Slice 2023 Winter

Thursday,

Holiday

Saturday,

Dr.

Robert Baer Dr. Tara Buehler

Dr. James Bota

Dr. Kevin DeHart

Amy Volkmann, PA-C

Dr. Charlene Oldfield

Entrepreneurs inspire

It’s been fun to have a front-row seat for Downtown Smithfield’s latest success story.

At the Times office right across Main Street, we might have been the first to notice the balloons that filled the display windows at the former Laura and Lucy’s Antiques, which had closed in 2020. Something was astir at the 1898 Delk department store building. Our interest was piqued.

Soon after, Jay Hassell called to let me in on his vision for the iconic building, but I had to promise to keep it under wraps for a while. Hamtown Mercantile, a collection of retail vendor spaces, sounded like a terrific concept.

I’d seen it work in bigger cities. Yet the businessman in me reserved judgment on whether it would scale to a small town like Smithfield. Lesson No. 1: Never underestimate Jay and Amber Hassell.

This holiday season, we’ve enjoyed watching shoppers file in and out of the now-open and thriving Mercantile. Better Half, a big supporter of downtown retailers, has become a regular.

Our Phyllis Speidell tells the Hamtown Mercantile story wonderfully in this issue. You’ll also learn more about the Hassells’ inspiring story of family and professional success -- and how they came to settle and invest heavily here in Smithfield. Fun fact: It all started at a Texas Rangers baseball game.

Elsewhere in this issue, Speidell continues her series on Tidewater’s famous ham families. It’s the Gwaltneys’ turn, yet another example of entrepreneurism reaping big rewards.

And to put you in the Christmas spirit if you’re not already there, we met a gentleman in Carrollton who bears a striking resemblance to St. Nick. Read his story on the pages that follow.

We wish our Slice family of readers a merry Christmas and prosperous 2023.

Steve Stewart

NEW AGAIN

Handcrafted wooden American flags are among the many unique items available at Hamtown Mercantile on Main Street in Smithfield.

Santa Claus

A Carrollton man and New Hampshire transplant brings joy to Hampton Roads children.

Where Am I?

Gwaltney Family

Isle of Wight's Gwaltney family was instrumental in the success of two major agri-industries in Smithfield: peanuts and ham.

In History

The Bartlett intersection has long been pivotal in connecting Isle of Wight to the Southside and the Peninsula.

Can you identify the location of our “Where Am I” photo challenge? If you’re right, you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift card.

IsleCares.com is a website hosted by Isle of Wight County providing relevant information and up-to-date county news. Sign up on IsleCares.com to receive the monthly “Isle Cares” e-newsletter.

Want to comment on an experience you’ve had with the county? With the online CARE CARD, citizens can provide feedback on their experiences with county staff and services. Printed cards are also available at county offices. Just fill out the card, drop it off or mail it, and the appropriate staff member will respond to your concerns or questions, or pass along your comments.

NEW TO THE COUNTY?

REFUSE & RECYCLING CENTERS ISLE

Hours: Mon. & Tues.,Thurs. - Sat. 7 am – 7 pm

Sun. 1 pm – 7 pm, closed Wed.

Wrenn’s Mill R&R Center, Smithfield 356.1040

Jones Creek R&R Center, Carrollton 356.1037

Carroll Bridge R&R Center, Windsor 356.1018

Stave Mill R&R Center, Windsor 242.3597

Wrenn’s Mill R&R Center, Smithfield 356.1040

Jones Creek R&R Center, Carrollton 356.1037

Carroll Bridge R&R Center, Windsor 356.1018

The Isle of Wight County Newcomer’s Guide provides all the information those who are new to the area and residents need on county services, recreational opportunities, elected officials, utilities, emergency services, and much more. The guide is available at the county complex or it can be downloaded from the county’s website.

Stave Mill R&R Center, Windsor 242.3597

Carrsville R&R Center, 516.2851

Camptown R&R Center, Franklin 516.2850

Crocker R&R Center, Windsor 356.1026

Walters R&R Center, Carrsville 516.2852

Carrsville R&R Center, 516.2851

Camptown R&R Center, Franklin 516.2850

Crocker R&R Center, Windsor 356.1026

Walters R&R Center, Carrsville 516.2852

REFUSE & RECYCLING CENTERS ISLE OF WIGHT

Hours: Mon. & Tues.,Thurs. - Sat. 7 am – 7 pm

Camptown Park

Sun. 1 pm – 7 pm, closed Wed.

