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your complete home resource guide and lifestyle magazine Essex • Northern Neck • Middle Peninsula • Gloucester • Richmond • Williamsburg
2020 Historic Garden Week
POPLAR GROVE and its TIDE MILL SEAHORSES OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY ALL HAIL ROCK AND ROLL www.thehouseandhomemagazine.com
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Letters After coming to the Northern Neck boating for many years, I stumbled upon your magazine about two years ago and instantly fell in love with it. It has wonderful articles telling the history of the area, event announcements, and about upcoming festivals, making me almost move to the area of Callao this past year. The recipes are a wonderful part of the magazine, as well. I keep my magazines and reread them, finding that I have missed something when I first read it. Sincerely, Marla Spath We lived in the Northern Neck for nine years and enjoyed your magazine for the wonderful stories and interesting recipes. I always was amazed that such a well put together magazine was FREE and always with an inviting front cover picture. I still want to enjoy it here in Pennsylvania. Thank you for offering subscriptions. Thank you, Cheryl Hanline My name is Pamela Raines, and I wanted to let you know how beautiful your magazines are and how much I enjoy looking through them. Being that they are all regional there are things that we can relate to and are filled with beautiful pictures and knowledge of things I would never know otherwise. I was specifically interested in the issue involving the Stingray Point Hotel, Nuttall Store, and the wonderful article about a murder of crows. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and thank you again. Sincerely, Pam Raines
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February/March 2020
A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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ere we are rocking along the road of 2020, setting the tone for the year and plotting the course for a new decade. Right out of the starting gate we had something we could all agree upon — the 20s!
After the world didn’t end on Y2K, we struggled to find a moniker for the first decade of the new millennium. Some went with “the aughts,” while others safely stuck with “the 2000s,” but in spite of our best efforts, nothing really caught on. Likewise, the 10s (teens?) were a conundrum. No worries, all is well now; the 20s is a designation we can wrap our minds around. There you have it, blessed agreement! In this issue of The House & Home Magazine, while we’re on the subject of rocking in 2020, check out the feature story about electric guitars. We agree that we love them, and the soundtrack of our lives wouldn’t be the same without them, but agreement stops there. Every aficionado has a favorite. We’ll take a look at why. In another story, you can tour the era of muscle cars and the models that defined a
movement. If that’s not enough to get your engines revving, read up on “love bites,” some foods and recipes to show and share your affection. Also, in this issue, we find ourselves in two seasons at once — with both the last wave of winter and the first breath of spring. Garden clubs will be a focus, with previews of the region’s home tours in preparation for Historic Garden Week in Virginia. In addition, we shake off our winter hibernation and stretch our minds a bit by examining the mysteries of labyrinths and the magical beauty of seahorses in the Chesapeake Bay. As always, we’ll highlight a selection of lovely locales, historic properties and interesting diversions. While you’re pondering your stack of Valentines and searching for signs of spring, keep your House & Home close at hand. Enjoy our stories and be sure to visit one or more of our many advertisers, who always present the finest goods and services our area has to offer. They appreciate your business. Read on!
After the world didn’t end on Y2K, we struggled to find a moniker for the first decade of the new millennium. JANET EVANS HINMAN The House & Home Magazine
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PUBLISHER James L. Blanks EDITOR Janet Evans Hinman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kim Boisvert Bob Cerullo Gene Hinman Harmony Hunter Jackie Nunnery Deb Weissler ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Kirstin Canough ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE James L. Blanks: 804-929-1797 JLB Publishing, Inc. P. O. Box 2564 • Tappahannock, VA 22560 Office: 804-929-1797 • Fax: 1-888-747-2267 thehouseandhomemag@gmail.com
Cover photo courtesy of Terry Young. www.airaspects.com The House & Home Magazine is a free, four-color publication that specializes in providing home ideas, real estate, and lifestyle articles. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from JLB Publishing, Inc. The information contained herein are opinions of sources and interviews. JLB Publishing Inc. claims no reliability or accuracy to any information contained within. The House & Home Magazine is published for reference purposes only and is not materially responsible for errors. The House & Home Magazine is published bimonthly and is distributed at over 500 locations throughout Essex, Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, Gloucester, Richmond, and Mechanicsville as well as subscriptions, direct mail, and trade shows.
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Contents
The House & Home Magazine • February/March 2020
14 Celebrate Wine, Art and Derby Day
18 2020 Historic Garden Week
www.thehouseandhomemagazine.com
50 Nuts About Nuts 54 Creating a Healing
Environment for All
abyrinths 34 All Hail Rock and Roll 56 LFollowing a twisting track A brief history of the electric guitar 60 Seahorses of the Chesapeake Bay 40 Born in the U.S.A. Classic American 66 Poplar Grove and muscle cars its Tide Mill 46 Love at First Bite 72 Fine Properties Foods to show and share your love
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THE MUSCARELLE MUSEUM OF ART AT WILLIAM & MARY
10TH ANNUAL
WINE & RUN FOR THE ROSES AUCTION MAY 2, 2020 14
February/March 2020
Presented by
LAUGH! LIBATE! LIFT YOUR PADDLE FOR A GREAT CAUSE!
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oin us during this landmark year for Wine & Run for the Roses, the largest fundraising event for the Muscarelle Museum of Art Foundation and a reminder of the invaluable role our members’ generous support plays in the continued growth and accomplishments of the museum. Over the past nine years of the auction, we have raised nearly three million dollars to support the museum’s exhibitions, programming, and student internship program. Our success is a reflection of the initiative, time, and passion of our supporters to whom we owe many thanks, especially our Presenting Sponsors – MCV Foundation and VCU Health. Wine & Run for the Roses is the premier social event in Williamsburg! To celebrate our Tenth Anniversary, we are kicking off the weekend with a special wine dinner at Waypoint Seafood & Grill on Thursday, April 30. The celebration continues on Saturday at the Williamsburg Lodge, beginning with food and wine on the lawn and culminating in our live auction in the Virginia Ballroom. An exciting array of live and silent auction items, including fine and rare wines and extraordinary travel excursions, are all at auction exclusively at this dynamic event. Featuring a Virginia wine reception with fabulous fare, a “haute-ly” contested hat contest, a derby race raffle, and a giant screen telecast of the Kentucky Derby - you are sure to have a marvelous time! Proceeds from the Muscarelle Museum of Art Foundation’s 2020 Wine & Run for the Roses events will help ensure the museum remains a vital, world-class cultural institution, serving both William & Mary and the broader community. The funds raised support a wide range of museum activities, including important exhibitions, lectures on art and architecture, films, and art workshops. In addition to programming, proceeds from the event support student engagement at the museum through internships and educational opportunities.
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This spring, the museum will be alive with exhibitions and programming. Two new exhibitions will open in February: In Focus: New Acquisitions in Photography and American Vision: A Tribute to Carroll Owens, Jr. In Focus will feature new acquisitions by Markus Brunetti, Edward Curtis, Roy DeCarava, Ruth Orkin, Cara Romero, Charles Sheeler, Julius Shulman, Ezra Stoller, and Carleton Watkins, among others. The exhibition will initiate a springtime focus on photography at the Muscarelle, which will also include a lecture by renowned
National Geographic photographer Erika Fabian and workshops in large format photography by William & Mary art faculty member, Eliot Dudik. Our exhibition of works from the collection of The Owens Foundation will honor one of the Muscarelle’s greatest patrons, Carroll Owens, Jr., who time and again stepped in with financial support that allowed the museum to grow and prosper. The exhibition will feature the outstanding works, by a variety of American painters, collected by Carroll and Patty Owens that are on loan to the museum.
WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US AT OUR TENTH ANNUAL WINE & RUN FOR THE ROSES EVENT AND, OF COURSE, FOR THE EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES, AND EVENTS THAT YOUR GENEROSITY MAKES POSSIBLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT PLEASE VISIT MMAWINEAUCTION.COM
ABOUT THE MUSCARELLE MUSEUM OF ART The Muscarelle Museum of Art is located at 603 Jamestown Road on the campus of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. For more information, call 757-221-2700 or visit muscarelle.org. The Museum is open from 10 AM until 5 PM Tuesday through Friday and from 12 PM until 4 PM Saturday and Sunday.
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2020 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK NEW KONERDING RESIDENCE
GARDEN CLUB OF THE NORTHERN NECK
UPPER LANCASTER COUNTY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020
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ancaster County, the “lower neck” or southernmost region of the Northern Neck, is a land of rivers, creeks and coves that feed into the Chesapeake Bay. This driving tour leads visitors through the back roads of upper Lancaster County and features a private home at the confluence of the eastern and western branches of the Corrotoman River; properties located in Belle Isle State Park, including the first floor of the Belle Isle Manor House; as well as St. Mary’s Whitechapel, Bewdley and Epping Forest; each with historical significance to the area. 18
10:00AM – 4:00PM
NEW KONERDING RESIDENCE (9 Yankee Point Road, Lancaster) — Overlooking the Corrotoman River at the confluence of the western and eastern branches, this three-acre property enjoys stunning views due to its raised elevation. The threestory home, built in the low country style, is surrounded with porches. Inside, period antiques complement elegant window treatments and upholstered furniture. Drs. Karsten and Hazle Konerding, owners
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NORTHERN NECK Bel AIR
BELLE ISLE STATE PARK, BEL AIR, AND BELLE ISLE MANOR HOUSE (1632 Belle Isle Road, Lancaster) The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation purchased approximately 675 acres of land to be used as a state park from the Gruis family in 1992 and created Belle Isle State Park the following year. The 1770s Belle Isle Manor House and surrounding 90 acres was purchased from the Gruis family in 2015 and is now also part of the park.
BEL AIR Built in 1940 by John G. Pollard, Jr., and his wife, Peggy, this colonial style house was designed by Thomas T. Waterman. An expert in his field, Waterman served as the director of the Historic American Building Survey and consulted on the
restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. Bel Air was built by local craftsman Bayse Haynie, using cypress trees harvested from Belle Isle Farm.
BELLE ISLE MANOR HOUSE This excellent example of a small but formal Tidewater plantation was built for Thomas Bertrand Griffin following his marriage to Judith Burwell of Carter’s Grove in 1766. Onestory wings were added around 1790 by Rawleigh Downman, whose family ran a thriving plantation for nearly 100 years. In 1939, Suzanne Pollard Boatwright and her husband, Herbert Lee Boatwright, embarked on a restoration of the house. The property was purchased by Edward and Rosemary Gruis in 1980 and was incorporated into Belle Isle State Park in 2015. It is listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places and is a Virginia Historic Landmark.
