03.22 WB pages 01-03.indd - The Rappahannock Record

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5 Steps to a Great Garden2Use native and new plants likeEndless Summer Hydrangeas andKnock Out roses that were bornor bred to thrive in our climate.1Amend your soil with organicmaterial like composted manure.3Feed your plants with organicfertilizers like Dr. Earth that won’trun off into the Bay and will buildyour soil up over time.5Or just ask us. Whether you wantone spectacular flower for a prettypot or help designing and plantinga formal garden, we have the plants,the tools, and the answers you need.4Read and follow the plant careinstructions on the label.FREE Dr. Earth Garden Guideor CD. Stop in and pick one up.No purchase required.544 North Main Street Kilmarnock, Virginia 800-448-4505 theEarthstore.net

wind wsTemperatures are starting to rise and the days are getting longer. Naturally, thoughtsare turning to spring cleaning and gardening. For ideas on turning your home andgarden into a showplace, go on a tour of some of the best decorated homes. We’veincluded a list of Garden Week tours in Lancaster, Middlesex, and Gloucester counties.We’ve also sought the experts’ advice on flower arranging and organic gardening. Ourreporters have taken a peek inside two very different but beautiful homes, one newand one centuries old. Go treasure hunting with reporter Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi, whoexplores the world of estate sales, and drive along the roadways of Middlesex andGloucester counties with reporter Larry Chowning in search of historical outbuildings.Find out how reporter Tom Chillemi tackles the weekly chore of grass-cutting with hisslightly dangerous double-mower. We hope that you find our publication not onlyentertaining but helpful and you continue to support the advertisers that make itpossible. Welcome spring!Susan & Lisawind wsssimmons@rrecord.com & lvaldrighi@rrecord.comOn the CoverA view from the inside of The Cryer House, inMiddlesex County, out to the RappahannockRiver.photo by Tom Chillemiwindows on the Bay is a supplement published annuallyby the Rappahannock Record, P.O. Box 400, Kilmarnock, Va. 22482,(804) 435-1701 and the Southside Sentinel, P.O. Box 549, Urbanna, Va.23175, (804) 758-2328.News Tom Hardin and Robert D. Mason Jr., editors; Larry S. Chowning,Tom Chillemi, Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi, Audrey Thomasson and ShannonRiceAdvertising Sara Amiss and Maeghaen Eley, managers; K.C. Troise,Marilyn Bryant, Wendy Payne and Troy RobertsonProduction Julie H. Burwood, art director; Wayne Smith, manager;Joseph Gaskins, Susan Simmons, K.C. Troise and Sarah BowisPublications Coordinator Susan SimmonsEditorial Consultant Lisa Hinton-ValdrighiAccount Managers Geanie Longest and Lindsay BishoffGeneral Managers Fred and Bettie Lee GaskinsTreasure HuntingConfessions of an estate sale groupie . . . . . . . . . 4InglesideRestoring an historic home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Cedar Pointe HomeA French country estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Bricks & MortarCommercial construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Mowing side carGrass-cutting shortcut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27OUtbuildingsReminders of the past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 • windows on the Bay • 3

Confessionsof an estate sale groupieStory and photos by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi$156I’m an estate sale groupie.It happened by accident when a friendinvited me to go with her to an estatesale about a year ago. And like a drug,after one hit I was hooked.The fact thatI love a goodestate sale isironic because I’venever been much of a yardsaler.Oh, I’ve been known tohost a few but I believe that oneman’s junk is another man’sjunk. It’s just new junk.Estate sales, however, area breed apart from yard salesor auctions. They offer wholehouses of treasures. Shopperscan find almost anything, fromnew Christmas ornaments andtoys to priceless antiques andoriginal works of art.“A lot of people, especiallyheirs who are selling theirmom’s anddad’s stuff,don’t like auctions,” saidLouise Jessie, owner of EppingForest Antiques in Lively.“Estate sales are a little moredignified. At an auction, you’reat the whim of the buyers. Anauction is a crap shoot.”An estate sale, for thenovice, is the sale of belongingsof a homeowner who hasrecently died or moved. Lotsof times, those who inherit thehome claim the items they wishto keep and sell the rest of thehome’s belongings. The sale isheld at the home.“As people are moving toretirement homes or dying, thefamilies need to reduce theirinventory,” said Henry LaneHull, owner of CommonwealthAntiques in Wicomico Church.“And in the past year or so asthe housing market has suffered,we’ve held sales as avehicle to get out informationon a home that’s for sale. We’vehad some for owners, whosehouse was on the market, andhad brochures prepared to distribute.If 300 to 500 people gothrough a house in a weekendand each one of those peopletells four people about it” that’squite a marketing tool.Hull has held over 250 salesAn estate sale, for the novice, is the sale ofbelongings of a homeowner who has recently diedor moved. Lots of times, those who inherit thehome claim the items they wish to keep and sellthe rest of the home’s belongings. The sale is heldat the home.in 40 years and last year hosted16.“This year, we already haveso many scheduled, we mighteven have more,” said Hull.The buyersSome people attend estatesales with absolutely no ideawhat price to pay for a particularitem, while some have investigatedand researched prior togoing. Although, advance previewsaren’t allowed, most ofthe items for sale are listed byHull and Jessie through emailnotifications and newspaperads. Jessie, who has been hostingsales for 38 years, has some800 customers on her mailinglist. Hull, along with emailnotifications, advertises hisupcoming sales in about sevenpapers.Estate sale shoppers usuallyfall into one of three categories:collectors, frugal shoppers orre-sellers.Collectors don’t mind payingmore for an item if it is in goodshape or adds to their collections,while the frugal shoppersare looking for a bargain andlove getting good merchandiseAnne Kirkup of Richmond shops at an estate sale in WhiteStone.From left, Janice Post and Eileen Sklar try to decide on thepurchase of a lamp at a Weems estate sale.4 • windows on the Bay •

for a low price. Re-sellers arelooking for an investment,something they can resell at ahigher price on the internet orin a store.“You can furnish a houseat an estate sale,” said Jessie.“You can find good things forabout a third of what you’d payfor it somewhere else and somethings are new.”I fall into the frugal shoppercategory. I love to browse andusually don’t have my sights seton any particular item. If I finda piece I like, be it a rug or dishor even a barbecue grill, if it’s agood deal, I’ll snatch it up.Gerald Sellers ofKilmarnock, however, fallsinto the collector category.Sellers likes antiques andunusual finds.“I don’t re-sell. I’m kind of ahoarder. My wife usually tellsme we don’t need it, we haveenough,” said Sellers, whodoesn’t miss a local sale unlesshe’s working.Sellers enjoys going to thesales of people he knows orknew and finding a keepsake.He loves antiques and “old stuffthat I don’t think the youngerpeople want anymore,” he said.“I’m not that sharp on myantiques,” he said. “If I findsomething unique I go with theadvice of [the seller].”One of his favorite findswas a cherub-faced Gone Withthe Wind lamp he purchasedfor $200 at a Richmond estatesale. The lamp usually sells forabout $500, he said. It was hisfavorite estate sale piece untilhis dog knocked it off the tableand broke it.“I loved that lamp,” he said.According to Hull, of the500 or so people attending asale only about 50 at each saleare new faces.“Every sale is different butevery sale is the same in thatthere is a commonality acrossall sales,” said Hull. “The samepeople come and there are certainclients that buy the sametypes of items at each sale.“We have a standard crowdwe can count on,” he added.The saleMost estate sales are twodaysales held on Saturdaysand Sundays and customersare often waiting in line for the“You can furnish a house at an estate sale,you can find good things for about a third ofwhat you’d pay for it somewhere else and somethings are new.”–Louise Jessiedoors to open on the first day.Typically, prices are nonnegotiableon Saturday, whilemost items are reduced ornegotiable on Sunday. Oftenthe discount percentage is presetby the homeowner.“It’s not always 50% off onSunday,” said Jessie. “Peoplethink so but that’s not alwaysthe case. Things are reducedbut it’s usually up to the heir byhow much.”Prep time for each sale alsovaries greatly, according toboth Hull and Jessie.“I’ve had estates that tookme two months to prepare andthen some I can get ready in aweek,” said Jessie.Hull likes to space at leasttwo weeks between his salesbecause he says “a sale neverends on Sunday. There’s alwayssomeone who will come byon a bicycle and buy the bigChippendale sofa and that’sthe person I have to meet thereagain on Monday or sometimeduring the week.”Hull says he has held asmany as four sales in a month.“It takes a minimum of aweek to prepare usually butI prefer at least two weeksbecause if we’re shutting downa major sale, it’s hard to preparefor the next,” said Hull, whosebusiness is a family affair. Hiswife, Lisa, daughter Moiraand son Henry all help withthe preparation, sale and shutdown.I’ve become very familiarwith the entire Hull clan. I’mone of their repeat clients.Customers scan a coin collection and pottery.At right, Henry Lane Hull, owner of Commonwealth Antiques, greets customers at an estate sale inWeems.Gayle Marston of Burgess looks at china at an estate sale nearWhite Stone. • windows on the Bay • 5

