Middleburg Life | October 2020 by Middleburg Life

Volume 37 Issue 10 | October 2020 | middleburglife.com

MIDDLEBURG

LI F E Intimate Outdoor Tablescapes + Virginia Wine, Cider, and Breweries to try this Fall + Middleburg Film Festival & Protecting Our Dirt Roads

POSTAL CUSTOMER PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE ECRWSS PAID FREDERICKSBURG, VA PERMIT NO. 75 EDOM

MIDDLEBURG REAL ESTATE

ATOKA

PROPERTIES

S I M P LY B E T T E R .

FLEETWOOD FARM | DELAPLANE

LEGACY FARM | THE PLAINS

$21,700,000 | Fleetwood Farm showcases the rolling hills and majestic mountain views that Virginia's Hunt Country is known for. Comprised of 26 parcels totaling 2,477 acres of mature farmland, this massive plot sits a mere 60 miles west of Washington DC. 4 rental homes, historic stone mill, surrounded by creeks, streams, and ponds.

$6,000,000 | 450 acres in Orange County Hunt's most prized territory. Build your dream estate amidst rolling, park-like ﬁelds, stone walls, a lazy little creek (Cromwells Run) and framed by unmatched mountain views. Conservation easement and fox-hunting easement.

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

20022 TRAPPE RD | BLUEMONT

4514 DEN HAAG RD | WARRENTON

$2,799,000 | Serene country living on a 94-acre farm with Blue Ridge Mountain views. Updated, open & airy 4+ BD/4.5 BA main house: large kitchen and adjoining family room, main level primary & second bedroom, adjoining study/oﬃce; 2 families rooms; 6 ﬁreplaces. 2-car detached garage/guest house. Equestrian facilities with 12 stalls. 2 bedroom log cabin with rental possibilities. An ideal family compound. Easy access to Route 7 & 50.

$985,000 | Located in the prestigious and sought after subdivision of Westervelt, this charmer on 2 private acres is sure to please even the most discriminating buyer. 5 Bedroom, 4 bath home on 3 fully finished levels with endless quality craftsmanship, built-ins, detail, and millwork throughout. Tall ceilings, beautiful windows, gracious flowing floorplan, and inviting outdoor living space.

Mary Owen Chatﬁeld-Taylor 540.454.6500

Allison Tripp 571.432.7119

721 KENNEL RD | BOYCE

252 MARYLAND AVE | HAMILTON

$950,000 | Rare opportunity to build your ideal home in a super private setting in southern Clarke Co. 87 acres, partially wooded, open farmland, beautifully maintained. Small farm building exists on property (2017) w/ bathroom, good well & septic ﬁeld for 3 BD, could be expanded. Spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the heart of Blue Ridge Hunt Country. In Clarke County Conservation Easement.

$435,000 | Enjoy a 1-acre park-like yard, 2 blocks from Hamilton's main street. The open floor plan allows for spacious living on 2 levels, 3 large & bright bedrooms, 2 full baths, a fully finished lower level, deck, patio, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, and a wood burning stove. Perfect location for remote working, commuting, hiking on the W&OD trail, starbucks runs, airport and schools.

Anne McIntosh 703.509.4499

Shannon Casey 540.222.2119

Maria Eldredge 540.454.3829

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Middleburg, VA 540-687-4646

Charlottesville, VA 434-245-2211

Annapolis, MD 410-990-1700

Greenbrier, WV 304-956-5151 OCTOBER 2020

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MIDDLEBURG

LI F E OCT. 2020 middleburglife.com

PUBLISHER: Greenhill Media LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jennifer Gray | editor@middleburglife.com COPY EDITOR: Chelsea Rose Moore ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Christian Bentley | christian@middleburglife.com ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Rebekah Greenhill | info@middleburglife.com Vicky Mashaw | vmashaw@middleburglife.com Jennifer Richards | jennifer@middleburglife.com Andrea Ryder | andrea@middleburglife.com ACCOUNTS ADMINISTRATOR: Joanne Maisano DIGITAL SALES & MARKETING SPECIALIST: Laura Luck DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR: Laticia Headings DESIGNER: Elisa Hernandez PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Nicky Marshok ON THE COVER For October’s cover, we styled an intimate fall tablescape with impressive hunt country views, but the show was stolen by the homeowner’s handsome Irish wolfhound. Photography by Victoria Heer Photography, assisted by Kiyah Crittendon. Table design by Brooke Streep, Table Terrain. Creative direction by Jennifer Gray, Middleburg Life. Florals by Megan Woolman, Black Haw Blossom, and food and wine provided by Greenhill Winery & Vineyards. More on pages 10 and 11. ON THIS PAGE Georgiana Runyan and her mother are seen early on a September morning cubbing with Piedmont Fox Hounds at Old Welbourne. Photograph by Joanne Maisano. CONTRIBUTORS Heidi Baumstark, Chelsea Moore Richard Hooper, Kaitlin Hill, Laticia Headings Shayda Windle, and Dulcy Hooper ADVERTISE IN MIDDLEBURG LIFE Greenhill Media, LLC P.O. Box 328 | Middleburg VA 20118-0328 540.687.5950 | info@middleburglife.com All editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All unsolicited manuscripts and photos must be accompanied by return postage; the publisher assumes no responsibility. Middleburg Life reserves the right to reject any advertising. Distributed in Aldie, Alexandria, Ashburn, Boyce, Delaplane, Dulles, Front Royal, Gainesville, Haymarket, Leesburg, Manassas, Marshall, Middleburg, Millwood, Paris, Purcellville, The Plains, Rectortown, Reston, Tysons, Upperville, Warrenton, Washington, D.C., and Winchester. FIND US ON: Instagram @middleburglife Twitter @middleburglife Facebook.com/middleburglife LOOKING FOR MORE?

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GET ADDITIONAL CONTENT ONLINE!

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR:

The Madaj Family at Wild Hare Cider Story and photos by Kaitlin Hill

he Madaj family brings Wild Hare Cider to Middleburg’s Washington Street following the success of their Leesburg and Warrenton locations. The Middleburg Cider Pub offers a cozy atmosphere and an extensive list of creative ciders. As natives of the Midwest, Jim and Joan Madaj initially came east to pursue career opportunities in the business administration and economics management sector. “I was an IT guy back in the mid-eighties, and in Michigan, there weren’t a lot of opportunities,” Jim says. “I had job offers, but we were really ready to get out of there … and we landed in Virginia.” The young couple, already married with a daughter, landed in Rosslyn, where Jim worked as a systems analyst for CACI. During his 12 years there, Jim climbed the corporate ladder quickly, eventually becoming vice president. At home, he and Joan expanded their family from three to eight. In 1996, Jim left CACI to start an e-commerce company, where his wife and three oldest children

would join him. With contracts coming to an end, the family was ready for a change. “That all came to an end at some point in 2017, and we were looking at what to do next,” Jim says. “Do we want to continue to work together in a family environment, or do we want to do our own thing? We decided, let’s do this again. The kids were like, ‘Can we do something we like to do? We’re done with this thing, let’s do something fun.’” The initial idea was a brewery, but Jim advocated for something a little different. “I thought the [brewery] market was already saturated, and I wanted to do something a little more niche-oriented,” Jim says. “And that’s how we came across cider.” “I had done some brewing in the past and my son, Justin, was big into that,” he says. “We had some experience with alcohol but not specifically with cider or wine. We thought we could jumpstart by buying into something that had already been launched.” In 2018, they bought Wild Hare Cider

from Jay Clement, who had started the business in 2014. After purchasing the Leesburg-based business, the Madaj family had to learn the ins and outs of cider before shifting their focus to strategic expansion. “The plan right from the beginning was to expand and grow the brand pretty quickly,” Jim says. “Though, the first year we didn’t grow the brand at all. In 2018, we wanted to learn and make sure we knew what we were doing first. We learned how to make cider, how to package it, and how to sell it.” With a few first-year lessons under their belts, the Madajs turned to expansion and opened their Warrenton spot in May 2019. A few months later, opportunity knocked again, and the Madaj crew landed their Middleburg hub in November. “Our son Patrick – he does most of the hunting for the real estate – he came across the place in Middleburg, and we liked where it was positioned geographically,” Jim says. “It was in the middle of everything we Cider | Page 4

Left: Wild Hare Cider sign on Washington Street. Right: Jim and Joan behind the bar.

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Cider | From page 3 already had.” While their son Justin focused on making cider and Patrick handled the retail operations, Joan managed the Middleburg location. In addition to physical expansion, the list of offered ciders grew too. Jim credits Wild Hare’s distinctive list of ciders to Justin’s imagination and his willingness to listen to customer suggestions. “The cider is one hundred percent on Justin,” Jim says. “He has gotten better and better at this. And, all along the way, we are listening to our customers, and we just felt they needed something, not sweet, but not so dry, and that’s where the flavoring ideas started to come in. Justin really picked up on that.” From a Valentine’s Day inspired chocolate-covered strawberry flavor to hot pepper-infused ciders, Jim believes cider making is a blank canvas. “The goal is to always be able to tell it’s a cider first,” he says. “I can tell that there is an apple there somehow, someway. The flavorings are done in such a way that you can still tell that it is a cider, but we add something that reminds you of something else. There is practically nothing you can add to cider that changes the character of the drink. That’s where the real craftsmanship comes in. That’s the way we look at it, and that’s the way Justin looks at it. There are no limits on anything he can put in.” Wild Hare Cider’s menu includes a mix of off-dry and dry selections, like “Chute,” which is flavored with Michigan cherries and vanilla beans, and “Hatch,” a dry cider made entirely with apples from Shenandoah. They offer small batch ciders, too. These change weekly and highlight the intersection of Justin’s imagination and customer requests. Inventive ciders, creativity, and willingness to adjust were all crucial aspects of Wild Hare’s business model at the onset of COVID-19 when Middleburg shut down. “We had to switch quickly to canning all of the cider versus selling it by the glass,” Jim says. “We had to switch quickly to selling togo, curbside pick-up, and we had to do that practically overnight … we are fortunate that we were able to. Coming from an e-commerce background and knowing how to sell things online, take orders online, we are really lucky we had those skills. We were lucky that we had the ability to do that so quickly and respond to this crisis. We did it, and I’m really proud of how we have reacted. We just all had a good attitude, and we refused to fail.” Now, newly re-opened, Wild Hare Cider’s Middleburg location offers outdoor seating, cans to-go, and perks for members of their cider club, like free “small batch” weekly tastings and free monthly refills in a stainless-steel growler. Visiting the Washington Street pub is a perfect opportunity to chat with Joan, who is happy to walk newcomers through the extensive cider menu and share why she is glad to be in Middleburg. “I find it extremely welcoming and enabling for small businesses,” Joan says. “I’ve gotten to know all the neighbors … and we have become friendly. We truly have been welcomed here.” With their excellent ciders, endless imagination, and warm hospitality, members of the Madaj family are certainly welcome neighbors in Middleburg and will be for years to come. ML Find Wild Hare Hard Cider’s Middleburg location at 17 East Washington St., Middleburg. For more details, visit wildharecider.com. Joan in front of the bar.