BELLE ISLE MANOR HOUSE
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2020 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK EPPING FOREST
EPPING FOREST
(677 Morattico Road (Rt.622), Lancaster) Mary Ball Washington (1708-1789), mother of George Washington, was born and spent her early childhood at Epping Forest. Her father, Colonel Joseph Ball, purchased this plantation, sometimes referred to as Forest Plantation or the Forest Quarter, in 1677 and built a residence soon after. When he was widowed, he married Mary Johnson. Colonel Ball died in 1711, and Mary’s mother managed her dower interest in this farm until her death in 1721. In 1731, Mary Ball married Augustine Washington of Westmoreland County. George was the first child from this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. John T. Kincheloe, owners
BEWDLEY (1429 Bewdley Road, Lancaster) The first house, built by Major Kendall Ball, a cousin of Mary Ball Washington, was purported to be the only house in the United States with one set of dormer windows above another in the early 1700s. A century later, the first steamboats docked at its pier. Unfortunately, this structure, located adjacent to the Rappahannock River, burned in 1917. It was rebuilt about ten years later by the late Matt P. Will of Richmond. The families of the late Mr. and Mrs. Matt P. Will, owners
BEWDLEY
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NORTHERN NECK ST. MARY’S WHITECHAPEL
TOUR INFORMATION: Advance Tickets: $30 pp. at vagardenweek.org. Available locally at The Dandelion in Irvington, Lancaster Virginia Historical Society in Lancaster, Mosaic in Callao, Dreams Fashions in Burgess, Colonial Collectibles in Warsaw, and The Art of Coffee in Montross. Day of Tour Tickets: $40 pp. Available on tour day at Tour Headquarters (The Visitor Center at Belle Isle State Park), St. Mary’s Whitechapel and the Konerding residence.
ST. MARY’S WHITECHAPEL (5940 White Chapel Road, Lancaster) Founded in 1669, this is one of the oldest churches in Virginia. Last year marked the 350th anniversary of its founding. The graveyard surrounding the church is one of the most picturesque graveyards in the Northern Neck. Situated on the westward-facing slope of a wooded hill, the graveyard contains over 750 graves that date back well over 300 years. The oldest marked grave is that of “John Stretchley, Gentleman,” who died in 1698. H
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Lunch: $15 Box Lunches are available by pre-order only before April 15 and will be available at Tour Headquarters between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on tour day. Prepared by Old Farm Truck. Order with Carol Hughes at weedarnock@yahoo.com. Bus and Tour Group Information: Dana Smith, (804) 438-6559, dysmith@va.metrocast.net.
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2020 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK SOUTHERN SIGHS INN
GARDEN CLUB OF THE MIDDLE PENINSULA
ENJOY A DAY OF BEAUTY AND HISTORY FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020
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uaint, historic towns and picturesque countryside along the Rappahannock and Piankatank rivers are the hallmarks of Middlesex County, which is a perfect day trip from Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Northern Virginia. This tour showcases the diverse architecture of the county, ranging from a colonial-period homestead to a modern house influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s theories and principles.
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10:00AM – 4:00PM
SOUTHERN SIGHS INN (35 Wares Bridge Road, Church View) Built in 1913 by local businessman and farmer George Northam, this expansive Victorian home is constructed of cypress lumber harvested from the nearby Dragon Run swamp. The house has an interesting history that includes a period when it was converted from a family residence to a Boys Home financed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The Hartzell family purchased the house in the 1990s and transformed it into the Dragon Run Inn that operated for 25 years. The current owners bought the house in 2017 and undertook extensive renovations. Now known as Southern Sighs Inn, the bed and breakfast melds European style with Southern design and each room has a different theme based on the owners’ travels. Mary Lynn Landgraf and William A. Budd, owners February/March 2020
MIDDLE PENINSULA
THE JONES HOUSE THE JONES HOUSE (564 General Puller Highway, Saluda) This circa-1910 home, built by the local sheriff, sits atop a knoll in the heart of Saluda. The Colonial Revival house was expanded by the second owner, a physician, to accommodate his medical offices. Renovated in 1984 by the current owners, the Jones House is filled with
unique local pieces such as the kitchen’s butcher block that came out of the 1930s Saluda Market and a child’s rocking boat in the library made to look like a row skiff. The home is open and airy, boasting a grand front foyer with a staircase and a master bedroom wing created from the former doctor’s office. Marcia and Curtis Jones, owners
LEAFWOOD (820 Gloucester Road, Saluda) Dating from 1781, Leafwood originally served as the Clarke’s Neck plantation overseer’s house. The Marston family acquired the home in 1856 and at the turn of the twentieth century, it was bought by John Saunders, Attorney General of Virginia from 1918 to 1934. The house remained in his family until 2005 and was purchased by the current owners in 2017. A circular boxwood garden greets visitors and azaleas, daffodils, iris, dogwood and 150-yearold oaks can be seen across the landscape. Several original outbuildings remain on the property, including a smokehouse and a tobacco barn. An outdoor marketplace of vendors selling jewelry, plants, art, stationery and coastal collectibles will be behind Leafwood on the tour day. Angeline and Grady Frame, owners
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2020 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK
THE SWINEHART HOUSE
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MIDDLE PENINSULA THIS TOUR SHOWCASES THE DIVERSE ARCHITECTURE OF THE COUNTY, RANGING FROM A COLONIAL-PERIOD HOMESTEAD TO A MODERN HOUSE INFLUENCED BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S THEORIES AND PRINCIPLES.
THE SWINEHART HOUSE (798 Deerchase Road, Saluda) The house was built in 2000 from plans created by architect John Rattenbury, who won LIFE magazine’s 1997 Dream Home contest for the design. The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired plans, made available by LIFE magazine for purchase, stands as an example of Wright and Rattenbury’s goals to blend outdoor and indoor living spaces through architectural design. Maximizing natural light and vistas are important to the overall aesthetic, and careful attention is given to integrating roof lines with the outdoor landscape. Porches extend
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the living areas, further showcasing the extensive native gardens surrounding the structure. The house has views of the Piankatank River, and a creek meanders through the property. Kathy and Len Swinehart, owners Along your drive, visit other points of interest including: the Deltaville Maritime Museum; the Urbanna Museum in the 1766 James Mill Scottish Factor Store; and Christ Church Parish graveyard, burial place of Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller. H
TOUR INFORMATION: Tour Headquarters: Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society, 777 General Puller Highway, Saluda, VA. Advance Tickets: $30 pp. at www.vagardenweek.org. Available by mail before April 17 — check payable to GCMP along with a self-addressed, stamped (2 stamps) legal-sized envelope to Kelly Gwathmey, 6357 W. River Rd., Aylett, VA, 23009. Day of Tour Tickets: $35 pp. Tickets available at headquarters or at Southern Sighs Inn. For more information on tickets, call Kelly Gwathmey at (804) 240-6809.
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2020 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Photos courtesy of Sandy Geiger
THE GARDEN CLUB OF GLOUCESTER
HISTORIC GLOUCESTER HOUSE AND GARDEN TOUR SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2020
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uaint, historic, coastal. Mathews was voted one of the “Coolest Small Towns in America” as a result of its historic downtown that offers shopping, dining, art galleries and charming B&Bs. Reflecting the maritime heritage of this Chesapeake Bay community, all of the homes and gardens on tour are situated on the pristine waters of the East River. Tour four historic homes and three adjacent cottages located in close proximity to each other and to downtown. Included are an elegant
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10:00AM TO 5:00PM
home surrounded by expansive gardens built by a shellfish tycoon, and a craftsman-style home built by a sea captain. Come for a taste of authentic coastal living.
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH HEADQUARTERS (320 Williams Wharf Rd., Mathews) Kingston Parish was established around 1652 as one of the four Anglican parishes of Gloucester County, which then included what is now Mathews. Of special architectural interest is a unique parquet ceiling accented with carved acorns and an unusual converted oil chandelier.
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GLOUCESTER PALACE GREEN
PALACE GREEN (596 Main St., Mathews) Palace Green sits well back from Main Street in Mathews behind a sweeping lawn dappled by the shade of mature trees. The exact age of this stately home is unclear but the lunette window high under the roof peak matches several
RIVERLAWN (Accessed via shuttle from lot across from headquarters) Riverlawn is a classic white frame home standing on the banks of the East River. It was built in 1874 and has undergone an impressive rehabilitation starting in 2012. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. A lovely side porch takes in sweeping views of the river. The extensive art collection focuses on water-related and rural themes. Riverlawn encompasses an additional waterfront home, “The Cottage,” which will also be open for touring and is jointly owned by the Reids and Martha and Lee Chapman. Carter and Joe Reid, owners. (Open for the first time.)
others elsewhere in Mathews which can be reliably dated circa 1835. Palace Green has an extensive collection of family antiques and a captivating art collection. The charming waterfront guest cottage will also be open. Elsa and Paul Verbyla, owners
RIVERLAWN
SAMARKAND (341 Samarkand Lane, Mathews) Samarkand embraces 26 bucolic acres on Woodas Creek, an estuary of the East River. Visitors will find beauty everywhere on this estate, from the winding allée of crepe myrtles that frame the driveway to the mature gardens. Samarkand is a The House & Home Magazine
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2020 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK SAMARKAND
three-story Federal-style home built in 1927. The classically elegant interior of Samarkand with its marble foyer, raisedpanel wainscoting, and coffered ceilings is the perfect backdrop for an eclectic art collection, including works by local and international artists. (Open for the first time.) Karen Tiller and Mark Polivka, owners
WESTON HALL (Accessed via shuttle from lot across from headquarters) Weston Hall enjoys magnificent views of the East River and beyond to the Mobjack Bay. Massive trees grace the sweeping lawn. Weston Hall was built by Capt. Clarence Kirwan, between 1900-1919. Built to resemble the layout of a ship, the sturdy-looking Arts and Crafts-style exterior belies the light and airy feeling of the rooms within. Large light-filled rooms with high ceilings provide an open and sunny ambiance. The recently renovated guest house will also be open. Cindy and Bill Barnett, owners H
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GLOUCESTER TOUR INFORMATION: All details available at www.vagardenweek.org/main/tours. Headquarters: Christ Episcopal Church. Tours of the church, tickets, and local brochure with map available on tour day. Lunch: Pre-ordered box lunches from Nuttall Country Store will be available for pick-up at Williams Wharf Landing as well as à la carte offerings from the VA Blue Crab food truck. Shore Bites available at Brent & Becky’s Bulbs. Advance Tickets: $35 pp. Available at www.vagardenweek.org. Tickets also available locally until Wednesday, April 15, at Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, Little England Mercantile, Mathews Visitor Center, and Up South by check or cash only.