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ProfileJohn Lattell: A piece of the artist left in every creationby Shannon RiceJohn Latell’s passion for creating metalaesthetics began as a teenager. Workingmostly in steel, he was able to convertthis passion into a career when he openedWicomico Forge in White Stone.There he creates custom garden sculptures,furniture, arbors, gates and more.“People like to have the feeling they getfrom owning specially made items,” saysLatell.Most of his projects start with a locationin mind, discussion of ideas and budget anda site visit.“Things are relevant to their surroundings,”says Latell.The artisan began his formal training atVirginia Commonwealth University’s Schoolof Art in 1992 and finished at Carlo Universityin Pittsburgh. While in Pittsburgh, Latellworked under the wings of many skilledblacksmiths and artists to develop his talent.He credits his time there with the formationof his conceptual organization.Although he works primarily on commissioned-basedprojects, Latell’s creativity hasnot been hindered.“People are very generous in allowingme to work. All of my commission and collaborationshave a piece of me in them,” saysLatell.Currently, he is working on two horses forthe Deltaville Maritime Museum. He saysthey are among his favorite pieces.Latell’s work has been displayed at theIrvington and Urbanna farmers’ markets, theHolly Point Art and Seafood Festival and theUrbanna Oyster Festival, as well as a galleryshow at the Urbanna Harbor Gallery.In the future, Latell sees himself workingon bigger projects. He has notions of creatingfine jewelry in a larger market.“I see my skills continuing to develop andevolve,” says Latell.Name: John LatellAge: 40Village: ReedvilleHobby: This is it (iron works) … and sailing.Describe yourself in 3 words: enthusiastic,committed, optimistIdea of perfect happiness: health, happiness,and prosperityMost admired living person: My fatherand mother. They did so much for me anddemonstrated such good guidance. I’m verythankful.Greatest Achievement: Coming to realizewhat’s important and what’s not.Greatest Regret: Having not realized that(achievement) sooner.Most prized possession: My cell phone. Ican do so much on it.Motivation: To realize health, happiness andprosperity.Motto: Accept yourself. Visualize the futureand realize your potential.30% OFF with this ad(not valid with any other sales offer)Call now for a Free Estimate757-723-3435P.O. Box 385, Deltaville, VA 23043 • rjvinc@va.metrocast.net8 • windows on the Bay •

Oyster Harboron Urbanna Creek10 New Waterfront Condominiums(All With Fabulous Harbor and River Views)Imagine relaxing on your screened porch or lounging by the pool, deck and outdoor grill, all overlooking this historic harbor.All the while, your boat is safely moored in your own private deepwater slip. Amenities abound within easy walking distanceor take your golf cart (town approved) dining, shopping or sightseeing. All of the condominium residences have large waterfrontscreen porches and feature custom cabinetry, granite and ceramic tile in kitchens, baths and laundry rooms.Tour Our Professionally Designed and Fully Furnished 2 Bedroom 2 Bath ModelNOW OPEN!!!**Take advantage of our outstanding mortgage financing packages**Please visit this one of a kind property at your convenience or go to our website for floor plans, pricing,directions and more photos www.OysterHarborUrbanna.comProfessionally Represented By IsaBell K. Horsley Real Estate, Ltd.David E. Dew, Managing BrokerSales Center Open 7 Days A Week(804) 436-3106The Residences at Oyster Harbor, A Condominium

ProfileBill Bridgeforth: From brass beds to garden decorby Shannon RiceBill Bridgeforth has always been ahands-on kind of guy. He has a passionfor renovating old houses and buildingsand changing things. Prior to owningGarden Club Interiors in Urbanna, hepurchased and renovated old homes andapartments in Richmond’s Fan District.When his real estate partner passedaway, he created Brass Beds of Virginia.The company originally sold antiquebrass beds. After quickly realizing thatmost people desired queen and kingsize beds rather than the double-bedantiques, Bridgeforth began to makehis own brass and iron beds without anyformal training.“I just looked at the old ones andcopied them,” says Bridgeforth.In that same fashion, Bridgeforthdeveloped an inkling to craft a coppertrellis he had seen in Rhode Island.After taking the copper trellis to theMaymont Garden and Flower Show, itwas too expensive for most people. Butgarden items including fountains andbenches, sold quickly.Building off the success of the show,Bridgeforth began to sell the gardenitems out of an old police precinctbuilding he had renovated on MorrisStreet in Richmond. Thus, The GardenClub was born.“The only problem was, gardens areseasonal,” says Bridgeforth.To remedy the problem, Bridgeforthbegan to expand his market into furniture.He then relocated to Urbanna,taking the items that didn’t sell in Richmondto his current shop, Garden ClubInteriors.Bridgeforth’s renovation projects continue.He continues to work on his farmhousein addition to projects includingrenovation of the Urbanna Inn with JohnMilby. The renovated inn will feature arestaurant, which is anticipated to opennear Memorial Day.Name: Bill BridgeforthAge: 65Village: UrbannaHobby: FishingDescribe yourself in 3 words: Loveto work.Idea of perfect happiness: NostressMost admired living person: I don’tknow. How do you choose?Greatest achievement: Saving oldhouses.Greatest regret: Selling Brass Bedsof Virginia (a store he owned.)Most prized possession: My house.Motivation: I like to change things.Motto: Treat everybody equal. Everybody,in my eyes, should be the same.10 • windows on the Bay •

LAW OFICESHUBBARD, TERRY,& BRITTA PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION293 Steamboat RoadP.O. Box 340Irvington, VA 22480Telephone: (804) 438-5522Facsimile: (804) 438-5003B.H.B. Hubbard, III Direct: (804) 438-5063Matson C. Terry, II Direct: (804) 438-5064Raymond L. Britt, Jr. Direct: (804) 438-5077William B. Hubbard Direct: (804) 438-5784since 1974ELLINGTON’S PAINTINGFree Estimates Wagner Builder LLCGeorge W. WagnerMany local written references upon request*We return phone calls promptly.* Master Painter and a fine crewwith 38 years’ experienceCliff Ellington Sr.Cell: (804) 366-7270Office: (804) 758-9541Formerly of Richmond – West End custom homes for 23 yearsnow proudly serving Northern Neck’s fine homes for 15 years.Give us a call. I guarantee you will be glad you did. (Rememberit’s that time of year again so get on board. We would love to doyours too!)Fine Custom Homes for over 25 yearsWe specialize in new custom homes, renovations,additions and repairs.Construction Management Services Available804 240-2689/804 240-2774wagnerbuilder@aol.comVA Class A licensed contractorFully insured / EPA Certified, lead safe renovator • windows on the Bay • 11

Welcome to the warmth of JnglesideDstory and photos byAudrey Thomassonown a narrow lane in the villageof Wicomico Church is a charmingFederalist-styled c.1840 home. It’s name,Ingleside, was bestowed by the original owner,Hiram Ingram, and is Scottish for hearthside—appropriate for the warm and welcoming homewhich has wood burning fireplaces in nearlyevery room and retains a strong sense of its historythroughout.Current owners, Emma and Jim Voelzke ofWashington, D.C., also bring a warm and welcomingcharm to the home they’ve owned forabout two years. The rooms are filled withyouthful vibrancy from their three children andan abundance of friends. Emma explained theyhave as many as 16 people there on some visits.Jim is an architect who was attracted to thedwelling’s original features which were maintainedeven though the house has been throughseveral renovations over 170 years. He believesit’s his responsibility to preserve Ingleside forfuture families to enjoy.12 • windows on the Bay • Situated on 10 acres, the property includes fiveoriginal outbuildings—a brick smoke house, anold abandoned laundry house, a carriage house,guesthouse with office and a workshop.Ingleside is listed in Historic Sites in Virginia’sNorthern Neck and Essex County. AuthorThomas Wolf states the bricks and flagstonesused in the structure are believed to have comefrom the ruins of Wicomico Parish Churchacross the road.Previous owners, Rob and Paula Ransone, purchasedIngleside in 1992 and enlisted the help ofresearchers to conduct an historical study. Theirstudy revealed the wings were added to the homein 1851. Col. Lewis Tignor acquired it in 1867and made extensive renovations in 1923 whenit is believed electricity and steamed heat wereadded.“Evidently, Ingleside was one of the firsthouses in the area to have electricity, which wasevidently ‘all on’ or ‘all off,’” according to PaulaRansone. “Visitors have told us of driving downRoute 200 in the 1930s and seeing the housecompletely lighted.”The structure still has the knob and tubewiring and screw-in baseboard plugs for historicalpurposes, she noted. Also original— allthe moldings, the staircase, paneling, many ofthe doors and fireplace mantels, and H and Lhinges—some with leather washers.Ingleside and its outbuildings were in disrepairwhen the Ransones purchased it. Many floorjoists had been eaten away and one chimney blewdown in a storm while another, built directly onthe ground, soon followed.The Ransones hired an historical architectfrom Richmond to design a kitchen, laundry andutility addition that would harmonize with theoriginal character of the dwelling, placing it atthe back to keep from altering the front elevation.Cabinets were built to fit the home’s style,and were mismatched intentionally to give theappearance they were added over time. Theold kitchen is now the “keeping room” or “TVroom” to the Voelzke kids, Grace, 14, Maggie,18, and Jim, 21.Some features of the past renovations wereremoved, like the narrow oak veneer flooringin the dining room, and the original wide plankheart pine floors restored. Other features wereretained such as a charming sink in the butler’spantry. All the old claw-foot tubs were saved,as well, but gutters were removed and replacedwith a Williamsburg-style brick drain systemaround the home’s foundation in keeping withthe earlier era. The home was also fitted withductwork to accommodate central air conditioning,not an easy feat for such an old structure.Energy efficient windows were added, also forcomfort, while hexagonal tiles were installed togive bathroom floors a “dated” look.After the Ransone’s sold the house, it fell backon 10 years of hard times, was foreclosed by thebank and again began to deteriorate. The Voelzkesadded central heating, repaired and replacedplaster and plumbing and are currently workingto restore the landscaping.Jim noted the home’s wonderful originaldesign of a long row of single-file rooms thatallows light to stream in from all sides.“It’s my favorite feature of the house,” hesaid.And who better than an architect to save thislittle piece of the past and fill it with life, laughter,love and a dog named Boom?