Heritage Park

Wrenn’s Mill R&R Center, Smithfield 356.1040

Jones Creek Boat Ramp

Jones Creek R&R Center, Carrollton 356.1037

Joyner's Bridge Boat Ramp

Carroll Bridge R&R Center, Windsor 356.1018

Nike Park

Stave Mill R&R Center, Windsor 242.3597

Riverview Park

Carrsville R&R Center, 516.2851

Robinson Park

Camptown R&R Center, Franklin 516.2850

Tyler's Beach Boat Ramp, Harbor & Public Beach

Crocker R&R Center, Windsor 356.1026

Fort Boykin Historic Park

Historic Fort Huger

Walters R&R Center, Carrsville 516.2852

Ha y H idays!

Ha y H idays!

Ha y H idays!

Exper t Physicians. Exceptional Care.

Exper t Physicians. Exceptional Care.

Exper t Physicians. Exceptional Care.

At Virginia Oncology Associates, we understand every cancer is unique and so is every patient we treat. Our team of experienced physicians and sta provide advanced care, innovative technology, and personalized treatment options. This includes research and groundbreaking clinical trials taking place right here in Hampton Roads, giving our patients access to therapies not yet available outside of the studies.

At Virginia Oncology Associates, we understand every cancer is unique and so is every patient we treat. Our team of experienced physicians and sta provide advanced care, innovative technology, and personalized treatment options. This includes research and groundbreaking clinical trials taking place right here in Hampton Roads, giving our patients access to therapies not yet available outside of the studies.

At Virginia Oncology Associates, we understand every cancer is unique and so is every patient we treat. Our team of experienced physicians and sta provide advanced care, innovative technology, and personalized treatment options. This includes research and groundbreaking clinical trials taking place right here in Hampton Roads, giving our patients access to therapies not yet available outside of the studies.

Virginia Oncology

Virginia Oncology Associates is an a liate of the US Oncology Network, one of the largest cancer treatment and research networks in the country. This a liation enables us to incorporate the expertise of nearly 1,350 physicians nationwide into our delivery of patient care.

Virginia Oncology Associates is an a liate of the US Oncology Network, one of the largest cancer treatment and research networks in the country. This a liation enables us to incorporate the expertise of nearly 1,350 physicians nationwide into our delivery of patient care.

Virginia Oncology Associates is an a liate of the US Oncology Network, one of the largest cancer treatment and research networks in the country. This a liation enables us to incorporate the expertise of nearly 1,350 physicians nationwide into our delivery of patient care.

(757) 466-8683

(757) 466-8683

(757) 466-8683

5838 Harbour View Blvd., Ste. 105, Suffolk, VA 23435

5838 Harbour View Blvd., Ste. 105, Suffolk, VA 23435 2790 Godwin Blvd., Ste. 101, Suffolk, VA 23434

5838 Harbour View Blvd., Ste. 105, Suffolk, VA 23435 2790 Godwin Blvd., Ste. 101, Suffolk, VA 23434

VirginiaCancer.com

2790 Godwin Blvd., Ste. 101, Suffolk, VA 23434

VirginiaCancer.com

VirginiaCancer.com

Virginia Oncology Associates is part of The US Oncology Network and is supported by McKesson Specialty Health. © 2021 McKesson Specialty Health. All rights reserved.

Virginia Oncology Associates is part of The US Oncology Network and is supported by McKesson Specialty Health. © 2021 McKesson Specialty Health. All rights reserved.

Virginia Oncology Associates is part of The US Oncology Network and is supported by McKesson Specialty Health. © 2021 McKesson Specialty Health. All rights reserved.

Ayham Deeb, MD

Snehal Damle, MD

Daniel Atienza, MD

Ayham Deeb, MD

Snehal Damle, MD

Daniel Atienza, MD

Cynthia Sile, MD

Ayham Deeb, MD

Snehal Damle, MD

Daniel Atienza, MD

Cynthia Sile, MD

Where am I?

In each edition, the Slice staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Isle of Wight and Surry counties you really know. We photograph some location that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is.

If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information, to news@smithfieldtimes.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift card. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy!

Everything Old is New Again at Hamtown Mercantile

With a nod to Peter Allen’s 1970s showtune, “Everything Old is New Again,” the song title captures the inspiration that brought Hamtown Mercantile to Smithfield.

Hamtown Mercantile, owned by Smithfield real estate agents Amber and Jay Hassell, is the newest business to settle in the 1898 George W. Delk Inc. department store on Main Street.