WESTON HALL
Day-of-tour tickets: $45 pp. Tickets available on tour day at headquarters and Samarkand by credit card, cash or check. Not available at other houses. Parking: Available at the shuttle lot, Palace Green and Samarkand. Riverlawn, Weston Hall and Williams Wharf Landing accessible only by shuttles. Shuttles will pick up and drop off at the shuttle lot located across from headquarters at 320 Williams Wharf Rd. Special Activities: The Master Gardeners will be available for guided tours of the gardens at Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, located at 7900 Daffodil Lane, Gloucester. (804) 693-3966. Boat tours out of Williams Wharf Landing with commentary on history and oyster production are available. Tours are one hour in length and must be booked by calling (804) 815-6132 or emailing trey@shuckkum.com. The House & Home Magazine
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2020 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK HAWTREE LANDING
THE WILLIAMSBURG GARDEN CLUB
THE WILLIAMSBURG HOME AND GARDEN TOUR TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020
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o help celebrate the Garden Club of Virginia’s 100-year anniversary, the Williamsburg Garden Club tour features six distinct properties, gardens, and a mini-symposium featuring flower arranging the old-fashioned way while still creating environmentally friendly arrangements. Three Colonial Williamsburg properties, rarely open to the public, are featured along with three breathtaking homes in Queens Lake and several garden tours — which all make for a fun and memorable day. 30
10:00AM TO 5:00PM
QUEENS LAKE TOUR HAWTREE LANDING (201 Prince Charles Road) This Colonial French-style home, with 18 acres of marsh and high ground, was built in 1959 for history writer Burke Davis. His writing studio overlooked Queens Creek just beyond an oyster shell midden. The gray and white colors of oyster shells inspire the home’s finishes. Dawn and Rock Mullenax, owners
HAWTREE POINT (103 Prince Charles Road) A short walk through wooded gardens and stone drives reveals a brick-enclosed courtyard. Interior illumination is enhanced through skylights and glass pediments. In a home where the view is a form of art, soaring ceilings reveal beautiful paintings and sconces. Judy and Gordon Angles, owners February/March 2020
WILLIAMSBURG
HAWTREE POINT (233 East Queens Lake Drive) The constraints of a peninsula lot with nearly 360-degree views of Queen’s Creek, Queen’s Lake and the York River inspired this home for aging-in-place. To fit the lot size and increase viewing opportunities, the home’s building corners are angled and fitted with glass. Betty and Luther Blair, owners
MINI-SYMPOSIUM WITH GARDEN AND FLORAL Queens Lake Clubhouse From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., please join Libbey Oliver and other garden and floral design experts for a series of mini-symposiums. Learn via ongoing demonstrations why flower arranging the old-fashioned way using frogs, branches and appropriate vases can create environmentally friendly arrangements. Refreshments will also be part of this educational tour stop.
EAST QUEENS LAKE DRIVE
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2020 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK
BASSETT HALL
LUDWELL-PARADISE
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February/March 2020
WILLIAMSBURG
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG TOUR BASSETT HALL (522 East Francis Street) This was the home of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller. Bequeathed to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in 1979, this gift included 584 acres of woodlands and gardens.
LUDWELL-PARADISE HOUSE (207 East Duke of Gloucester Street) Built circa 1755 by Phillip Ludwell III, this home remained in the Ludwell Family until 1926. This was the first property purchased by Mr. Rockefeller and the Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin to be restored in Williamsburg.
PALMER HOUSE (430 East Duke of Gloucester Street) The Palmer House is one of Colonial Williamsburg’s original 88 eighteenthcentury buildings. Last year, the Palmer House was used as a home-away-fromhome for the Designer-in-Residence Program, initiated by the Williamsburg product licensing department. The floral arrangements throughout the house are provided by the Colonial Williamsburg Floral Studio, especially for this tour.
PALMER HOUSE MATTEY’S GARDEN
ADAMS GARDEN
(301 Scotland Street) This children’s garden was a gift from the Williamsburg Garden Club to the City of Williamsburg and is maintained by master gardener volunteers.
(Corner of North Boundary and Richmond Rd) The Williamsburg Garden Club donated restoration funds and supports the garden, which is maintained by the College of William and Mary. H
TOUR INFORMATION: ESCORTED WALKING TOURS OF COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG GARDENS (Starting at Ludwell-Paradise House) From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy escorted walking tours of the gardens and learn how to transport eighteenth century landscape details and heirloom plants into your own garden. Along the way, a variety of trees in Colonial Williamsburg’s arboretum collection will be highlighted.
SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOURS-BRUTON PARISH CHURCH AND GROUNDS (201 West Duke of Gloucester Street) Historic Garden Week proceeds have assisted with the courtyard restorations. The House & Home Magazine
Complimentary Parking: Regional Visitor Center, HGW ticket-holders may board buses on the lower level; also, parking is available at Queens Lake Clubhouse (234 East Queens Drive). HGW ticket-holders must board shuttles to travel to homes. No parking at tour homes. Advance Tickets: $40 pp. Purchase online at www.vagardenweek.org,or contact Cathy Adams at cbtbka@cox.net or 757.220.2486. Locally: Starting March 1, 2020 at Seasons of Williamsburg and Wild Birds Unlimited (check and cash only) until
April 20. Also, at Regional Visitor Center on April 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (credit cards, checks and cash accepted) Day of the tour: April 21, 2020 — $50 pp at the Regional Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; at the LudwellParadise House and at the Queens Lake Clubhouse from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Two- and Three-Day Combo Ticket Savings: Includes Hampton-Newport News and Norfolk tours at www.vagardenweek.org. Lunch: $20. Order before April 15 and enjoy a box lunch at the Williamsburg Inn’s social terrace from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Contact Cathy Adams at cbtbka@cox.net or at 757.220.2486. 33
L I A H L AL
[A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ELECTRIC GUITAR] A vintage Les Paul by Gibson 34
By Gene Hinman February/March 2020
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ew things set the stage for our lives, from the baby boomer generation through today, better than rock and roll music. Whether for you it’s an image of Chuck Berry duckwalking across the stage playing his Gibson ES-355, Jimmy Page’s live playing of “Stairway to Heaven” on his Gibson EDS-1275 Doubleneck or Kurt Cobain ushering in the Grunge era with his Fender Jaguar, these iconic images bring us back to the feelings of freedom, youth, rebellion, and the sheer unbridled joy of being alive. And nothing exemplifies rock and roll like the electric guitar. It’s little exaggeration to say that without the electric guitar, we wouldn’t have rock and roll. Just the image of an electric guitar has, for us, a positive effect. In fact, numerous scientific studies show that women tend to find the same man significantly more attractive when he’s merely holding a guitar. So, how did the electric guitar come to be? Prior to the late 1930s, the guitar, in its acoustic form, was limited to a small supporting role in large musical ensembles, largely due to its limited volume. The real motivation to create an electric guitar was to increase its volume. An electric guitar is one which uses one or more electromagnetic “pickups” to convert the vibration of its strings into electrical signals. The very first attempts to create an electric guitar were in the 1920s, but these experiments were very crude, primitive prototypes with The House & Home Magazine
A selection of Gibson Les Pauls limited practical application. Around 1932, two Los Angeles musicians developed an electromagnetic pickup comprised of two horseshoe magnets. This is the basic principle behind the method of amplifying electric guitars today. Satisfied with the effectiveness of their pickup, these musicians, George Beauchamp and John Dopyera, had a local craftsman make a guitar to support their electromagnetic pickup. They took the prototype to Adolph Rickenbacker. Beauchamp and Rickenbacker formed a company to begin manufacturing the “Frying Pan” Electro Hawaiian Guitar. This guitar, officially the Rickenbacker Electro A-22, was a lap steel guitar made of cast aluminum and shaped like a frying pan. It was played lying across the player’s knees, was used mostly for Hawaiian music, and was the first of what was to become the famous line of Rickenbacker electric guitars. Rickenbackers have been used by great rock and roll bands such as The Beatles, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and R.E.M. The first “Spanish style” electric guitar (meaning it looked like what you have historically thought of as a guitar) was built and sold by another early experimenter, Paul Loar. This guitar in turn inspired guitar pioneer Orville Gibson in 1935 to create the Gibson ES-150, which revolutionized the instrument and is often credited with being the first modern electric guitar. The ES-150 was an immediate success, but it did have its challenges. Vibrations from its hollow body were picked up and amplified by the pickup and created feedback, distorting the sound. This led the legendary guitarist Les Paul (for which one of the most popular Gibson guitars of all 35
time is named) to develop a solid body electric guitar in 1940. This early attempt was referred to as “The Log,� as it was basically just a four-by-four piece of pine with pickups and guitar parts from an Epiphone Broadway guitar. Les Paul took this prototype to Gibson, who was unimpressed and skeptical about the prospects of a solid body electric guitar. Thankfully for all of us, Leo Fender saw the possibilities, and in 1949, started selling the Fender Esquire, which became the first commercially successful solid body electric guitar. This guitar was renamed the Telecaster in 1951, has been in constant production since, and remains one of the most famous and popular electric guitars today. Some of the most recognizable stars known to be partial to the Telecaster include Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck and Keith Urban. During the 1950s and 1960s, the electric guitar had become arguably the most important instrument in popular music, and this period saw fierce competition between the top manufacturers, resulting in rapid development of new and improved models and manufacturing techniques. Many of the advancements in the field were made during this period, and today there are literally hundreds of electric guitar manufacturers, many specializing in specific genres (country, heavy metal, jazz, blues, classic rock). Many of the specific brands and models developed in this period, and discussed here, remain among the most popular and successful of all. A BRIEF TIMELINE 1949: Fender developed the Esquire, which was renamed the Telecaster in 1951. In constant production since its debut, the Telecaster remains one of the most popular electric guitars of all time. 1953: Gretsch presented to the market the 6128 Duo Jet. Gretsch guitars, while not quite the household name of Fender or Gibson are a great historic brand in their own right and have been played by such guitar greats as Chet Atkins, Brian Setzer, Bo Diddley and Eddie Cochran. 1954: Fender launched the Stratocaster. Designed to be an upgrade 36
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Paul Reid Smith electric guitar
to the successful Telecaster, the Stratocaster had three pickups for a wider variety of tones, a spring tension vibrato system, and a double cutaway body designed to allow the player improved access to higher notes. The guitar is one of the most famous of all time, has been in constant production since 1954, and was most famously played by guitar heroes such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and David Gilmour. 1958: Gibson first offered the ES335, the world’s first commercial thin-line, semi-hollow body electric guitar. Before 1952, Gibson only offered hollow body guitars, which were preferred by some players due to the warmer, woodier tones they produced compared with their solid body counterparts. But this came with the problems of feedback and distortion when highly amplified. The semi-hollow body design was an attempt to claim the middle ground: a warmer tone without the attendant
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A Gibson ES-335
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Fender American Standard Stratocaster
IT’S LITTLE EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT WITHOUT THE ELECTRIC GUITAR, WE WOULDN’T HAVE ROCK AND ROLL. feedback issues. It was immediately successful and remains so today. Notable guitarists associated with the ES-335 include Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Warren Haynes and Dave Grohl. 1961: Due to its unpopularity and lack of sales, Gibson dropped the Les Paul from its lineup in 1960, replacing it with the Gibson SG. The SG, which stood for “solid guitar,” was designed with a thinner and lighter flat-topped mahogany body with double cutaways (as with Fender’s Stratocaster), allowing easier access to higher notes and considered more modern in appearance. Originally called the Les Paul SG,
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the design was strongly disliked by Les Paul himself, so Gibson changed the name to simply SG. The SG remains in production today and is Gibson’s best-selling model of all time. Players associated with the Gibson SG include Angus Young, Frank Zappa, Derek Trucks and Pete Townshend. AND THE BEAT GOES ON Of course, no list can begin to cover the full landscape of electric guitars. In the intervening six decades, literally
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hundreds of guitar makers have come and gone, and hundreds remain today. They tend to fall into several categories: n Economy-oriented brands such as Squier (a division of Fender), Epiphone (once a higher-end brand but now a lower cost arm of Gibson), Ibanez and Yamaha all offer products of very good quality without breaking the bank. n Some brands are geared toward specific genres such as heavy metal. While you will certainly see quite a few Gibson Les Pauls and SGs, and even the occasional Fender Stratocaster, on a heavy metal stage, brands such as Jackson, Ibanez, Charvel and ESP-LTD build guitars that specifically lend themselves to this particular playing style. n Boutique brands such as Shabat Guitars, LSL Instruments, Novo Guitars and K-Line offer unique designs frequently based on the famous designs you’re used to from the 1950s and 1960s but often handcrafted and with various details that their designers consider improvements over the originals. n Super premium brands such as Paul Reed Smith, Suhr, Anderson Guitar Works and Knaggs Guitars are examples of brands which utilize fairly traditional designs (with a few changes which set them apart) but put premium materials and superb craftsmanship ahead of affordability. This results in electric guitars which exemplify quality, but which the average guitarist cannot afford. Paul Reed Smith (PRS) is probably the best example of this category. Smith established a partnership to create a factory in 1985 and early on produced no more than one guitar per month. He would then take the guitar to concerts by major stars and try to get backstage to show, and hopefully sell, a guitar to famous players. Early customers included Peter Frampton, Ted Nugent, and Al Dimeola. Things took a turn when Carlos Santana acquired a PRS guitar and many soon followed. Today, PRS produces about 1,100 guitars per month.