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“I find it extremely welcoming and enabling for small businesses,” Joan says. “I’ve gotten to know all the neighbors … and we have become friendly. We truly have been welcomed here.” — Joan Madaja

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Story and photos by Laticia Headings

he eighth annual Middleburg Film Festival (MFF) is once again in full swing as film lovers anticipate another year of critically-acclaimed films, innovative and socially-distanced events, and captivating conversations with special guests. Like most big events that draw enthusiastic crowds, the MFF, taking place October 1518th, has recalibrated for the times. “The safety and well-being of our filmgoers has been our primary concern as we weighed the options for this year’s festival,” executive director Susan Koch says. “We’re delighted that we’re able to offer a mix of both in-person and outdoor screenings.” Evening films will be socially-distanced and held outdoors on the grand lawn of the Salamander Resort. There will be a “pop-up” drive-in located in the lower parking lot. For those who prefer to watch movies at home, a line-up of approximately 20 films will be available virtually throughout the four days of the festival. Audiences will also be able to discuss films and swap opinions in a virtual festival lounge. Conversations will accompany some of this year’s films. As in years past, there will be award tributes and Q&A’s with leading filmmakers, actors and guests, and a concert Festival | Page 7

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Festival | From page 6 honoring a prominent music composer, a hallmark of the Middleburg Film Festival. Since its debut in 2013, the festival’s caliber of compelling films has sparked both excitement and a level of prestige, impressive to even the most ardent film critics. In 2019, 41 Oscar nominations were garnered from the 32 films screened at the MFF, including five for best picture and the best picture winner, “Parasite.” “MFF 2020 will present some of this year’s most anticipated films including ‘Nomadland,’ which took the top prize at both the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals, and ‘One Night in Miami,’ the directorial debut of academy award-winning actor, Regina King,” Koch says. When theaters closed in May due to the pandemic, the festival launched the “Middleburg Virtual Cinema,” offering filmgoers an opportunity to purchase tickets on the MFF website to advance film screenings not yet available to the general public. Each week, new movies are released, and ticket revenues are shared with the distributor. This collection of films (still available) spans the gamut of highly entertaining, cinematically-stunning, and racially-relevant with the same superb acting and complex narratives you’d expect from a carefully curated festival. “Miss Juneteenth,” timely released on June 19th, is a film that’s both charming and soulful. An annual beauty pageant (one that provides a college scholarship to its winner) sets the stage for this story of an African-American single mother and former pageant winner, and her daughter, who differ on life perspectives, but find common respect through their love of each other. It seems every year Hollywood produces a military story that sheds new light on a different facet of our history. “The 24th” is a true story about the all-black twenty-fourth United States infantry regiment and Houston riot of 1917. This riveting drama unravels the systemic racism that existed within our military and serves as barometer for modern day times. In the documentary genre, there are many great stories from which to choose. “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” highlights race rela-

tions in America and the extraordinary life of civil rights pioneer, Georgia Rep. John Lewis, and the landmarks of equality for which he so steadfastly fought. Touted as the “most audacious, difficult, complicated rescue mission ever attempted,” “Desert One” is a documentary that tells the remarkable story behind the freeing of 52 American hostages during the 1979 Iranian revolution, directed by two-time Academy-award winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple. “Creem,” the story of the legendary music magazine with interviews from Michael Stipe, Joan Jett, and Gene Simmons, is a musical buffet for lovers of rock-n-roll. Of particular note are the six films directed or co-directed by women, a remarkable ratio in an arena typically dominated by men. The films include “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” “Desert One,” “The Fight,” “Miss Juneteenth,” “River City Drumbeat,” and “The Audition.” Although this year will be different, the Middleburg Film Festival will be no less exciting. “We’ve been so gratified by all the support we’ve received from our filmgoers, filmmakers, distributors, and sponsors,” Koch says. “Now in our 8th year, it’s clear we have a community of devoted cinephiles here in Middleburg.” ML Advance tickets for the film festival are now on sale. Individual tickets go on sale October 6. A full list of films can be found online. For ticket and event information, visit the middleburgfilm.org website, mobile app, and social media @MiddleburgFilm for updates.

Laticia Headings is the host and co-producer of “The Middleburg Life” docu-series. She discovered Middleburg after attending a Producer’s Guild event at the first annual Middleburg Film Festival in 2013 and has come back every year since as a volunteer and attendee. Laticia is a producer, writer, and camerawoman with 22 years of experience in television, documentary film, and multi-platform media. Her video production company, Latitude: Media with Attitude, is based in Middleburg where she now lives with her husband, Christian, and dog child, Sadie.

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D VE E O PR RIC M P I

Bolinvar

Hunt Country Estate

100 Acres

$8,495,000 104 Acres

Middleburg – Magnificent Estate on 100 acres. The stone house boasts 22 elegant rooms, 9 fireplaces, high ceilings, all superbly detailed and beautifully appointed. Brilliant gardens surround the heated pool. Fabulous 11 stall stone stable with 2 staff apartments. Riding ring, green house all in pristine condition. Additional 227 acres are available.

Locke Farm

$4,900,000 145 Acres

Bluemont – Just north of historic Middleburg, this exquisite country estate includes over 104 acres of lush pastures with spectacular mountain views. Features 9000 sq ft of elegant living space, a picturesque pond, pool & spa, guest house, an apartment over the 4 bay garage, plus a 6 stall stable & paddocks, all in an idyllic setting!

$4,200,000

Upperville – Located in the heart of the renowned Piedmont Hunt Territory, Locke Farm encompasses approx. 145 acres of pastures and magnificent woodlands. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of protected land in easements; This property offers an excellent opportunity to place the land in easement and benefit from substantial tax credits.

Thistle Hill 435 Acres

Bloomfield Road $4,000,000 95+ Acres

Hume – Spectacular land with rolling, verdant fields, lush woodlands and a spring fed pond, on 435 acres in unspoiled Hume. Offering four parcels of 100+ acres each, this property is ideally located off scenic Leeds Manor Road, amongst other beautiful estates, many in conservation easements. Easy access to I–66 and within an hour of the nation’s capital.

Windy Hill

$2,095,000 42 Acres

Unison – Private and secluded, magnificent views of the Blue Ridge and Bull Run Mountains. Open fields, lush pastures and beautiful woodlands. Rolling land with a gentle hillside that captures the panoramic landscape and picturesque pond below. Protected in easement, it is the perfect site for a fabulous estate, ideal for nature lovers and equestrians.

$1,099,000

Bluemont – Incredible custom built 3 BR / 4 BA log home offers soaring ceilings, stunning stone 2 story fireplace, 3 fireplaces, hand hewn logs, fabulous decking in a magical setting on 42 acres (with an additional 17 acres available). Impeccably maintained: New roof, New HVAC, grand sun filled rooms. 2 story barn/ garage, Whole Home generator, workshop on walk-out level.

D VE E O PR RIC IM P

Loyalty Road

Canby Road $875,000 3 Acres

70 Acres

Approximately 70 acres on two separate parcels of private pasture land with amazing views and frontage on Catoctin Creek. Secluded, yet minutes to Route 7 and with close proximity to wineries, equestrian events and restaurants. Easy commuting distance to Washington DC and Dulles International Airport. Property is in Easement.

Ridgeside Road Land $749,000 41.52 Acres ~ $495,000 20.06 Acres ~ $395,000

Leesburg – Immaculate 4/5 BR all brick residence in ideal location on a beautiful country road. Just 10 minutes from Leesburg and all the convenience of shopping, health clubs, and parks, this charming 3 level Cape secluded in a parklike setting. Gleaming HW floors, 2 fireplaces & 3 gorgeous acres, it features new HVAC, new windows, huge deck & a spacious lower level.

25.60 Acres ~ $395,000 16.25 Acres ~ $385,000

Upperville – 4 Parcels in the heart of Piedmont Hunt Territory at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering a private setting. There are spectacular mountain and pastoral views, excellent ride out and beautiful lush pastures. Perfect setting for a wonderful country estate. Approved perc sites. Land is in easement.

Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.

Jim McGowan 703-927-0233

Mary Ann McGowan 540-687-5523

Brian McGowan 703-927-4070

Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia

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9/25/20 11:32 AM

THESE HOUSES ARE NOT FOR SALE

Because they’re sold! Thomas & Talbot proudly celebrates Mary Ann, Jim and Brian McGowan’s sales success. Their real estate savvy and superb ability to find their clients the perfect home in Hunt Country is nothing short of impressive. Whether you’re in the market for an estate or a hunt box, the McGowans can help! They are on track to be top sellers of Hunt Country Real Estate in October, so be sure to reach out to them soon. Mary Ann, Jim and Brian are here to welcome you to the Hunt Country lifestyle and show homes with social distancing in mind.

Jim McGowan | 703-927-0233 Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia

Mary Ann McGowan | 540-687-5523 Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia

Brian McGowan | 703-927-4070 Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia

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Intimate Outdoor Tablescape for the Fall Photography by Victoria Heer Photography, assisted by Kiyah Crittendon Table design by Brooke Streep, Table Terrain, Warrenton, Va. Creative direction by Jennifer Gray, Middleburg Life Florals by Megan Woolman, Black Haw Blossom, The Plains, Va. Food and wine provided by Greenhill Winery & Vineyards

What’s on the table: Australian natural sheephide rugs, stonewashed linen napkins, genuine pheasant feather placemats, amber glass goblets, amber Moroccan tea glasses, vintage suzani throw, antiqued candelabra, faux bois wine cooler, natural horn napkin rings, and 18” orange tapers. The items listed on the table can be found through Table Terrain’s website at tableterrain.com. Mini charcuterie boards — private collection Bamboo gold flatware from Amazon Dining chairs — private collection Pillows — private collection

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The Virginia Rye Whisky

favorite places to Catoctin Creek Distillery 120 W Main St Purcellville, VA 20132 540-751-8404 www.catoctincreek.com

visit in #HuntCountry during

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Cana Vineyards & Winery of Middleburg

38600 John Mosby Hwy., Middleburg, VA 20117 703-348-2458 | www.canavineyards.com Social: @canavineyards | Email: info@canavineyards.com

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Virginia Wine Month

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Let Blackwater Beef be your source for local Black Angus beef.

Specialty boxes, quarters and halves available. Shop with us Saturday mornings at the Middleburg Community Farmers Market located behind the National Sporting Library & Museum.

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Paul and Bunny Mellon: Visual Biographies

The Trompe l’Oeil Paintings at Oak Spring, Virginia Written by Richard Hooper

he recently published book, “Paul and Bunny Mellon: Visual Biographies — The Trompe l’Oeil Paintings at Oak Spring, Virginia,” by Lucia Tongiorgi Tomasi and Tony Willis, introduces and examines a little-known artistic interest of the Mellons. It presents their collection of trompe l’oeil paintings, describes the historical background of the genre, and displays with delightful detail two such works commissioned by the Mellons. The genre is a mind bending-encounter wherein a two-dimensional painting deceives the eye into believing it is seeing objects from the three-dimensional world. It is both a trick and a treat when the viewer’s mind, upon realizing the deception, reinterprets the illusion back into the reality of a flat plane. The term, trompe l’oeil, was coined by the French in the 19th century, but the method of painting originated much earlier. The book recounts an amusing account of artistic accomplishment in this method from between

the fourth and fifth centuries BCE. The technique has been used in rooms painted with flat architectural details that appear as real columns and moldings. Shelving and niches are prime devices for staging books and objects that beg the viewer to lift up in one’s hands. The historical background is illustrated with examples from various museum collections, including pieces that were donated by the Mellons. Among the numerous examples shown in the book that are still housed at Oak Spring are two paintings created around 1614 by the Florentine artist Gerolamo Pini. They are of highly detailed, flowering plants with occasionally alighted insects. Each painting has a rolled sheet of paper or parchment with curled edges identifying the plants written out by hand. The sheets (one with a housefly on it ready to buzz off if disturbed) are pinned to the canvases. It is all, however, very high trompe l’oeil. Of the two-troupe l’oeil works commis-

sioned by the Mellons, the first was installed in the late 1950s and was created to hide the television in the living room. It was a pair of cupboard doors painted as shelving displaying books and a variety of other items, some of which cascade over, or are pinned onto, the front edge of the shelves, thereby enhancing the illusion. It was the work of an Englishman, Martin Battersby – artist, set designer, and author of several books on art and style, including one on the subject of trompe l’oeil. The second commission, executed by French artist Fernand Renard, is the interior of the pavilion that anchors the two greenhouse wings of Bunny Mellon’s conservatory. Believed to have been painted between 1959 and 1960, all four walls incorporate trompe l’oeil, object-filled shelves. The one wall not pierced by a doorway is completely fool-theeye shelving with a center section that opens up to a workspace counter and sink. Along with images of all four completed walls, this Paintings | Page 15

Left: The open cupboard doors in the greenhouse pavilion. Right: The book cover showing a detail from one of the trompe l’oeil walls in the greenhouse pavilion. Photos reproduced from the book.

