Montross Guide by JournalPressInc

Montross Virginia 2015

A COMMUNITY GUIDE TO EASY LIVING

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE JOURNAL • JULY 2015

2015 • MONTROSS GUIDE

Welcome to Montross When Westmoreland County was formed in 1653 from part of Northumberland County, the first courthouse was erected on the property of the newly appointed sheriff, at an area now called Currioman, overlooking Currioman Bay. A new high sheriff, John Lord, was appointed in 1658, and in 1667 he directed that a new courthouse be built on property he owned near the center of the county, at a site that is now Montross.

A town began to grow around this new courthouse. As was customary, the town was named after the County, and so Montross was called Westmoreland Courthouse until 1752. In 1751, an Irish merchant, William Black, purchased 110 acres of land surrounding the courthouse and began to operate a store on the property. Black owned a ship that he used to bring goods from England. The ship was called the

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Montross, after Black’s native town of Montross, Ireland. Shortly after Black began his business, references to the Town of Montross, Virginia, began to appear, and at some later time the town was officially given that name. Since then, the town has continued to play an official role as the Westmoreland County seat. Montross also serves as a commercial center for the county.

VILLAGE Revitalized and open for business with Shopping, Dining, Lodging, Goods & Services • Arts & Antiquing Destination • Town Murals (4) with additional murals coming fall 2015 • First Friday Art Walk & Music Series • First Saturday Market Days on Old Courthouse Square • Fall Festival October 3, 2015 • Christmas Spirit Festival December 4, 2015

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MONTROSS GUIDE • 2015

First Friday evening events a success in 2015 RICHARD LEGGITT First Fridays and First Saturdays are back in Montross. The joyful weekend activities will continue throughout the summer on the first Friday and first Saturday of every month, sponsored by The Greater Montross Partnership for Revitalization. The First Friday events take place in the green space between Bridget’s Bouquet and Carrot Cottage on Kings Highway in the heart of Montross. The First Saturday Market Days take place at Courthouse Square beginning the morning after the Friday event. “Shops and restaurants in the downtown area will be open late and live music and the wine garden will be in the green space,” said Terry Cosgrove, a local businessman and a leader with the Partnership for Revitalization. The First Friday Art Walk is in its second year and gives residents and visitors an opportunity to view art, antiques and exhibits in Montross Vintage, Compulsive Cravings Antiques and Gifts, The Art of Coffee, Diane Jackson’s Art Studio, Carrot Cottage, Eagle’s Catch Antiques, the Westmoreland County Museum and the Inn at Montross. Cosgrove said local restaurants would be offering a variety of in-

Photo courtesy of Greater Montross Partnership for Revitalization

Hard To Tell is one of the many local musical acts thatwill perform this summer at the Town of Montross’ First Friday Art Walk events throughout the summer of 2015. Attendees can enjoy a glass of wine, some good food and toe-tapping tunes, on the first Friday of the summer months, beginning June 5 and going through until September. Be sure to check out the First Saturday Market Day events as well. house dining options or food to take out and enjoy as the music starts in the green space. “Bring the entire family and a lawn chair or blanket and join the fun,” Cosgrove said. “You’ll also want to check out the four town murals – Sprite Boy on Northern

Neck Coca Cola Building, the seed packet advertisement on Bridget’s Boutique, the Nomini Ferry Brand tomato can label on the Westmoreland County Museum and the signature Montross postcard on the side of Carrot Cottage.”

Montross Market Days on Courthouse Square is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to shop for fresh cheeses, soaps, local produce and art and gift items. Several dozen vendors will have items ranging from antiques to food and vegetables available.

This will be the third year for Montross Market Days. For more information on these weekend events or Montross and the Greater Montross Partnership for Revitalization, go to www.visitmontross.com.

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2015 • MONTROSS GUIDE

Alpaca business flourishing in Montross RICHARD LEGGITT When Ken Chatham first talked with his wife, Gwynne, about his idea of raising alpacas, she was skeptical but eventually agreed. “I think she thought I was having a mid-life crisis,” Ken said. No one thinks that today. Ken’s idea has turned into a flourishing business that involves the entire Chatham family and is drawing attention to Montross. Residents and visitors often pause to watch the Chathams’ 21 alpacas parade around their fenced pens next door to Stan’s Skateland on Route 3. “We researched the business for three or four years,” Ken said. “It is kind of like raising racehorses, the breeding and the generics are very important. They are such great animals. We love showing them and talking about them.” Alpacas are gentle, curious creatures native to the high Andes mountain ranges of Peru, Chile and Bolivia. They are prized for their high-quality fiber, which is shorn and made into blankets, gloves, scarves, socks, sweaters, hats and a wide variety of other items. “Alpaca fiber is five times warmer than wool,” Ken said. He pointed out that alpaca fleece is lustrous and silky, and has become very popular with clothing manufacturers worldwide. In addition, it’s also flame resistant. “It’s soft, not scratchy, contains no lanolin, is hypoallergenic,” Ken said. The Chathams’ business, Gwynnedale Alpacas, opened in 2013 and was the first alpaca farm to set up shop in historic Westmoreland County. Its success has since spawned two other alpaca breed-