Epiphone SG by Gibson
these models exactly (or as closely as they can) to the exact specifications from the specific year and model the customer desires. The nostalgia that these guitars evoke allows the companies to charge on average twice as much as for their standard models. We humans love to “pick a side,” and guitar brands are certainly no exception. There are diehard Fender folks and obsessed Gibson fans who swear that their brand is best. But clearly there is no best. The multitude of brands, models and styles of electric guitar which have come to be in the years since Gibson offered the first ES-150 in 1935 make us all richer for their existence and indeed make the world a better and more melodic place. Long live Rock and Roll!
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THEN AND NOW A lot has happened in the world of electric guitars since the days when the Telecaster, Stratocaster Les Paul, SG and ES-335 debuted, but you would be hard pressed to attend a rock concert today, either national in scope or in your local pub, without seeing one of these guitars on stage. Many people feel that the actual guitars physically produced in the 1950s and 1960s are superior to anything which has come since, and these survivors sell for exorbitant prices. This particular market is so robust that both Fender and Gibson have high-end “Custom Shops” where they attempt to remake The House & Home Magazine
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CLASSIC AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS
Born in the U.S.A. By Gene Hinman
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
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WHY DO AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS BRING ABOUT SUCH FEELINGS? PERHAPS IT HARKENS BACK TO A TIME IN OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIENTIOUSNESS WHEN WE, AS AMERICANS, SAW THE FUTURE AS UNDENIABLY BRIGHT. February/March 2020
The 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 known as “Eleanor,” from the movie Gone in 60 Seconds, received star billing.
This 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, the original Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in the movie Bullitt, recently sold for $3.7 million (other sources report $3.4 million) at Mecum Kissimmee 2020, capturing the crown for most valuable Ford Mustang in the world.
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om, apple pie, the flag and American muscle cars. All of these things bring about a certain shared, very American feeling. Why do American muscle cars bring about such feelings? Perhaps it harkens back to a time in our collective conscientiousness when we, as Americans, saw the future as undeniably bright and when anything was possible.
Credit: iStock.com/ Co
The American muscle car era ran, for the most part, from the mid ’60s through the early to mid ‘70s. This era, not surprisingly, coincides with American superiority in the Space Race (Apollo 11 landed Americans on the moon on July 20,1969), and is also widely considered to be the heyday of rock and roll, with artists such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin providing the soundtrack. As with these iconic images, one only has to hear the deep rumble from the dual exhaust of a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 to be immediately transported to a time when we felt that not only was anything possible for the good old USA, but that anything was possible for us as well. In 1966, the “Big Three” American automakers (Ford, General Motors and Chrysler) dominated the domestic market with 89.6 percent of the automobile market. All three were located in metro Detroit, and there was very little interest at the time in “foreign” cars. Competition for the “baddest muscle car on the planet” was fierce, with each manufacturer vying for the honor of producing the fastest, coolest muscle car on the market. Originally conceived as drag racers, muscle cars are typically characterized as being American-made, having big, torque-rich V8 engines, mid-sized 2+2 bodies (two front seats and two rear seats), two doors and rear-wheel drive. There is enthusiastic debate about whether to include cars which The House & Home Magazine
ast-to-Coast
don’t quite adhere to this definition such as the Shelby Cobra, which did have the prerequisite big, powerful American V8, but had a two-seat British sports car body, and the Chevrolet Corvette, also a two seater, which is more often considered to be “America’s Sports Car.” Interestingly, this fierce competition was not limited to competition between the “Big Three,” but was even evident within the same company. A perfect example can be found in General Motors, which produced several competing brands. Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Buick and Pontiac offered models which were very similar. At first glance, it is difficult for the non-aficionado to tell the Chevrolet Chevelle, the Oldsmobile Cutlass, the Buick Skylark and the Pontiac LeMans apart. While there are dozens of excellent examples of American muscle cars, and emotions run high as to which to include in an all-star list, let’s stick to descriptions of some of the most famous models, examples of which can still be seen cruising our streets and featured in local car shows. FORD In the early days of the muscle car era, Ford produced some of the better all-around performance machines, but these early models were typically heavier than their competition and 41
American muscle in the countryside
1969 Ford 302 Boss Mustang somewhat underpowered compared to the best from GM and Chrysler. In spite of this, the Ford Mustang was outselling every other sporty American car by a wide margin. But it soon became apparent that a reputation in stoplight drag racing would translate directly into showroom sales. When Ford finally nailed down the muscle car formula, they made up for lost time. In 1968, they began fitting increasingly larger and more powerful
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engines into the Mustang and really hit their stride in 1969, loosing upon the American public a veritable stampede of performance Mustangs: the Boss 302, Boss 429, Mach 1 and Shelby versions GT350 and GT500.
n The 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 became one of the most valuable muscle cars ever, usually selling for more than $200,000 at auction.
n The 1968 Mustang Shelby GT500 is one of the most famous Mustangs of all time, best known for its role in Steve McQueen’s 1968 movie Bullitt. n Perhaps equally famous is the 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500, known as “Eleanor” from the movie Gone in 60 Seconds. “Eleanor” is the only Ford Mustang in history to receive star title credit in a movie.
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(left) Classic 1960s-era Chevrolet Camaro (below) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
GENERAL MOTORS Many people attribute GM with launching the muscle car era, largely due to the production of the 1964 Pontiac GTO, for which the timing proved perfect. GM had banned its brands from official racing, so Pontiac’s engineers got the idea to do what the hot rod community had been doing for years. The basic idea was to take the biggest engine you could get and put it into the lightest body you could build. GM’s Engineering Policy Committee, which approved all new models, would not approve a new model as light as the LeMans with a motor as large and powerful as the 325 horsepower 389 V8. The engineers, in true muscle car-era fashion, got around this by offering this motor in the LeMans as a GTO option package, which did not have to be approved by the Engineering Policy Committee. The rest is history.
n The 1964 Pontiac GTO is considered the pioneer of the muscle car era and is, in actuality, a Pontiac LeMans with added muscle.
1966 Pontiac GTO
n The Chevrolet Camaro Z28, launched in 1967, was designed for Trans Am racing and won the Trans Am Championship in both 1968 and 1969. n The Pontiac Firebird was a very close cousin to the Camaro and ironically offered a top tier Trans Am model, even though the Pontiac Trans Am never won a Trans Am series championship, while the Camaro Z28 won the championship two years in a row. n The 1970 Chevelle SS454 is perhaps the most iconic of the muscle cars and certainly denotes the high-water mark for American muscle cars. Soon after, gas prices, emissions regulations and insurance requirements conspired to make American muscle cars mere shadows of their former selves, with bloated weight and seriously curtailed horsepower. n The 1970 Oldsmobile 442, which gets its name from its four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission and dual exhaust, was based on the Cutlass and became the hot machine for Oldsmobile, sharing its platform with Chevrolet’s Chevelle SS and Pontiac’s GTO. The House & Home Magazine
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CHRYSLER
(top left) 1970 Dodge Super Bee. (top right) 1971 Dodge Challenger. (bottom) Classic Plymouth Road Runner
Chrysler historically produced a long line of performance-oriented cars going back to the early 1950s. Many considered Chrysler to be the most engineeringfocused of the Big Three, and they have always been a leader in horsepower innovations. But, when it came to youth-oriented styling (a must to drive showroom sales), Chrysler’s products didn’t stand a chance against competition such as Ford’s Mustang or GM’s Camaros and Firebirds. This all changed in 1968 with the production of two new models aimed squarely at the youth market — the Plymouth Roadrunner and the Dodge Super Bee. With bumblebee stripes, shaker hoods, wild spoilers and colors like Top Banana, Plum Crazy, Sublime and Go-Mango, sales improved dramatically. Chrysler had found the magic formula — flashy, fast, youthoriented cars which almost anyone could afford. Then, in 1970, Chrysler offered two of the most iconic cars of the muscle car era, a new generation of the Plymouth Barracuda and the new Dodge Challenger. These still rank among the most popular American muscle cars ever produced.
n The 1968 Dodge Charger R/T is one of the muscle cars which has definitely withstood the test of time and is still highly popular more than 50 years after it first made waves. One of the most memorable car chases in movie history was in the 1968 movie Bullitt, which featured a 1968 Dodge Charger in pursuit of Steve McQueen’s Mustang. This model was then re-popularized when a 1970 Charger appeared being driven by Vin Diesel in the 2001 movie, The Fast and the Furious. Often characterized as a true “man’s car,” it could be had with an engine option in the form of the 426 Hemi with 425 horsepower.
n The 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi was all business, offering an optional 426 Hemi engine with 425 horsepower in a “back to basics” package for people desiring a top performing muscle car without the frills attached. n The Plymouth Barracuda, which was Plymouth’s answer to established names of the time like Camaro and Mustang, 44
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Vintage Oldsmobile 442
was one of the most popular muscle cars, and the 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda was the crown jewel of the Barracudas. It came with a 425 cubic-inch motor producing 425 horsepower. It was limited to a run of only 11 units and remains one of the rarest and most sought-after muscle cars.
n The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T became famous overnight with the release of the movie Vanishing Point, in which the main star, Kowalski, eludes the
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police from Colorado to California, where he is destined to deliver a white 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Magnum with 425 horsepower. We Americans are a nostalgic lot, especially when that nostalgia leads us back to a time of clear American superiority in something as personal to us as our cars. How many of our fondest memories revolve around our cars? And, how often do you wish that (if you were lucky enough to have owned one of these gems) you had never sold it?
