Volume 8 • Issue 6 June 2013
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Buildings of Lees-McRae • The Forum • 1861 Farmhouse June 2013
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The 1861 72
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inding down scenic route 194 from Banner Elk into Valle Crucis leaves a person no choice but to slow down and take it all in. Literally. The curves hold back not only actual speed but the metaphorical racetrack that is life in the 21st century.
Photo by Maria Richardson
in the 21st Century
That fast-paced clip so many of us live by is evidently and gratefully absent from this tiny community. Here you are invited to step back in time with a jaunt down Broadstone Road. You will find a general store well over a century old, just down the hill from The Hard Taylor House, now known as The 1861 Farmhouse. Quickly becoming a stopping place visitors shouldn’t miss on a visit to the High Country, The 1861 has a story steeped in small town charm and history. Rustic and enchanting are two main descriptions for this gorgeous river valley, called simply the Valle. The name Valle Crucis comes from the Latin for “Vale of the Cross.” Late Boone resident historian and author John Preston Arthur said of Valle Crucis, “There is a dreamy spell which hangs over this little Valle.” Largely settled in the 19th century by Episcopalian missionaries and a handful of families - descendants of whom still live in the area - not much has changed by the way of its landscape.
by Angela Raimondo Rosebrough June 2013
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“The park is the heart of this little community in the summertime. It is where residents connect and form lasting friendships, as they watch their children playing and forming their own lasting friendships.” – Alison Garrett - 1861 Farmhouse Steve and Alison Garrett, the latest owners in the chapters of history of the Hard Taylor House, began their renovations in 2009 on this century-and-a-half year-old home. Bringing the home back to life took two years of meticulous labor, care and effort. Now, they enjoy the fruits of their labor and offer all the sweetness of the hospitality that the original family shared with the Valle. “One late afternoon, after spending much of the day painting, Steve and I were sitting on the front steps taking a break,” Alison says, fondly remembering the two years of hard work they poured into the home. “Our boys asked for money to go get 74
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drinks from The Mast across the street. As they walked barefoot down the driveway, their dog trailing beside them, Steve looked at me and said, ‘Just think, this is just what it looked like a hundred years ago.’” Adding to the picture was the boys’ return trip - sipping Coca Cola from glass bottles. Preserving that sense of time is what visiting The 1861 Farmhouse is all about. Not only is Alison a savvy, sophisticated businesswoman with an outstanding palette for wine and food, but she is also a mother committed to instilling old-fashioned values in her boys. “Everyone learns to play his part and help keep things running,” she says in a no-nonsense way. “Our youngest
Steve and Alison Garrett, the owners of The 1861 Farmhouse Restaurant & Winery. Photo by Ken Ketchie
dolloped whipped cream onto the pumpkin pie during our sold-out Thanksgiving dinners and our middle son works during the summer in the store. This is a family business in the truest sense of the word.” The Garretts discovered Valle Crucis while their oldest son attended App State and eventually built a summer home here. After driving by the Farmhouse several times, their curiosity got the best of them. They investigated the property, peeked in windows, and eventually decided they couldn’t resist being a part of restoring such a historic structure. After living in such charming cities as Savannah and Charleston, and bigger cities like Charlotte and D.C., they were thrilled to move their sons to the High Country and have not regretted it since. “I got a call one afternoon from Tammy over at The Mast and she said, ‘Alison, your youngest is here with a big basket of candy and a twenty dollar bill. What should I do?’ ‘Cut him off at five dollars and send him home!’” exclaims Alison, remembering that day. She likens living here