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Paintings | From page 14 chapter includes preliminary studies of the project, documenting its evolution. Along with biographical backgrounds of Paul and Bunny Mellon, this skillfully researched and lavishly illustrated work adds a new and delightful dimension to the artistic interests of the Mellons. It is available online (along with other Oak Spring publications) at oak-spring-garden-foundation.square.site. ML Left: Trompe l’oeil painting hiding the television. Right: Painting by Gerolamo Pini created around 1614. Photos reproduced from the book.

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aislingbuilding.com | 36582 Leith Lane, Middleburg, VA 20117 justin@aislingbuilding.com | 703.389.3144 16

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I GOT IT AT THE FEED STORE

Embrace style. From traditional to trending, we have you covered. Shopping local has its advantages.

O P E N S E V E N D AY S A W E E K 7 4 0 8 J O H N M A R S H A L L H W Y › M A R S H A L L , VA 2 0 1 1 5 540-364-1891 › TRICOUNTYFEEDS.COM

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Art, Science, and Soil:

BEHIND THE WINE WITH RDV VINEYARDS Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photos by Jennifer Gray

or the team at RdV Vineyards, winemaking is the marriage of art and science, blending passion and expertise with the uniqueness of Virginia soil. As they prepare to release their 10th anniversary vintage this month, owner Rutger de Vink and winemaker Joshua Grainer share their story, the process behind their passion, and the things they are looking forward to over the next ten years. “In 2000, I decided to change my lifestyle because of the whole big ‘the world is going to end’ thing,” de Vink says. “I wanted to work outside and work with my hands. I needed to find passion rather than a job. Life’s too short.” The former Marine turned venture capitalist decided to explore options to escape the corporate world. “Wine was something I wanted to look into,” he says. “But instead of moving right away out to Napa – the epicenter of the wine world in America – I hired a consultant who worked in Napa and also France, but she lived in Warrenton. I asked [her] if you could make great wine in Virginia and we talked about the career change.” Before making the leap, de Vink’s consultant recommended he get his feet wet with an apprenticeship. “She gave me Jim Law’s name at Linden … So, after pestering Jim for almost half a year, he finally agreed,” de Vink says. In 2001, de Vink joined the Linden ranks. “It was love at first sight,” he says. “I think he hazed me by giving me the worst jobs outside in the vineyard, but every day I came back. I found my passion, and this is a way of life rather than a job.” After Linden, de Vink travelled the wine world while looking for the perfect spot for his own operation. “I got a foundation and then I travelled,” he says. “I worked in Bordeaux and out in Napa, but I was always looking for what would be the right site. I wanted to make wine where good wine was being made, but also where I felt we could take it to the next level.” Though the West Coast tempted him, de Vink returned to Virginia and started digging. “There is something that is special about Virginia and I was actually living in Middleburg and driving to Linden on Delaplane Grade Road,” he says. “I was working with local soil scientists and we dug holes from Charlottesville to Leesburg.” For de Vink, it would take a chance siting and suitable soil to help him decide where to settle. “I saw a sheep crossing the road right there,” he says, gesturing beyond the vines of RdV. “I stopped to talk to the farmer and as I looked around, I said, ‘Oh wow, there’s a hillside back there.’ It’s really just a 250-foot gain of elevation, but that makes a difference. I looked in the soil book from Fauquier County, and it said it was Chestnut and Tankerville soil series and it’s not suitable for agriculture, which means it’s really good for grapes.” Once de Vink acquired the Delaplane hillside, he worked with Middleburg-based architect, Andy Lewis, to build RdV’s signature silhouette. “Rutger gave [Andy Lewis] pretty much free reign,” winemaker Joshua Grainer says. “He took him around and showed him a bunch of benchmark wineries, but asked that he design the aesthetic to fit into the Virginia countryside. It’s Rutger’s homage to farming. In Bordeaux, they have their chateaus with turrets. Here we have silos as the symbol of Art | Page 19 RdV owner, Rutger de Vink.

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Art | From page 18 American agriculture,” he finishes, indicating the towering silo. The silo is the center of the vineyard’s three wings, each built to serve a particular winemaking purpose. “We needed our fermentation ring,” Grainer says. “We needed our aging lane, which is the caves, and then our actual bottle preparation. Andy incorporated all of that and this has been a phenomenal building to work in.” A visit to each wing provides good insight to the “science, art, and soil” balance of the winemaking process at RdV. Just outside the fermentation room, transparent tubes displaying rock samples hint at step one of the process: growing grapes. “This is a good representation of what we are growing on, and soils are really important in all winemaking for quality, but especially in Virginia,” Grainer says. “It’s our shallowest core sample of rock down to our deepest. We have about 18-inches, pretty shallow of this rocky, gravely, loam on the hillside and then it hits that degraded granite rock. That’s important because if the grapevines are planted in a fertile valley, it’s super happy to grow and it will focus on all kinds of vegetative growth, green leaves and be happy. But if it starts to struggle, through lack of nutrients, lack of water, it will release an acid that will stop it growing and direct all the energy into ripening fruit. We love that little bit of struggle for the grapevines to get the high-quality wine.” The team at RdV grows Bordeaux varieties. “They let us mitigate the risk a little bit,” de Vink says. “And, they’re good chameleons. They can grow in various different places and they can express the identity of that place. We didn’t say we were going to make a Bordeaux wine here or … a Napa Valley wine here. No, we are going to make a Virginia wine and it’s going to express this hillside. I think the grapes do that very well.” Growth is followed by harvesting and processing the grapes. At RdV, this step is extremely detail oriented, down to the individual grape. “The whole cluster comes in and we take it through a series of sorting tables that vibrate with different grades,” Grainer says. “The first vibration they go across as a whole cluster shakes out flower or leaf fragments, and any bugs that might be hiding in the cluster. From there, it’ll go into a de-stemmer … and we pass them over another table which takes out underripe grapes. Then, we pass them through an optical sorter at the final stage. This takes a picture of every single, individual berry and it’s programed into a color spectrum

which we set to measure ripeness and sugar levels, and [to] make sure it’s within the parameters we accept.” After sorting, Grainer moves onto fermentation, which takes place in the cathedral-like fermentation wing lined with 12 stainless steel tanks and plenty of natural light from high windows. “We transport [the grapes] up to the top and we drop them in to the top of the tank,” he says. Once in the tanks, maceration is an important step to extract everything each grape has to offer. “We want all the good stuff, so we macerate it: the skins, the seeds, everything together,” Grainer says. “At first it is this whole homogenous blend, and then as fermentation kicks-off, the yeast breaths out CO2 which saturates the wine and forces all the skins to the top. It is our job to extract all that from the wine. Over the next three weeks, we are monitoring the levels of extraction and we are doing that through temperature. We can heat or cool the extractions. Several times a day, during the initial stage of winemaking, we are pouring out the juice and pumping it right back over the top.” The process may sound exhausting, but it does have its rewards. “At the end we get to be very lazy and we’re simply tasting and tasting, until one day Rutger and I say, ‘This is now in its peak,’” Grainer says, laughing. However, de Vink and Grainer aren’t finished there. Tasting in itself involves a series of discussions and a consultation with a panel of Bordeaux experts. “We’ve been making wine together for almost 15 years,” Grainer says. “We’re very much in line with what we know the goal is. Any disagreements are in minutia and that’s what keeps it interesting. We sit down like lawyers, and state our cases of the pros and cons. We’re working with a Bordeaux team of consultants. We’re also working with our oenologist. It can get kind of geeky, but it’s a marriage of science and art.” The wine is put in oak barrels and moved from the airy fermentation space to the aging cave. Here the process of élevage, or “raising,” starts where the individual varieties develop before being blended and bottled. “We allow the wine to develop its personality … for about six months,” Grainer says. “We then start to evaluate them and see how they’ll blend together.” Each spring, Grainer and de Vink reconnect with the consultants and make final decisions about how the wines will be Art | Page 20

Top: Rutger de Vink and Jenny Marie with their puppy. Middle: RdV. Bottom: RdV winemaker, Joshua Grainer. OCTOBER 2020

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Art | From page 19 blended into the vineyard’s three selections: “Lost Mountain,” “Rendezvous,” and the friends and family blend. The wines are left again to develop even further. “For another year and a half, the wines will live as those blended wines continuing to age,” Grainer says. “The whole purpose of élevage is to take off all the edges and allow different components to integrate. The oak is also having an influence. It’s about allowing flavors to develop in the wine and building complexity.” As the wine ages, there is a rigorous cleaning process called racking. “We’re cleaning the sediment out of the wine,” Grainer says. “Naturally it precipitates to the bottom … We transfer the clean wine off, wash out the barrels and put the clean wine back in. It’s a natural way of allowing the wine to clarify itself and get ready for the bottle.” With all the care given from branch to bottle, de Vink is particular about the guest experience too. “When I first started, the tasting room wasn’t supposed to be a tasting room,” Grainer says. “Very naively, I thought we’d only have restaurateurs and wine buyers … but it is important to share the experience …

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so we revamped the way we think. We hired a team to put together the tasting room experience, but we still want to do things very intimately.” During COVID-19, maintaining intimacy inspired “the pods” where small groups with reservations can sit outside and enjoy the spacious grounds and stunning views. “Especially during COVID, people have really enjoyed the experience of being able to escape lockdown,” de Vink says. In addition to reservations, de Vink also offers the RdV experience through his popular wine club: the ambassador program. “What we found is the people who have been here, bought our wine, and listened to our story became kind of obsessed with what we are doing,” de Vink says. “They would end up bringing the wine they bought to chefs and restaurants. These people are really like our ambassadors.” “For me, it’s fun in Virginia, especially, because every vintage brings a different story,” he says. “It’s fun to go back and talk about that, taste that, and believe that every year we’re going to make the best we can and an expression of that vintage and of that site.” Wine club membership supports World Central Kitchen, a non-profit that feeds mil-

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4 bedrooms, 5 full baths, indoor pool, 25 acres. Licensed Real Estate Agent in VA 540.227.5052

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lions in need. This year alone, RdV has raised over $50,000 for the cause. Beyond the vineyard’s visitors and wine club members, de Vink believes success is about giving Virginia’s wine the exposure it deserves. “For me, I used to think of Virginia as a challenge, but we’ve now erased that challenge … I keep pushing not just RdV wine, but the Virginia wine market also,” de Vink says. “We need to play at that high end. It sounds very conceited, but it’s the same with cuisine. With everything in that, if you play in the luxury market, everything falls into place.” While RdV is certainly already there, de Vink and Grainer plan to keep refining their excellence in winemaking as they celebrate the release of their 10th anniversary vintage. “We are releasing our 10th anniversary vintage and we are still learning every year,” de Vink says. “The cool thing about working here is there is always that question of ‘What can we do a little better?’” Grainer says. “For the grander scope, we want to take RdV to be recognized as a world-class wine, proudly representing Virginia. Virginia is on the map, but we plan to take it higher.” ML Learn more by visiting rdvvineyards.com.