ing operations in the county. “It is not a competitive situation,” Ken said. “We all help each other out.” The alpacas sport 22 colors. They are inquisitive, social animals and are alert and interact easily with people. Because of their mountain heritage, they actually enjoy cold weather and prefer to sleep outdoors as opposed to the covered shelters the Chathams have constructed in the two-acre fenced enclosure. The alpacas eat grass and hay, and the Chathams provide them a daily treat of barley, grain, apples or carrots. Running the farm is a labor of love for the entire Chatham family. In addition to Ken and Gwynne, their son, Ken II, works with the animals daily. And their daughter, Tiffany, frequently lends a hand on the weekends, trekking home from her nursing job in Charlottesville. “I actually miss them when I am away from them,” Tiffany said. “I enjoy coming home and caring for them and playing with them. Ken II, enjoys the work so much he is now raising his own alpacas “It is a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.” he declared. Alpaca farmers form their own tight-knit community, often sharing best management practices. “All of us have worked hard to learn the business,” Ken said. “When we first started, we would go to other super successful alpaca farms to see how they did things. It is all about breeding. Their linage determines their value.” The Chatmams have acquired top breeding stock from across the country. “We decided to purchase superb breeding stock from those

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The Chatham family - Tiffany, Ken, Ken II and Gwynne - proudly show off two-month old Lady at the family’s growing alpaca farm. who had spent years developing the best genetic lines,” Ken said. “That led us to acquiring Snowmass Olympic Starzz, Sunset Hills Patriot, and Sunset Hills Argonautum as our herdsires.” Good stock is one of the keys to success in raising alpacas.

“We have a son and a daughter that are descendants of Royal Fawn, who probably has had the greatest impact on breeding of any other alpaca,” Ken said. In addition to buying and selling breeding stock, the Chathams sheer the Gwynnedale alpacas and

offer yarn, batting and roving to customers. Their alpacas and their products can be seen online at gwynnedalealpacas.com. “You just fall in love with these animals,” Ken said. “We feel fortunate and blessed to be working with such quality animals.”

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MONTROSS GUIDE • 2015

Stratford Hall loans documents recounting Lee’s surrender to Grant to Appomattox Courthouse National Historic Park RICHARD LEGGITT On April 9, 1865, Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to the Army of the Potomac, commanded by Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. The signatures of Lee and Grant on the simple documents officially ended the Civil War, a four-year bloodbath that killed more than 630,000 soldiers. A number of the papers documenting Lee’s surrender passed to the ownership of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, which maintains and operates the museum at Stratford Hall, Lee’s birthplace. To commemorate the sesquicentennial of the end of the Civil War, Stratford Hall is loaning its surrender papers to the National Park Service for display at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, site of Lee’s surrender. The two Stratford Hall documents – Grant’s Terms of Surrender and Lee’s Farewell Address to his Troops – will be featured at a special exhibit marking perhaps the most painful moment in Lee’s professional life. Contemplating the massive Union Army surrounding his outnumbered troops, Lee recognized

the futility of continuing to fight. “There is nothing more for me to do but go see General Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths,” he told his officers. According to historical accounts, the immaculately uniformed Lee arrived on his famous grey warhorse, Traveller, for the surrender ceremony at the home of Wilmer and Virginia McLean. Accompanying him were three aides, including his longtime confidant, Lt. Col. Charles Marshall. Fourteen Union officers, led by Grant, represented the U.S. government. After more than an hour’s discussion – it was the first time Lee and Grant had seen each other in 20 years – the two generals signed the surrender documents that signaled the end of the war. Following the ceremonies Col. Marshall asked Lee, “To whom shall I turn over these documents?” To which Lee replied, “There is no Confederate government anymore, so just keep them.” Lee then returned to his troops and the next day gave a farewell address to his army. Lee’s copy of the surrender and the text of his farewell remarks remained in the possession of the Marshall family for 90 years. Baltimore lawyer Charles Mar-

shall, the youngest son of Col. Marshall and the custodian of his father’s papers, donated the two Lee surrender documents to Stratford Hall on Oct. 12, 1955, the 85th anniversary of Robert E. Lee’s death. Charles Marshall stated at the time that he felt “Stratford was the proper place” for the papers to reside. Grant’s “Terms of Surrender” has, at other times, been on temporary display since its arrival at Stratford Hall. It was loaned to the Virginia Historical Society for its 2007 Lee and Grant exhibition commemorating the bicentennial of Lee’s birth. From there it traveled to the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis, then to the New York Historical Society and finally to the Museum of Southern History in Houston. Now, along with “Lee’s Farewell to his Troops,” it will return to Appomattox where the journey began in 1865. While on exhibit, the document has been alternated with an excellent reproduction to reduce its exposure to light. This document – which served as the first step in healing America’s war wounds – received much-needed conservation treatment in 2011.