to Mayberry, and loves that her boys know they had better follow the rules because someone is always watching - and will let her know! Valle Crucis is the first community designated a rural historic district in North Carolina, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in its entirety. Thanks to its tourist boom, the area is now the perfect mesh of country mountain and upscale sophistication. Much of the land is protected by Blue Ridge Conservancy and protected by Historical designations. For instance, it was John Cooper, owner of The Mast General Store, who recognized how crucial it was to buy the land where the Valle Crucis Community Park sits. That move was majorly responsible for preserving not only this Valle, but the way of life that its residents purposefully enjoy. Some small towns have the reputation as uninviting toward newcomers, but that has not been the Garrett family’s experience. One of the first events they attended after moving to the Valle was the Music in the Park, held Friday evenings all summer long. “I went expecting your typical picnic fare - fried chicken, cole slaw, and potato salad. What I found were ladies spreading beautiful tablecloths on picnic tables, fresh cut flowers in vases, candles and wine. And there was all Photo above: The 1861’s this wondrously prepared food such as grilled porch overlooks the Valle chicken with artichokes and fresh tomatoes, and The Mast General Store. smoked salmon with capers, and deep dish Photo by Maria Richardson blackberry and rhubarb pies.” Alison takes a moment of thoughtful reCenter photo: The back flection before continuing. “But these Friporch, with chairs just day nights are about so much more than waiting to be sat in. Photo food, wine and music. The park is the heart by Maria Richardson of this little community in the summertime. It is where residents connect and form lastPhoto below: The dining ing friendships, as they watch their children room, just off the Wine playing and forming their own lasting friendRoom, features the restored ships.” In fact, these Friday nights in the park are brick of the first structure. such a special part of the identity of the Valle Photo by Ken Ketchie that resident Keith Nelson gathered and selfpublished a collection of recipes and photographs from Valle Crucis families for his cookbook Food, Fireflies, and Friends this past April. “We hosted the premier party for his cookbook, and love that these special times are preserved in a book,” Alison said. Steve and Alison recognize that all of these memories form the fabric of their sons’ childhoods and they not only want to preserve the larger picture of history but also these small, individual pieces. Ghost towns are what happen when the purpose for a place has passed and is no longer useful. The vacancy and perceived abandonment of The Hard Taylor House left Valle Crucis with the ghost that once was overlooking The Mast. Its restoration, however, has enlivened yet another piece of the history that continues to live here. “One of our town’s residents celebrated his 101st birthday,” Alison recalls, “and he June 2013
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UPDATED COMFORT Cuisine at The 1861 is what we call Nouveau Southern Gourmet - that wonderful comfort food you grew up with but updated with the creative and innovative style of cooking infused by the restaurant’s talented culinary team. Guests at the 1861 Farmhouse are invited to enjoy fresh, local fare for both lunch and dinner. Without pretense, guests will feel welcome dressed up or down to enjoy cozy, lace-covered fireside tables and food presented in gourmet fashion mixed with authentic down-home touches like mismatched china. Executive Chef Sam Beasley, 2011 Fire on the Rock Champion and formerly of The Gamekeeper, joined The 1861 in October 2012. Under his direction, the dinner menu features elegant dishes like Grilled Breast of Duck with Blueberry Moonshine Barbecue Sauce and Green Tomato Chutney and comfort foods like Southern Shrimp and Grits and Chicken Pot Pie. In addition to the new dishes on the dinner menu, the culinary staff has also taken on the challenge of elevating the lunch menu to the same creative level of The 1861’s dinner menu. Look for Blackeyed Pea Cakes with Tomato Jam, and a Blackened NC Trout Po’Boy Sandwich with Photo Above: Chef Sam Beasley. Photo by House-made Marinated Cole Ken Ketchie. Below: Lace tablecloths cover Slaw. Certain dishes have become an antique table beneath a spread featuring staples, however, and diners will The 1861’s signature salad of grilled romaine be happy to know that The 1861’s signature salad of grilled romaine hearts, tomatoes, bacon and bleu cheese dressing will remain on the menu. Chef Sam and his team are committed to fresh, local, in-season ingredients. The 1861 boasts a small but bountiful garden in the backyard where the kitchen can draw inspiration. Chef Sam is in heaven at the thought of being able to harvest from his own kitchen garden on a daily basis. They also remain a part of the Farm to Table movement in the High Country, using locally sourced trout, meats, cheeses and produce that they don’t grow themselves. 76
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hearths, tomatoes, bacon and bleu cheese. Photo by Maria Richardson.