The Voelzke’s want to restore the gardens back to their prime.(Photo by Rob Ransone)Grace, Emma, and JimVoelzke with Boom lovespending time in their“new” home.Beams outline the domed ceiling over the breakfast nook.Saving part of the pasthelps to preserve thehome’s character. • windows on the Bay • 13

Northern Neck Master Gardeners Tipsby CarolAnne TaylorTime to pruneLate winter and early spring are greattimes to prune—before trees and shrubsbegin to put out new growth.Start with a clean set of tools; usuallyloppers and bypass pruners are all you need.Clean your tools between uses, or afterworking on a diseased plant, using Listerine,Lysol or rubbing alcohol. Look for andremove branches that are diseased or dying,rubbing or crossing, or growing toward thecenter of the plant. Then, step back andevaluate what you’ve done. Understandinga plant’s natural habit or shape will helpyou determine how to prune it.Trees: “Prune branches of deciduoustrees carefully, to the branch collar,” saidSusan Lindsey. “This is a ring-shaped arealocated where the branch meets the trunk.“Cut at a downward angle to prevent rainsettling on the wound.”When pruning flowering trees, take carenot to cut off flower buds. Some ornamentaltrees, such as cherry, plum, and crabappleform buds on old wood and should bepruned after flowering.For crape myrtle, strive for natural,graceful growth rather than cutting off thetop of the tree. Always remove suckers atthe base of trees.Evergreens require minimal pruning,just make sure to remove dead or diseasedlimbs.For pruning cuts and other tips, go toext.vt.edu and obtain publications 430-456 and 430-457.Shrubs: Deciduous shrubs requiremaintenance pruning to keep themhealthy and in scale. Determining thenatural shape of the shrub is the firststep. To maintain height in moundingshrubs, like azalea and spiraea, prunethe longest branches with the cuts wellinside the shrub mass.To reduce the height of shrubs with acane habit, like forsythia and nandina,remove the tallest canes by sawing themat ground level.Holly Society to meet March 31 in GloucesterThe Colonial Virginia ChapterHolly Society will meetMarch 31 at the Hampton Innin Gloucester. Registration willstart at 9:30 a.m. Speakers willbe George Machen and GeorgeMcLellan.There will be plant andbook auctions and tours toMobjack Nursery and Brentand Becky’s Chesapeake BayFriendly Teaching Garden. Thefee, including lunch, is $18 perperson. For reservations contactEvelyn Parker at 757-868-0496, or parkerew@aol.com byMarch 22.Lilian Lumber CompanyHome CenterStorewide savings, New lawn, garden & patio items arriving dailyAnniversary CelebrationApril 13-14 th15115 Northumberland Hwy., Burgess • 804-453-4911NewItems Daily!Antiques, Home AccessoriesFurniture, JewelryNice ThingsCarter’s Cottage Consignments17410 General Puller Hwy.Deltaville, VA 23043Four doors east of Hurd’sMake sure you know your plant beforepruning or you may remove this year’sflowers. Some hydrangeas flower on oldwood, some on new wood.Evergreen shrubs grow best with lightand air. Prune deep inside the plant andcut out small portions to create holeswhere light and air can reach. This keepsgreen leaves deep inside the plant and notjust on the outer edges.Obtain Publication 430-459, or callNorthern Neck Master Gardeners at 580-5694.Upcoming events include the 19thannual Gardening in the Northern NeckSeminar March 31 at the White StoneChurch of the Nazerene. Save the date.The topic is “Watershed to Water’s Edge.”To register, call 580-5694.Trained and supervised by VirginiaCooperative Extension, Master Gardenervolunteers provide the community withresearch-based gardening and horticulturalinformation. Visit nnmg.org, or calla county Extension office.804-776-7878Green fingers are the extensionof a verdant heart.–Russell PageRain gardensto be programtopic April 14Friends of the Rappahannockvolunteers recently dug a2-foot-deep and 20-foot-squarehole which they filled in layerswith gravel, pea gravel andRappahannock Gold soil at thePlacid Bay Civic Associationcommunity building near OakGrove.The rain garden was builtand donated to the NorthernNeck Chapter of VirginiaMaster Naturalists for its free“After the Storm: A Water ShedEvent” program from 10 a.m. to3 p.m. April 14 at the site. Visitnorthernneckmasternaturalists.org, or call 224-0014.I have never had so manygood ideas day after dayas when I worked in thegarden.–John Erskine www.masonrealty.com“FLYAWAY” One of the mostbeautiful waterfront propertiesin Middlesex! 3 bedroom,3 bath home overlooking theRappahannock River, off-shorebreakwaters – Over 1,500 ft ofwaterfrontage…. An extra buildinglot, waterside pool with bluestonedeck, boathouse, sand beach &spectacular sunrise & sunsets!(Home can be purchased withoutextra lot) $1,695,000 www.stevenandjeandarman.comBAYPORT – Rappahannock RiverViews – Sweeping views withsand beach access! 2 bedroom,2 bath home with bonus room.Large eat-in kitchen, big deckoverlooking river. $289,500 wind wsWindows on the Bay is printed annually in March. Ifyou would like to be included next year, please call theRappahannock Record at (804) 435-1701 or the SouthsideSentinel at (804) 758-2328 and ask to speak to someonein the advertising department.2013 Advertising deadline: March 1, 2013Please mention this guide to our advertisers.14 • windows on the Bay •

Foundation or Moisture Problems?Cracked Bricks? Uneven Floors? Nasty Crawl Space?Do You Have Any Of These Symptoms?Jesse Waltz, P.E.Stella Waltz, OwnersFREEInspection&Estimate!Foundation Problems?Cracked Brick?Uneven Floors?Cracked Drywall?Musty Smells?Rotted Wood?JES HAS THE SOLUTION!Foundation RepairBasement WaterproofingCrawl Space Moisture Control*$AVE $500Any Job Over $3000Financing Available!*Must show coupon upon inspection appointment.Not to be combined with any other offer.Offer good only at time of FREE inspection.AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME!888-698-2158www.jeswork.comSticking Windows& Doors?Nasty Crawl Space?Wet Basements?Bouncy Floors?Mold & Fungus?Termites, Bugs,& Rodents?LocallyOwned &Operated byProfessionalEngineers!DELTAVILLE – Outstanding Views ofRappahannock River & Windmill Point– Beautifully restored cottage – 2 bedroom,1 bath cottage offers +1,300 sq.ft., Pier. Great getaway! $449,950 AAllison’swningsAdd exterior space with colorful Sunbrella fabrics.Increase energy efficiency through shading.Protection from the elements on your deck or patio.A llison’sSeamlessGuttersAluminum & Copper5” & 6” GuttersGutter Cleaning & Maintenance • Leaf Guard SystemsA llison’sMILL CREEK – Beautiful 2 BR, 1 BAcottage. 4-6’ MLW with pier. Includes2nd lot. Great deal! $349,950www.stevenandjeandarman.com GLENN LESTER CO., INC.WICOMICO CHURCH, VARIP-RAP & ARMOR STONEINSTALLATIONRoad BuildingLot Clearing FREE ESTIMATES Hardware3010 Northumberland Highway, Lottsburg, Virginiaallisonsacehardware.com 804-529-7578 • windows on the Bay • 15

More than a pretty houseby Tom Chillemiefore visitors get to Dave and LindaBCryer’s home on Cedar Pointein Middlesex County, they are greeted bywhimsical animal figures stationed alongthe winding driveway.A baby elephant, an alligator and nearlyfull-sized mountain gorilla are stationed inthe natural areas the Cryers have planted ornurtured.Dave, who admits he’s not fascinatedwith growing flowers, has created a meanderingnature path lined with unusual trees,each with a plate indicating its popular andbotanical names.He explained that Middlesex County hasthe same micro-climate as coastal Honshuon Japan’s main island. Among his favoritesare the Yoshino cedar and the Kousa dogwood.16 • windows on the Bay • Among the other trees are four BaldCypress trees that he planted at the sametime. It’s a mystery why one of them hasgrown to about twice the size of the others.The Honey Locust tree blooms with afragrant white blossom in the spring. Dueto its thorny bark, it’s also known as “thedevil’s walking stick” until it’s about 10years old.Along the way is a Zelkova, a hybridvariety of the Dutch Elm tree, which werewiped out in a blight, decades ago.A hardy Ginko, the oldest tree on earth, isresistant to disease.The Cryers built their French countryhome in 2003 at the mouth of LaGrangeCreek near Urbanna on the RappahannockRiver. From there, they can see the NorrisBridge about 11 miles south, get spectacularfull moon rises, and watch ospreys builda nest.The Cryers opted for a low maintenanceexterior of Dryvit synthetic stucco. The trimis redwood with a baked-on finish.One thing that was important to Lindawas that she didn’t want to be “closed off ”in the kitchen. The open floor plan wasaccomplished using steel beams. Vaultedceilings divide the kitchen, dining andliving rooms.The open floor plan accommodates largegroups including family, friends and themany foster children to whom the Cryershave opened their home.One of the smartest things they did, saidLinda, was install ceramic tile floor thatresembles stone. It’s indestructible and lowmaintenance.Linda said she has since learned thatstanding barefooted for extended time onceramic floors is hard on her feet, becausethe floors have no give.The hardwood floor upstairs takes a beatingfrom the nine dogs that are there whenall the family visits at the same time.Linda likes the smaller windows abovethe fixed windows on the water side ofthe house. They have awnings and can beopened even in the rain.Both the crawl space and the attic areheated and air conditioned.Upstairs is a game room with a pool table,adjacent to a home theater room decoratedwith favorite movie posters of their family.One of Dave’s favorites is the satyircal“Blazing Saddles.”The guests’ favorite of the six bedroomsis the “lighthouse room.” A raised shelf isfilled with lighted models of famous lighthouses.The Cryers home will be open for theVirginia Garden Week Tour on Friday, April27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A setting sun provides dramatic lighting to the entrance.Rappahannock Riverand LaGrange Creekas viewed from theliving room of theCryer house.A nature path lined with unusual trees andplants meanders around the property.A baby elephant trumpetsfrom the natural area. • windows on the Bay • 17