From scenic vistas to small town vibes, reconnect with what you love this summer on a road trip to beautiful, historic Winchester, Virginia.

Find road trip inspirations, self-guided tours, and up-to-date visitor information at:

VisitWinchesterVA.com | 877-871-1326

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Three Fox Vineyards: New Owners Share Their Vision For the Future Written by Heidi Baumstark | Photos by Jennifer Gray

blend of old and new. That’s one way to describe Three Fox Vineyards in Delaplane. The new owners, Tim and Emily Faltemier, are busy implementing cool, hip plans — and adding a brewery to boot. In June 2020, this young, professional couple in their late 30s purchased Three Fox Vineyards from original owners, John and Holli Todhunter, who planted the first vines in 2002. Under the parent company of Three Fox Farm LLC, Three Fox Vineyards remains at the same location along with the addition of Three Fox Farm Brewery. “My wife and I love Napa Valley and would go with friends to wineries and spend relaxing afternoons picnicking,” Tim said. “We had been looking for about three years for a place like this. And with a 10-year-old and an eight-year-old, we wanted to create a place where we could bring our kids and dog.” And they aren’t alone. They knew other families were scoping out places that welcomed their whole crew:

a place to come, relax, and watch their kids enjoy a pleasant afternoon in the Virginia countryside. With Three Fox, they nailed it. “Emily is a physician in Centreville, Virginia and I’m a government contract worker,” Tim said. “We were co-owners/investors in a brewery in Northern Virginia and loved the atmosphere; we’d go there on weekends. We gained so much knowledge as investors and found Virginia could have a great beer-following cult.” Their goal is to create world-class products. “Playing with wine and beer was very interesting to us,” he said, adding that they saw other Virginia wineries offering both. But they still wanted to retain and honor the vineyard tradition started by the Todhunters with the vines they planted almost 20 years ago. “People want to get away,” Tim said. And here, they can. In the heart of Virginia’s hunt and horse country, Three Fox has 15 acres of vines on 50 acres of rolling hillside property in north-

Tim and Emily Faltemier.

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western Fauquier County. It is one of 26 wineries and vineyards in the Fauquier Wine Trail, running through the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. When guests drive up the gravel path, they are greeted by a trio of statue foxes. While searching for properties in 2001, Holli spotted three furry foxes running on a grassy hill. And the vineyard’s name was born. After soil testing, the Todhunters realized Italian varietals could be grown successfully. After vines were planted in 2002, the Todhunters opened their tasting room in 2004. Three Fox retains its Italian focus, which matches Emily’s Italian roots. The vineyard is planted with estate varietals such as nebbiolo, sangiovese, pinot grigio, viognier, cabernet Franc, and merlot, and in the coming years, more. They also purchase grapes from other Virginia vineyards. What about the hops for beer? Vineyard | Page 23

Vineyard | From page 22 Well, they’ve already been planted. “That’s the first thing we did,” Tim said. With COVID, they opened an outdoor tent over the summer. In October, they are building their brewery onsite, and in November, will be offering beer. A large open-air pavilion is in the works to host parties, showers, weddings, and corporate events allowing for four-season capability. “We’ve gotten a lot of help from friends and family and expect it to be completed by December,” he said. Richard Thompson is their creative winemaker and brewer. “Richard wants to use the wild raspberries growing on our property and add it in the beer-making process, which is great to experiment with, since beer doesn’t take long, and you can make small batches,” Tim said. “If one doesn’t turn out, we can adjust as we go along.” In spring 2021, they will plant grains such as wheat and barley. They want their products to be cutting edge, using new techniques. “We’re not afraid to experiment,” Tim said. “I’m an engineer, so I like trying new things. With wines, we can try different types of barrels, grapes, and equipment. We want to keep it fresh and offer the best quality. We’re excited to implement new changes but are respectful of the winery’s original roots.” Guests are free to bring their own picnic or purchase the light fare available for purchase. Guests have plenty of options for sitting — the vineyard’s picnic areas, which include a large meadow, hillside tables, patios (tented/heated in winter), or one of the creekside picnic tables. They even offer cornhole/ bean bag tosses and have grass bocce courts. The vineyard invites guests to join their cellar club where membership has its perks. Members get exclusive access to the vineyard during quarterly wine pickup parties and receive 10 percent off all purchases — plus, free tastings at every visit. By combining their passion for life and sipping on wine and beer in a relaxed family setting, the Faltemiers offer a healthy dose of “La Dolce Vita” (“the sweet life” in Italian) right in the Virginia Piedmont. ML

“With COVID, they opened an outdoor tent over the summer. In October, they are building their brewery onsite, and in November, will be offering beer. A large open-air pavilion is in the works to host parties, showers, weddings, and corporate events allowing for four- Baumstark season capability.”

The winery is located at 10100 Three Fox Lane, Delaplane. For details, call 540-364-6073 or visit threefoxvineyards.com. Top: Creek at Three Fox Vineyards. Bottom: Tim and Emily Faltemier.

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John Coles 540-270- 0094 Rebecca Poston 540-771-7520 Specializing in Large Land Holdings

Heronwood

501 Acres $19,500,000 Upperville – Private 18 hole golf course built to USGA standards. 2 world class stables, 45 stalls, arena, 28 fenced paddocks. 500+ spectacular acres with Blue Ridge Mountain views. Convenient to Dulles International Airport, Reagan National Airport and Washington, D.C.

Muster Lane

108 Acres $6,950,000 The Plains – This stately and historic estate with its grand rooms is in prime Orange County Hunt territory, minutes to Middleburg. It also features a pool and pool house, 5 bay garage with office, 2 tenant houses, newly remodeled 11 stall center aisle stable with apt. & office, riding arena and exceptional ride-out to wooded trails and open pastures.

Sweet Bay Farm

127 Acres $6,800,000 The Plains – Exquisite estate features the custom designed residence built in 2004 with first floor master suite. To the right of the home, a relocated bank barn, ca. 1795 serves as a 2 bedroom guest house and pool house. To the left of the home there is a 3 bedroom caretaker cottage with garage. Horse facilities include a 7 stall stable, board fenced paddocks and fields. 2 ponds. Orange County Hunt Territory.

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Chilly Bleak

37 Acres $3,299,000 Middleburg – A gracious stone manor conveniently located on 37 private acres just 2 miles from Middleburg. Historic property has been meticulously renovated with luxury finishes and tasteful upgrades throughout. 4 BR / 4 ½ BA. Formal dining room, large garden/family room with stone floor, Ballroom, Chef’s kitchen, library, 6 fireplaces. Charming guest house, pool, 2 barns. Large exercise/art studio. Dressage arena and grass jumping arena. Gardens, ponds and views. OCH hunt territory.

During this difficult time in our country Th remain open and we continue to show pr Being familiar with working remote we will continue to provide the highest This rural life has neve

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152 Acres $3,250,000 Marshall – This horse farm features beautiful open gently rolling pastures and fields in prime Orange County Hunt Territory. The historic fieldstone home dates to 1820 with later additions creating a 5 BR / 5 BA home with stone terrace and pool. Two Stables - 15 stalls and 6 stalls, Kraft Walker, 8 paddocks, 6 fields, 3 cottages. The home is perfectly sited for privacy with easy access to I-66 and Rt. 50. VOF Easement. Shared listing with Sotheby’s.

Holly Hill

Hill Crest

153 Acres $1,990,170 Delaplane – This beautiful parcel is located in prime Virginia Wine Country and is in Piedmont Hunt Territory. Surrounded by magnificent views, this gently rolling land offers over half of the property cleared and the remaining in forestry. This property is protected by an Easement with Fauquier County, which allows the purchaser to purchase 78 Acres in lieu of the entire 153 Acre Parcel, please call the listing agent for details. Convenient to Upperville, Middleburg and Marshall, this location also offers easy access to I66.

Stone Haven

158 Acres $1,695,000 Woodville – In pristine Rappahannock County, Stonehaven offers a picturesque and tranquil retreat. Sited at the end of the private drive is the historic Stone residence, c.1791 with additional stone cottage for guests or office and tucked into the woods, beyond the home, is a charming and beautifully restored 2 bedroom log cabin. Gardens, lawn, barns, paddocks and tremendous ride out potential provide an outdoor haven.

Spring Valley

130+ Acres $1,690,000 Delaplane – Escape the hectic city lifestyle, this 1800’s farm house is private while also being conveniently located to Route 17 and I-66. This farm has mountain and pastoral views. Easy access to hiking trails including the Appalachian Trail and Sky Meadows State Park. Recently renovated with high end finishes, Aga stove, Copper clad windows, new electrical and plumbing systems, new HVAC, new septic and generator. Also on the property is a historic log cabin, stone dairy barn with an apartment, recently been partially renovated.

Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.

m i d d l e b u r gAlll Pages ife.com • OCTOBER 2020 2409-22_ML_JohnColes-DT.indd

John Coles 540-270- 0094 Rebecca Poston 540-771-7520

NE W

Specializing in Large Land Holdings

Deerfield Farm

463+ Acres $4,589,000 Front Royal – Beautiful land-Great location and Incredible mountain views!!! Close to the Clarke County/Warren County Line this property features large open fields beautifully maintained in an area of large estates. Fenced paddocks with run-in sheds provide a home to 70+ horses. Residences include the historic 3 BR / 2 BA stone residence which dates from 1792 and a 2 bedroom tenant house. Convenient to Interstate 66, Interstate 81, Route 50 and within 15 minutes of the Winchester Regional Airport.

Windsor Farm

115 Acres $4,500,000 Upperville – Windsor Farm is an extraordinary horse property specializing in the training of Grand Prix horses. The elegant Manor House dates to the 1700’s and has been expanded through the years to create the current gracious home with formal gardens and expansive views. In addition to the main home, the estate includes 3 tenant houses, and 3 apartments.

ll who’ve been adversely global pandemic.

homas & Talbot Real Estate’s virtual doors roperties with social distancing in mind. ely, given the nature of our business, t service and support in Hunt Country. er been more desirable.

181 Acres $4,500,000 Upperville – Gracious Hunt Country Estate with and impeccably restored brick manor house, ca. 1844, perennial gardens and orchard, guest house with theatre, guest/pool house, pool, 2 tenant houses, 5 bay garage, workshop, 2 ponds, high elevation with fenced fields and paddocks. Additional 40 acre parcel, with equestrian facilities and manager’s house available separately.

White Oak Level

Spring Hill

Mountville

145+ Acres $2,465,250 Middleburg – Sought after location on Mountville Rd. near Foxcroft School. Several home sites with wonderful views and vistas yet extremely private, half wooded and half pasture with over 2,000’ of Goose Creek frontage. Minutes from Middleburg with easy access to Dulles International Airport & Washington DC. Middleburg Hunt Territory.