Then it’s no surprise that American auto manufacturers are trying to tap into that nostalgia with new models based as closely as possible on those iconic cars of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Ford offers a wide selection of Mustangs, Chrysler offers high performance Chargers and Challengers, and GM offers the sporty and powerful Camaro. Sound familiar? It should. If these new muscle cars can make a new generation of buyers feel that anything is possible for them … that’s a good thing. H
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Love
at
first bite
FOODS TO SHOW AND SHARE YOUR LOVE By Jackie Nunnery
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hether celebrating another year with a birthday cake or getting through a breakup with ice cream, we’ve all used food to make us feel better, and there’s science behind it. Studies have shown that our brains are wired to crave rewards, so food gives our brains a payoff similar to gambling or other pleasures.
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Given the connection to the pleasure centers of the brain, it should be no surprise that food is also believed to lead to other pleasures. Aphrodisiacs, named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, have been around for centuries. From spices to sweets, seafoods to meats, certain foods and recipes have been concocted to improve our moods, rev up our nervous systems or get our hearts pumping. All of this in the name of love.
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OYSTERS: LOVE ON THE HALF SHELL The oyster’s long reputation as an aphrodisiac is probably due to one man: Giacomo Casanova. In his biography The Story of My Life, Casanova claimed to eat 50 oysters for breakfast every day and swore they were the reason for his boundless energy and libido. Whether the claim is scientifically true or not, so sensational were his adventures and exploits that even 200 years later, his very name still conjures up the art of seduction, and oysters became the most famous of all aphrodisiacs. Science has since attempted to back up Casanova’s claim. In 2005, research showed that oysters contained amino acids that increased testosterone, the hormone that affects sex drive in both men and women. But enough to make a difference? That is still up for debate. CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES: DOUBLE THE PLEASURE Chocolate and strawberries both have even longer histories of aiding desire. The Aztec emperor Montezuma was said to have downed copious amounts of a cocoa drink to support his libido, not to mention that we’ve been giving our sweethearts Valentine’s Day chocolates since the Victorian era. Strawberries have had a love connection since Roman times when the heartshaped fruit was referred to as the fruit of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Science once again stepped in and found that chocolate contained two chemicals, tryptophan and phenylethylamine, which are both related to the production of “love hormones” serotonin and dopamine. Strawberries are packed with vitamin C, which is good for blood flow and the production of estrogen, as well as potassium, which is good for the heart. Add the two together, and you have one sweet treat to share with the one you love. FIGS AND CHILI PEPPERS: SWEET AND SPICY Figs, with their rich, succulent taste and texture were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra and have been a symbol of fertility in many cultures for centuries. Some historians believe the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden may have been a fig and not an apple. Science tells us that figs are an excellent source of iron, which helps with your body’s overall energy level. Chili peppers, with their bright red color and heat, give everything a kick. Capsaicin, the substance in peppers that gives them their heat, triggers the release of endorphins and dopamine when we eat them, making us feel good. Remember Montezuma and his love of cocoa? He added chili peppers (and another aphrodisiac, vanilla) to his chocolate drink to enhance its effect on passion. Try this recipe, which includes figs and chili peppers for a sweet and spicy one-two punch, sure to win over the apple of your eye. It also includes maple syrup, a great source of manganese, essential to the health of the reproductive system. And while bacon isn’t considered an aphrodisiac, it is loved almost universally and has the ability to make anything taste a little richer. The House & Home Magazine
FIGS WITH CHILI AND BACON
Ingredients: • 2 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces • 8 ripe figs, halved lengthwise • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Directions: Cook bacon pieces in a large nonstick skillet over mediumlow heat until brown and crisp. Remove to paper towel. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the skillet. Add maple syrup to remaining bacon fat, continuing to stir over medium-high heat. Arrange figs in the skillet in a single layer, cut side down. Cook until figs are slightly softened and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Remove figs and plate. Arrange figs cut side up, top each with a piece of bacon. With the skillet and remaining liquid on medium heat, add vinegar and stir. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until syrupy, about 1 minute. Drizzle syrup over figs, then sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes. 47
STRAWBERRIES HAVE HAD A LOVE CONNECTION SINCE ROMAN TIMES WHEN THE HEART-SHAPED FRUIT WAS REFERRED TO AS THE FRUIT OF VENUS, THE ROMAN GODDESS OF LOVE.
HONEY, GARLIC AND GINGER: SWEET AND SAVORY TRIPLE THREAT There are many reasons why honey is considered an aphrodisiac. It has long been a fertility symbol — think, “Birds and bees.” The term “honeymoon” was derived from the practice of the bride and groom drinking mead, a fermented drink made with honey, for one full month after their ceremony to ensure a happy and fruitful marriage. There’s also some science behind the tradition. Honey is rich in boron, which regulates testosterone and estrogen levels and provides an energy boost. It also includes B vitamins for boosting testosterone levels. Though it may scare away vampires, garlic is known for other powers. It was used in ancient Greece by athletes to enhance their performance both in and out of the arena. Garlic had such a reputation at one time that Tibetan monks could not enter a monastery if they had recently eaten garlic. Science tells us that the allicin in garlic improves blood flow while SALMON GLAZED WITH HONEY, GARLIC AND GINGER
Ingredients: • 4 salmon filets, skin removed (about 2 pounds total) • 1/2 cup honey • 1/3 cup soy sauce • 2 teaspoons minced garlic • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
Directions: Marinate — Whisk the honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger together in a medium bowl. Place the filets in a bag and pour half of the sauce over the salmon filets, coating them thoroughly. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or up to 4 hours. Cook — Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Bake the fish for 15 to 20 minutes or about 10 minutes per 1-inch thickness of the filet. Broil the salmon for the last 3 minutes for crispier edges. Glaze — Pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan or skillet, adding the remaining used marinade as well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low-medium and allow to simmer for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat. The glaze will thicken as it cools. Drizzle over filets and serve. 48
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reducing cortisol (the stress hormone) and boosting testosterone. Ginger root has been used for centuries in Asia for its flavor and healing properties. In some cultures, ginger is mixed with eggs and honey as a treatment for impotence. When eaten, ginger can naturally improve blood flow and circulation and boost energy. Serving salmon with a glaze made of honey, garlic, and ginger makes for a potent combination. Some experts have referred to salmon as a natural Viagra due to its high content of omega-3 fatty acids, which elevate dopamine and L-arginine, an amino acid used to treat erectile dysfunction. While eating is a way to enhance our mood, nothing says “I love you� like cooking for someone. So even if the science behind aphrodisiacs may not always be solid, when someone goes to such lengths to prepare a feast, especially of the foods listed here, you should pay attention. Even if the effects are psychological rather than physical, it’s still an effect. Love takes place in the brain after all. H
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s t u N vert im Bois By K
BOTANICALLY SPEAKING, A NUT IS A FRUIT COMPOSED OF A HARD SHELL AND AN EDIBLE SEED, AND THE SHELL DOES NOT OPEN TO RELEASE THE SEED.
ABO
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N
ut
s
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N
uts are a very versatile food. However, true nuts are actually fruits. Botanically speaking, a nut is a fruit composed of a hard shell and an edible seed, and the shell does not open to release the seed. Examples of true nuts are hazelnuts, chestnuts and acorns. Other nuts that do not fit the botanical definition are called culinary nuts, such as almonds, walnuts and pecans. The definition for culinary nuts is much less restrictive and generally covers all edible fruits or seeds found within a hard shell. Even though nuts are small, they are nutritional powerhouses. They are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can lower cholesterol and protect against coronary artery disease. Nuts have strong anti-inflammatory properties. While inflammation is the body’s way of dealing with injury or fending off harmful pathogens, it can be damaging to organs if prolonged. Nuts are high in fiber, which contributes to a healthy gut. In addition, an increased fiber intake causes a sense of fullness and may reduce the number of calories consumed. Nuts contain minerals such as magnesium, zinc, copper and selenium, as well as B-complex vitamins. These elements are powerful antioxidants that offer protection against heart disease, degenerative nerve disease, viral and fungal infections, and help to support a healthy immune system. The best way to ensure nuts are fresh is to purchase them still in their shells. Buying in bulk is usually the most economical, but be sure to do so in a place with a high turnover so the nuts do not go stale in the bin. Constant exposure to oxygen will compromise their freshness. If convenience is more important than economy, most kinds of nuts can be purchased already shelled. Either use them quickly or store them properly, as the higher the oil content, the quicker they will turn rancid. For instance, walThe House & Home Magazine
nuts and pine nuts will not last as long as almonds and cashews. Most nuts will keep for up to six months in a cool, dark cabinet. Storing them in the refrigerator will add another month or two to their shelf life, but freezing them is best for the long term. Nuts will stay fresh and crunchy for up to a year when frozen. Regardless of where they are stored, keep them in a sealed container, as nuts easily pick up odors around them. Date the container if you don’t plan to use them right away. In spite of the nutritional benefits of eating nuts, they do cause problems for some individuals in the form of allergic reactions. The symptoms of an allergic reaction range from mild, such as hives or digestive discomfort, to anaphylaxis, a severe life-threatening reaction. Interestingly, the most common allergy offender is the peanut, which is not actually a nut, but a legume. Tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts and cashews are also common allergens. Because nuts have so many uses, it is not always obvious what to avoid. In addition to store-bought foods, nuts are common ingredients in Asian and Indian foods as well as in personal care products such as lotion, soap and hair care products. Conversely, people with gluten or dairy allergies look to nuts to fill the nutritional gaps in their diets, as do followers of low carb lifestyles. Mainstream grocery stores now offer a plethora of nut-based flours. There are entire websites dedicated to substituting almond flour or coconut flour in cooking and baking. In addition, if dairy intolerance is an issue, the choices abound there as well. Options include almond milk, cashew milk and hazelnut milk, just to name a few. There are so many ways to enjoy nuts and reap the nutritional benefits. Roast or sprout them for snacking. Mix walnuts, pistachios and almonds with dried fruit for a nourishing trail mix. Grind almonds with a pinch of salt in a food processor to make almond butter and replace peanut butter. Toast your favorite nut and top soups, salads, fish or ice cream. Bake a cake with almond flour and enjoy a slice with a hazelnut milk latte. The possibilities are endless. 51
PENNE PASTA WITH PESTO, WALNUTS AND MOZZARELLA CHEESE Serves 4
Ingredients: • 1-pound penne pasta • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese • 1 1/4 cup pesto, recipe below • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced • 3/4 cup walnut pieces
Pesto • 2 cups fresh basil leaves • 1 cup fresh spinach • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil • 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese • 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted to golden brown • Juice from one lemon • 2 – 3 cloves of garlic, depending on taste • 1 teaspoon salt
Directions: Cook pasta according to the package directions to al dente. Drain well reserving one cup of the pasta water. In a food processor, combine all of the pesto ingredients and process until it reaches desired consistency. Add additional salt, lemon or garlic to taste. In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta, pesto and basil. Use a little of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the pasta for even coating of the pesto. Top with shredded or cubed mozzarella cheese and walnuts.