Virginia Daffodil Showto be held in GloucesterThe Garden Club ofGloucester will host the GardenClub of Virginia (GVC) DaffodilShow at Ware Academyfrom 2 to 6 p.m. on Thursday,March 29, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.on Friday, March 30.The show is sanctioned by theThe American Daffodil Societyand is open to the public.There will be numeroustypes of daffodils on displayand competing in a number ofclassesMore information on thisshow and its schedule can befound at the GCV website atwww.gcvirginia.org.Ware Academy is at 7936John Clayton Memorial Highwayin Gloucester.For more information on theshow, contact Ann Heller at804-643-4137.Tips for kitchen storage utilizationThere are several basic storageprinciples that will help duringplanning.Store items at the first or lastplace of use. For example, mosthomemakers store all pans in thecooking area. Yet during manytypes of preparation, water isplaced in the container first. Thus,it is a step saving storage principleto place several pans near the sink.Another example is everyday dishstorage. Storage at the first placeof use would be near the table.Storage at the last place of usewould be near the sink.Store items in multiple locationsif used for different tasks.Example: measuring cups andspoons might be needed at thesink and in the food preparationarea. Thus, two sets of tools wouldbe more efficient.Items used together should bestored together. Example: recipebooks, paper and pencil groupedtogether near a planning center;foodstuffs, mixing equipmentand hand appliances stored in abaking center; paper, foil, tape andmarking pen for freezing placedtogether.Stored items should be easyto locate at a glance. Example:canned goods stored one deepon a narrow shelving are easy toidentify and eliminate searching.Like articles should be storedor grouped together. Example:canned goods, organized in storageunits according to likeness ofcontents are easy to locate. Thisprinciple will also provide a visualinventory when the shopping listis made.Frequently used items shouldbe stored within easy reach. Easyreach is normally defined asbetween eye-level and hip-level,at the front of the cabinet shelf. Aroll out shelf allows complete useof the cabinet and is consideredone of the most desirable aids incabinetry.18 • windows on the Bay • Daffodil Festival to includeparade, activities and foodThe Gloucester Parks andRecreation Department issponsoring a Daffodil Festivalfrom 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. onSaturday, March 24, on MainStreet in Gloucester CourtHouse.There will be a DaffodilFestival Parade starting at 10a.m. The festival will include afood court serving seafood, hotdogs, funnel cakes, cold drinksand more.There will be pony rides andchildren’s games.The event will featureexhibits by The GloucesterMuseum of History and TheVirginia HistoryMobile (seeGardening seminar setNorthern Neck Master Gardenerswill hold their annualGardening in the NorthernNeck seminar from 8:45 a.m. to3 p.m. March 31 at the WhiteStone Church of the Nazarene.The theme is Watershed toWater’s Edge and will showcasethe Integrated-Shorelinerelated story). Tours of Brent& Becky’s Bulbs daffodil farmwill be held from 11 a.m. to3:45 p.m. and buses are availableto take passengers to thefarm.The Chesapeake Bank MainStreet Stage will feature storytellingby Alice Call, the BaysideYouth Ballet, MagnificentMutt Show, and GloucesterHigh School Jazz Band.There also will be face painting,magic show, and strolling“characters” along MainStreet.For more information, contactGloucester Parks and Recreationat (804) 693-2355.‘HistoryMobile’ to beat Daffodil FestivalHistory will be on the movein Virginia in an 18-wheeler“museum on wheels” when theCivil War 150 HistoryMobilerolls into Gloucester for a twodayvisit Saturday, March 24and Sunday, March 25.The exhibit, an initiativeof the Virginia Sesquicentennialof the American Civil WarCommission, will be located atthe 2012 Daffodil Festival andopen Saturday from 10 a.m. to5 p.m. and Sunday from noonto 5 p.m. Admission to the HistoryMobileis free.The expandable 78-foot tractor-trailercontains a high-techimmersive experience detailingVirginia’s incomparable placein history. The HistoryMobiledraws together stories from allover Virginia and uses state-ofthe-arttechnology and immersiveexhibit spaces to presentindividual stories of the CivilWar and Emancipation fromthe viewpoints of those whoexperienced it—young and old,enslaved and free, soldiers andcivilians.The Civil War 150 HistoryMobilevisits museums,schools, state and federal parks,fairs, and other sites.More information the CivilWar 150 HistoryMobile andthe initiatives of the VirginiaSesquicentennial of the AmericanCivil War Commission canbe found at www.VirginiaCivil-War.org.Evaluation Assistance ( I-SEA)program.The seminar also will offerfour lecture sessions, exhibitorsand vendors. The fee is$25 with advance registration,or $30 at the door. Registrationforms are available at nnmg.org, or call 580-5694.Miller’sSeptic Service, Inc.Locally & family owned since 1973All areas of septic and sewer service &installs for residential & commercial workServing the Peninsula, MiddlePeninsula & Northern Neck

Celebratingover 50 yearsELECTRICAL, INC.Electrical Construction, Commercial and Industrial120 Tewning Road757-345-0033 (phone)Williamsburg, VA 23188 757-345-2694 (cell)Email: luxterraelectrical@msn.comURBANNA – 3-4 BR, 5 full BA,garage, shop, generator. Pier.Great views – Water on 3 sides!$695,000 Eric Johnson 804-815-8374 eric@masonrealty.comHUNTON CREEK – Deltaville – 3BR, 3 ½ BA Brick Colonial, Newroof! Master suite up & down.2 car garage. Pier, 3’ MLW.$429,500 R.D. Johnson 804-815-8320 rd@masonrealty.comRAPPAHANNOCK RIVER – Sweepingviews! 3 BR, 2 BA, in-ground pool,detached garage/guest quarters.Dock, boatlift, sand beach. 1.4 ac.$815,000 Irvin Shackelford 804-815-8400 irvin@masonrealty.comURBANNA CREEK – 3 BR, 3 ½ BA2-Story with walk-out basement. 3covered porches. Pier, boathouse.$349,000 Eric Johnson 804-815-8374 eric@masonrealty.comMEACHIM CREEK – 3 BR, 2 BAranch home. Large decks, floatingdock. Community boat ramp& dock/slips. $279,000 SteveDarman 804-815-2036 sdarman1@aol.comURBANNA HARBOUR – 4 BR,2 ½ BA - Water views! Generator,wood floors, lrg kitchen. Area of upscalehomes. Boat slip for lease orpurchase. $269,500 Craig Hall 815-8494 craig@masonrealty.comURBANNA CREEK – 4 BR, 3 ½BA brick ranch, 2 car att’d garage.Pier, boathouse & lift. Nice views! 4’MLW. $669,000 Eric Johnson 804-815-8374 eric@masonrealty.comRAPPAHANNOCK RIVER –Beautiful 3 BR, 2 BA riverfronthome /18 acres. 510’ river frontage.Sand beach! $499,999Steve Darman 804-815-2036sdarman1@aol.comURBANNA – 3 BR, 2 BA ContemporaryRanch, garage, generator,paved drive. Great condition– Area of upscale homes. 1 ac.$295,000 Craig Hall 815-8494craig@masonrealty.com DELTAVILLE – Broad Creek – 3BR, 2 BA Ranch style on 2 lots.Excellent water depth. Deck, largeboathouse. $549,500 R.D. Johnson804-815-8320 rd@masonrealty.comSALUDA VILLAGE – Renovated4 BR, 2 BA Victorian, circa1895. Pine floors, tile baths,1st floor Master suite. 1 ½ ac.$249,500 Irvin Shackelford 815-8400 irvin@masonrealty.comURBANNA – Immaculate 3 BR,2 BA, 2 car garage. Oak floors,granite counters, tile baths.River views! $399,500 CraigHall 804-815-8494 craig@masonrealty.comFor more information on any of our listings, please call Mason Realty first WANTED – We need property to SELL! All types. Please call! No obligation. www.masonrealty.comEric Johnson . . . . . . . 815-8374Craig Hall. . . . . . . . . . .815-8494Tillie Hudgins . . . . . . . .776-6350Marvin Mason . . . . . . .815-8391Steve Darman . . . . . . .815-2036R. D. Johnson II . . . . . .815-8320RealtorsandAppraisersWalter Lawson, Jr. . . . .758-2836Irvin R. Shackelford . .815-8400Jean Darman . . . . . . . .577-7083Zani Autry . . . . . . . . . .758-3181Bill Kallam . . . . . . . . . .832-1024CJCJim’sCABINET CREATIONSCustom Cabinets, Manufactured Cabinets,and Closet Storage UnitsGranite, Corian, Quartz, and Laminate TopsCome visit our new show room!jimscabinets@kaballero.com(804) 435-2061 Fax: (804) 435-870044 Whisk Drive White Stone, VAE SQUIREs e r v i c e sProfessional Cleaning ServicesP.O. Box 1413Tappahannock, Vawww.esquireservices.netCarpetUpholsteryOriental RugsOdor EliminationUrine TreatmentTile & Grout CleaningWater DamageRestorationCommercial& ResidentialPh: 804.443.4751800.321.4751Fax: 804.443.2394Quality You Insist On, Service You Can Depend On! • windows on the Bay • 19

HOMETOWN LIGHTINGSHOWROOM12 th Anniversary SaleGoing on Now• Discounts up to 70% off• Fans and Fixtures• Better than the Internet• Lowest Price Guarantee• Certified Lighting Staff• AREA WIDE Delivery• Lighting Design Service435-000335 S. Main St., KilmarnockMon.-Fri. 9 AM-4 PMwww.hometownlighting.comResponsible Lender + Sensible Mortgage =A Home Loan That You Can Live WithWhen you get a home mortgage loan from ChesapeakeBank, your best interests are our only interest. We makeyour home. And it should besheltering you and your family800-434-1181 20 • windows on the Bay •