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2015 • MONTROSS GUIDE

Plans underway to create new exhibits to honor James Monroe RICHARD LEGGITT Former President James Monroe’s birthday was Tuesday, April 28. Westmoreland County is honoring its native son, the fifth president of the United States, with the construction of a halfmile, scenic historical walk to be completed by the end of the year at the James Monroe Birthplace in Colonial Beach. The Westmoreland Board of Supervisors, working in conjunction with the James Monroe Memorial Association, and federal and state governments, has approved plans to spend more than $700,000 to complete the James Monroe Historic Project. The scenic walk – along with a bicycle trail, a canoe launch, an overlook and a picnic pavilion – will be built on 73 acres already purchased by Westmoreland County at the location on Route 205 where Monroe was born on April 28, 1758. The site is already the location of the James Monroe Birthplace Memorial and a visitor center. The Monroe Birthplace Project will feature an interpretation center that chronicles Monroe’s achievements. In addition, Westmoreland County will build benches and granite historical markers every 210-feet along the scenic trail telling the story of

Richard Leggitt

This display adorns the grounds at the birthplace of President James Monroe. Plans are underway to construct a trail honoring Monroe. Monroe’s career. “One hundred years from now when folks walk this trail, it will stand as a tribute to President Monroe,” said Westmoreland Board Chairman Darryl Fisher. The project will arise near a grassland meadow along Monroe Creek that was once part of a 1,500 acre plantation owned by Andrew Monroe, James Monroe’s grandfather.

“Very few people have accomplished what Monroe did,” said Westmoreland Supervisor Woodrow Hynson. “He was a great president, Secretary of War, Secretary of State, governor and statesman.” A Revolutionary War hero who was wounded at the Battle of Trenton, the tall, lanky Monroe studied law under Thomas Jefferson. Monroe was a delegate

to the Continental Congress, a member of the first U.S. Congress, a U.S. Senator from Virginia and a governor of Virginia. Monroe, the last founding father to win the presidency, is known as the architect of the Monroe Doctrine. He also negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, bought Florida from Spain and began America’s first efforts at building a global empire.

Monroe served two terms as President, winning election in 1816 and 1820. Monroe was one of three American Presidents born in the area. The nation’s first president, George Washington, was born in Westmoreland County. The country’s fourth president, James Madison, was born nearby at Belle Grove in King George County.

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MONTROSS GUIDE • 2015

Eagle’s Catch Antiques expanding, growing in Montross RICHARD LEGGITT Eagle’s Catch Antiques, located for the past several years in shared space with Carol Chandler’s Carrot Cottage, has recently moved to new and expanded quarters in Montross. “In moving, we gained more floor space,” said Tony Nelson, who owns the business with his wife, Becky. Eagle’s Catch, a popular Westmoreland stop for tourists and antique shoppers, is now located at 15381-A Kings Hwy. “There is a lack of useable retail space in town,” Nelson said. “So we are really happy with this location. So far we have been pleased with the traffic we have seen.” Tony Nelson, a former police officer, is a retired Army officer who served in Vietnam as a helicopter door gunner. Becky Nelson is an operating room nurse. The couple, parents to three grown boys, began coming to Westmoreland from Northern Virginia on a part-time basis 15 years ago. They moved permanently five years ago. “When we first opened out store, it was very difficult to find suitable space. Carol Chandler was a tremendous help to us in getting started. If not for her we would

not have been in business,” Tony Nelson said. Nelson said his interest in antiques comes from his dad. “He was always collecting and interested in it. I saw something and thought about buying it, but didn’t,” Tony said. “Then I spent years looking for it. That got me more interested.” Nelson suggests the appeal of antiques is a combination of nostalgia and longing for the craftsmanship of a bygone era. “A lot of people find comfort in the connection to the past they get from antiques,” he said. “But there are others who appreciate the fact that furniture is not made today the way it was. “You can’t beat a nice piece of antique furniture. The way it is constructed, the grain of the wood. Furniture today is just not the same.” Becky Nelson views antiquing as a kind of treasure quest. “I was never a furniture hunter. For me, it’s the hunt itself,” she said. “It’s like hunting for shark teeth. It’s looking for something unique. I was always more of a hunter of memories.” One of the beauties of antique furniture is its practicality. “Most people treasure the past,” Becky Nelson said. “And, at one

Photo by Richard Leggitt

Becky and Tony Nelson say a new location has given a boost to their business, Eagle’s Catch Antiques. time, people were collectors of things that reminded them of earlier times. But today, a lot of people are looking for something that is practical or unusual.” The Nelsons spend considerable time checking out auctions and

estate sales, looking for antiques, furniture, artwork, china, and other items they can display at their new store location. So far, business has been good. “Our business allows us to participate in a passion we have in

antiques,” Tony Nelson said. “And it also allows us to give back a little to the town we love. If we can make the town more interesting, that can help someone else start a small business. We feel strongly about the success of Montross.”