BEET AND FETA TOAST Makes 32 appetizers
Ingredients: • 1 large ciabatta, cut into 32 thin slices • 1-pound roasted beets, thinly sliced • 12 ounces feta cheese, thinly sliced • Olive oil • 3/4 cup arugula • 3/4 cup walnut pieces • Freshly ground black pepper
Directions: Toast ciabatta slices then lightly spread each with olive oil. Layer each toast with sliced beet then sliced feta. Garnish with arugula and walnut pieces. Finish with freshly ground black pepper to taste. 52
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GLAZED SWEET POTATOES WITH PECANS Serves 4
Ingredients: • 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices • 5 tablespoons butter • 1 cup brown sugar, packed • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon • 1/2 cup orange juice • 3/4 cup pecans
Directions: Melt the butter in a large heavy skillet over medium high heat. Add brown sugar, cinnamon and orange juice and bring to a simmer. Add the sweet potato slices to the pan and stir to coat them with the sugar mixture. Cover and simmer, turning the slices frequently, for 25 – 30 minutes until soft. In another skillet over medium heat toast the pecans. Turn frequently until they are light brown. Remove the pecans from the pan immediately to stop the cooking. Add the pecans to the sweet potatoes and continue to cook, stirring frequently to thoroughly glaze the sweet potatoes and pecans. Remove from heat when the syrup is thick to avoid scorching. Serve.
PLUM AND PISTACHIO TART Serves 8
Ingredients: • 6 tablespoons butter • 1 cup superfine sugar • 4 eggs • 1/2 tablespoon vanilla • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 cup almond flour • 1 cup pistachios, finely ground
• 3/4 cup flour • 12 ripe plums, halved and stoned • 2 cups powdered sugar • 3 – 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease tart pan. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Fold in almond flour, ground pistachios, flour, baking powder and vanilla. Mix well. Pour the batter into the prepared tart pan and smooth the surface. Top the batter with the plum halves, cut side up. Bake for 45 – 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan. In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar and lemon juice to desired consistency. Glaze the tart and top with chopped pistachios.
The House & Home Magazine
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H E A L T H
Healing Environment CREATING A
FOR ALL
RIVERSIDE COMPLETES RENOVATION AND EXPANSION ON THE CAMPUS OF WALTER REED HOSPITAL ON THE MIDDLE PENINSULA.
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magine remodeling your kitchen for four years, Esther Desimini, Riverside Walter Reed Hospital President said. You work around the construction, you do your best to feed your family, and all the while you look ahead to what you know the final result is going to be.
That’s what it’s been like on the Riverside Walter Reed Hospital campus for the last four years, while the hospital has undergone a more than $55 million renovation and expansion. But now, the construction is complete. The renovation is over. “What Riverside has created here on the Middle Peninsula, is an advanced healing environment that is comfortable, not only for our patients, but also for their families and the entire community, too,” Desimini said, thanking the Riverside team members for taking extra care with patients during the 54
renovation and thanking the community for their patience. The expansion and renovation project marked the most significant construction project at the community hospital since it opened in 1977, Riverside CEO Bill Downey said. “We are so blessed to have something like this in such a small community,” said Jane Niethamer, a Gloucester resident who relocated from Northern Virginia. The hospital’s expansion was anchored by a new twostory, 54,000 square foot Surgical and Inpatient Services building and new main entrance lobby and registration area complete with a grab and go coffee and lunch counter and The Daffodil Gift Shop. The new building and main entrance is conveniently located adjacent to the existing Medical Arts Building and has a covered, drive through drop-off area. The Surgical Services Suite in the new building includes three operating suites, two procedure rooms, and pre-operative and post-operative recovery areas. Among the advances in the February/March 2020
H E A L T H
surgical suite include advanced LED lighting that puts off less heat and are camera equipped, enabling surgical video integration that provides a complete picture of the patient’s condition at any given moment. All seven new pre-op rooms are fully private, equipped with televisions and music therapy is available to help relieve patient anxiety. Thirteen postsurgery patient bays/rooms also allow for increased privacy while supporting best practices in infection prevention, safety and monitoring. The second floor of the new building houses 36 private inpatient rooms equipped with private bathrooms and showers, convertible sleeper sofas and additional seating for visitors and family members and numerous other features designed to increase both care and comfort. Each room includes its own fully integrated computer system, enabling safe, efficient access to Electronic Medical Records and built-in telemetry capabilities to be monitored by trained technicians stationed right on the floor 24/7. “It’s a wonderful addition for the community,” said Jane Sterling, a Gloucester resident who worked in nursing for Riverside for 20 years. The hospital’s Emergency Department, which services nearly 22,000 patients a year, was enlarged from 6,300-square-feet to more than 16,000-square-feet and now includes 18 beds, three major treatment rooms, a trauma room and a dedicated Family Care Room. Other major enhancements were a new central pharmacy, additional parking and the relocation of various administrative offices. Outpatient services including areas of Diagnostic Imaging, Lab Draw, Stress Testing, Pulmonary Function, Infusion and the Special Procedures Unit were also constructed or relocated to newly renovated areas of the facility. “These improvements will mean better care, more comfort, more safety and quicker recovery,” said Barbara Van Hoy, a Gloucester resident. “I don’t think you could ask for anything more for a local hospital like this.” In addition, over the last few years of construction and renovation, Riverside’s new Orthopedic Specialists office opened, the Cardiology and ENT offices moved into newly renovated spaces, Hospice and Home Health Services combined in a newly renovated space off Gloucester’s Main Street and the Hayes Medical Center in southern Gloucester completed a major renovation and update improving patient flow and access. The last phase of Riverside Walter Reed Hospital campus The House & Home Magazine
construction was recently celebrated as the ribbon was cut opening the new Emergency Department waiting and registration areas and included a tribute to our area First Responders. The new waiting and registration areas offer increased privacy and a calming environment. It also includes a Family Care Room giving the department a consultation room for family members, loved ones and the care teams to gather together in a private setting. Improving quality care and providing a safe, healing environment are at the core of what Riverside Health System stands for. Its mission of caring for others as they care for those they love is supported by the care teams that live it each day. H
NEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT INCLUDES TRIBUTE TO FIRST RESPONDERS Walking through the lobby of the Emergency Department at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital earlier this year, Shannon Klink, BSN, RN, CEN couldn’t help but reflect on the men and women peering at her from the 30 custom portraits hanging on easels throughout the room. “This is our family,” said Klink, the Nurse Manager for the Emergency Department. “We have all seen a lot of hard things together. We have been angels for each other. And seeing all these images tonight, and knowing they will hang on the walls of our hospital, is like having photos of your own family hanging in your own home.” In January, Riverside Walter Reed Hospital unveiled a compelling series of commissioned images featuring the first responders from across the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck, the regions the hospital primarily serves. The photographs were created by award-winning photographer Michael Taylor of the Williamsburgbased Sigmon Taylor Photography and are now part of a permanent exhibit in the hospital’s Emergency Department. “Our first responders are more than just our partners in health care,” said Esther Desimini, President of Riverside Walter Reed Hospital. “They keep us safe.” For more information on Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, visit riversideonline.com/rwrh.