Bricks & MortarCommercial construction continues in the area.Pictured below and on the following pages are some ofthe projects under way or completed in recent months.RCC Kilmarnock CenterRappahannock Community College opened the doors to its 8,160-square-foot Kilmarnockcenter in late January. Cole and Denny developed the floor plan while NBJ architectural firmused the design from other RCC sites. Mike Christopher was responsible for the building ofthe $480,000 project which features high-tech computer classrooms and a nursing lab.Deltaville Community CenterEleven months after the April 16, 2011 tornado cut through the heart of Deltaville, thenew Deltaville Community Association (DCA) building is nearly complete. The tornado alsodamaged the Ricky Taylor Memorial Pool, which was renovated in 2011 just in time for summer.Both projects were true community efforts accelerated by donations and volunteer labor, aswell as contractors and suppliers who donated or discounted their services and materials.Lancaster Judicial CenterThe $4 million Judicial Center in Lancaster Courthouse isa 24,000-square-foot building housing the Circuit, GeneralDistrict and Juvenile and Family courts and offices of thecourt clerks and Commonwealth’s Attorney. Construction wascompleted in December, 2010 by David A. Nice Builders usinglocal workers and subcontractors.King Carter Golf ClubhouseThe 2100-square-foot clubhouse at King Carter Golf Clubnear Kilmarnock is expected to open in April. The building,which cost between $400,000 and $500,000, will serve as aclubhouse, pro shop and the King Carter Cafe restaurant withindoor seating for 40 and outdoor seating for 30. The buildingwas designed by architect Andy Walls of Eagle Constructionof Virginia and built by Southland Homes of Richmond.Vineyard RestaurantThe Vineyard Restaurant at Jacey Vineyards near Remoopened in January 2012. The 2500-square-foot buildingserves as a tasting room and restaurant, where lunch anddinner is served on Fridays and Saturdays and brunch isserved on Sundays. The winery and restaurant are owned byRobert Jacey, MD. • windows on the Bay • 21

Good Luck CellarsGood Luck Cellars near Kilmarnock has an expansive roomand wrap around porch that will accommodate weddingreceptions and other events. There’s also an intimate towerat the top that overlooks the vineyards. Owners Katie andPaul Krop have a cellar full of wine barrels open for publicviewing.Mercer PlaceLocated on East Church Street in Kilmarnock, Mercer Placeopened July, 2011. The non-profit Partners Foundation offers16 affordable rental units for educators and other serviceindustry providers, such as nurses and law enforcement. Itwas designed by Wayne Jones of JA, PLLC in Raleigh, NCand built by Community Housing Partners Corporation ofChristiansburg, Virginia. Total cost was $2.05 million.Hartfield Fire Department PavilionThe Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department’s pavilion featuresa 3,600 square foot reception hall, a complete commercialkitchen and meeting room. The pavilion can accommodate 299people for private events. For more, visit Hartfieldfire.com.Brent HouseThe 3,000-square-foot Sears kit Victorian on South MainStreet in Kilmarnock is owned by ICN Enterprises, LLC.According to ICN principal Julian Patterson, the companywants to save and restore the Victorian which had fallen intodisrepair. Foot Contractors of Williamsburg is using somelocal sub-contractors and expects to complete restorationby this summer. The second building is approximately 1,500square feet.Shear PleasureShear Pleasure Salon opened in February 2011 on Route 200outside of Kilmarnock. The 1350-square-foot building wasdesigned by salon owner Charlotte Self and Lloyd Dilday ofChesapeake Homes in Weems and Lively. Dilday was also thebuilder.Deli in SaludaThis 26-by-34 foot building on Route 33 near Saluda CourtHouse is going to be a deli/country store.Joseph C. Jones Inc. Nowcool † † As compared to a Carrier 10 SEER air conditioner.* Rebate savings range from $50 to $1,350 depending on equipmentpurchased. Expires 6/30/2012. See participating dealer for details.YOUR LOCAL CARRIER EXPERTRYMAN’S INC.AIR CONDITIONING& HEATINGUrbanna, VA804-758-297822 • windows on the Bay •

(804) 529-6226CRALLE INSURANCE AGENCYCallao, VA 22435GENERAL INSURANCEHILDA DRIGGSAgentGary’s Well Drilling& Pump Service2" & 4" Wells DrilledPump InstallationPump Service & RepairTrenching - Irrigation WellsLicensed & Insured.Over 30 Years’ Experience.Owner: Gary R. Blake, Topping, Virginia804-758-2621Yankee Point Racing ClubhouseThe Yankee Point Racing and Cruising Club finishedconstruction on its 16,000-square-foot clubhouse in December.Club member George Bott was responsible for most of thearchitectural design. The $173,000 building can hold up to 155people for the club’s meetings and events.Spring shows what God can dowith a drab and dirty world.~Virgil A. KraftGreat FortuneFiona and Charlie Li opened their restaurant Great Fortune onMain Street in Kilmarnock in July 2011. The restaurant nowoccupies some 5,800 square feet, including 1,800 square feetof deck for outside dining. Charlie Li designed and acted asgeneral contractor and did much of the work himself.If the power goes outwill you be ready?No more worries of blackouts, brownouts or weather relatedoutages. Just peace of mind that 24 hours a day,7 days a week, your home and family are protectedagainst electrical failure. Spring Specials (while supplies last)HURD’s, INC.Urbanna FirehouseThe Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department in Urbanna has a new three-bay addition. The additionwas built by Hammon Brothers of Tappahannock and the structure is 65-by-74 feet.START RIGHT. START HERE. Models Available:7kw - 150 kwGENERATORInstallation & ServiceWesley Hatchell, Sr.804-758-0357Cell: 804-347-9843Tiffany YachtsTiffany Yachts in Burgess opened its new building (center) in February 2011, one year exactlyafter a fire destroyed its old facility. The 12,000-square-foot building is used for indoorboat repair work, offices and a ship’s store. Designed by Engineering Design Associates ofRichmond and Wicomico Church, it was built by Courthouse Construction of Gloucester. • windows on the Bay • 23

Oyster HarborThe Residences at Oyster Harbor in Urbanna features 10condominiums and two free-standing units. Each residencecomes with a 40-foot floating boat slip on Urbanna Creek,a pool, screened porch, granite and ceramic bathrooms andkitchen, plus enclosed storage. Beckstoffer & Associates ofWeems is the owner, architect, and interior designer.West MarineWest Marine’s 15,000-square-foot store will replace both of itsDeltaville stores that totaled 16,700 square feet. Constructionis scheduled to be completed by May 12. The energy-efficientstore should be open by the end of May. The Deltaville store isone of seven large-format stores set to open by West Marine,which is consolidating into a larger store.Trinity Episcopal ChurchKeep Warm - Be CoolN BLETT, INC.(804) 435-1111(800) 535-008417 South Main StreetKilmarnock, Virginia 22482E-mail: info@noblett.comwww.noblett.comTrinity Episcopal Church in Lancaster recently added a 3,840-square-foot enclosed pavillion to host church and communityevents. The approximately $70,000 project was designed byJ.R. Roacher and built by C.B. structures.24 • windows on the Bay •

Heathsville United Methodist ChurchA 3200-square-foot addition should be completed by May at Heathsville United MethodistChurch. The addition will include a fellowship hall, offices, bathroom and kitchen. BayshoreDesign of Kinsale is the architect and Courthouse Construction of Gloucester is building theestimated $750,000 addition.Pruningclinic dueMarch 31White Stone Wine & CheeseA landmark on main street in White Stone, the restaurantchanged hands last year and reopened in October under theownership of Mike Robertson. There are 1,800 square feetof renovations, designed by Robertson, who also acted ashis own general contractor doing much of the work himself.White Stone Wine and Cheese is open for lunch and dinneroffering continental fare.Look for theivah Visitor’s Guideon newsstands April 26Unhappy with the look ofyour trees? Has your CrepeMyrtle lost its natural form?Join the Middlesex MasterGardeners for a free hands-onpruning clinic on Saturday,March 31 at 11 a.m. (rain dateApril 7). The clinic will be heldat Bridalwise Riding Academy,12612 General Puller Highway,Hartfield.Virginia Clark, a MiddlesexMaster Gardener, will demonstrateproper pruning techniques,share how to correctpruning errors and how toproperly sharpen pruning tools.Virginia has extensive experiencein natural and correctivepruning. Tools will be providedor bring your own.Master Gardener/VirginiaCooperative Extension programsare open to all. Call 758-4120 for more information. • windows on the Bay • 25

Spring Specials on select styles – freeupgrades! Save now!Professional InstallationCustom Countertops HOME CENTER Serving Middlesex & Surrounding Counties for Over 30 YearsWe service what we sellCustom ArchitecturalGlass Artestablished 1989serving the Northern Necksince 1999www.zekiahglass.com804-394-314226 • windows on the Bay •

Cut mowing time by 1/3The following is for entertainment only.Attempting to build a mowing “side car” could be hazardous.I’m not among those who thinkmowing the lawn is important.Mowing grass is a tremendouswaste of time. It’s noisy, dirty anddangerous (see above warning).There is so much else I’d ratherdo, especially in spring and summer.That’s why I came up with a way toget the task done quicker by attachinga push mower “side car” to myriding mower.I took one pipe clamp—the kindused to clamp furniture together—and attach it to the riding mowerframe. Small squares of rubber innertube help the clamp grip the frame.Next, I positioned the pushmower “backwards” so the armscontact the pipe clamp (see photo).Notice the discharge chutes are inopposite directions.I used duct tape to attach onlyone of the push mower arms to thepipe clamp (you’ll see why later).A couple of vise grips were addedsupport, but turned out not to benecessary. A coat hanger placedfrom the pipe clamp to the mowerbody prevented the side car fromsliding up.That was it.I spent more time trying to getthe old push mower running than Idid hooking up the side car.I now had a 59 inch cut, andhave reduced mowing time by athird. For reference, a mower with a“The side car also cutsunder bushes withoverhanging branches.”60-inch cut would cost thousandsof dollars.So, how does it work? Better than Iever expected and there were someunintended good consequences.First surprise: I thought therewould be a gap of uncut grassbetween mowers, but the mowersoverlap and there is no gap—noteven in turns.by Tom Chillemi“the mowers overlap and there is nogap—not even in turns.”59-inch cutSecond surprise: I thought Iwould have to mow slower. Nottrue. I mow in the same gear as I didwithout the “side car.” Here’s why.The riding mower had 10 horsepowerwhen it was new 15 yearsago. I estimate it has 6-7 horsepowernow and must haul me around andspin two blades. The push moweris rated at 3.5 horsepower and cuts“I mow in the samegear as I did withoutthe ‘side car.’ ”fine, even in tall grass.Third surprise: Have you everseen a riding mower get stucktrying to mow a ditch? Well, withthe side car, I can keep the ridingmower up and out of the ditch andlet the side car cut the incline. Theside car also cuts hills, leaving theriding mower on the flat section.This is possible because it is connectedloosely with duct tape andin only one place to the pipe clamp.This “articulating action” also allowsfor mowing around bushes, whichleads to another surprise.The side car also cuts underbushes with overhanging branches.The operator does not have to leanaway or hold back the branches.Later I removed the top half of thepush mower handle to get it out ofthe way.Now I feel like I’m on a real pieceof farm equipment such as a combine,spewing grass in all directions.After I first made the side car I wastelling the story to someone. Before Igot to the good part, they remarkedthey had seen a riding mower withtwo push mowers attached to it.Hmm? I wonder what wouldhappen if …“I can keep the ridingmower up and out of theditch and let the side carcut the incline.” • windows on the Bay • 27