O’Bannon Land

50 Acres $995,000 The Plains – This parcel of land has a perfect building site for your country get away. Conveniently located between I-66 and route 17. The well maintained trails that surround the property make for a great potential ride out. The gently rolling hills offer numerous building sites with amazing views. There is an existing home with a tenant; please do not drive up to the home. The land is in Land Use but not in Easement. Cannot be divided.

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20 Acres $2,250,000 The Plains – Spring Hill Farm offers a charming setting for its main residence, accessory dwelling and it’s office/gathering house, with stone walls, gardens, pastures, pond and pool. Below the guesthouse is a 4 stall stable with it’s own parking area and driveway. The original 1870 log cabin was expanded several times creating a very welcoming home. This farm and its prime location, halfway between Middleburg and The Plains, provides the perfect way to social distance while being able to keep family and friends close.

Delaplane Grade

49 Acres $875,000 Delaplane – This parcel features beautiful rolling land in prime wine and horse country. Piedmont Hunt Territory. Fronting on Delaplane Grade Road and identified as Lot 2, it offers a 70’ private access and utility easement to Lot 1, which sets east of this parcel. Lot 2 has a portion of the property subject to building restrictions; however, the remainder of the land sits high with Blue Ridge Mountain views providing gorgeous home site potential.

O’Bannon Land

48 Acres $775,000 The Plains – This parcel of land has the potential for an outstanding building site. Situated between route 17 and I-66, while offering privacy as well as easy access to Marshall, The Plains and Warrenton VA. Gently rolling hills offer privacy in every direction. With the gradual elevation of 590-650, possibly for vineyards, this open land offers several potential home building sites and includes a Certification Letter for a 4 BR septic. This property is not in conservation easement and has the potential for a subdivision of 3 lots.

Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.

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Six Breweries To Try This Fall FROM SMALL TOWN SPOTS TO SPACIOUS FARM BREWERIES Written by Shayda Windle

orthern Virginia is home to some of the finest and most innovative breweries in the country. From locally sourced seasonal ales to farm-fresh food trucks and breathtaking views of fall foliage, these six breweries have managed to stay afloat through COVID-19 with social distancing in place. Here are six local breweries offering something different, waiting for you to explore this fall. Old Ox Brewery Middleburg, Va. Old Ox, a family-owned and operated commercial brewery, began its operations in Ashburn offering a manufacturing capacity for a 30-barrel brew house. In 2019, the family took a leap of faith and opened a location in Middleburg. “Prior to Old Ox opening in Middleburg, there wasn’t a brewery within ten miles of this town, so we took our chance and opened

our second location here,” owner Chris Burns says. The Middleburg location features 12 taps in its tasting room, a full kitchen, beer garden, and five-barrel brew house building. During COVID, the brewery’s online shop allowed customers to purchase brews, food, and merchandise (including hand sanitizer) for curbside pickup and home delivery. The tasting room reopened in June with socially distant seating, both inside and out. You can find Old Ox beer on draft in many restaurants and on the shelves of stores in Northern Virginia, D.C., and Maryland. Old Ox Brewery is located at 4 S. Madison St., Middleburg, Va. Belly Love Brewing Company Purcellville, Va. Belly Love Brewing company is the brainchild of Loudoun County native Tolga Baki. “I thought Purcellville could use a

Photos courtesy of Dirt Farm Brewing.

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comfortable gathering place to share my hand-crafted beers and tasty bites that every belly loves,” he said. Belly Love boasts just the right amount of indoor and outdoor patio seating with two comfortable lounges for a cozy retro-industrial feel. They offer a mix of unique ales and lagers, including gluten-free beers, so there’s always something new to choose from. The seasonal beer is a double IPA called flying unicorn crotch kick, which is on tap twice per year. Today, Belly Love is operating under Phase 3 guidelines with social distancing restrictions in place. “We understand that food is an integral part of the brewery experience, so we’re allowing customers to bring in their own food for a limited time,” Baki said. The brewery has also expanded their services, so customers may purchase their favorite brews online Breweries | Page 27

Breweries | From page 26 for pickup. Belly Love Brewing Company is located at 725 E. Main St., Purcellville, Va. Dirt Farm Brewing Bluemont, Va. Dirt Farm Brewing offers stunning views overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and the finest selection of “plow-to-pint craft beers.” From the award-winning honey helles brew, a German-style lager with a touch of local honey, to their tart-31 cherry beer, there’s a little something for everyone. The pumpkin ale is a must try seasonal ale made with locally grown pumpkins. Using over 200 pounds of pumpkins per batch, this labor of love is an authentic “plow to pint” pumpkin ale. In addition to craft beers, Dirt Farm offers a diverse menu with a variety of locally sourced ingredients, including Korean pork lettuce wraps and steak tacos created by an in-house chef on location. The brewery is both dog and kid-friendly, and there is plenty of space for everyone to spread out. Dirt Farm Brewing is located at 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, Va. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery Lucketts, Va. When Jonathan Staples launched Black Hops Farm in 2014, his goal was to provide local hops to Virginia’s thriving alcohol industry in order to support both the beverage industry and local agriculture. Vanish is a 63acre, family-owned farm-brewery known for good beer, and a “family friendly” laid-back vibe. Using local ingredients, Vanish Farmwoods focuses on beer that is plant-to-pint and seed-to-sip, with up to 20 beers on tap at a time. The taps include a variety of IPA’s, stouts, and hard seltzers. The brewery hosts food trucks throughout the week. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery is located at 42245 Black Hops Lane, Leesburg, Va. Powers Farm Brewery Midland, Va. When husband and wife team Melody and Kevin Powers purchased a Fauquier county farm in 2012, their goal was to use the land for a community supported agriculture program. A few years later, they decided to expand their CSA and began farming hops, which eventually led to their opening of Powers Farm Brewery. Powers Farm is not your typical brew-

ery. Grains are milled the day of brewing and mashed in by hand. “Our brewing process provides a different way to appreciate the flavor and quality of the plants grown on our farm,” Melody said. “We brew a new recipe weekly and our lineup is constantly rotating, usually turning over completely every two months or so.” Customers are welcome to lounge outside at picnic tables and play corn hole while they’re sipping brews, or meander the farm to pick up heirloom tomatoes, hops, corn, and fresh duck eggs. The brewery also hosts a wide range of local food trucks every week. Powers Farm Brewery is located at 9269 Redemption Way, Midland, Va. Winchester Brew Works Winchester, Va. Winchester Brew Works was started by a group of friends whose love for beer and the community led them to open their own brewery. “It took the better part of two years to locate the perfect piece of property in Winchester, obtain funding, do the buildout, order equipment, and get our brews ready for serving before having our grand opening on May 7, 2016,” said Holly Redding and Bonnie Landy, owners of Winchester Brew Works. Since its opening, Winchester Brew Works has been voted the best brewery in Winchester every year following. Customer favorites include overlook double IPA, a hazy double IPA made with a “crazy amount galaxy hops,” the Mexican hot chocolate stout, which incorporates mixture of marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, vanilla, and the seven bends seltzer, a refreshing, low-gluten hard seltzer with blueberry and vanilla flavors. When Redding and Landy realized COVID would impact the brewery, they improved their online store. “We’ve had great success and managed to stay afloat with online beer orders, delivery options, and curbside pickup,” they said. “Looks like online ordering will be here to stay, despite the fact that our tasting room and patio reopened a few months ago when Virginia moved to phase 3.” Winchester Brew Works is located at 320 N. Cameron St., Winchester, Va. With such an array of brews, views, food, and innovative social distancing practices in place at these local breweries, you are sure to find something that’s just your taste this fall. ML

Top: Photo courtesy of Powers Farm Brewery. Second: Photo of Old Ox Brewery by Jennifer Gray. Third: Photo courtesy of Winchester Brew Works. Bottom: Photo courtesy of Dirt Farm Brewing.

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Gracious Georgian Manor home, 11,000 sf, built in 1930 | Updated and suitable for large scale entertaining | 7 BR, 7 1/2 BA, 7 FP | High ceilings, formal gardens & private setting | Belmont style stable w/30 stalls and 2 apartments | 4 BR guest house/entertainment complex, 4-car garage w/office | 4 restored tenant houses, skeet range, pool & tennis court | 167.59 acres mostly open & rolling with bold mountain views and large spring-fed pond | Also available with 241 acres for $8,500,000

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296 acres of farmland off the Atoka Road | Working farm in crops and hay and improved with multiple large farm buildings and 3 cottages | Beautiful building site for a main house if desired | Conservation easement allows for 1 division and permits construction of an indoor area and additional equestrian and farm buildings | Mix of open land, creeks, pond, woods, pasture, crops and rolling topography

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French Country home, with renovations in 1999 $4,950,000 & 2017$6,500,000 | 4 BR, 5 full & 2 halfHelen BA,MacMahon 5 FP, hardwood 540.454.1930 Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905 floors, flagstone terrace | Beautiful drive to hilltop stetting overlooking pond, lake & mountains | Improvements include pool, 2-car garage, 2 BR guest house & apartment | Lovely boxwood gardens | Kitchen allowance to be provided | 79.89 acres

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Solid stone home c. 1790 expanded to 5 BR | First floor master suite and large family room additions | 9 FP, antique floors and millwork | Extensive outdoor living spaces, large pool and terrace, multiple outbuildings | 2 car barns used to garage 20+ cars | Accommodates large scale entertaining

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PHILOMONT, VIRGINIA

Private setting in prime equestrian area | Main house completely redone | Three finished levels w/soaring ceilings, lots of glass, mountain views & frontage on Beaver Dam Creek | 5 BR, 4 1/2 BA, 2 FP, gourmet kitchen & exercise room | New rear deck overlooks garden & pool | Improvements include 2,400 sq.ft. guest house w/ 3-car garage, 2 run-in sheds | Property is fenced and cross fenced on 25.73 acres

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181 acres | Brick manor house c. 1844 | 4 bedrooms, lovely kitchen, multiple porches, pine floors, 7 fireplaces, original mantels, large windows, detailed millwork | c. 1810 log cabin/pool house, guest house with theater, 2 tenant houses, 5-bay garage and workshop | Sizable pond | Additional 40 acres with equestrian facility available

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Experience unparalleled privacy on this exceptional Fauquier property along the Rappahannock River | 203 immaculately maintained acres w/ approximately 1 mile river frontage | 1 acre stocked pond | Elegant stone & clapboard house | 5 BR, 4 full & 3 half baths, gourmet kitchen, spacious great room | Gunnite pool w/stunning views of Blue Ridge Mountains | Old Dominion Hunt | 5 stall Jim-Fletcher built barn | Residence set back 1/2 mile from road | VOF easement.