What is a mercantile? Loosely defined as a retail store offering a wide variety of goods, a contemporary mercantile is based on the general stores of generations ago where shoppers could find a tractor part, a pound of coffee, a can of peaches, penny candy, fabric by the yard, a new bucket

intriguing collection of local boutiques that invite browsers as well as focused shoppers to explore gourmet foods, antiques, vintage and contemporary hats, bags and jewelry, women’s and children’s clothing, home décor, craft items and supplies, books and racks of collector-worthy vinyl 33s. Conveniently, there is also a coffee bar, perfect for relaxing while you decide what will go into your shopping bag.

Amber Hassell, a transplanted Texan, said that mercantiles are popular across Texas and she grew up with the concept. When the old Delk building went on the market, her background in real estate convinced her that it could become a perfect mercantile — a community marketplace that leases retail space to merchants, artists and local boutiques at a fraction of what it would cost such vendors to buy or rent their own storefronts.

Jay, originally from Great Bridge and then Smithfield,

Story by Phyllis Speidell Photos by John H. Sheally II

Karen Collier, owner of The Main Gourmet, enjoys stocking her shop with Virginia products and other East Coast specialties.

graduated from Fork Union Military Academy and joined the Marines. Once his service, deployed mostly in Iraq for five years, was over, Hassell came home and joined the Norfolk Police Department. When a friend decided to work in law enforcement in Texas for higher wages and lower cost of living, Hassell followed suit. In 2013, he met Amber, a University of North Texas graduate, and invited her to a Rangers game.

“He sprang for seats right behind home plate,” Amber said. “I am a big Rangers fan, and I knew then he was the right man.”

The two married and put their mutual dream of real estate careers on hold while Jay left law enforcement to manage auto dealerships and Amber was busy with the arrivals of the first two of their four children. When the 24/7 grind of managing a Dallas dealership interfered with family life, Jay quit. He and Amber loaded up their Toyota 4Runner with the two kids and their dog and traveled the West to reconnect and plan their future.

“We thought of going to Hawaii to start a business, but our dog got sick and likely would not have survived the quarantine, so in 2017 we came to Smithfield, where Jay’s parents lived,” Amber said.

Then both Amber and Jay earned their real estate licenses and built a team of 13 agents in their Countryside Real Estate Group.

When the former Delk store closed in 2001 , Trey Gwaltney took over the building, worked to restore its original appearance and opened his Antiques Emporium. He retained Delk’s automated cash-moving system,

Jay and Amber Hassell felt a strong pull to Smithfield, where their latest venture, Hamtown Mercantile, is off to a rousing start.

Not too surprising to find a cheerful pig among the eclectic items in the Hamtown Mercantile boutiques.

the hottest thing in early 1900s department stores. Small wooden cups tracked along a series of wires to move cash from the sales floor to a cashier on the mezzanine. Gwaltney admitted to a fondness for heirlooms that actually worked and kept the cash mover in working condition for special occasions but used an antique brass cash register for everyday transactions.

When the antiques business took a downturn, Gwaltney closed the Emporium to run the family storage business. In 2009, R.K. “Bob” Redlin, a Marine veteran, bought the property to enlarge “Laura and Lucy’s Antiques,” moving the business from a converted residential duplex just down Main Street. The store was popular, but after his wife, Laura, passed away and the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic hit, Redlin closed the 23-yearold business in mid-2020. The Delk building was for sale again.

The Hassells discussed the potential of a mercantile business in the building: Would it work in Smithfield as it had in Texas? Jay met with Redlin to ask a few

questions even though the Hassells were not prepared financially to make an offer.

“We were both Marines and I had noticed, in the store window, a Marine Corps plaque marked ‘not for sale,’ ” Jay said.

Redlin showed him around the building, even to the roof, and then asked, “Do you want to buy this?”

“Then he handed me the key, saying ‘I’ve been waiting for you — we can close when you are able,” Jay said. “And there I was with the key in my hand — super exciting but also scary.”

The Hassells worked eight months to remodel the building while their children romped around in the empty store. They tore out layers of wood paneling and removed a ceiling to reveal the stout rafters above. Redo complete, they were ready to accept applications from small-business owners.

“They would never have to open the doors or close at night,” Jay said. “We handle all the expenses of owning and maintaining a brick-and-mortar, while they continue their lives, working their

full-time jobs, raising their children or simply traveling. The goal is to give them a permanent presence on Main Street.”