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2015 • MONTROSS GUIDE

Courthouse Square in store for big makeover RICHARD LEGGITT With the opening of the new $9 million Westmoreland Judicial Center last year and the remodeling of the county’s George English Memorial Building, Westmoreland Registrar Kristin Hicks is the only remaining county official with offices at Courthouse Square. Westmoreland County Sheriff C.O. Balderson, as well as the court clerks and judges housed in the old courthouse have moved into new offices at the judicial center on Polk Street. Commonwealth’s Attorney Julia Sicol and her staff also have moved from the English Building to the judicial center. The English building is being remodeled into new offices for the county’s administrative staff and the Westmoreland Board of Supervisors. So, the board of supervisors, working with the Town of Montross’ revitalization effort, is making plans for the property around the old Westmoreland County Courthouse to be redesigned for other uses. “It’s all good,” said Tony Nelson, who along with his wife Becky, owns Eagles’ Catch Antiques on Courthouse Square. “A lot of visible changes are occurring and people are excited. This is our county seat. Let’s spruce it up and make it something we can be proud of.” Already the former sheriff ’s office has been demolished. That area is being landscaped and will be outfitted with benches

Photo by Cynthia L. Ailey

Westmoreland County and the Town of Montross are working to redesign portions of the square surrounding the old courthouse in Montross to make it more visitor friendly. The old courthouse building, above, will become part of the Westmoreland Museum. and public bathrooms. There also willl be a grassy open space area. An adjoining parking area between the old sheriff ’s office and the Montross Library will be resurfaced and will be made available for a future expansion of the Montross Library. The historic Stuart Building, which is between the old sheriff ’s office and the registrar’s office, also

is a candidate for redesign. “Nothing concrete has been decided,” said Assistant County Administrator Karen Lewis. “There have been some ideas kicked around, but no decision has been made.” A portion of the historic old courthouse is being given to the Westmoreland County Museum, which already has two other

properties on Courthouse Square, its headquarters and the nearby Wakefield Building. The museum will use part of the old courthouse for exhibits and meetings. Lewis said a visitor’s center and an artisan’s workshop located at the old courthouse are among other ideas for the property being considered. Some facelifts of buildings on

Courthouse Square already have been completed as part of the Montross revitalization program. Angelo’s Restaurant, the Carrot Cottage, Eagles Catch Antiques and the Wakefield Building, which was an old furniture store, already have new looks. The historic Jemeka Building, next door to Angelo’s, also is scheduled for a facelift.

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MONTROSS GUIDE • 2015

Westmoreland County Museum is a true treasure RICHARD LEGGITT Residents and visitors frequently tromp across Westmoreland County looking for treasure; visiting antique stores, trooping through the woods and fields, using metal detectors on the county’s many beaches. But the historical gem in Westmoreland County is the Westmoreland County Museum located on Courthouse Square in Montross. “The museum is very important to Westmoreland County,” said Bryan Chandler, the vice-president of the museum’s board of directors. “We have history that must be preserved and it would be lost without the efforts of the museum.” “Westmoreland County has a pretty unique history,” Chandler said. We have famous sons who left and did great things. This museum is a repository of many of the things that make Westmoreland County great.” The museum was founded in 1941 and is the oldest museum in the Northern Neck. One of the museum’s first gifts was an historic portrait of Sir William Pitt, painted by famous artist Charles Wilson Peale in 1768. The full length portrait, which was commissioned by patriots in Westmoreland County, is filled with patriotic symbolism and is the centerpiece of the museum. Pitt, a member of England’s House of Commons, championed the rights of American colonists in

Photo by Cynthia L. Ailey

Westmoreland County Museum on Kings Hwy., sits adjacent to the old courthouse in the heart of Montross. their bitter fight with the British over the Stamp Act. Carl Flemer, Jr., a museum board member, has generously added 12 more full length portraits to the museum’s collection. Flemer, of the Ingleside Plantation Vineyards, commissioned full sized portraits of the Westmoreland County’s most historic figures including George Washington, Rev. Archibald Campbell, John Marshall, James Monroe, James Madison, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lighfoot Lee and Robert E. Lee. In addition to the portraits, the museum proudly has exhibits

displaying the history of the county for the past 400 years. Visitors can learn about the county’s rich heritage and see historical artifacts representing Native Americans, as well as sharks’ teeth collected from the Nomini cliffs on the banks of the Potomac River. There is also a lock of George Washington’s hair, as well as china and furniture from Wakefield, the home where Washington was born. There is pottery from a kiln operated by clandestine potter Morgan Jones in the 17th Century. And, exhibits displaying the history of crabbing, oystering and

the early days of Westmoreland County’s seafood industry. The museum is currently undertaking an effort to expand so it can provide more space for its collections, library, research materials and other programs underlining the county’s heritage. The board of directors of the museum has purchased the nearby Wakefield Furniture Building which was a longtime county fixture. Over years, the site of the Wakefield Furniture Building has seen many business come and go. It was the site of the county clerk’s

office from 1800 to 1904, then a doctor’s office, a drugstore and the site of the Bank of Montross. The current building was built in 1927 as a car dealership and a garage. During World War II, the building was used by the Selective Service and then it became a drugstore again with a bar in the back. In 1946, the current building was purchased by Hugh Sisson who opened the Wakefield Furniture Store. The Sisson family operated the business for over 50 years. In 2009, the family agreed to sell the building to the Westmoreland County Museum. Now it will have its vitality restored as part of a $500,000 project to complement the museum’s current facility. It will be a highly visible feature of the current Montross downtown revitalization. Expansion plans call for reproductions of both a general store and a soda fountain much like those that served the county almost 100 years ago. The expansion will also include a gift shop, new exhibition space and meeting rooms. A portion of the new space will be open in time for this summer’s tourist season. The museum is seeking donations from organizations or individuals to complete the project. Gifts are tax deductible. Information about donating, or about becoming a member of the museum, can be obtained by calling the Westmoreland County Museum at (804) 493-8440.