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Lovely brick home on hilltop setting, completely redone by current owners | Wood floors, high ceilings, lots of light | 6 BR, 5 1/2 BA, 5 FP, sweeping stair case in foyer | Basement level finished for family enjoyment w/ media room, office, gym, billiard room, full bar w/ kitchenette, full bath & outside entrance leading to pool and spa | Improvements include 3-car garage, heated 4-car garage w/car lift | Potting shed/studio w/ attached heated green house | 20 car barn for serious collector | Swimming pool with spa | 5-stall barn | Property fenced and cross fenced | 68.23 acres

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HILLCREST UPPERVILLE, VIRGINIA

Spectacular hilltop setting, bold mountain views and Paris valley views | Home updated in 2017 | 4 BR, 4 BA, 3 FP, gourmet kitchen, vaulted ceilings, skylights, lovely gardens, walkways and terrace | Improvements include in ground pool with spa | 2 stall barn with tack room, room for horses, spring fed pond | 13.37 acres next to parkland surrounded by large estates

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A remarkable property located within a private 4 CHINN LANE SADDLE RIDGE 1 enclave just minutes from town | ALDIE, StoneVIRGINIA and stucco MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA Nestled high on the Bull Run Mountain manor house with level master suite | 7 w/ a Impressive and elegant home | Main level mastermain suite commanding eastern view | Winter views from Sugarloaf opens to large blue stone terrace & private garden additional BR | 5| Stunning stone FP | Beautiful gardens, Mountain in Maryland to Centreville, VA | 10.3 acres in a | Gorgeous finishes throughout the home true nature preserve | Wildlife abounds, lovely plantings, living room opens to the dining room & apool, wall terraces, salt water cabana, carriage house & kitchen gardens | House completely updated & enlarged of windows and french doors | 2 wood burning | 4 BR, 4 BA (jacuzzi in tub on main level and master stable with 2 paddocks | Lovely finishes throughout fireplaces, new roof, new siding and updated kitchen bath), wood floors, stone FP, gourmet kitchen, terrace | and baths, lots of storage | Absolutely turn key | 2 car & sweeping lawn to private2ndtrails tosuite, Goose Creek | and floor master basement apt. | 3- car carport garage and greenhouse 3-bay garage | Easy access to Dulles | Property serviced by 31$1,295,000 acres | Private, elegant & convenient Fios | Private but close to everything Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

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17 acres of rolling pasture land in the village ALDIE SPRINGS THE ICE HOUSE of Rectortown | Convenient toMIDDLEBURG, both Routes 50 ALDIE, VIRGINIA VIRGINIA & 66 Newly setting with Charming home|with 3 bedrooms,renovated 2 full BA & 2 half | Private Super compact sweet cottage in the village of BA, FP with insert in family room | Rear deck for Middleburg | 2 bedrooms and 1 bath | Open first mountain | 4 living bedrooms, outdoor magnificent entertaining & front porch add to the charmviews floor studio | Nice back yard is very private | | Attached 2-car garage | Large1Morton for 2 fireplaces Surrounded by |mature boxwoods | A jewel box 4 full bath, halfbuilding bath, Heated storage, workshop or more garage space | 28.34 mostly $310,000 pool spasprings | 2& creek bedroom guest house | wooded & private acres,& multiple plus Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930 waterfall | Trails throughout, hunters paradise | Large shed & 2-car garage Minutes to Route 50 and Route 15 | Property has Fios

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Remembering Marion “Joe” Smoak JULY 8, 1916 – MAY 4, 2020 Written by Dulcy B. Hooper

o do justice to the life of Marion “Joe” Smoak would take a book . . . or two. As described by his daughter, Mary Frances Walde, Joe Smoak was “. . . a South Carolinian, a Citadel graduate and Regimental Commander of the class of 1938, a World War II veteran, a member of the ‘Greatest Generation,’ a teacher at West Point, a master paratrooper, polo player, horse show rider, and tennis player.” He was a lawyer and an ambassador, and the list goes on. Smoak grew up in Aiken, South Carolina, where he rode horses and played polo and tennis. After graduating from The Citadel in Charleston and completing law school at the University of South Carolina, Smoak was commissioned into the U.S. Army. He served as staff judge advocate of the 11th and 82nd Airborne Divisions and the Berlin Command, Germany, as well as in the Department of the Army’s International Affairs Division. “During World War II, my father was on the first troop convoy that went into the South Pacific,” Walde said. “He was a tennis player and took his tennis racket with him. He was photographed getting off the troop carrier and was featured on the cover of Stars

and Stripes with the caption, ‘Soldier goes to war with gun and tennis racket.’” He was in Berlin a few years after the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics, and many of the Olympic horses were there, along with the German riding instructors. He rode under the German riding instructors and participated in many horse shoes while there. “He was to leave Berlin and return to the United States on the same day he rode in a horse show,” Walde said. “He left the horse show and went straight to the plane, wearing his riding breeches and boots. The horse showed the military uniform jacket over the breeches and boots.” Smoak returned to the United States and began his career as an instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, teaching law to cadets. There, he hunted with the Millbrook Hunt and played polo in Central Park. It was during his time at West Point when Smoak acquired the moniker “Smokey Joe” because of his skill as a horseman. When Smoak retired from the Army, he returned to Aiken to practice law and, at the urging of friends, became involved in state politics and was elected as a member of South

Above: Marion “Joe” Smoak with Big Foot at Paper Chase Farm.

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OCTOBER 2020

Carolina’s Senate. Upon completing his term, Smoak went on to the state department, serving as deputy chief of protocol and chief of protocol, where he participated in numerous significant events. When he retired from the state department, he was given the title of ambassador. The Smoak family remained in D.C., where Ambassador Smoak continued to be active in politics and later went on to practice international law at Shipley, Smoak, and Henry. During those years, Smoak spent a great deal of time in the Middleburg area and hunted with Piedmont Foxhounds. Juliet Graham, well-known local equestrian, kept Smoak’s horse, Harold, for several years. “Joe Smoak was truly one of the kindest, easiest guys to get to know,” she said. “He would come out once or twice a week to ride Harold, and he was well into his 70s then.” Graham, who hunted with Piedmont Foxhounds for many years and continues to teach local eventers and fox hunters, described Harold as “a very large quarter horse Smoak | Page 31

Smoak | From page 30 cross and the strongest horse I have ever hunted. He had just one speed, and he was not an easy horse to ride.” Graham has three world championships and one Olympics Games “under her mane.” “My father was the best dad, mentor, and friend anyone could ever be so lucky to have,” Walde said. “When my husband Bill and I bought a property on Coon Tree Road in The Plains in 2007, we named it Alibi Farm after my father’s farm in South Carolina outside Aiken.” That farm had been named after Smoak’s favorite polo pony, Alibi.” When the Waldes sold Alibi Farm and bought a farm on Landmark School Road, they built a lake named after her father: Lake Marion. According to Walde, her father swore that his secret to a long life was “one martini every evening.” In fact, Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown created a special martini in his honor: “The Ambassador.” After a short illness, Smoak died in Palm Beach on May 4, 2020, just two months shy of his 104th birthday. Smoak’s family includes his late wife, Mary Frances Meister Smoak, children Pat (deceased), Fred, and Mary Frances; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. ML Top left: Marion “Joe” Smoak on handsome Harold at Fairfax Hunt Hunter Trials. Top right: Marion “Joe” Smoak at the races. Bottom: Competing with handsome Harold in local hunter class at Upperville Horse Show.

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Quarantine Brings Artists Together At AiM Written by Shayda Windle | Photos by Joanne Maisano

here’s no doubt this year has presented its challenges to businesses all over the world, nonprofits and corporations alike. Some have succeeded and pushed through the pandemic with innovative ideas and the use of technology, while others have found themselves struggling to get business back into some kind of “new normal.” This month we’re privileged to sit down with Sandy Danielson, executive director of the Artists in Middleburg (AiM), a nonprofit working to provide arts educational opportunities for all, especially the youth, to talk a little bit about how things have changed through the pandemic. “Most of our classes have been free since March,” Danielson says. “It’s been a difficult

time for most. Our goal was and is to inspire, uplift spirits, and invite all to learn, socialize, and have some fun!” AiM has continued reaching out to artists and others about online classes, which Danielson says has “opened doors for many who could not attend classes in the past due to distance, age, or disability.” She plans to continue the online services even after the pandemic. AiM was finally able to re-open their doors to the public with protective measures in place shortly after the town entered into Phase 3 of the reopening guidelines. “I’m incredibly excited to say we have two exhibits taking place in October,” Danielson says. “The first, called ‘Red Rules: The Power

of Color,’ takes place Sept. 19 - Oct. 18, and the second, ‘Always in Season, Landscapes of the Piedmont,’ will be Oct. 24 - Nov. 22.” There are only a few in-person restrictions that visitors must follow. Only two individuals are allowed in at a time, and of course, masks and social distancing are required. AiM will also provide hand sanitizer to anyone before entering the gallery, and names and contact information will be taken and used for contract tracing if needed. Some of the classes available in October through Zoom include equine and animal sculpture with Goksin Carey, introduction to drawing with Steve Myles, and pastel still lifes with Ann Wallace. There is no cost to Artists | Page 35

Photo on left: “Street Tango,” oil on canvas, 36” x 32,” Alan Rubin. Top right: “Red Flag,” acrylic on canvas, 26” x 48,” Matt Pavone. Bottom right: “And Justice for All,” oil, 24” x 30,” Ligia Inra. Photo on right: Sandy Danielson, executive director of the Artists in Middleburg (AiM).

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Artists | From page 34 join most of these classes, but donations are always welcome. Contributions support and strengthen the local arts community by increasing vitality, awareness and appreciation of the arts. Weekly painting classes with J. Douglas, an international award-winning artist, are available for art enthusiasts of all levels. “You can paint, draw, or just watch on your own — it’s up to you,” Danielson says about the Zoom classes. “Douglas paints in oils, but the technique he teaches and will be sharing, you will be able to use acrylic, watercolor, and even charcoal.” An exciting new program, “Art in the Alley,” will highlight a different local artist each weekend, rain or shine. Artists will be on the sidewalk or in the gallery to meet with patrons, some demonstrating their talents, and work will be available for sale. Proceeds from the sale support the ongoing educational

activities at AiM and the artists. While the pandemic has presented its challenges, with the level of support AiM has been able to provide to local youth through educational programs, there have been some silver linings. AiM normally partners with Claude Thompson Elementary in Marshall to supplement their arts education program, and this year, they quickly raised funds to buy art supplies for each student, even with school being virtual. AiM was scheduled to host the annual student art exhibits this spring for Foxcroft, Claude Thompson Elementary, the Middleburg Community Charter School, and the Community Music School of the Piedmont, but the show was cancelled due to COVID-19. Danielson is hopeful it will happen in spring 2021. Either way, AiM will continue to do all they can to support arts education in our area, and we encourage art enthusiasts to visit

theartistsinmiddleburg.org for more information about upcoming classes and events and latest news at AiM. ML

“Big Red 2 (tomato),” oil, 30” x 30,” Karen Merkin.

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AMERICA’S ROUTES 300 MILES OF LIVING MUSEUM Written by Laticia Headings

hen people think about the documentation of history, they often look to old buildings whose structures tell a story, books that recount historical record, and museums that hold artifacts of yesteryear. One less obvious place to consider is the well-travelled thoroughfares that take us to and from in our daily lives – the roads. Loudoun County has one of the largest and oldest intact networks of rural roads in the U.S., many pre-dating America itself. The roads weave together the past and the present, 300 unpaved miles of a “living museum.” Established by Routes | Page 37 Hillsboro fog, photo by Doug Graham.