Just Gardenstour plans toreturn in 2013As the Coca Cola sloganfrom the 1930s suggests, JustGardens will pause to “reorganize,revitalize and refresh,”according to committee chairmanAnne Olsen.“We’ve enjoyed eleven wonderfulyears with our Just Gardensfamily,” said Olsen. “Thatfamily is made up of graciousgarden owners, Master Gardeners,committee members andof course the devoted generalpublic, who have come backyear after year to see new andrevisited gardens. It’s time forus to take a one year break andprepare for future tours. We’renot going away, we’re justtaking a much needed pause torefresh.”Plans are in the works for the2013 tour May 17 and 18, shesaid. The tour has raised justover $125,000 during its 11year run to benefit The HavenShelter and Services.Call us!We always haveTruckload Pricing28 • windows on the Bay •

TheRIVAH SHOPSBURGESS HOUSE, INC.Old, New & In-BetweenHome decor, Furniture, Lamps, Mirrors, Pictures,Jewelry, Nautical items, and Collectibles!Always a Sale!80 Jessie Dupont Memorial Hwy.Burgess, VA (804) 453-5900Crying ShamePicture Framing & Art Gallery(804) 443-0070Essex Antiques & Collectibles1657 Tappahannock Blvd. • Tappahannock, VA804-443-0335 • A Multi-Dealer Malllocated in Essex Square Shopping CenterCome browse our store for furniture, glassware,jewelry, coins, trains and lots more!Open 6 days a week • Closed WednesdaysCarrot CottageJim Shore, Willow Tree,Crocs, Flags, Garden & Nautical AccessoriesTervis Tumblers and Flags GaloreScarves, Handbags & Jewelry“We Celebrate Everything” 804-493-1320NORTHERN NECKBUILDING SUPPLY, INC.Every arrangement is uniqueby Barbara GillespieFlower arranging isa personal form of art,using your own taste andstyle. Give 10 people thesame flowers and containersand there will be10 different designs. Thisis how it should be. However,a few guidelines canhelp achieve a balancedappearance in your floraldesign.There are three maintypes of flowers in eacharrangement:• Line—Tall branchesor flowers that addheight and width toarrangements.• Mass—Flowers thatgive the arrangementits mass or the mainfocal point.• Filler—Greenery/foliage,baby’s breathand/or berries usedto fill in the spacesbetween the focaland mass.If you are collectingflowers from your yard,it is always best to gatherthem early in the morningand place in warmwater for several hours tocondition before arranging.When ready to use,cut stalks on the diagonalto allow more water tobe absorbed. The samewould be true for flowersbought from a store orflorist.After you have selectedthe flowers that youwould like to use, a vase/Barbara Gillespie displays one of her flower arrangementsthat includes Creeping Jenny, Bishop’s Weed, Bridal Wreath,Peach Blossoms, Scotch Broom, Daffodils and Forsythia.container is needed thatwill determine the shapeof your arrangement.Consider where yourarrangement is to be used.If, for example, it is to beused on a dining roomtable, a low arrangementis better for easy conversation.This is usually onlyas tall as the elbow to thetip of your fingers. However,I have seen very tall,clear vases with eitherbranches or tall flowersthat also work and canbe more dramatic. Usuallyan arrangement is1½ times higher than thevase. Designing arrangementswill be easier, butnot always necessary, ifyou have “mechanics”needed to keep the flowersin place. This could bemarbles, oasis, frogs orchicken wire.Establish the height ofthe arrangement by placingone piece of the tallestmaterial in the center.Then place foliage at fourpoints above the container’srim. The remainingmaterials are usuallycut shorter than the firstfive pieces. Cut away allplant material that willbe below the water lineto prevent bacteria thatcan shorten the life of theflowers.Fill the container withwarm water and plantfood—either bought ora homemade mix of onecrushed aspirin, one teaspoonof sugar and 1/4teaspoon of bleach toa quart of water. Checkwater every day and cutoff faded blossoms.Most of all have funwith your flowers. Enjoythe beauty that fresh flowersbring to your home.And remember, everyarrangement is unique.Barbara Gillespie is copresidentof the JohnMitchell Garden Club inUrbanna.17144 Kings HighwayMontross, Virginia 22520Office: (804) 493-9588 Fax: (804) 493-9533 • windows on the Bay • 29

Historic Garden Week in VirginiaDuring the 80th Historic Garden Week in Virginia, April 21-28, visitors will step through the gates of morethan 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful gardens, homes and historic landmarks. Three dozen Garden Week tourswill present a rich mosaic of some of the country’s finest properties at the peak of Virginia’s springtime color.Sponsored by The Garden Club of Virginia, local events are scheduled from the Atlantic Ocean to the AlleghenyMountains and will span the centuries from the early 17th through the early 21st. In the Middle Peninsula,tours are planned in Middlesex (April 27) and Gloucester (April 28). On the Northern Neck, a tour isplanned in Lancaster (April 25). The tours present an opportunity for visitors to enjoy some of the most eleganthistoric sites and breathtaking gardens the area has to offer.Tour visitors to experience ‘CivilWar History along our Waterways’The Garden Club of theMiddle Peninsula will holdits tour of Middlesex County,titled “Civil War Historyalong our Waterways,” onFriday, April 27, from 10a.m. to 5 p.m.Visit Middlesex Countyduring its 2012 SesquicentennialCommemoration ofthe Civil War. Step back intime and enjoy the viewsand history from the silentsentinels, and its river-fronthomes. Walking shoes areadvised.Ticket price includesadmission to the followingsix properties:The Cryer House isat 31 Shell Court Road atCedar Pointe near Urbanna.Whimsical animal statuarydecorate the winding gardentrails and manicured paveddrive to this contemporaryFrench country home facingLaGrange Creek and lookinginto the RappahannockRiver.The gardens feature nativeVirginia and Coastal HonshuJapanese plants suited to themicro-climate of MiddlesexCounty. Many of the specimensare labeled with theirbotanical names. A sandybeach and pier extend thewaterfront lawn and inviterecreational activities or justa relaxing afternoon in achair.Constructed in 2003 bylocal craftsmen, the homewas designed by the ownersfor comfort and low maintenance.An open floor planaccommodates large groupsincluding family, friends andthe many foster children towhom they have opened theirhome. The formal blends withthe informal to feature newShenandoah Valley furniturealong with Philadelphiaantiques including an early1800 dining room suite.Collections of Art Decoprints by Icart, oyster platesand nautical sailboats andlighthouses decorate this sixbedroomhome. Movie fanswill enjoy the theater roomposters, while sports enthusiastswill appreciate the collectionof signed baseballs,footballs and an autographedhome plate.Mr. and Mrs. David Cryerare the owners.Urbanna Light is at 105Mariner’s Way next to thebridge leading to Urbanna.Standing majestically overthe harbor of Urbanna, thislighthouse home appearsto be a landmark from thepast. Completed in 2005,the house is modeled aftera lighthouse on a St. LawrenceSeaway island. The650-pound Fresnel lens inthe lighthouse once lit Australia’sPerth Harbor.The main house andgarage/guest house are madeof bricks rescued from an oldwarehouse and have colorfulslate roofs. Anchored on oneside of the octagonal pool isa stone sculpture of a fisherman’sdaughter searchingthe harbor. Hollies, naturalgrasses and evergreens lendprivacy to the property.Mr. and Mrs. David Cottrellare the owners.Christ Church Parishis at 56 Christ Church Laneoff Route 33 East, four mileseast of Saluda. The churchwas founded in 1666. Theoriginal structure was probablywood and was replacedby the present brick building“to be finished in 1714,”according to the Vestry Bookof Christ Church Parish,1663-1767.The churchyard includes anumber of colonial tombs andis surrounded on three sidesby a brick wall donated bythe Garden Club of Virginiain 1942 with proceeds fromHistoric Garden Week tours.Christ Church is listed onboth the Virginia HistoricLandmarks Register and theNational Register of HistoricPlaces.For centuries, parishchurches in England havecoupled the beauty of theirchurches with the beautyof flowers. Christ ChurchParish follows this tradition.Especially for HistoricGarden Week, enjoy beautifulfloral arrangements celebratingthe theme “Beautyand Holiness” and vestmentsreflecting the colorsof the church liturgical year.Urbanna LightThe Rev. Paul J. Anderson,rector of Christ ChurchParish, presides.Millmont is at 987 MillWharf Road in Wake. Thefirst of two historic homes onthe tour, Millmont, built in1810, derives its name fromits location on a hill (mont)overlooking Mill Creek.The original four-story, oneover-onehalf frame housewas built to take advantageof the spectacular views ofthe Rappahannock River,Chesapeake Bay and a privatepond. Today, the shadetrees and gardens still dotthe long expanse of lawnwhere a hand-pegged barnis located near the house. Afew remaining shrubs of forsythiaand lilac mark the siteof a former nursery.Mr. and Mrs. W. DavidSouth are the owners.The LeBoeuf House isat 1411 Wilton Creek Road,Hartfield. This private, contemporaryfarm house has acircular drive screened withmature trees, hollies, dogwoodand wax myrtles. The11-acre property is situatedon a bluff overlooking thePiankatank River facing theChesapeake Bay. The gardenshave been designed todisplay color all year. Thesummer garden is resplendent30 • windows on the Bay •