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2015 • MONTROSS GUIDE

Newly remodeled English Building nears completion RICHARD LEGGITT Remodeling of the George D. English Sr. Memorial Building in Montross is almost complete as the historic building gets ready to serve third function for the county with offices for the Westmoreland County Administrator and staff, as well as meeting rooms for the board of supervisors and the general public. The English Building, which is named for legendary Westmoreland County Sheriff George D. English, Sr. who was in office from 1948 until 1976, opened in the 1970s with county offices and meetings rooms for the supervisors. It suffered serious damage in a fire almost three decades ago. The county supervisors moved their meetings in the 1990s to the old A.T. Johnson school building on Route 3, which the county also owns. Later, the Westmoreland County’s courts moved from the old courthouse to the English Building after it was rebuilt. “The old courthouse did not meet handicapped access,” said Westmoreland Supervisor Woodrow Hynson, referring to the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was enacted in 1990. “The courtroom was on the second floor and we looked at installing an elevator, but it was just too expensive.” Over the years, however, security at the courtrooms in the English Building became a concern and the Board of Supervisors authorized the construction of a new $9 million Westmoreland County Judicial Center next door. The judicial center opened last year, leading to the reconfiguration of the English Building for a third time. The Board of Supervisors held its first meeting in the newly remodeled building in July 2015. “It is very nice,” said Supervisor Larry Roberson. “We were able to bring prisoners in to gut the old courtroom and to do basic carpentry tasks, and as a result we were able to significantly reduce costs.” The new board meeting room for the supervisors, which was the former circuit courtroom, features comfortable audience seating in a theater style along with a semicircular conference table for the members of the board. It also has state of the art audio-visual equipment and acoustics. “There no problem with the audio, no one has a problem hearing,” Roberson said. County Administrator Norm Risavi and his staff have moved into new offices in the southeast corner of the building, with a en-

trance and reception are on the building’s south side. The county treasurer and county planning staff will also be housed in remodeled offices. Remaining to be done are a meeting room for the Westmoreland County Planning Commission and other public organizations in the old district court room on the building’s north side. In addition, Westmoreland County’s Emergency Operations Center will be housed in newly re-

modeled office space near the former location of the general district court clerk’s office. Hynson said the use of inexpensive labor and other cost-saving measures, brought in the final cost of the completed English Building project somewhere in the neighborhood of $80,000. That will bring in the creation of new modern meeting and office space for a price far less to the taxpayers than construction of an entirely new facility.

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The new board room in the English Building was the site of the former circuit courtroom. Now that Westmoreland has the newly built Judicial Center, this room has been remodeled for use for the Board of Supervisors’ meetings. The first meeting was held in July 2015. Other rooms in the English Building will be completed soon.

School Board Office 141 Opal Lane Montross, VA 22520 (804) 493-8018 www.wmlcps.org Food Service Dept. (804) 493-8156 Maintenance Dept. (804) 493-8259 Transportation Dept. (804) 493-9491 Washington and Lee High School 16380 Kings Highway Montross, VA 22520 (804) 493-8015 Montross Middle School 8884 Menokin Road Montross, VA 22520 (804) 493-9818 Cople Elementary School 7114 Cople Highway Hague, VA 22469 (804) 472-2081 Washington District Elementary School 454 Oak Grove Road Colonial Beach, VA 22443 (804) 224-9100

MONTROSS GUIDE • 2015

Important names to remember Mayor Joseph P. King (804)493-9623 Vice Mayor Terry A Cosgrove (804) 493-7358 TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS: Robert A. Zimmerman (804)493-9370 Ferdie F. Chandler (804) 493-8182 Larry Wheaton (804) 493-0143 Clinton A. Watson, Jr. (804) 493-9623 Jesse R. Ault (804) 493-1893 TOWN MANAGER, TOWN CLERK, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR Brenda T. Reamy PO BOX 126

Montross, VA 22520 (804) 493-9700 fax (804) 493-8116 townofmontross@verizon.net

Terry A. Cosgrove COMMISSIONERS: Jane C. Branson (804) 493-8686

TOWN ATTORNEY John C. Hutt, Jr. (804)493-9700 fax (804) 493-8116

Leonard C. Carlson, vice-chair (804) 493- 9630

TOWN ENGINEER Malcom Pernie 1100 Welborne Dr. Suite 300 Richmond, VA 23229 (804) 740-0181 fax (804) 740-1053 PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES DIRECTOR John Douglas Norris (804) 493-9623 (804) 493-9036 PLANNING COMMISSION Chair: vacant Town Council Representative:

KNOW YOUR TOWN STATS Population in 2013: 388 (0% urban, 100% rural). Population change since 2000: +23.2% Males: 209 (53.9%) Females: 179 (46.1%) Median resident age: 49.8 years Virginia median age: 35.1 years Read more: www.city-data.com/city/Montross-Virginia.html Voted #1 Winery in Eastern VA and #3 Winery Statewide in 2015!