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“This enterprise isn’t without its struggles. The fight to keep and maintain the roads can often be a monumental challenge. Many people who live on or near the roads would like to see them paved for ease of travel, and elected officials don’t always see the value in preserving dirt thoroughfares. ‘If we lose these roads, we lose the lifestyle that goes along with it – agriculture and farming, foxhunting, for example.’” - Covington

- Aliqum mod

Routes | From page 36

pioneers, these byways shaped the way communities prospered and wars were fought, telling the story of slavery, agriculture, and the automobile. America’s Routes is a non-profit organization that is passionate about preserving Loudoun’s roads and protecting their intrinsic value, but also making sure they perform to modern standards. “We’re not just interested in their look, we pay attention to the roads having fewer pot holes and less dust,” Jane Covington says, Route’s team member and preservationist whose Middleburg-based firm Jane Covington Restoration specializes in the renovation of historic properties. In 1854, Yardley Taylor, an abolitionist and Quaker who lived in Goose Creek, published a highly detailed map of Loudoun’s roads. This snapshot reveals a vast, well-developed grid of roads that supported the local wheat mills. “When he did his map, everything was a crossroad,” Covington says. “All of those abandoned crossroads are still there. The buildings are there. There were more roads in 1854 than there are now. You don’t always see them; they are in people’s fields. You have a double lane of stoned walls and a sunken lane in between and you know that was an old road back then.” When Covington moved to Middleburg over a decade ago, wellknown preservationist Mitch Diamond contacted her. Together, they devised a plan to safeguard the roads as a way to protect two hundred thousand acres of vulnerable land in western Loudoun from development. For them, it was important to preserve the roads from being paved because, ultimately, they are the gateway to expansive development. There was instant synergy in 2016 when Covington and Diamond met journalist and author Danielle Nadler and photojournalist Doug Graham, both of whom were working for Loudoun Now. Nadler and Graham had a joint project of their own in the works, documenting the local roads in

their spare time as a way to celebrate their historical significance. Two missions collided. “Danielle and Doug were interested in the roads,” Covington says. “Mitch and I came at it from the point of land preservation, solely for that purpose. The confluence is a better result. A mixed team is always a stronger team. It’s four areas of expertise working together.” “I have an agenda here and it’s to save this place that I love so much,” Graham says. “We’re attempting to educate people. Telling this story in photos is a way to show folks what they stand to lose if they alter it in any way.” Graham’s photography has received awards throughout the state for being the newspaper photographer of the year and wildlife photographer of the year. Of the 700 miles of public roads in Loudoun’s rural policy area, one third of them are unpaved. In order to bring more attention to the cause, Graham produced a short film called “The Long Road Home.” In 2019, the film (which can be viewed on the Route’s website) won an Emmy and was the regional winner of the Edward R. Murrow award for excellence in video. In addition to Graham’s work, Nadler and Emily Houston, former editor of Horse Times, write fascinating stories about the life that happens on the roads. “The team is amazing,” Covington says. “They tell the stories and take the pictures. They enable the public to understand what we’re doing.” Together, the team has made substantial progress, both politically and publicly. After seven years of research and a tedious application process spearheaded by Covington, America’s Routes – and 300 miles of rural roads - is now eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. This not only elevates the status of the project, but also establishes a platform of common ground and conversation among interested parties.

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Routes | From page 37 This enterprise isn’t without its struggles. The fight to keep and maintain the roads can often be a monumental challenge. Many people who live on or near the roads would like to see them paved for ease of travel, and elected officials don’t always see the value in preserving dirt thoroughfares. “If we lose these roads, we lose the lifestyle that goes along with it – agriculture and farming, foxhunting, for example,” Covington says. The roads aren’t just traveled by cars or pleasure riders on horseback. These charming stretches are well-ridden by enclaves of cycling enthusiasts. City folk flee their urban jungles to spend the day pedaling down gravel lanes that echo a well-storied past, surrounded by the epic beauty afforded to them by nature at its best. All part of the rural experience, unique to this area. For those interested in what Houston calls “travel by gravel,” there is a three-mile self-guided tour available on the website. The Lincoln Loop, an area once known as Goose Creek, has 20 stops that can be walked, biked, driven, or travelled on horseback. It highlights Quaker architecture and Civil War sites with historic surprises along the way. Professionally guided tours are also in the works for Spring 2021. Route’s raises funds through individual donations and fundraisers. Their partner, Loudoun 1725 Gravel Grinder, also gives a portion of the proceeds from their annual event, this year taking place on Oct. 25th. The scenic bike ride ventures past wineries, horse farms, estates, and historical sites. Different points of view will likely continue as development further encroaches into western Loudoun, and America’s Routes will continue to forge on to protect the roads. “The goal is to save the roads into the next century and for the next 300 years,” Covington says. ML For more information, visit americasroutes. com. Top: Team photo – in Lincoln (left to right): journalist Danielle Nadler, editor Emily Houston, photojournalist Doug Graham. Photo by Laticia Headings. Middle: 1853 Yardley Taylor Map, the first detailed map of Loudoun County or any part of Northern Virginia. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress. Bottom: Preservationist Jane Covington with her horse, Pearl. Photo by Laticia Headings.

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Marshall’s No. 18 Schoolhouse PRIOR TO SEGREGATION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AREA SCHOOLS Written by Heidi Baumstark

he old white school still stands. Built in 1887, “Number 18 School” is Fauquier County’s last surviving oneroom schoolhouse. It sits east of the village of Marshall as a memorial of former school days. Number 18 School (also referred to as “No. 18” or “Schoolhouse #18”) served the Marshall community for 77 years from 1887 to 1964. First, for the white community from 1887 until 1910, and then for the Black community from 1910 to 1964. It was built on a one-acre triangular shaped parcel given by Samuel Fisher Shackleford, which was once part of the estate of Eppa Hunton, a Civil War Confederate brigadier general. Today, the property is owned by Fauquier County’s Parks and Recreation Department; before the COVID pandemic, tours were of-

fered inside the school. But now visitors can still visit the beautiful, landscaped demonstration gardens planted and maintained by the Fauquier/Rappahannock Master Gardeners, which is a program offered by the Virginia Cooperative Extension. No. 18 was one of the first one-room schools in northern Fauquier and was part of a network of small schools within walking distance to area students. Typical of oneroom schools, children of all ages shared lessons in a single space with about 10 to 60 students per school year, usually averaging 29 students, with one teacher. In 1997, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. According to the 1997 NRHP form, when Virginia’s statewide public free

school system was established in 1871, Fauquier County had 35 white schools and 16 Black schools. When a new school for white children was built in 1909 (at the location of the current Marshall Community Center and John Marshall Library at 4133-A Rectortown Road) the following year, No. 18 became an ungraded school for Black students who had attended school in Salem Baptist Church in Rosstown, east of Marshall near the railroad tracks. (When Fauquier High School opened in Warrenton in 1963, the Marshall building converted into an elementary school, and later, a junior high school.) Rosstown is an African American community established during the Reconstruction era (1863-1877) and is included in the 99-acre Marshall Schoolhouse | Page 43

Left: Students leaving No. 18 School on the last day, Jan. 31, 1964. Photo courtesy of John T. Toler, Feb. 6, 1964 edition of The Fauquier Democrat. Right: No. 18 School in Marshall, Va. Photo by Jennifer Gray.

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Schoolhouse | From page 42 Historic District; this district was listed in 2007 on the NRHP. On the grounds of No. 18, a Department of Historic Resources metal historical marker titled “Number 18 School” reads: “From the time of its construction in 1887 until 1910, this one-room schoolhouse served local white children. When they moved to a newer school in the nearby village of Marshall in 1910, Number 18 then served African American students until it closed in 1964. Number 18 stands today as a rare example of a once-common schoolhouse type.” Geneva Feemster of Marshall remembers it well. Now 82, she attended the school from 1943 until 1949 for grades one through six. The school was about half a mile from her home. “Other kids who lived on Zulla Road stopped by our house and my mother would let them in to warm their hands,” she says. “Then we’d all walk to school. Our house was sandwiched between two white families and the kids would come out and we played together. It always baffled me that a bus came to get them; I wondered why we didn’t ride a bus. But we never asked why. It was just the way it was.” Feemster remembers about 25 to 30 kids of all different ages in her class. The bell would ring at 3:30 p.m. and they would be dismissed. The last teacher she remembers at No. 18 was Carrie Shorts who taught students church hymns and encouraged her class to go to Sunday school. “Back then, parents and children, we all attended church together,” Feemster says. Fauquier native Karen Hughes White, executive director of Afro-American Historical Association (AAHA) of Fauquier County, located in The Plains, remembers No. 18. She went to school in Morgantown about four miles west of No. 18. “I remember one day we walked from our school to No. 18 for an afternoon visit and to play softball,” White said. Today, she still lives in Fauquier and heads the AAHA, which includes a museum and resource center, so others can learn about the heritage of local African Americans. In the fall of 1949, Feemster attended the Manassas Regional High School for African Americans, commonly referred to as Jennie Dean High School. Originally, this school was the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth that opened in 1894 by founder Jennie Dean (1848-1913), a former slave and Baptist

missionary from Prince William County who dedicated her life to advancing educational opportunities for African Americans. It was a residential institution with dormitories and dining hall in addition to buildings for classrooms and industrial shops. But in 1938, Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier counties purchased the institution and operated it as the Manassas Regional High School. “I went to the Manassas school until they opened William C. Taylor High School in Warrenton in 1952,” Feemster said. It was the first school in Fauquier to serve Blacks in grades seven through twelve; today, it’s Taylor Middle School. After graduating from Taylor in 1956, Feemster got a job in D.C. with the federal government and moved away, but recently moved back to the house in which she was born.

“Other kids who lived on Zulla Road stopped by our house and my mother would let them in to warm their hands,” she says. “Then we’d all walk to school.” — Feemster History on Virginia’s Statewide Schools

The Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868 in Richmond was an assembly of delegates elected by voters to establish the fundamental law of Virginia following the 1861-1865 Civil War. The resulting 1870 Constitution of Virginia brought several changes, including the requirement for creating a statewide system of free public schools with mandatory funding. This led to many of the first public schools built being identified

by an assigned number instead of by name — such as No. 18 School. By the 1930s, larger new schools, including high schools, were being built for white students while African Americans then inherited the one-room schools. Local author and historian John T. Toler wrote an article titled “Education Flourishes at the Number 18 Schoolhouse” for the May 2016 issue of Warrenton Lifestyle magazine. In it, he writes that by 1939, No. 18 was finally electrified. Janitorial chores and carrying in firewood were done by the teacher or students. “We had to make our own fire in the stove to heat the school,” Feemster said. “The boys did that; they carried the wood inside.” Drinking water was brought in from a well nearly a mile away. And toilet facilities were outdoor privies. In 1963, Northwestern Elementary School (named for its location in Fauquier County) opened in Marshall as a segregated school for Blacks in grades one through seven. No. 18 then closed; the last day of school there was on Jan. 31, 1964, and it was the final oneroom school to be consolidated into the new Northwestern Elementary School. County supervisors decided to retain No. 18 as a representative of the era. In February 1964, it was declared a county landmark as “a memorial to the history and progress of public education,” the 1997 NRHP form states. Though a decade earlier on May 17, 1954, the Brown v. Board of Education case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court — in which justices unanimously ruled that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional — integration would not be fully implemented in Virginia, and not in Fauquier County, until 1969. In 1969, Northwestern became integrated and opened to all elementary students in the area. Today, this school is Claude Thompson Elementary School. Preservation of No. 18 began in 1986 when the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors gave permission to the Marshall Regional Historical Society to return the school to its original condition. The most recent restoration occurred in 1997, the year the school was accepted to the NRHP. During its restoration in the late 1990s, methods were undertaken to restore No. 18 back to its original finishes. With the exception of a reconstructed cupola and front steps (duplicated from the original four-byfour stoop), only repairs with similar materials were implemented. A small round sign Schoolhouse | Page 44