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remembers riding his pony to the house and tethering her to the fence while playing with the children here.” Aptly named after the year of its original completion in 1861, the Farmhouse was hand-built by Henry Taylor, considered the patriarch of his family. Henry arrived in Valle Crucis in 1849 selling clocks. He moved in with the Masts before marrying their daughter, Emaline. The Taylor family essentially started with Henry and Emaline, and were one of the four primary families credited with founding Valle Crucis, along with the Masts, Bairds, and Shulls. Other family names frequently mentioned when discussing early Valle settlers include the Hicks, Church, and Clark families, among others. The original structure consisted of two small, brick rooms, which were later added onto by Henry’s son, Thomas Hardester “Hard” Taylor, and Hard’s wife, Victoria “Vicki” Baird, daughter of Sheriff David Baird. Hard and Vicki’s addition greatly increased the size of the home - nearly 5,000 square feet. Truly a luxury home, it featured closets - a rarity in those days - and indoor plumbing. It even had a bathroom. The home stayed in the family until 1988 when the Taylors sold it to John and Joan Hastings. It passed down to a second generation of Hastings before transferring for a brief period to out-of-state-owners, while remaining vacant. Before becoming the project of the Garretts, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. A fun fact that truly reveals the small size of Valle Crucis is that this grand home also served as the town’s post office before it eventually moved across the street to The Mast General Store. Vicki herself served as postmistress, allowing her to interact on a daily basis with all the residents of the Valle. People were connected to her, and her presence in the community was felt by everyone. “Vicki was the heart and soul of the house,” Alison says fondly of the woman she’s never met but feels bonded to. The love and warmth her neighbors directed toward her is also evident in her obituary after her sudden passing in 1928. “When we bought the house we wanted to restore its original purpose - to serve as a place of gathering and welcoming,” says Alison. Valle Crucis’ young people enjoyed hanging out on the large, sweeping verandas. “This home was always a welcoming place, and we felt that a restaurant fits with the Taylor family and especially Vicki because of their love of entertaining - from Sunday dinners to church picnics. They
also hosted dances for the young people of the Valle, and we love that this land and home is open once again.” The uniqueness of this small corner of the world is felt and loved by residents who have lived here their whole lives, and even by those who simply have less direct ties. I. Harding Hughes, Jr., whose parents built Valle Crucis’ first summer home in 1925 (“Tapawingo”) spent summers here in the 1930s. In his book that was published in 1995, Valle Crucis: A History of an Uncommon Place, he writes about the pull of this community. “Lest anyone suspect that time, distances and the cares of the world had loosened the ties bind- A small but bountiful garden provides much of the produce featured on The 1861’s menu. ing Valle families together, a reunion announcement by a Shull from ‘Out West’ can be reported: ‘Richard A. Shull of Wichita, Kansas had named ys Stout, have visited and, through their grateful emotion, share his son ‘Taylor Mast Shull.’” pictures and snippets of stories with Alison as they can. The Garretts have gotten to know the remaining grandAlison is pleased to have also learned other snippets of history daughters, who find themselves thrilled at what their family’s about the home and the central role it played in the community. home has been restored to. Alison loves connecting with them “Dawn Jenson, a Taylor family descendent, who still lives in the and the presence they bring to the home. Speaking with them Valle and operates a farm with her family, remembers coming to gives her insight into the kinds of people Hard and Vicki were, the house as a child and playing dress-up with the old clothes in and she finds herself especially connected to Vicki’s legacy. The the trunk in the attic. This is a story relayed to me over and over granddaughters, Carolyn Phillips Clapp, Nancy Weld, and Glad- by the Taylor granddaughters. They all remember the trunk full of
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Alison cherishes the notes and photos she has received about Vicki and the Taylor family, from not only the Taylor granddaughters but several others in the community. Some examples are shown here on the opposite page. Photo by Ken Ketchie.