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Labyrinths
Following a Twisting Track
By Harmony Hunter
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February/March 2020
A magnificent boxwood path of twists and turns on the grounds behind The Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg. Photo courtesy of Richard Due
WHAT BEGAN AS A LONELY MONSTER’S PATHETIC PRISON HAS BRANCHED OFF IN AS MANY NEW PATHS AS THE ORIGINAL IN THE CENTURIES SINCE. The House & Home Magazine
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here’s an ancient riddle in which a man from Crete says, “All Cretans are liars.” The riddle is this: If the man is telling the truth, then he, too, is a liar, for he is from Crete, and, therefore, he must be lying about being a liar and thus telling the truth. This vortex of self-referential logic is known as “The Paradox of Epimenides” and can turn around on itself for infinity. It is fitting, then, that the birthplace of this riddle produced another eternal winding puzzle: the labyrinth. Some of the earliest references to the labyrinth occur in the rich fields of Greek myth, where it is featured as a device invented by Daedalus, an architect, inventor and artist who features heavily in the plots of ancient Greece. In its earliest appearance, the labyrinth is a dark maze Daedalus invents to imprison a Minotaur: a bloodthirsty half-man, half-bull produced by the bestial indiscretions of Crete’s queen. The Minotaur eventually was defeated by Athens’ Prince Theseus. He was assisted in his task by Ariadne, who secretly placed a ball of red thread and a sword inside the labyrinth for his use in fighting the beast and finding his way back out. What began as a lonely monster’s pathetic prison has branched off in as many new paths as the original in the centuries since. The seven-course labyrinth of Crete is one of the earliest arrangements, but several others have joined the catalogue through time, taking geometric or spiraling shapes as placement and style dictated. Throughout history, the Christian church found great success in borrowing from the old practices of pagan religions. In keeping with this habit, the labyrinth was later absorbed into the Christian playbook. It makes a grand appearance in medieval France in 1193, subsuming the floor of the nave in the elegant gothic Chartres Cathedral. This venerated church is also home to the “Sancta Camisia,” a garment worn by the Virgin Mary at the birth of Christ. That the mythological labyrinth exists alongside the holiest of Christian relics is early evidence of the adaptable cunning of this Greek invention. 57
Theseus defeats the Minotaur at the center of the labyrinth
(left) Labyrinth at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. Photo courtesy of Virginia Brick Pavers. (right) Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg Labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral, France
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The labyrinth which graces the stones of Chartres Cathedral traces a path that differs from the Cretan original, but the course remains true to the original notion of a maze which is solved by finding the center, rather than the exit. This journey became symbolic of man’s search for God and became a substitute pilgrimage for those unable to make the physical journey to Jerusalem and the sacred birthplace of Christ. Pilgrims surrendering their steps to the pattern of the labyrinth and being led alternately nearer to its central mystery and then being drawn back out to the edges was a walking meditation on man’s relationship to the divine. Note, here, that the labyrinth has played its favorite game of leading us along one path and then steering us abruptly away: what was once a trap for a demon had become a path to the sacred by the thirteenth century. This reversal might be the best way of understanding how the labyrinth defies rule. It is manmade and logical when seen from above, but once the seeker surrenders control of their steps, the mind of the labyrinth is in control. We are lost, yet only a little. We are stranded, but on a governed path. A cage for our worst monsters, a devotion to our most sacred: the labyrinth is both. Like the man in Crete, it tells us a truth by telling us a lie. The ineffable mystery of the labyrinth has persisted into the modern day. After making the jump from Crete to France, the labyrinth easily made the transition to the United States, assisted by a recent revival of the form with the publication of Lauren Artress’s 1995 book, Walking a Sacred Path. The book, an exploration of the labyrinth in Christian spiritual settings, promoted a method of creating a portable labyrinth painted on canvas panels that could be assembled and disassembled in temporary installations. One such example is found in historic Yorktown, Virginia. At Grace Episcopal Church, a Chartres-style labyrinth 31 feet in diameter has hosted a wide array of meditations and devotions. The church’s literature says, “Walking can be a spiritual experience. Movement can be prayer. In fact, for some of us, like St. Augustine, walking is the way we find contemplation, discernment and often can best encounter the divine. The labyrinth is a spiritual tool that helps us use our walking for spiritual purposes.” February/March 2020
Therapeutic labyrinth at Eastern State Hospital. Photo courtesy of Harmony Hunter One of Williamsburg’s most poignant examples of the labyrinth’s power to bring restful meditation is an 11-circuit medieval labyrinth installed on the grounds of Eastern State Hospital, a psychiatric institution in the center of town. Dedicated in 2002 as a “therapeutic labyrinth,” the plaque that welcomes patients and the public alike reads: “This labyrinth represents an opportunity for walking meditation that is one of the oldest contemplative and transformational tools known to humankind. For centuries, the labyrinth has been used to promote healing, connection, community and peace.” The trend for using the labyrinth as a tool for meditative recovery in healthcare settings is echoed again at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, where an eight-circuit medieval labyrinth of brick pavers is open for patients and their families. Beyond their use in healthcare, professional landscape design and home gardeners are rediscovering the fixture as a centerpiece in modern gardens and botanical conservatories. The labyrinth offers an interactive element that transforms the garden from something to be admired to something that can be experienced through motion. Deeper in Williamsburg lies another, much older labyrinth. In the extensive grounds behind the Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, an example of the eighteenth-century continental fashion for hedge mazes is evidenced in a magnificent boxwood path of twists and turns. Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace landscape design would have been influenced by the standard set at England’s Hampton Court Palace, where today is found the oldest surviving topiary maze. This garden feature likely dates to the 1690s, when the Dutch King William and his wife Mary installed it. The couple must have favored the novel path of the maze, because they had a second one at their palace in the Netherlands. The House & Home Magazine
While modern scholars make the distinction between a “multicursal maze” as a structure that contains dead ends, and a true labyrinth as a “unicursal maze” with one single path to the center, the terms were used interchangeably well into the 1700s. Open year-round to ticketed guests, the mazelabyrinth at the Governor’s Palace dares its guests to surrender not just their steps, but their line of sight in this tall, growing structure. No matter the location of a labyrinth, one cannot consider its branching meanings without remembering its inventor. Mythologized for his cleverness and ingenuity, something of Daedalus’s intelligence seems to have been transferred to the labyrinth he created. A trap that was seemingly simple, yet confusing enough to confound a Minotaur has become a slice of geometric whimsy that manages to translate itself into new uses and new meanings through all of time’s roads. Born from the mists of Greek myth and translated through centuries of use in religious, decorative and secular settings, the labyrinth allows us to believe we are its master. The long survival of this puzzle rich with a suggestion of magic hints that the labyrinth is an intelligence unto itself, keeping its own counsel through the ages, reminding us that life’s patterns are not always evident until seen from above. H 59
Head of lined seahorse. Photo courtesy of Brian Grantwicke 60
February/March 2020
Seahorses
OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY EXOTIC AND EPHEMERAL, THEY FLOATED QUIETLY IN A TANK OF TURQUOISE BLUE AMID STRANDS OF SEA GREEN KELP. By Deb Weissler
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was mesmerized when I saw my first seahorses as a child. Exotic and ephemeral, they floated quietly in a tank of turquoise blue amid strands of sea green kelp. They bespoke of warm tropical seas and ancient myths and legends. For more than 2,000 years, sculptures, frescoes, paintings, jewelry and mosaics have depicted seahorses in imaginative ways. Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, called Neptune by the Romans, traveled in a chariot drawn by fierce steeds, each with the head of a horse and the tail of a fish. Homer’s Iliad describes a vengeful Poseidon emerging from the waves, driven forth in a chariot drawn by plunging seahorses. The ancient world glorified these fish, from winged seahorses and Tritons in Rome’s fabled Trevi Fountain to bronze lamp posts illuminating Dublin’s Grattan Bridge. A stunning gold broach, fashioned by a master craftsman from the sixth century Lydian culture, was placed in a royal tomb and never saw the light of day until discovered in the 1960s. The ancient British Isles abounds with seahorses; from the famous Roman baths in Bath, England with its stunning seahorse mosaics to Scotland, where the Picts carved beautiful, mythical kelpies in sandstone. Across the Baltic sea, Scandinavia’s “havhest,” a huge seahorse-serpent, could breathe fire and sink ships. Australia’s Rainbow Serpents symbolize the cycles of the seasons among Aboriginal tribes. Then on into Mexico, where a fat seahorse prankster was finally driven into the sea by its exasperated neighbors and forced to live there forever. Worldwide, seahorses have captured man’s imagination. Seahorse myths imbued them with medicinal powers too. Ancient Greek and Roman apothecaries mixed seahorses with goose fat as a salve that they claimed would restore a full head of hair on a bald scalp. Pliny the Elder wrote that seahorses could cure rabies, leprosy, urinary incontinence and fevers. Eat a seahorse, Roman author Claudius Aeolian said, and you will spend the rest of your life drawn to the soothing sounds of moving water. He warned, however, that a seahorse boiled in wine was a deadly poison. Hollywood has done its fair share depicting seahorses as chariot and mermaid steeds plying through mystical lands beneath the sea. Aquaman, the Littlest Mermaid and Finding Nemo have all paid homage. They remain as mysterious as fairies, mermaids and dragons. If we are lucky, we might catch The House & Home Magazine
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glimpses of them in aquariums large and small or spot them while wearing snorkels and masks swimming in exotic locales. What I did not expect to see was a seahorse tossed up on Haven Beach in Mathews County one warm summer day. As beachcombers, it’s rarely about the view. It’s what lies at our feet that matters. Among the broken shells and pebbles lay a tiny lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus, as it is known by scientists. With a head that resembles a horse, eyes like a chameleon, bony armor plates, and a prehensile tail like a monkey’s, this minuscule creature was a far cry from those mighty steeds depicted in legends. Wondrous nevertheless. Of the more than 54 species of seahorses worldwide, only one resides in the Chesapeake Bay. “It’s just the way the oceans developed and evolution took place,” explains Virginia Institute of Marine Science Associate Research Scientist Dr. Troy Tuckey. “The area with the greatest diversity of fishes is in the Indo-Pacific region, the Pacific being the oldest ocean in the world. The Atlantic, by comparison, is relatively young so only one species developed in our region. Perhaps there were once other species that were outcompeted; it’s hard to say.” Despite that, the lined seahorse, also known as the northern or spotted seahorse, inhabits a broad range, from as far north as Nova Scotia and as far south to Venezuela. It can tolerate a broad range of temperatures and varying degrees of salinity. Lined seahorses have been found in lower tidal estuaries to deep ocean, enabling them to live in a variety of habitats, including the middle and lower Chesapeake Bay. In warm weather, seahorses can be found in shallow estuaries, salt marshes and oyster beds along coastal beaches. Adults can be spotted swimming freely or attached by their tails to stationary objects such as seagrass, sponges, and even crab pots. In winter, they migrate to deeper waters. Rings of bony plates, ranging in color from pale yellow to black, contain dark lines that appear on its head, neck, and back, giving it its name. Its horse-like head is held erect, and its long, toothless snout serves to suck in tiny crustaceans, mollusks and zooplankton. With some anatomical resemblance to a serpent, the seahorse coils in wait for its next meal, striking fast like a snake. Although not a strong swimmer, its 62
February/March 2020
Fountain of Neptune, Madrid, Spain
Bronze light posts illuminating Dublin’s Grattan Bridge.
Three-inch seahorse found washed up on Haven Beach. Photo by Deb Weissler Lined seahorse grasps a scientist’s thumb during a trawl survey. Photo courtesy of VIMS.