Bobby Greene (804) 493-9097 Bobby N. Reamy (804) 493-8213 OFFICIAL WEBSITE www.visitmontross.com

Wine Tastings, Tours, Museum & Gift Shop www.InglesideVineyards.com 5872 Leedstown Rd., Oak Grove, VA 22443 (804) 224-8687

TOWN OF MONTROSS PO BOX 126 15869 Kings Highway Montross, VA 22520 (804) 493-9623 fax (804) 493-9036 Email: townofmontross @verizon.net

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Westmoreland County Museum Visitors Welcome Tourist Information Desk Research Library Exhibit Rooms Watch for our fall opening!

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

J. Ralph Fallin for

School Board Westmoreland Co. District 3 Web Site: www.ralph4sb.org Email: ralph4sb@verizon.net

A Vote for Positive Change • Experience

A • Focus

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Paid for by the Citizens for Ralph Fallin Campaign Committee

KEEP

CHATHAM CLERK

RE-ELECT

KEEP

CHATHAM CLERK

GWYNNE J. CHATHAM Westmoreland Circuit Court Clerk

• Certified Circuit Court Clerk by • 45 years experience University of Virginia • Continued friendly service to all citizens • Dedicated, dependable, hardworking • Accessible to all citizens & conscientious • Maintenance & protection of • Actively involved in civic programs vital historic records & projects • Competent & highly trained staff • Lifelong resident of Westmoreland County KEEP

CHATHAM CLERK

KEEP CHATHAM CLERK VOTE NOVEMBER 3, 2015 Authorized by Gwynne J. Chatham, Clerk

KEEP

CHATHAM CLERK

2015 • MONTROSS GUIDE

A new ‘House Of Windsor’ Montross man finds post-career business handcrafting chairs RICHARD LEGGITT William Jenkins flew missions as a U.S. Air Force pilot in Vietnam and then flew as a pilot for United Air Lines for more than 30 years. Today, the Westmoreland County native is leading a more down-to-Earth life, crafting Windsor chairs that are in wide demand. Jenkins, who grew up on a farm near Montross, came home to his family’s century-old farmhouse after he retired in 2001. He began a new career in woodworking after his wife, Lucylin, told him she wanted some comfortable dining chairs. “We had some ladder-back chairs, very straight and very uncomfortable,” she said. Jenkins, who had taken some woodworking classes when he went to Washington & Lee High School, went back to school to learn how to make the chairs. “I talked to a number of woodworkers and went to a conference in Williamsburg,” he said. “I went to New Hampshire for a five-day course on Windsor chairs with a woodworker named Mike Dunbar. I have continued to take courses at Dunbar’s Windsor Institute. There are so many types of Windsor chairs.” Jenkins developed his craft and his brand – Locust Farm Windsors – but struggled with the marketing

Richard Leggitt

William Jenkins, a retired U.S. Air Force combat veteran and a former United Air Lines captain, has built a flourishing third career hand-crafting Windsor chairs and settees. at first. “I got some cards printed and put them in post offices,” Jenkins said. “Nothing. Then I started going to farmers’ markets, arts shows and other places looking for ways to market chairs.” Jenkins got his big break in 2005 when he got a call from a California

Pre- Licensing Class $379 Class Held at:

film company asking him to make chairs for a Tom Hanks-produced mini-series “John Adams.” “I eventually made 39 chairs for ‘John Adams’,” Jenkins said. The mini-series, which was filmed in Virginia and first broadcast in 2008, wanted sackback Windsors – named because

feed bags often were draped over the curved open backs in the winter — like those used by John Adams and the Continental Congress, as well as a special swivel Windsor with a writing arm that was designed by Thomas Jefferson. Windsor chairs first were made in England near Windsor Castle,

and British royalty made them very popular. In America at the time of the Revolution, there were many different styles being crafted for the Founding Fathers and others in places like Philadelphia and Boston. Jenkins, 73, works at least eight hours daily making chairs in an old dairy barn and an old smokehouse behind his home. He works alone using a lathe to help craft the chairs out of white pine, red oak and maple. “At my age, it is a good physical activity,” Jenkins said. “But it is pretty much a one-man operation.” Jenkins produces 50-plus chairs and settees per year. They sell for between $500 and $2,000 each. “On average, it takes a week to make one,” he said. He crafts at least 18 different styles and has a six-month backlog of orders from across the country and Europe. “I’ve made chairs for people all over America, as well as England, Norway and Denmark,” he said. It’s wonderful to build something that will last 200 years. “These chairs will make people happy, and they will enjoy using them for their lifetimes. As a pilot, there is nothing physical to show what you did. But the Windsors are a strong, enduring beauty that can be passed on from generation to generation.”