Defying their “what if no one applies?” jitters, the couple soon had applications and commitments from 30 small businesses. They also had a happy surprise on opening day when they discovered a wrapped package on the sales counter. As Jay carefully tore open the wrappings, he realized that the gift was the Marine plaque from Bob Redlin with a note of good wishes for their success.

“I put that plaque right back in the window - and it is not for sale,” he said.

There are two anchors in the mercantile – Fuzion’s Salon, stylist and barber for men and women, and Busy Nothings, a Jane Austin-inspired coffee company serving specialty coffees, teas, seasonal beverages and sweet treats.

Heather Isotalo, owner and designer of Sugar’s Pinup Secrets, creates unique activity aprons, ties, scarves and hats. She is delighted to have her seven-year-old business in the mercantile and enjoys chat-

We are looking for Staff & Children!

ting with the shoppers.

Karen Collier, owner of The Main Gourmet, remembered that she opened a copy of “The Joy of Cooking” in her 20s and cooked her way through every recipe. As a “home gourmet chef,” she noticed that Smithfield had some particularly good restaurants but no gourmet grocery.

“I love the idea of an indoor shopping experience like the Mercantile, and in my 300 square feet of space I can fill the shelves with products from Virginia and other East Coast businesses,” Collier said. “In talking with the other business owners here, I can tell you that they agree with me that our experience with the Mercantile has exceeded our expectations.”

Perhaps that’s proof, as the reprise in Allen’s song says, “Dreams can come true – when everything old is new again.”

BOUTIQUES CURRENTLY AT HAMTOWN MERCANTILE

2AM Concepts, Chuck Nash

A Few Suns, Kaitlyn Fuson

Animal Tails, Michele Wallace

Baybugs Boutique, Katie Magette

Buckaroo Furniture, Matt Wilkinson

Busy Nothings LLC, Debbie Carroll

Butterflies and Bling, Leslie Neel

Cement N' Roots, Kat Bell

Country and Coast LLC, Betsy Seward

DaBeachy, Dietrich Beachy

Deb & Dory, Deborah Robinson

Deerfield Records, Jon Hartley

Dixie Belle Book Shop, Melissa Bowmaster

Duke Brines Designs, Maureen Brines

Emma & Jean Studio, Michele Wesdock

Equine Divine, Kate Mearns and Dini Jones

Fuzion Salon, Tracy Lego

Gimme Shelter Attic, Robin Knauth

Glitterfield Designs, Victoria Brisco

Grow Holistic LLC, Jessica Healey

Hannah Page Art, Hannah Page

Gone Fishin', James Hassell (7 years old)

Kenzie & Clay's, MacKenzie Hess & Clay Holloway (10 years old)

Lost at Sea, Minerva Swensen

LuuMarr Naturals, Marianna Latham & Lucianna Petrakos

Maggie Mae Pet Creations, Shelly Koziana

Manda Lynn Designs LLC, Amanda Rooney

Rooted to Renewed, Blaire Portlock

Rooted to Renewed Furniture, Yesena "Nicci" Scherle

Sugars Pinup Secrets, Heather Isotalo

Summerwind Vineyard, Kim Pugh

Tapestri, Robbie Perrotti Younger

The Crafthouse, Tara Stewart

The Main Gourmet, Karen Collier

Van D Camp & Co., Shaun VanCampen

VP Candle Works, Allison and Todd VanPeeren

Nowotny brings joy, cheer to children locally, worldwide as

Santa Claus

Dean Nowotny began believing in Santa Claus during Christmas holidays 64 years ago, when he was just 6 years old.

That’s when he and his older sister, Jane, tip-toed quietly down the long dark stairway night after night, flashlights in hand, to see if the red-suited man had visited their house yet.

They never saw ol’ Saint Nick, but they saw that their colorful stockings were full and presents were wrapped and waiting under the Christmas tree. So, with a sense of awe, wonderment and amazement, two little children began believing that Santa Claus might really be real.

“The proof was under our Christmas tree,” Nowotny said, “just like our parents told us.”

If there was ever any further doubt

about his existence, it evaporated when Dean began seeing Kris Kringle time after time on television.

“We could get WMUR, channel 11, out of Manchester, New Hampshire, on our black-and-white television set,” he said. “It came in very poorly, with the screen rather snowy, which I guess was appropriate. They had a ‘Santa’ show where he would read letters from the kids who sent them in. He never read ours, but it was still exciting.”