with hydrangeas and rosesand features a pool. The rivergarden includes a sunkenoverlook, as well as plantsselected to attract birds andbutterflies.Mr. and Mrs. Robert LeBoeufare the owners.Providence is at 2 BlandPoint Road in Deltaville.Fronting the PiankatankRiver, this original one-andone-halfstory home is oneof the oldest brick homes inMiddlesex County. A bricklocated above the riverfrontporch as well as countyrecords dating back to the1760s indicate this propertyonce belonged to the WilliamMorgan family.The approach to Providenceis impressive. Thetree-lined drive leads toThe Garden Club ofGloucester will hold itsannual Garden Tour from10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday,April 28.Shuttles buses will runfrom Brent and Becky’sBulbs at 7900 DaffodilLane. There will be noparking at the homes.For ticket information,visit www.vagardenweek.org, or email pattygould2@gmail.com.Glen RoyToday’s Glen Roy Plantationis the third structureon the property dating fromever blooming, formal,sun and shade gardens thatboast over 40,000 bulbs, anarray of perennials and 100hydrangeas. This beautifullyrestored home features twonew wings with massivebrick walls and chimneys, aswell as a new guest cottage,pool and dock.Mr. and Mrs. William R.Cawthorn are owners.The day of the tour, visitorscan meet with Master Gardenersand a docent on a restoredboat from the Deltaville MaritimeMuseum and Holly PointPark. There is no charge totour the boat, which is openfrom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Refreshments and beverageswill be served from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Churchof the Visitation on Route 33near Hartfield.Tour tickets are $30 perperson. Children 13 andolder, full price; ages 6-12,half-price; ages 5 and under,free of charge. Tickets maybe purchased on tour day atany of the houses. For internettickets, please accesswww.VAGardenweek.org.Children younger than age17 must be accompanied byan adult.Advance tickets are $25per person by mail to AnneBland, P.O. Box 31, WestPoint, VA 23181. For questionscall (804) 843-2731.Please include a self-addressed,stamped envelopewith check payable to TheGarden Club of the MiddlePeninsula by April 18. Norefunds on advance tickets.Four homes featured in Gloucester Garden TourThe garden at Glen Roya 1630 land grant of 600acres from Charles I. Thishouse, built in 1853, is seton 59 acres of Ware Riverwaterfront with farmland,woods and extensivelawns.Recently restored bypreservationist architectJay Smith, the house maintainsits original GreekRevival woodwork, plastermoldings, wood floors, andwindows.Jay and Miranda McClinticare the homeowners.The stately main houseis a classic four-over-fourGeorgian plan with a threepartcenter hall and a mainstaircase that winds threefloors to a skylight andwidow’s walk. Its innovativerenovation createdfour bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a newgourmet kitchen withoutcompromising the originalfabric of the house. Thefirst and second floors ofthe main house, the guesthouseand the schoolhousewill be open during thetour.Burgh WestraThe impressive BurghWestra was built in 1850by Warner ThrockmortonTaliaferro for his son, PhillipAlexander Taliaferro,M.D.Located on the NorthRiver and designedby noted American architectAndrew JacksonDowning, the Boyds’ home,Burgh Westra, may be theoldest house in GloucesterCounty remaining in itsoriginal family.In 1983, the house burnedin an accidental fire, leavingbehind only the brickwalls and chimneys. It hasLeBoeuf House on Wilton Creek (see more Middlesex tour photos on page 33)since been painstakinglyrestored and is now virtuallyidentical to the original.The guesthouse andthe first and second floorsof the main house will beopen.Teaching GardensLocated at the head ofWare Neck, this 18-acresite, which used to be acornfield, is now the homeof an eight-acre publicgarden. Featuring manythemed gardens, the plantingsshow how to useBurgh Westrabulbs, perennials, annuals,biennials, flowering treesand shrubs. Designed toshow how to use many differentcolors and texturesin landscaping in a bayfriendlyway.The importance ofcompost, drainage andlight requirements for theplants are stressed andare topics that docentswill share. Garden Clubs,birding and photographygroups as well as otherorganizations and schoolfield trips utilize thegardens and meet in the“Chesapeake Lounge”event room.Garden Club memberswill serve refreshmentsfrom 3 to 5.Abingdon EpiscopalChurchThe church will holdits spring festival, flowershow and art show duringthe tour, and sell lunches.The church is at 4645 onRoute 17 North at WhiteMarsh. • windows on the Bay • 31

Bay Security Systems LLCBurglar and Fire Alarms804-435-227524 Hr MonitoringResidentialLight CommercialCurry & Curry Pottery 18399 Mary Ball Rd. Kilmarnock 804-435-2936Farm & Home Supply, LLCHardware & Marine Hardware, Pet Food & Supplies,Large Greenhouse, Echo Power Equipment,Garden Tillers, Valspar Paints & Sundries,Bird Food, Feeders and much more!SOUTHERNSTATESLicensed and Insured25 Years ExperienceDCJS #11-6738Irvington Road, Kilmarnock469 N. Main St., PO Box 249Kilmarnock, Virginia 22482Phone: (804) 435-3177Hours: 7:30 - 5:30 M-F, 7:30 - 5:00 Sat.SOUTHERNSTATESNorthern Neck garden tour willshowcase five Lancaster homesHistoric Garden Weekin the Northern Neck willfeature a tour of five homesopen for the first time. TheGarden Club of Virginiaand the Garden Club of theNorthern Neck will hostthe annual tour April 25 inLancaster County.“Lancaster Legacies,”the tour will take place inupper Lancaster County.Properties on the tour willinclude Mitchell’s Manor,the Monaskon Post Officeand General Store, Summerfield,Deep Creek Farm,and The Oaks.The house and garden tourtakes the visitor throughlush, rolling farmlandalong the RappahannockRiver, and into the creeksof the Rappahannock andCorrotoman Rivers. In1608, Captain John Smithreferred to this land as “aplace heaven and earthnever agreed better toframe man’s habitation.”The southernmost of thecounties that make up theNorthern Neck, LancasterCounty has especiallymaintained the serene andquiet beauty that attractedearly settlers, said publicitychairman Kathryn KahlerVose.Mitchell’s Manor is anelegant Georgian homeoverlooking the WesternBranch of the CorrotomanRiver, said Vose. It is ownedby Mr. and Mrs. Norman E.Tadlock.The Monaskan PostOffice and General Storeis where the steamboat oncestopped to take on cannedtomatoes and oysters, continuedVose. It is ownedby Raymond E. Dobyns Jr.Mitchell’s Manorand Anita Conner Tadlock,granddaughter of PostmistressJennie Mae TowlesDobyns.Summerfield is a propertythat has been in thefamily for seven generations,she said. It is ownedby Kendall Stoneham.Deep Creek Farm is onscenic Deep Creek, saidVose. It is owned by LyleBeckwith and MaureenFlanagan.The Oaks includes apost-Civil War farmhouse,she said. It is owned by R.Page Henley Jr. and family.Tickets can be purchasedin advance for $25 untilApril 11. Send a check for$25, payable to the GardenClub of the Northern Neck,to Carol Hughes, P.O. Box••• Tervis Deep Creek Farm32 • windows on the Bay •

775, Irvington, VA 22480.Include a stamped, selfaddressed,letter-sizedenvelope.Tickets may be purchasedon the day of theevent for $30, or $15 forsingle-site admission at anyof the houses open for thetour and at the informationcenter. For internet tickets,visit VAGardenweek.org.Children younger than age17 must be accompaniedby an adult.Tickets may be purchasedat The Dandelion inIrvington, The Pedestal inKilmarnock and the MaryBall Washington Museumand Library in Lancaster.The information centerwill be at St. Mary’sWhitechapel at 5940 WhiteChapel Road in Lancaster.Box lunches will beavailable there, but mustMore sites on Middlesex tourbe reserved in advance.Make checks ($15) payableto St. Mary’s Whitechapel.Send payment by April 16to: St. Mary’s Whitechapel,5940 White Chapel Road,Lancaster, VA 22503, callJanie Smith at 462-5908, orsmwclora@aol.com.Bring this coupon in for$5 00 off Plants, Mulch& Stepping StonesBoxcroft Inc.Nursery & Landscaping804-453-4462867 Fleeton Road, Reedville, VAShell PointNeal & NickelPen & Ink DrawingsbyKathryn J. HumphreysWebsite: http://web.me.com/kthry240804-761-6337ProvidenceDesigned to suit your needs(804) 758-8887Serving:LancasterNorthumberlandMiddlesexMathewsGloucester20% offDraperiesCornicesValancesShadesBlindsShuttersMillmontCourtesy In-Home ConsultationsFree Installation • windows on the Bay • 33