The House & Home Magazine
Trevi Fountain
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small dorsal fins enable the seahorse to hover, dart and maneuver. Its eyes can function in sync or independently. Its prehensile tail, more often associated with mammals, can attach and hang onto objects and it is the only fish known to have this feature. Despite this odd assemblage, the seahorse conveys beauty and grace. In the bay they may grow to seven inches long and reach sexual maturity from four to eight months. This is where the seahorse again diverges from other fish; it is the male who gives birth. The female lays her eggs in the male’s kangaroo-like brood pouch located on his belly. Here the eggs are fertilized and incubate for approximately two weeks, at which time a cloud of hundreds of fully formed seahorses, less than one-quarter inch long, emerge. Renewed courtship between the parents begins immediately after birth and seahorses will continue to mate and spawn through the warm months. One modern myth claims that seahorse couples mate for life. Among seahorses held in captivity, reactions interpreted as deep mourning have been observed. Although it is true the surviving mate may not look for another automatically, their lifespan is so brief that it’s more likely they lack the opportunity to establish a bond with another before they too die. The myth endures nevertheless. There are more than 180 species of animals in the Chesapeake Bay, and scientists tend to concentrate on those with greatest economic value to watermen and the state’s economy. Seahorses in the bay have not been intensely studied, although their numbers are monitored by way of VIMS monthly multi-species trawl surveys conducted on the Virginia portion of the Bay and the James, Rappahannock and York Rivers. VIMS typically finds 40-100 seahorses a year. VIMS trawl studies began in 1955. Changes in trawl nets have enabled scientists to improve catch-ability of small fishes. “We’ve been fairly consistent in numbers since 1988,” Tuckey points out, “so we can provide a trend as to numbers from that point on. Our seahorse catches increase during April and stay relatively similar through November, after which they drop off and are low until the following April. We have a quarter-inch 64
February/March 2020
mesh liner that goes inside the tail or cod end of the net that helps capture the really small fish. We only trawl for five minutes and in that time capture enough small fishes to conduct our surveys. Catches are separated by species, measured, counted, and released. We sample about 1,224 stations per year. Our surveys of fishes, blue crabs and shrimp provide various management agencies in charge of commercial and recreational species a heads up in projecting the abundance or lack of the various fishes that are managed.” Seahorses are preyed upon by anything with a mouth large enough to ingest them, but they are not normally targeted because they don’t have much meat and their bony plates make them tough. They are also masters at camouflage and stealth, making them exceedingly hard to spot. Sadly, outside of the Chesapeake Bay, seahorses are threatened worldwide. In addi-
The House & Home Magazine
tion to habitat loss due to coastal growth and pollution, an estimated 20 million are taken as by-catch by shrimpers each year. Ornamental decorations in the tourist industry and the aquarium trade have caused seahorse numbers to fall by as much as 30 percent since 1996, when changes in population were first noted. The demand for seahorses to be used in Chinese medicine and teas continues to rise. In India, dried seahorses are mixed with honey and used to treat whooping cough. Indonesians use seahorses in medicine to treat rheumatism, memory loss and impotence. In Japan, they are believed to be a potent aphrodisiac, and fishing communities throughout Southeast Asia burn seahorses and sprinkle their ashes over fishing nets to bring good fortune. Some large aquariums are breeding seahorses in captivity with some success, providing smaller facilities with captivebred animals rather than taking them from the wild. But some species have not reproduced in captivity and mortality is high for others. In the future, these animals may be suitable for aquaculture, providing sufficient numbers to protect those remaining in the wild. You may never see a seahorse in the wild or find one washed up on local beaches. Until you see one for yourself, it’s easy to imagine seahorses as mighty steeds of old, pulling Poseidon’s chariot across the waves. The incredible stories that have sprung up around these enigmatic creatures continue even today. As dwellers of the Chesapeake Bay region, we are fortunate to have our own lined seahorses living in our own little corner of the world. H
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Poplar Grove
AND ITS
TIDE MILL By Bob Cerullo
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he famed genius, Albert Einstein, once commented, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” In this age of incredible invention, it is easy to pay little attention to those inventions that changed the world. Yet, they are the basic building blocks for the modern marvels we enjoy today. Consider the water wheel. There were water wheels in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and Europe during different time periods. It is not known who the genius was that first invented 66
the water wheel. There is some evidence the water wheel may have been used as early as 3500 BC. The water wheel grew to become one of mankind’s most important inventions. Then came the tide mill. A tide mill is a water mill driven by tidal rise and fall. Historians believe it was in Ireland that an Irish monk developed the tide mill. It was located on an island that did not have any freshwater streams, so the resourceful Irish monks turned to the latent power of the twice-daily rise and fall of the tides, which washed the shore at the bottom of the monastery. February/March 2020
Tide Mill. Courtesy of Terry Young. www.airaspects.com
(right above) Poplar Grove Mansion, circa 1935. Courtesy of Francis B. Johnston. (right below) Original building of Poplar Grove Mansion. Courtesy of Francis B. Johnston
INCREDIBLY, AFTER MORE THAN 200 YEARS OF BLASTING WINDS, DRIVING RAINS, SNOW, HURRICANES, TORNADOS AND BEING RAZED BY FIRE DURING THE CIVIL WAR, A TIDE MILL AT POPLAR GROVE IN PORT HAYWOOD, VIRGINIA STILL STANDS The House & Home Magazine
The concept of a water wheel turned by the incoming and outgoing tide came to America with the arrival of immigrants. The immigrants were mostly from the south of England and had a great deal of experience because they built many tide mills along the English Channel, especially in Devon and Cornwall. The earliest tide mill to be built in North America was in 1607 at Port Royal in Canada. In later years, tide mills appeared in the northern areas of colonial America. The Dutch settlements in New Amsterdam, later named New York, used tide mills. New England used tide mills from early colonial times and as late as the twentieth century. Boston is known as the early tide mill center. Incredibly, after more than 200 years of blasting winds, driving rains, snow, hurricanes, tornados and being razed by fire during the Civil War, a tide mill at Poplar Grove in Port Haywood, Virginia still stands. It was burned during the Civil War, as were most mills at that time. The mill was rebuilt after the Civil War and operated until 1912. The original tide mill was built during colonial times on land which was part of an original grant from King George III to Samuel Williams and his son, Thomas. Local legend has it the Poplar Grove tide mill ground grain for George Washington’s troops during the Battle of Yorktown. While possible, the story is, however, unsubstantiated. The mill is in remarkably good condition for its age. In its time, it bustled with the work of the tide miller and several slaves who worked the mill, sometimes until late hours of the night, depending on the tide. The massive tide mill gearing is still there, and the wooden water wheel has recently been replaced. To build the tide mill, slaves had to build a dam across a narrow finger of land that stretched eastward of the wide river in front of the Poplar Grove plantation. This lagoon created a sort of reservoir or pond which stored the incoming tide water that allowed it to be channeled through a sluice (water channel) to the water wheel. The miller could, by controlling the wooden sluice gates, gain power to turn the wheel from the flow of both the incoming tide and the outgoing tide. The wheel would continue to turn until either the water behind the dam fell below the level of the sluice, or more frequently, until the water level in front of the dam rose above the sluice at high tide. 67
Photo courtesy of Terry Young. www.airaspects.com
Pump house located to the rear of the mansion. Courtesy of Bob Cerullo Photo courtesy of Terry Young. www.airaspects.com
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Courtesy of Bob Cerullo Courtesy of Bob Cerullo
February/March 2020
Tide mills offered the unique advantage of a water supply that was entirely dependable. They were typically free from the risks of drought or upstream diversions. Tide mills had the obvious advantage of not depending on the strength or direction of the wind on a given day. Indeed, too-strong winds were a hazard to the sails of windmills. Tide mills were often cheaper to locate and build than water mills because no dam was needed. Tide mills had the major disadvantage that the tides, while predictable, occurred at different times of the day. Tide millers worked according to a tidal calendar chiefly determined by the moon. The tide miller would need to split his full-night’s sleep into nap periods during the twice-daily incoming tides. The Poplar Grove tide mill could produce 32 bushels of meal with each tide. Its unique sluice gates made it possible to capture the incoming and the outgoing tides, making it possible to operate the mill four times a day. Across the lagoon from the mill stands the mansion, the first part of which is believed to have been built for the Williams family in the late eighteenth century. The earliest portion of the house is a small, one-and-a-half story, gambrel-roof cottage, which has been incorporated into the present five-section house as an end wing. It is believed that the west wing of the house was built by Samuel Williams or his son, Thomas Williams, about 1782. A local legend reports that about ten years later Thomas lost the 1,000-acre property to his overseer, John Patterson, in a game of cards. Patterson came to America from England. He fought on the American side during the American Revolution. He was promoted to the rank of colonel by George Washington himself at the Battle of Monmouth. At that time, feelings between the Whig and Tory parties were running high. The Lombardy poplar tree was the symbol of the Whig party. Patterson planted numerous trees on the lawn and called the plantation Poplar Grove, perhaps to show his support for the party. It was Patterson who built the main part of the house. The mansion became a social center for the area with Patterson and his daughters, Mrs. Thomas Robinson and Mrs. Christopher Tompkins, hosting many parties. Upon his death, the property descended to his daughter Maria Booth Patterson. The home is known as the birthplace of Sally Tompkins, a famous Civil War nurse. Born at Poplar Grove on November 11,1833, she was the granddaughter of Colonel William Patterson. Her father was Colonel Christopher Tompkins, a very successful planter, sea captain, ship owner and shipbuilder. (See The House and Home Magazine, March/April 2017, The Confederate Angel, page 20.) Confederate President Jefferson Davis appointed Sally Tompkins to the rank of captain in the Confederate Army to facilitate her operation of a hospital for soldiers she established in Richmond, Virginia to care for the Civil War wounded. The central portion of the house is a late-eighteenth century temple-form building fronted later by an ionic portico with its towering columns and lots of windows. The main stately Federal portion is believed to have been built for John Patterson sometime after 1799. Over the years, several additions have been added. The home has the design characteristic associated with a local builder named Richard Billups. The beautiful main staircase is impressive. There are four staircases in the house, each unique to the style of house in The House & Home Magazine
Courtesy of Bob Cerullo
Newly restored water wheel at Tide Mill. Courtesy of Bob Cerullo
Mansion across the lagoon from the Tide Mill. Courtesy of Bob Cerullo
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Gearing enables the wheels to turn in the same direction when the tide changes. Photo courtesy of Bob Cerullo
Millstone at the Tide Mill Photo courtesy of Bob Cerullo
Outbuilding at Poplar Grove Mansion. Photo courtesy of Bob Cerullo 70
which it was built. The house is built on different levels with lovely paneling in the west wing, the oldest part of the mansion. The original kitchen was at some point separated from the main house and moved across the road to where it stands today. Over the years, it has been converted into a home. During the time of slavery, the kitchen slaves lived on the third floor of the main house. Further to the rear is a pump house, which was the main source of fresh water. There are some smaller storage buildings, including a smokehouse, a milk house and what is now a garage to the rear of the main house. At one time Poplar Grove was the residence of Judge G. Taylor Garnett, who held court in the house. Mrs. George Upton, who bought the estate in 1927, extensively furnished it with antiques and reproductions. There is a distinctive garden with serpentine walls very similar to those at the University of Virginia. The large grove is one of the most outstanding features of the estate. Behind the house is a building now used as a tool shed. The house and mill are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The Poplar Grove Plantation was for a brief time owned by musician John Lennon, of Beatles fame, and his partner Yoko Ono. After Lennon’s death, Ono donated the plantation to the New Beginnings Boy’s Therapeutic Foster Home, Inc. The 22.5-acre estate where the Polar Grove tide mill still stands is on the shore of East River in Mathews County, Virginia. The present owner, Bernadine Teague, purchased the plantation in 1985. Teague has a passion for the place and its history. Although she has gone to great expense to preserve it, Teague would one day like to see the Poplar Grove tide mill fully restored. She also has a great interest in Captain Sally Tompkins and has donated a great deal of money toward the erection of a statue of Tompkins known as the “Angel of the Lost Cause.” The statue is to be placed at Capitol Square in Richmond, Virginia. The Poplar Grove tide mill and the mansion are a very important part of the history of the area. They combine both a living memory of the architecture of the time and the industry that was very much a vital part of everyday life in the South. H February/March 2020
THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE HOUSE IS A LATE-EIGHTEENTH CENTURY TEMPLE-FORM BUILDING FRONTED LATER BY AN IONIC PORTICO WITH ITS TOWERING COLUMNS AND LOTS OF WINDOWS.
Poplar Grove Mansion. Photo courtesy of Bob Cerullo
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