As years passed and Nowotny grew older, his interest in Father Christmas, religion and helping others only grew stronger, as he became increasingly attuned to personal spiritual awakenings, lifting him up to what would become lifelong journeys into education, theology, writing, hospice

care, human rights, performing as Santa Clause and raising money to help ill and disadvantaged children in this country and around the world.

“Two Christmases ago when COVID-19 was in full swing, I had to curtail almost all of my in-person visits,” Nowotny said, who turned 70 this fall. “Both my wife and I are in the high-risk categories, so I decided to go beyond Hampton Roads and I contacted children’s hospices, health centers, orphanages, etc.”

Using online video streaming, Nowotny makes virtual courtesy calls to Africa, Australia, Europe, Asia, South America, Caribbean, South Pacific and all across America. One of the first people to respond to his outreach was Sue van der Linde,

founder and chairman of Iris House

Story by Greg Goldfarb Photos by Jen Jaqua

Bryce Bills, 4, tells Santa (Dean Nowotny) that he wants snakes and trains for Christmas.

Children’s Hospice in Cape Town, South Africa. They agreed that Dean would try to raise money for the facility, which helps up to 658 children at a time.

“Some (donors) have already responded and the (Iris House) pump is primed with $350,” he said. “I am positive that when the season is over that I should have a few thousand dollars raised for them.”

Children in hospice care are usually near the end of their lives, said Nowotny, and Iris House offers them and their families much needed moral and emotional support. It provides holistic respite care services in its own hospice building and in the community, as participants are either picked up to receive daycare or a caregiver is sent to their home for six hours.

“We also provide equine therapy, adapted surfing (for the disabled), medical training for parents, food parcels, diapers, support groups, family events, counseling, sibling events and physiotherapy,” he said.

Nowotny’s compassion and desire to help other people led him, about six years after moving Virginia, to start working locally with hospice care and now, with more than 13 years of experience, serves as a bereavement coordinator for Legacy Hospice, with offices in Newport News and Norfolk.

“I offer insight and encouragement to help those grieving a loved one,” he said. “This would include facilitating grief support groups and one-on-one help. We do have patients in Suffolk.”

As devoted and focused as Nowotny is to his humanitarian health outreach, much of his heart, energy and time goes into playing the role of Santa Claus, inperson and virtually, which he has done for decades.

Appearing before still and video cameras, this year he expects to virtually assist Santa about 50 times, at home and abroad, including in-person trips to local hospice patients and other nursing and hospice facilities. All proceeds he earns now as Santa, he said, are donated directly to Iris House.

“With COVID restrictions over, I believe there are people who want to make up for the last two Christmases, which had their challenges,” he said.

Nowotny remembers the first time

he appeared as Santa — it was a one-day job at the age of 26 and his inexperience showed.

“I worked in a local department store in Waltham, Massachusetts, called Grover Cronin,” he said. “They had a Santa and an elaborate display for picture-taking. One day their Santa called in sick and I volunteered. It was not the best experience. My glasses did not look like Santa's so I did not wear any. That’s not good. I remember ‘mis-gendering’ this girl and the mother was not very happy with me.”

Even though he may not be perfect, there are several reasons why Nowotny

takes it upon himself every year to fill himself with Christmas cheer and slip into the spirit of Santa Clause.

“I like performing, which was one reason I started out at a theater college,” he said. “I love kids and enjoy making them smile and laugh; but I consider this a ministry and I will share the gospel, the true story of Christmas, with anyone who will let me. And finally, a good friend of mine, Kevin Hanson, who has been an excellent professional Santa, encouraged me to do it.”

Santa makes no distinction between religious denominations, Nowotny said,

St. Nick, as seen around Hampton Roads, bears a striking resemblance to Carrollton resident Dean Nowotny, a New Hampshire transplant.

Slice of

Smithfield

and many parents just want their children to find happiness in the holidays and throughout the year.

“Surprisingly, even if the family has no church affiliation, most parents want their children to know about Jesus,” he said. “Now, some families do not want that, and some facilities and other places need to keep a secular environment. But that’s fine; if I cannot bring the joy of the Lord, I hope I can at least bring some joy.”

Over the years, Nowotny, as Santa, has been welcomed at numerous Suffolk locations, including day care centers, residential homes and family parties and he hopes to visit many more.

“Since I am raising money for the children’s hospice in South Africa, I am trying to get as many engagements as I can,” he said. “I already warned my wife it is going to be a very busy season this year; it’s ideal that I am now semi-retired and that my work schedule is very flexible.”

Each of Dean’s performances as Santa is designed to be unique, entertaining and family-oriented. They may last for 15 minutes up to an hour, depending on how many questions the children have for him.

