farming, writing, publishing, printing, raising sheep, and just having fun that he hasn't had a chance to pursue this exciting break-through building technology. But that day is coming. Maybe just after he experiments with a windmill to capture the excellent winds we have here at Melrose.
Catherine A. Bennett
I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, graduated from Grace St. Luke's Episcopal
School and Memphis State University. I had two interests all the
way through school and my subsequent jobs -- communications and design.
My degree is in journalism and graphic design, an excellent combination
according to the dean of my college. For twelve years I ran in the
corporate rat race to climb the ladder of success. That's me being
thanked by Peter Coors for work I did as Corporate Communications Manager
in Coors Brewing Company. I learned how to quickly 
write,
edit, design and produce all manner of materials from catalogs, newsletters,
flyers, slide shows and brochures to political campaign materials and rallying
speeches. Most of my experience is with corporations but because
budgets usually got reduced in communications departments we learned how
to do more with less money, leading me back to my shoestring days of working
for non-profit and government agencies.
It's lovely to be here in this 1830 cottage where I can watch the butterflies
and grow roses. We're not the type to lay idle so we're enjoying
our various business activities, and invite you to have us assist you in
following your dreams, even if they include laying in a hammock while we
do your work.
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e-mail: Bennett@MelrosePlantation.com