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Schoolhouse | From page 43 above the front door is not original; however, a piece of the original sign was found inside the attic and was used to duplicate the original one. An art teacher at Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas repainted the circular sign that now hangs above the front door, which reads “Public School No[.] 18 1887.” Before Marshall, there was Salem. Marshall was originally founded as Salem in 1796 in the northwestern section of Fauquier County, which was established May 1, 1759, a breakoff of Prince William County. It was named after Francis Fauquier, Lt. Governor of the Colony of Virginia, which was at that time, still under British rule; legend says he won the land in a poker game. The earliest building in Marshall is a stone structure dating to 1771 and served as the Upper Carter’s Run Baptist Church (also referred to as the Old Salem Meeting House). It now serves as the 1993-founded Fauquier Heritage and Preservation Foundation and the John Kenneth Gott Library. Many of the buildings in town were con-

structed between 1870 and 1910 due in large part to the influence of the Manassas Gap Railroad. The railroad was constructed by slave labor and came to The Plains by April 1852 and through Salem shortly thereafter. Salem or “Salem Station” became the hub for both passenger travel and the shipping of agricultural products. Produce and livestock from Fauquier farms and neighboring counties were shipped from Marshall to eastern city markets. In 1881, “Marshall” finally replaced Salem as the town’s name, mostly spurred by the U.S. Post Office and concerns with confusion between Salem in Fauquier and Salem in Roanoke County. According to local lore, town citizens gathered in 1881 and selected “Marshall” as the new name in honor of John Marshall, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice who had been a resident at nearby Oak Hill in Delaplane. At the time, the town was not incorporated, so it did not have local government officials. But during a few short years in the 1930s, Marshall was officially incorporated, accord-

ing to the 2017 Marshall Historic Architectural Guide. To this day, Marshall remains unincorporated, and therefore, has no official limits. But it retains its identity as Fauquier’s second largest historic community following Warrenton, which is Fauquier’s largest historic community and serves as the county seat. “Yes … I have a lot of memories of No. 18 — playing in the yard there,” Feemster says. We had recess and got ourselves dirty. Then we’d wipe ourselves off and go back inside.” Hopefully soon the door to No. 18 will open again, welcoming visitors inside to appreciate its history and learn the lessons it continues to teach. ML No. 18 School is located at 7592 E. Main Street, Marshall. Grounds and gardens are open to the public daily from dawn until dusk. Visit fauquiercounty.gov or call 540-422-8570. AAHA is located at 4243 Loudoun Avenue, The Plains. To learn more, visit aahafauquier. org or call 540-253-7488.

MIDDLEBURGLIFE.COM More information, more news, more photos, online. Follow, Follow, share shareand andread readyour yourfavorite favoritestories! stories!Watch WatchThe The Middleburg Life Life TV Monthly Docu-Series, our Middleburg series, subscribe tosubscribe our print to edition, print edition, shop merchandise, and more! shop merchandise, and more!

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A SNAPSHOT OF 2020:

Memories Preserved Through Quilts Written by Chelsea Rose Moore

rom Zoom meetings to temperature monitoring to mandatory masks, it’s no secret that 2020 has been a strange year for us all. During these trying times, Diane Canney, the owner of 50 West Winery and Vineyard, has been working to bring unity and hope to local communities through her COVID-19 U.S. Honor Quilt project. Inspired by “mourning quilts” of past generations, Canney’s quilts serve as a historical record, a memorial to those affected by the virus, and a display of the heroes and faces of COVID. With a goal of making 100 quilts, her slogan is “together we will heal.” Her campaign is apolitical, designed simply to lift up and inspire. She referenced a New York Times article about COVID deaths that resonated with her. “There was a name and a sentence: ‘Joe Smith – loved to tinker with the old Ford,’” she said. “It was a tiny handful of the [COVID] deaths, but it was on the front page of the New York

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Times. It told you that there was a whole person behind the name.” She wants her quilts to tell a similar story. She’s developing a database, with the story behind each quilt square pictured alongside it. “Quilts are the fabric of America,” she said. “I’d like to bring hope to different communities. We are not asking for money; it’s completely just about honoring. It’s kind of a message on fabric.” After a month of collecting quilt panels, she now has over 200. Quilt squares, which are 10” by 10”, have been submitted by a wide range of ages, from 5-year-olds to 95-yearolds. Canney even had a panel submitted by a fireman and his 2-year-old daughter. The quilts will be displayed in an online gallery and as “movable public art.” “When you are sick with COVID, you are isolated,” Canney said. “Even when you die, you can’t have a traditional funeral. There’s a lack of grieving. Who is going to remember

OCTOBER 2020

[them]? They are not just statistics; they are people. We are going to have lots of people who are going to be forgotten.” Caney has contacted schools, nursing homes and quilting associations to get the word out. She’s also been featured through local media, and she’s doing a National Call to Arts. “George Mason’s art department is working on a quilt as a way to thank frontline workers,” she said. “I’ve got nursing homes making them, third graders [and] sixth graders. I’m looking at having these be projects for kids at home. I’ll even give them fabric if they need it. Communities could make their own quilts.” The COVID-19 U.S. Honor Quilt project is sponsored by the Artistic Fuel Foundation in Leesburg, Virginia, and the Loudoun Arts Council. Canney has reached out to the Memories | Page 47

Memories | From page 46 Smithsonian Institution for their support as well. To continue bringing hope to local communities, Canney spelled out the word “hope” in large letters — 8’ tall, 4’ wide and 30’ long — and covered them in quilt squares. The letters were displayed at the Loudoun Arts Film Festival in September. On Oct. 3, they were moved to Alexandria’s Art on the Avenue on Mount Vernon Ave., in front of the Del Ray Artisans Gallery. “I wanted to spell the word hope and take a picture, like ‘hope on a hill,’ ” she said. The images on the letters are designed to serve as a collective memory of the events we have lived through this year. “Strange things like putting the swab up your nose, temperature monitoring, Zoom meetings, everything [done] through a screen,” she said. “The images we all have lived through, the things we might forget about. [We’re] trying to capture those things as a flashcard for what we’ve lived through. It’s a very strange time, and things are so quick

with media, [but] somewhere, people will have these images of how life was.” Canney’s grassroots movement was sparked by her 95-year-old mother, Phyllis Liedtke, who lives in a retirement community in Florida. When Canney called her mother on her 95th birthday, disappointed that she couldn’t celebrate with her in person due to COVID visitation restrictions, her mother encouraged her to do something about it as a birthday gift to her. Liedtke lived through polio, small pox, and major wars, but had never lived through something as strange as the events surrounding COVID-19. She made the first quilt square for her daughter’s project to express her appreciation for medical professionals and frontline workers and honor

those who suffered or died. ML For more details, visit covid19ushonorquilt. org or email information@COVID19USHonorQuilt.org. Submit a photo of your quilt panel through the website for inclusion in the online gallery. Send quilt squares to Loudoun Arts, 215 Depot Ct. SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Va 20175. Attention: Covid-19 Quilt Project. Find submission details online. Quilt squares will be accepted through 2020.

All photos of quilt squares provided by Diane Canney.

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The Big Book Sale is Back! October 16, 17 & 18 Titles 10am - 4pm Many Only $5! Check & Credit Card Only • Masks Required For More Information Visit: NationalSporting.org

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THOMAS & TALBOT REAL ESTATE Opening the door to Hunt Country for generations Our hearts go out to all who have been adversely impacted by the global pandemic. During this difficult time, Thomas & Talbot Real Estate’s virtual doors remain open and we continue to show properties with social distancing in mind. Being familiar with working remotely, given the nature of our business, we will continue to provide the highest service and support in Hunt Country. This rural life has never been more desirable.

D VE E O PR IC M PR

Rock Ridge 94+ Acres $3,674,999 The Plains – French Country stone manor with magnificent views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 5 BR / 6 BA. 5 fireplaces. 1st floor luxury Suite. Great Room opens to the terrace, formal Living and Dining, gourmet Kitchen and paneled Library. Lower Level with Rec Room/Office and Fitness Room. 2 guest houses. 22-stall center aisle barn, fenced paddocks and riding ring. Easy access to I-66 & Dulles Airport. Cricket Bedford | 540-229-3201

Holly Hill 37+ Acres $3,299,000 Middleburg – Historic stone manor has been renovated with luxury finishes and tasteful upgrades. 4 BR, 4 ½ BAs. Primary suite with rooftop deck, 2 BAs, library. Formal dining room, large family room with stone floor. 6 fireplaces. Chef’s kitchen with Carrera marble and Lacanche range. Beautiful gardens. Guest house. 2 ponds. 2 barns. Dressage and jumping arenas. On 3 parcels. Conservation easement potential. John Coles 540-270-0094 | Emily Ristau 540-454-9083

Moreland Farm 142 Acres $1,600,000 Delaplane/Marshall – Spectacular Views! Approx. 250 acres available in 2 parcels. The primary parcel of 142 acres features the 3/BR, 3/BA stone home, 2 tenant homes, barn and 5 bay machine shed for $1,600,000. The secondary parcel of 107 acres offers a 2 BR tenant home and potential to build a primary dwelling for $826,000. Rebecca Poston | 540-771-7520

Treetops 14+ Acres $1,350,000 The Plains – Renovated with beautiful views! The farm has acres of fenced pasture and mature woodlands. 3 BRs/2.5 BAs with an open kitchen and eat-in area, living room with builtins, bay window and fireplace. Upper level suite with luxury bath. A 4-stall center aisle barn with a heated tack room, a storage shed and fenced paddocks. Great ride out, OCH territory. Easy access to I-66, Rt 50 and Dulles Airport. Cricket Bedford 540-229-3201

Fox Flight 5+ Acres $899,000 Marshall – Located just outside the village Orlean, charming c. 1840’s 2 BR/ 2 BA home with mountain views. Lovingly updated. Features state-of-the-art kitchen, baths and unique interior with custom painted ceilings, decorative columns and 4 fireplaces. Extensive garden, koi pond and fountain. Other features include a vegetable garden, fire pit and a barn converted into a separate Studio. Detached garage, potting shed and outdoor shower complete the property. Cricket Bedford | 540-229-3201

17+ Acres $795,000 Berryville – A stunning custom 3 bedroom, 4 bath residence is ideally sited on 17+ park-like acres in a gorgeous treed setting. Manicured grounds & brilliant gardens surround this open & sun filled home with beamed vaulted ceilings, cypress wood floors, 2 fireplaces & a gourmet kitchen. A separate in-law apt. a fabulous enclosed porch, extensive decks and a workshop are featured, all in pristine condition! Mary Ann McGowan | 540-270-1124

Parshall a Road

Madison & Federal

Clark House

REDUCED $699,000 Middleburg – One commercial building that appears like two, which are adjoined on the corner of Madison & Federal Streets. 4 separate entrances. Zoned for mixed use with Retail & Office spaces. This building includes 7 rare parking spaces off Federal Street! Long time, active retail business in one building. Seller desires to rent back. Priced well below appraised value. Zoned C-2. Cricket Bedford | 540-229-3201

900 sf $1,900/mo. 1,100 sf $2,300/mo. Or both $3,800 The Plains – Away from the maddening crowds! Come work in this lovely office space. Wood floors, High ceilings, half bath and kitchenette. Great WiFi. Street and garden views. Walk to post office, coffee shop and popular small restaurants. Historic Clark House, surrounded by a garden with ample parking. Ground maintenance and waste removal included. Wakefield School Neighborhood. Rein du Pont | 540-454-3355

Pickett Street AVAILABLE MID OCTOBER $1,500 mo + electric The Plains – 2 BR, small charming cottage on a quiet street. Newly renovated. New bathroom, updated kitchen, new windows, AC, all hardwood floors. Small garden and back porch. Town water and sewer are included. 1 year minimum. Rein du Pont | 540-454-3355

Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.

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