“I give families a number of options,” he said. “Do they want me to read The Night Before Christmas or not? I also always make it clear that Santa no longer smokes his corncob pipe. If they want a Christ-centered emphasis I might still read The Night Before Christmas, but this year I will be ready (with another option) my recently published book, ‘Dear Maggie, a Letter from Santa.’”

As if Nowotny isn’t busy enough with hospice work and being Santa, he’s also an author, having written several novels, including, “Dear Maggie,” to provide more context to Jesus’ life that people typically don’t know, he said.

“I wrote it out of a legitimate personal need,” Nowotny said. “I tried to find a good book for children that told about the true meaning of Christmas. I am sure they are out there but my searching was fruitless. I needed this to share with the children in my visits where I am free to share about Jesus. I wanted a book that did not stop at His birth but continued on to tell the ‘whole story.’

“If we don’t know why He came to

earth then His birth is somewhat marginalized,” he explained. “So, in my book Santa, of course, tells of Jesus’ birth, but goes on to tell of his ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and his free offer of salvation. I wrote exactly what I needed. And in so doing, I think I filled a void; His story does not end in the manger.”

Debuting on Oct. 25 at $10 a copy, it has received good reviews, Nowotny said, adding that some are hailing it as a “new classic.” It is being printed “on demand” by BabyBooks and is available on Amazon.

“Like so many self-published authors, I do not have hundreds of copies of the book in boxes in the garage,” he said. “If you are an Amazon Prime member, there is no shipping cost. It should be $10 wherever it is sold, but there are varying shipping charges on other sites.”

A closer look at Nowotny’s life shows that he was born and raised in Gardner, Massachusetts, and lives in Eagle Harbor, in Carrollton, in Isle of Wight County, with his wife, Susan, a retired teacher for the deaf for Norfolk Public Schools. They have two children, Nathan A. Nowotny, a Virginia Beach resident and Amanda J. Hiltz, who also lives in Eagle Harbor.

Nowotny’s busy, diverse and inspired life didn’t really take flight until after graduating high school and pursuing higher education.

“My first two years of college, I went to Emerson College in Boston,” he said. “It is very well known for programs in speech, theater and all types of media. Both Jay Leno and Henry Winkler were graduates.

I then felt a call to vocational ministry and transferred to Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.

It was there that I met my wife, who ironically was also from Massachusetts. I received my BA in Bible from CBC. I eventually received my MA in religion, with honors, from Liberty University in Lynchburg.

“For over 25 years my wife and I were in full-time pastoral ministry in Massachusetts,” he continued. “That included a church, Faith Chapel, we founded in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and where we stayed for 14 years. We eventually moved to Virginia and unbeknownst to

us our two children and their families decided to move here as well.”

Locally, Dean and Susan Nowotny attend Southside Vineyard at 13390 Great Spring Road in Smithfield, where he sometimes preaches. Matt Havens, with his wife, Pam, are the pastors for the congregation of about 100 members.

“I am asking people to make their donation checks out to Southside Vineyard because with challenging situations going on in South Africa I am unable to send them checks,”Nowotny said, who is an evangelical Christian. “Our church has a Western Union account and they will send 100 percent of the donations to Iris House.”

Looking ahead, in addition to Iris House Children’s Hospice, Nowotny will this year virtually visit a place called “Isaiah” in the KwaZulu-Natal area of Africa, he said, which isn’t a hospice, but helps children who are abandoned, abused and who are HIV-infected, from birth to 18 years old.

He also will be virtually visiting at least three children’s hospices in Australia this year: Bear Cottage, in New South Wales; Hummingbird House, Queensland, and Very Special Kids, Victoria.

Regardless of where Santa goes to share his gifts, he takes with him messages of love and hope, whether people believe in him and his work or not; but he’d rather that they believe.

“I think if we are going to believe in Santa, he should be the compassionate, faithful man like his namesake was,” Nowotny said. “Too often this aspect is missing and he is portrayed as someone who is going to bring you anything you want, but he ideally wants to bring joy and love, in addition to physical gifts. I visit some older children who are on the cusp of no longer believing in Santa. I have had more than one parent express the joy that I got their child to believe in Santa at least one more year.”

Visit Santa at stillbelievesantaclaus. com or mail Santa at StillBelieveSantaClaus@gmail.com.

Visit Santa’s Facebook page at www. facebook.com/stillbelievesantaclaus or learn more about Iris House Children’s Hospice in Cape Town at iris-house.org/.