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MONTROSS GUIDE • 2015

Westmoreland County Government Departments A Administrator’s Office (804) 493-0130, Fax (804) 493-0134 Animal Warden (804) 493-0869 Assessor, Real Estate (804) 493-0113 or (804) 4939052, Fax (804) 493-8669 B Board of Supervisors Building & Zoning Department (804) 493-0120 Fax (804) 493-0604 C Circuit Court (804) 493-0108, Fax (804) 493-0393 Commissioner of the Revenue (804) 493-0113 or (804) 493-9052, Fax (804) 493-8669 Commonwealth’s Attorney (804) 493-0114, Fax (804) 493-0156 County Attorney (804) 278-8900 D Delinquent Tax Collections (804) 493-0659 E Emergency Services (804) 493-9147, Fax (804) 493-0134 F Finance Department (804) 493-0136, Fax (804) 493-0178 Forestry Department (804) 493-9440 G Game Warden (804) 493-8066 General District Court (804) 493-0105 H Health Department, Health Services/Clinic (804) 493-1124, Fax (804) 493-9352 Health Department, Environmental Health (804) 493-1335, Fax (804) 493-9404 I Information Technology (804) 493-0155

J Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court (804) 4930117, Fax (804) 493-0173 L Land Use Administration (804) 493-0120, Fax (804) 493-0604 Library, Montross (804) 493-8194, Fax (804) 493-0446 Library, Newton Branch, Hague (804) 472-3820, Fax (804) 472-5104 Library, Cooper Branch, Colonial Beach (804) 224-0921, Fax (804) 224-1330 M Museum, Westmoreland (804) 493-8440, Fax (804) 493-1312 P Parks & Recreation (YMCA), (804) 493-8163, Fax (804) 493-0313 Planning (804) 493-0120, Fax (804) 493-0604 R Registrar (804) 493-8898, Fax (804) 493-0158 S Schools, Westmoreland Public (804) 493-8018, Fax (804) 493-9323 Sheriff’s Office (804) 493-8066, Fax (804) 493-8715 Social Services (804) 493-9305, Fax (804) 493-9309 T Treasurer’s Office (804) 493-0124, Fax (804) 4938688 V Virginia Cooperative Extension (804) 493-8924, Fax (804) 493-8501 Voter Registration (804) 493-8898, Fax (804) 493-0158 Y YMCA, Westmoreland County (804) 493-8163, Fax (804) 493-0313

KNOW YOUR TOWN STATS

Estimated median household income in 2012: $55,545 (it was $40,469 in 2000) Montross: $55,545 VA: $61,741 Estimated per capita income in 2012: $28,215 (it was $21,653 in 2000) Read more: http://www.city-data.com/city/Montross-Virginia.html

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ELECT J. BRYON WILKINS for SHERIFF, WESTMORELAND COUNTY

Vote for Wilkins to: • Promote Westmoreland’s sense of community

Southern

HOME IMPROVEMENT ~ Sales & Service ~

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Sales & Service • Class A Liscensed & Insured

(804) 493-8509 15115 Kings Hwy., Montross, VA 22520

(804)493-9503 or at ElectWilkins4Sheriff@gmail.com or Elect Wilkins for Sheriff PO Box 1133, Montross, VA 2252 Paid for by the ElectWilkins4 Sheriff Committee

2015 • MONTROSS GUIDE

Studio Montross a labor of love for Roxanne Warren RICHARD LEGGITT John and Roxanne Warren met in Africa three years ago when both were working for the Peace Corps. Roxanne was attacked in a hotel in Burkina Faso and John, a Peace Corps investigations officer, was assigned to protect her. That was the beginning of a love and a partnership that led the couple to Westmoreland County and the opening this month of their new business, Studio Montross, which is located at 15381 Kings Highway. “She is the yoga instructor and I am the studio manager,” John said recently. “This is her brainchild and her labor of love.” The Warrens moved to Stratford Harbor last year and both still work for the Peace Corps, commuting to Washington daily. Their new studio, which is in the rear of Eagles’ Catch Antiques, is open in the evenings and on the weekends and features yoga classes to accommodate a wide range of students. Yoga mats are available for use and yoga straps, blocks and blankets are also provided for clients. “Yoga has a positive impact on body, mind and spirit,” said Roxanne, who has been a long distance runner for several years. “I started to practice yoga when I was in Africa. When we moved here, I started looking around for a yoga studio.” “Opening Studio Montross was perfect for us,” said John. “It was something that was feasible and something that was affordable.” Getting into yoga and opening a business was a new experience for John Warren. “I am sort of a neophyte,” he said. “We are both runners, but since I began yoga I have seen the benefits. I used to be 45 pounds heavier.” John and Roxanne credit many of the townspeople in Montross for helping them get their new studio up and running. “There is such a great sense of community here,” said Roxanne. “The people of the town have been absolutely fantastic. Everybody has been so welcoming.”

Photo courtesy of The Greater Montross Partnership for Revitalization

Roxanne and John Warren met while working for the Peace Corps. When not continuing their Peace Corps work, they run their newly opened business Studio Montross. The studio offers a variety of yoga and fitness classes to those looking for ways to get fit and achieve inner peace. Studio Montross features classes intended to accommodate all levels of students. “Yoga is a non-competitive practice that provides both physical and mental benefits,” Roxanne said. “We hope to provide a peaceful

environment to support your personal journey with yoga. Give a class a try.” Classes include Hatha Yoga which has a slow opening sequence and is great for beginners, Vinyasa Yoga which combines movement

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and breath sequences that increase flexibility and strength, and Candlelight Slow Flow, a gentle candlelight class that is designed to help ease tension. Zumba classes are planned for the fall. “Our beginning business has

been better than expected,” Roxanne said. “We are getting a range of students from their 20s to their 70s and everybody seems excited. We are proud that this was something we could do for the community.”