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Center: Victoria “Vicki� Baird Taylor. Moving clockwise from top left: Vicki Taylor and possibly borders; First cousins dressing up: L-R Holly Ann Mason, Nancy Weld, and Peggy Lou Mason; Vicki, five of her children, and other family members near the cupola; Taylor granddaughters reclining on the front porch swing, 1940: L-R Gladys Phillips Stout, Nancy Phillips Weld and Carolyn Phillips Clapp.
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CHAMPION WINES Steve Garrett serves as The 1861 Farm- productions of about 600 cases annually. Notable wines include Victoria’s Vale, a house’s vintner, operating a small but productive winery from the historic barn be- dry red merlot and cabernet franc blend, hind the house. Despite being relatively and The House, an off-dry white blend of new to winemaking, the wines produced viognier and chenin blanc. The House won in this modest winery’s second year are the award from the best white vinifera at award winning. To date they have won the NC State Fair along with a gold medal two Golds and three Silvers in the Mid-At- at the Dixie Classic Fair’s Mid-South Atlantic lantic Southeast Wine Competition along Wine Competition. Other medal-earning with five more awards at the NC State Fair wines at this competition are River Run, - 2 Double Golds, 2 Silver and 1 Best in a chardonnay and vidal blanc blend that won a silver medal, and Boulder Shadow, Category. Growing grapes on their north-facing, a merlot that won a gold medal. High Country property Steve Garrett, Owner and Vintner, creates several awardwas not an option and they wanted to avoid being tied down by the limited varietals they could have attempted. Instead, Steve and Alison traveled throughout North Carolina’s wine country, tasting at several vineyards and choosing the best of the best. The juice is shipped to their winery, where Steve creates eight to twelve wines mostly dry whites and dry reds - in small batch
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winning wines in the historic barn located behind The 1861 Farmhouse. Photos by Ken Ketchie
old clothes. Sadly, when we purchased the house, no items remained.” Alison’s eyes sparkle just as brightly when describing the chef and his menu creations as it does when she shares the story of the family and home that she is now a part of. Her careful attention to detail blends old-fashioned, genuine touches - like mismatched china, lace tablecloths and antique tables with what is described as ‘Nouveau Southern Gourmet’. Her goal has been to stay true to what she imagines Vicki herself would have done in the home when entertaining guests, and Alison’s commitment to this authenticity has been noticed. “We’ve had neighbors, employees - and even customers - bring us dishes that once belonged to their grandparents or are heirlooms in their family. I’m scared things will get broken - we are a restaurant after all - but it is so touching that our neighbors want to share their family history with us. We love the authenticity these treasured items bring to The 1861.” Saying that the Garretts are part of the history of the home is as relevant as noting the place of The 1861 in their lives. “I want to create a book of memories and photographs because this is my boys’ childhood,” Alison says. “They will grow up to feel the same fondness of this place that generations of Taylors feel.” This home has withstood not only the entirety of the Civil War, both World Wars, the Great Depression, but every phase of American history in between. Still it stands. Solid. Unwavering. Layers have been added, and then stripped away. Bricks revealed, restored. Still it stands. Who knows what history will say of this home one hundred years in the future, but we know that it will be forever grateful to the love and care that the Garretts have paid it. “I feel like a steward of this historic home; that I’ve been given this unique opportunity to take care of something that’s really important,” Alison reflects on her role in The 1861. “My husband feels the same way. No matter what happens with the future of this winery or restaurant, there will always be the most tremendous satisfaction in knowing that we brought this house back to life and recreated much of what used to happen here - with people coming in and feeling welcomed, and being treated to a great meal - all while enjoying the company of their family and friends in a really special place.” t
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