By Industry, We Prosper The Gwaltney Family

Story by Phyllis Speidell Photos by John H. Sheally II

Gwaltney, the name and the family members, pop up frequently in the history and lore of Smithfield. While the Gwaltneys were curing succulent Smithfield hams, they were also enhancing the infrastructure of the town. The family has been actively involved with public service and multiple businesses in the area since the mid-1800s – while effectively making “Smithfield” hams a sought-after delicacy

The opportunity to talk with several Gwaltney family members shed even more light on all the Gwaltneys have brought to Smithfield – in addition to that delicious ham. Lucy Gwaltney Clay, daughter of Howard Gwaltney, her children Katherine Clay Willis and Bob Clay, and cousin

Atwill Gwaltney, son of P.D. Gwaltney III, reminisced and shared their family stories for this story.

An old Gwaltney family crest, lore says, carried the motto “By Industry, We Prosper.” Authentic or not, the motto is very well suited to the Gwaltney story.

According to Atwill Gwaltney, the family story in Smithfield and Isle of Wight begins with a Confederate soldier, Pembroke Decatur Gwaltney. Born in Surry County and orphaned when he was 7 years old, he became a talented gunsmith. Along with another respected gunsmith, cousin Thomas Wrenn Cofer, he operated a gun smithery in Norfolk. Gwaltney was in his mid-20s and married with an infant son,

P. D. Gwaltney Jr., when he joined at least half a dozen other Gwaltneys serving in the Army of Northern Virginia.

In the Surry Light Artillery P. D. Gwaltney served as a master armorer, repairing small arms and, according to historian Helen Haverty King, likely served at Fort Boykin and possibly also at Gettysburg in 1863. Captured at Appomattox, he spent two years in a Union prison in Newport News before returning home to Surry and learning his two brothers had died in the war.

After the war, P.D. Gwaltney, with another cousin O.G. Delk, opened “Gwaltney and Delk,” a mercantile that also cured, smoked and sold hams, sides and shoul-

Members of the Gwaltney family, circa 1914 on Smithfield's South Church Street, are, front row from left, Chester, Howard, Julius, P.D. Sr., Lucy and P.D. III; back row, P.D. Jr. and Estelle.

Smithfield

ders. The business, conveniently located at the Pagan River, on Wharf Hill’s Commerce Street, was also active in freight hauling via a two-masted sloop named “Three Sisters.”

In 1875, with their partnership dissolved, Delk kept the freight business and the sloop, and Gwaltney kept the wharf and buildings, renaming the store “P.D. Gwaltney & Co.” The next year, he bought and enlarged the two-story 1870 home at 226 S. Church St., starting a tradition of Gwaltneys living on that street. Howard Gwaltney, his grandson, later lived at 309 S. Church St., and another grandson, P.D. Gwaltney III, also lived on South Church, just across Jericho Lane from his father, P. D. Gwaltney, Jr

In 1880, while the mercantile and ham business was doing well, Gwaltney, always looking for new opportunities, built the town’s first peanut cleaning and bagging factory and warehouse adjacent to the store. He saw peanuts become more widely popular after the war, boosted by veterans on both sides who had learned to love the protein-packed snack during the Civil War. Local production increased to meet the demand and earned Smithfield the title of “Peanut Capital of the World”

Two years later Gwaltney changed the business name again, this time to “P.D. Gwaltney Jr. & Co.” as 21-year-old P.D. Jr. stepped in to direct the family business, allowing his father more time for other enterprises.

In 1886, the Smithfield Telephone Co. was chartered by the P. D. Gwaltneys – Jr. and Sr. - and three others. Five years later the Bank of Smithfield was chartered by P.D. Jr. and five others. Then P.D. Jr., O.G. Delk and others formed the Smithfield Water Co. in 1900 to construct a waterworks and distribution system for Smithfield. In 1913 P.D. Jr. supervised the construction of the new Bank of Smithfield when the old building burned and then created the Smithfield Light & Power Co. to “light the town and make ice.”

P.D. Gwaltney Sr. and Jr. both made time to serve on the Smithfield Town Council, as did P.D. Gwaltney III and Howard Gwaltney.

While the town was developing, the peanut business was going strong. By

1898, the Gwaltneys were processing about a third of the Virginia and North Carolina peanut crop, exporting to Europe as well as across the United States and Canada.

P.D Jr. married Florine Darden in 190l and moved into the new landmark Victorian home he had built at 304 S. Church St. near other family members. Two years later, their first son, P.D. Gwaltney III, was born.