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(804) 224-0080 920 Colonial Ave, Colonial Beach, VA The people of Westmoreland County entrust the Treasurer to take care of their money, and that is one of the greatest trusts that can be given to an individual. The Treasurer and her staff should honor this trust by providing the most courteous, efficient and knowledgeable service to citizens of the County. That’s what Sue Jones plans to do in Westmoreland County. Come by the Westmoreland County Treasurer’s Office to meet Sue and her excellent staff— Bonnie Self and Crystal Ball-Howcott.

VOTE NOVEMBER 3, 2015

Yoga Classes Five Days a Week Hatha * Vinyasa * Candlelight Slow Flow 15381 Kings Highwy, Montross, VA

MONTROSS GUIDE • 2015

Montross Fall Festival, fun for the whole family

Dr. Miles W. Press, Optometrist

Eye Care Of Virginia King George

Peoples Insurance Agency of Montross, Inc. All Forms of Insurance Home, Auto, Business, Life, and Farm

Photos courtesy Greater Montross Partnership for Revitalization

This year’s Montross Fall Festival will be held the weekend of October 3. Bring the whole family for the parade, food vendors, arts & crafts vendors, baby contest and pet show. Go to the town website www.visitmontross.com for more information.

George R. Sisson, III Office:

• Fax:

• Home:

15977 Kings Highway, Montross, VA 22520 • Across from Peoples Community Bank

expires on 9/30/15

ELECT

PAM LORING Westmoreland Circuit Court Clerk November 3, 2015 Paid for by Pam Loring for Circuit Court Clerk

Subscribe to The Journal and get all the news from the Montross Town Council, Westmoreland Board of Supervisors, Westmoreland School Board delivered right to your mailbox! Only $24/year Call (540) 775-2024 for more information

2015 • MONTROSS GUIDE

Westmoreland State Park becoming a go-to destination RICHARD LEGGITT Majestic Westmoreland State Park, located on the Potomac River between George Washington’s birthplace and Stratford Hall, birthplace of Robert E. Lee, has steadily grown to become one of the leading state parks in Virginia. “It is a combination of a lot of different things,” said Steve Davis, assistant park manager. “If you want a mountain fix, we have hills, valleys and cliffs. If you want a beach fix we have two miles of shoreline on the Potomac River. Throw in the Civilian Conservation Corps cabins, or hunting for fossils or all the history that is right next door, and we have something for just about anybody.” Visitors to the park seem to agree. Westmoreland State Park saw more than 200,000 guests last year, which makes it one of the most popular parks in the commonwealth of Virginia. Westmoreland officials expect to have an even better year in 2015. The park also generated $8 million in economic activity for nearby Westmoreland and King George counties.

“Our season is already underway,” Davis said. “But the main season is May to Labor Day. We are expecting a lot of visitors this year.” The park is nestled in riverside woods that offer six miles of trails and excellent viewing of bald eagles, ospreys, kingfishers, great blue herons and other waterfowl. Horse Head Cliffs overlooking the miles wide Potomac River offer stunning views. The beach area has a picnic area with grills, a boat ramp, a fishing pier and an Olympic sized swimming pool. There are also expansive campgrounds on the plateau above the river. Fossil collectors can frequently be found looking for ancient sharks teeth along the beach. Kayak trips along the Potomac are also very popular. Westmoreland State Park was one of six original parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. The public works project created jobs for Virginians at a time of hardship in the state and the nation. Several log cabins from that time are still available for rent. Overall, the park has 25 cabins of various sizes, some rustic, and some

modern. The cabins have grills, fireplaces and air conditioning. Also available for rent is the fivebedroom, five-bath Potomac River Retreat, which is a favorite family reunion destination. There is plenty for visitors to do and see outside the park’s boundaries as well. Stratford Hall,

the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, and the home of two signers of the Declaration of Independence is just five minutes away. The George Washington Birthplace National Monument is also close by, as are wineries, marinas, beaches and other popular Northern Neck travel locations.

Those wanting to make campground or cabin reservations can do so online at www.dcr. virginia.gov or by calling (800) 933-Park. Westmoreland State Park is located at 1650 State Park Road near Montross. The park’s phone number is (804) 493-8821.

Two state parks, one short drive Westmoreland State Park

Photo courtesy of Bill Crabtree Jr., Virginia Tourism Corp.

Meeting facility and five-bedroom waterfront retreat, visitor center, gift shop, campsites and cabins, hiking and biking trails and fishing pier. Year-round programs, seasonal snack bar, Olympic-size swimming pool, kayaking, paddleboarding and the new campstore.

Caledon State Park Hiking and biking trails, guided eagle tours and kayak trips, visitor center, gift shop, picnic shelter and playground. Year-round programs and events, including the Fall Art and Wine Festival and the Howlin’ Coyote 10K Trail Run. New primitive campground.

Westmoreland State Park 1650 State Park Road Montross, Va. 22520-9717 804-493-8821

Caledon State Park 11617 Caledon Rd. King George, VA 22485 540-663-3861

Virginia State Parks | 800-933-PARK (7275) | www.virginiastateparks.gov VSP_KingGeorge_AB.indd 1

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