ASHLAND/ WESTERN HANOVER | Also serving the communities of Montpelier, Beaverdam, Rockville and Doswell
Ashland Pot Pie Company brings savory, sweet treats to the table
Virginia Passenger Rail Authority to begin surveying in Ashland Contributed Report news@mechocal.com
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The Town of Ashland recently welcomed the Ashland Pot Pie Company to its slate of local businesses. The restaurant had its grand opening celebration on Oct. 29. Located at 107 S. Railroad Ave., the Ashland Pot Pie Company sells homemade, savory pot pies and sweet fruit pies. The business is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Stop by for a sweet treat, lunch or dinner. Check out the Ashland Pot Pie Company’s Facebook page for daily updates.
Upcoming programs at Hanover area libraries All Pamunkey Regional Library branches will be closed on Friday, Dec. 24, Saturday, Dec. 25, and Monday, Dec. 27.
Richard S. Gillis, Jr./Ashland Branch Library IN-PERSON PROGRAMS Make Your Own Giant Snowflake at the Ashland Branch Library. Thursday, December 2, 7 - 8 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Join us to make your own giant snowflake - just like the ones decorating the library! Registration is required at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/8054640. Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information. Jewelry Making for Teens at the Ashland Branch Library. Saturday, Dec. 4, 3 - 4:30 p.m. For ages 12-18. Nothing beats a unique, made-justfor-you gift. Create some jewelry for someone you care about (even if it's yourself!). Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ event/8050162. Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information. Must Love Words at the Ashland Branch Library. Tuesdays, Dec. 7 and 14, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Writers, are you looking for inspiration? Need
readers with a discerning eye? Join us for constructive feedback and discussion about the craft of writing on each of this month. Due to group resources, email and word processing are used to communicate outside of meetings. Access to email and familiarity with word processing is preferred. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/. Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information. Reading Olympians Game Challenge at the Ashland Branch Library. Thursday, Dec. 9, 6:30 - 8 p.m. For ages 12-18. Bring a friend or teammate to create fun review games and trivia cards to help each other prepare for the contest. Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary. libcal.com/event/8076450. Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information. Morning Book Club at the Ashland Branch Library. Friday, Dec. 17, 10 - 11 a.m. Read our book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/. Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. see HANOVER LIBRARY, pg. 19
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) recently notified the Town of Ashland that staff members will begin surveying select town-owned properties, businesses and private residences to delineate boundaries between CSX Transportation right-of-way and rightof-way recently purchased by VPRA. The Commonwealth of Virginia and CSX Transportation signed a deal in March to transfer 223 miles of track and 386 miles of right-of-way to the Commonwealth to improve and expand passenger rail service in Virginia. The surveys will aid in the development of a plan to study Virginia’s 179 miles of Interstate 95 corridor between the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Alexandria, Virginia and the North Carolina border.
In a presentation to Ashland’s Town Council in June about the acquisition, Clark Mercer, Governor Ralph Northam’s chief of staff, noted that the deal includes an agreement from all parties to maintain the existing two-track rail system within the Town of Ashland. Any expansions to a three-track system would occur outside of Ashland’s residential and downtown areas to the north and south of town. “This deal will expand and improve passenger rail service in Virginia while also protecting and preserving the Town of Ashland,” Mercer said. “The agreement between CSX and the state recognizes that a 3-2-3 track system is what is appropriate and will enable us to adequately move passenger and freight up and down the corridor while also protecting this community.” see SURVEYING pg. 18
Ashland Museum to hold guided walking tours The Ashland Museum holiday guided walking tour will take place on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. We will share some history and architecture about the part of the Race Course Addition around Howard Street. The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad (RF&P) originally promised the property to Randolph-Macon College, but the college decided to take the former Ashland Hotel and Mineral Well Company property instead. In the 1870s, the RF&P instructed its trustees to subdivide what had been the Ashland Jockey Club and racecourse into residential lots and to begin selling them. Each 60-minute walking tour will end with a reception at 205 Howard St. This lot was sold to Rebecca Henderson Ladew in 1904. The 1905 tax
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The holiday guided walking tours will end with a reception at 205 Howard St.
records indicate the home she built on the property was valued at $1,400. The Colonial Revival style house with a full front porch and paired columns was very fashionable in 1905. Details and registration for the guided walking tour of
Howard Street and reception in one of Ashland's historic homes are on our website, ashlandmuseum.org. If you have questions, email the museum at ashlandmuseum@comcast.net or call 804-368-7314. Information submitted by the Ashland Museum.
The Mechanicsville Local
November 24, 2021 17