Beyond their business successes, however, the Gwaltneys must have seen a cloud on the peanut future. As the country moved away from waterborne freight to rail and truck carriers, Smithfield was at a disadvantage with no railroad connections. Neighboring Suffolk had half a dozen railroads by 1907 and soon the title of Peanut Capital of the World slid away from Smithfield and on to Suffolk.

When the American Peanut Co. in Norfolk acquired the Gwaltney peanut business in 1911, the family was prepared. Five years earlier they had modernized and doubled the capacity of their meat curing and smoking operation, creating Gwaltney Plant #1 and gaining approval for their products under the new federal pure food and drug inspection laws.

Gwaltney continued to buy more land to expand their ham curing and smoking facilities, producing 10,000 hams in 1913. Perhaps the most famous of the Gwaltney hams was one cured in 1902. Salting and smoking ensured hams against spoilage, but this ham was exceptional. The ham, originally 18½ pounds, had hung, overlooked, in a smokehouse for 20 years, losing 65% of its weight. When the ham was discovered, P.D. Gwaltney Jr. kept it in an iron safe, which he opened daily for

Gwaltney brothers P.D. III, Julius and Howard in front of packing plant in 1961.

visitors to view what he called his “pet ham.” He advertised the ham as the world’s oldest and had a brass collar made to fit around the shank and attach to a security chain when the celebrity ham was on display.

The final blow to the Gwaltney peanut business came in 1921 when fire roared through Commerce Street, destroying the peanut factories and warehouses. Two years later, however, the ever-resilient P.D. Gwaltney Jr. and Co, advertised as the largest mercantile business in Eastern Virginia, selling furniture, fencing and fertilizer. They continued to cure their special hams, bacon and jowls and employed 25 people.

Fully into ham production, P.D. Jr worked with the Isle of Wight delegate to the Virginia General Assembly to pass an act defining a genuine Smithfield Ham as “processed, treated, smoked, aged, cured by the long-cure, dry salt method

of cure and aged for a minimum period of six months; such six-month period to commence when the green pork cut is first introduced to dry salt, all such salting, processing, treating, smoking, curing, and aging to be done within the corporate limits of the town of Smithfield, Virginia.” Violations were a Class 4 misdemeanor.

P.D. Gwaltney Jr. & Co. incorporated in 1929 with P.D. Jr president and chairman of the board, his son Howard as vice president, his son P.D.III as secretarytreasurer and his son Julius as assistant treasurer.

Over the years the Gwaltney ham business flourished, producing 652,500 pounds of Smithfield hams in 1937 and continuing to grow its facilities and production from there. Thirty years later, Gwaltney Inc. went public, opening on the “Over the Counter” market at $16.25 a share. By then the company was selling

149 million pounds of meat products annually.

Success brought offers and in 1970 Gwaltney merged into International Telephone and Telegraph Corp. to continue production as ITT Gwaltney Inc. The Gwaltney family members began to retire or resign shortly after the merger. Gwaltney was no longer a family company.

In 1981 ITT Gwaltney became a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods Inc. and in 2018 Smithfield Foods closed the last smokehouse that produced genuine Smithfield Hams. Smithfield Foods claimed to have a stockpile of the hams and the large meatpacking facilities on the edge of town produce massive numbers of hams. Purists will tell you, however, good as those hams may be, they are not the genuine Smithfield Hams that, with the Gwaltney family, brought international acclaim to this small town on the Pagan.

Modern-day Gwaltney family members, from left, Katherine Willis, Bob Clay, Lucy Gwaltney Clay and Atwill Gwaltney.

The Where Am I? the challenge in the Fall 2022 edition of Slice featured quite the challenge, and was timely for Veterans Day. Featured was a plaque commemorating The General Dwight D. Eisenhower Green Ash Tree planted in honor of all Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America by Smithfield VFW Post 8545. The plaque is located on a brick stand located on the grassy area between N. Church Street and the parking lot near the Veterans Memorial. Only one person was able to identify the location. Cynthia Keen has won the $25 gift certificate to The Christmas Store. Check out page 10 for this edition's challenge.

In History

Bartlett is one of the county’s busiest intersections today, handling traffic headed to the Peninsula and the Southside cities. When the James River Bridge System built roads to connect the new bridge as well as Chuckatuck Creek and Nansemond River bridges in 1928, the company built a gas station and store at the Bartlett intersection. The old log cabin was later moved and served several businesses during its long life.