Hassle-Free Organic Gardeningby Theresa MartzIf you’re like me and onlyhave a limited amountof time to spend gardeningyou’ll want to make the mosteffective use of that time.When you garden organicallynature can do most of thework for you. By cooperatingwith her you’ll be amazed atthe time you can save in thegarden.Organic gardening isgrowing things without usingsynthetic pesticides and fertilizers.It’s a way of gardeningthat replaces what it uses.It’s a simple concept basedon building healthy, livingsoil through the addition oforganic material. Good soilis the basis of any successfulfood production and withoutit— crops struggle and sodoes the gardener. To have ahassle-free garden, you haveto build healthy soil.Good newsYou don’t have to wadethrough volumes of gardeningbooks. No need to subjectyourself and your foodto harmful poisons to preventinsects and disease. And youdon’t need 10-10-10 andlime.No need to put in long gruelinghours in the hot sun inthe middle of the summer. Wehave an acre with borders allaround and lots of perennials.Plus our vegetable garden isabout 40 x 60 . Even withall that, the only thing I do inthe heat of summer is harvestfor about 45 minutes to anhour—very early and verylate. Most of my yearly maintenancelike pruning shrubs,cutting ornamental grasses,and adding straw to the bordersand garden is done in thefall and winter months.Better newsYou don’t have to watereither, unless you reallywant to. Even in drought—agarden that works with naturewill be able to sustain itselfmuch longer than a conven-tional garden.Weeds—when there aresome—are easy to get out.Five minutes or less eachtime out takes care of pullingthe few weeds that spring upin my garden.No prepping the gardeneach year. All your preparationis done once when youstart gardening. After thatyou just pull back the mulchand plant.My way of gardening isprobably as close as you’llcome to gardening withoutwork, but to be successful inany endeavor without effortNow AcceptingContracts for:Opening/Closing/MaintenanceSpring Sale: April 16-21Sales Installation Repairs Chemicals SafetyCovers Authorized Dealer forCall to schedule installationLazy Days Pools & Spas (804) 435-2136 34 • windows on the Bay • (or action) is like trying toharvest where you haven’tplanted.Basics to successWhether you have clay soilor sandy soil, there are onlythree basic things you have todo to be successful: erly.(You only do this once.) material (leaves, straw, grassclippings,etc.) to your soil whichturns to organic matter. Getting startedIf you’re new to gardening,plan your bed or border smallenough that you’ll be ableto manage it without goinginto overwhelm. If you takeon more than you can chewthe tendency will be to giveup and you’ll have nothing toshow. If you take it little bylittle – or as much as yourtime will allow (even if it’sonly 10 to 30 minutes at atime) you’ll be encouragedto continue and consistencywill reward you.Your greatest effort in gardeningshould be in the preparationof your soil: gettingthe sod up, taking the rootsand weeds out, loosening thesoil to a depth of 1 to 2 feet,and adding organic material.By not short-cutting thisstep you’ll have something toshow for your efforts. Timespent in soil preparation isone of the main ways to cutwork to a minimum in thefuture.Protect your investment bymulching.Mulching will keep yourground from crusting, compactingand eroding.It’ll alsohelp add a continual supplyof organic matter, not tomention almost doing awaywith weeds.It’ll also keep the roots ofyour plants cooler in the boilingheat of summer whichwill allow them to producemore.If you’ve wanted to start anorganic garden but have hesi-tated because you thought itwould take too much time:start small, prepare your soilproperly, continually addorganic material, and mulch.You’ll find that you’ll havemore to show for your effortswith each passing year. And— it’ll make your organicMURPHY SEED SERVICE, INC.Independent Southern States DealerCOMPLETE LAWN & GARDEN CENTERIncluding Vegetable Seeds,Potatoes, Onions & Peas.Grass Seed, Landscaping Pavers,Potting Soil, Flower Potsand much moreRt. 202, Mt. Holly, VA • 804-472-2755gardening hassle free.Theresa and her husband,Bill Martz, havebeen organic gardening inthe Northern Neck for 34years. Read more of her “nohassle/great rewards-way”at http://tendingmygarden.com.

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Outbuildings:Reminders of the pastAlthough all of the dairies have shutdown in Middlesex County, this largemilking barn at Moore’s Dairy Farm nearCooks Corner is a reminder that therewere several large dairies in the countyfrom the 1930s through the 70s.story and photos by Larry S. ChowningAlong the highways of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula there arerelics of the past that provide a living history of years gone by.Outbuildings were a practical part of our daily life before the modern ageof electricity and indoor plumbing. Today, many property owners preservethe past by maintaining old buildings that have outlived their original use.36 • windows on the Bay • Dairy barnsThere are hardly any dairyfarms left in operation, yetold barns and dairies providea scenic and often pastoral settingalong the highways. Barns are largeand small in size, and range in agefrom the colonial period to the 20thcentury.Prior to modern-day grocery storeswith refrigerated stock, most everysmall farm had a barn where cowsand horses were stalled. These smallfarm barns, even though many todayare used for storage, are remindersof a time when almost every familyhad a couple of cows to milk. Therewere usually two cows to a family, soif one went dry there was at least onemore to milk.Colonial plantations and antebellumand post-Civil War farms hadsmall dairies, not for milking somuch but to separate cream andmake butter. The early dairies werebuilt in English-style basements inthe house—underground where itis cooler than ground level. Later,various styles of dairies were builtin separate outbuildings with sunkenfloors and cool bricks. A typical dairyis located at “Walboro” in Saludawhere the building is a brick, onestorystructure.Large dairy barns came along inthe late 1930s, 40s and 50s, whenfamilies started purchasing milk andmilk products from grocery stores.These barns were used for milkinglarge numbers of cows, and a smalldairy close by was used for pasteurizingand bottling the milk.The era of World War II sparkeda need for scheduled availability ofmilk at military bases and schools,where milk was being served forlunch. This brought about theconstruction of large milking barns.Most dairy farms have closed on theNorthern Neck and Middle Peninsula,but the old barns are still part of ourlandscape.Ice housesBefore ice boxes and refrigerators,there were ice houses, and a few stillstand today. Most large farms had twoice houses. One was usually locatedfar beyond the family orchard, andpacked full of ice every winter. Manywere just large holes in the groundwith ice and sawdust packed deepbelow the surface. Others were wellconstructedcircular houses built overthe hole, and made of brick and underlock and key.The second ice house was asmaller “kitchen” model locatedclose to home, where ice was broughtfrom the larger one and stored forimmediate use.The source of ice was nearbyponds. When the pond would freezein the winter, ice was cut by saw,removed and put in the large icehouse, which was built near the pondto avoid as much travel as possible.Many ice houses had wood framestructures built over them to keepanimals and people from falling in.ElectricityAround 1918, some homes inUrbanna got electricity. Early electrichome plants were housed right on theproperty. Large carbine batteries wereused to produce the electricity.The early home-powered plantsrequired a building to house and keepthe batteries dry. Richard and AnnDonoff have one of the buildingsin their yard in Urbanna, and use ittoday to store yard tools.“I was told our home was the firstin town to have electricity,” said Ann.“Today, we use the little buildingfor storage because it’s a sturdy, dryblock building and very functional.”Many typesAnother unique outbuilding is atBetty Cook’s home at Water View.Mrs. Cook’s relative, A.C. Powell,was deputy treasurer of MiddlesexCounty in the horse-and-buggy days.Middlesex residents living in theJamaica District could go to Powell’soffice and pay their taxes.The little “treasurer’s office” justup from Millstone Landing couldbe accessed by water or land. Asmany folks arrived in sail-poweredlog canoes as they did by horse andbuggy to pay their annual taxes.Prior to the Civil War much of thepopulation on the Northern Neck andMiddle Peninsula lived in slavery.There are still a few slave homesstanding. The one at Walboro nearSaluda just received a new roof.Log buildings were used asschools, barns and corn cribs. Thereis a log corn crib standing at PlainView Farm near Saluda.Although not logged, an antebellumcontinued on page 38

Small farm barns like this one hadenough stalls for a couple of cowsand a couple of horses.Before the days of good roads andtransportation, there were deputytreasurers in each county districthired to collect taxes. This smallbuilding was built near MillstoneLanding in Water View where it wasused by taxpayers in the JamaicaDistrict to come and pay their countytaxes. A.C. Powell was the deputyclerk for the Jamacia District andhad the structure built. Although alltaxes are collected today at Saluda,the little house is still maintain onthe property there in Water View.This slave house has survivedthe test of time near Saluda andrecently got a new roof.This battery house was built in 1918 tostore carbine batteries used to generateelectricity for lighting in the BristowHouse in Urbanna.The corner of a corn crib in the Saludaarea shows the overlapping techniqueof log construction. • windows on the Bay • 37

continued from page 36schoolhouse stands at HarmonyVillage.A meat house and a smokehouse are two differentoutbuildings. A meat housewas used primarily for storingand curing meats without theuse of smoke. The appearancebetween a smokehouse andmeat house are often similar,but the smell of a smokehousestays with the building,whether used a centurybefore or last week. Smokedhams and middling cured in asmokehouse with hickory orapplewood left a wonderfulodor for many generations toenjoy.Meat houses usually havebuilt-in tables along theinside walls of the house forhams to be cured and stored.There also were crocks filledwith salt fish with lids coveredin cheese cloth to keepthe flies away. Canned meatsalso were stored in meathouses.Throughout the region,there are buildings thathoused doctor offices in thedays when offices were nextto a doctor’s home.A tide mill in MathewsCounty is still standing as areminder of the days whencorn and wheat were groundat the local mill. Essex Countystill has one gristmill standingand the foundation of severalothers.Car windows are often anavenue for seeing the landscapeand providing an understandingthat even though everyday lifehas changed, many people continueto maintain old, outdatedbuildings—primarily out of arespect for the past.This brick dairy building atWalboro in Saluda was usedto keep milk cool, separatecream and to make butter.Into the 1960s, grocery storesin Urbanna and elsewheresold “real” butter made fromdairies similar to this one.This one-room antebellumschool house still standsat Harmony Village and ismaintained by its owner.This iron barn door hinge is asignature of days gone-by whena local smithy hand-crafted mostanything made of metal at the localblacksmith shop or right on the farm.Barns with large hay loftswere standard.This circular icehouse in Gloucester Countywas used to store ice for a large household.Usually there was a large icehouse like theone above on a property and a smaller kitchenicehouse near the home for convenience.Meat and smoke houseswere built for the curingand storage of meat andevery farmer had one.38 • windows on the Bay •

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VA license 2701 020221, Class AKREIDLER DESIGNASSOCIATES, INC.INTERIOR DESIGNDefining Design Inside and OutTHURSDAY - SATURDAY 11AM - 5PMa place to call homeVirginia’sNorthern Neck & Middle PeninsulaBreathtaking Sunsetson Piankatank RiverExceptional 1.5 story, 4 bedroom,4.5 bath brick home.Park-like setting on 3.72 acres.Wide water views. Gourmetkitchen. Great room. Spacious 1st floor master suite. Plantationshutters. Sun room. Patio. Screened porch. Attached 2-bayand detached 4-bay garage. Boathouse, lift. $1,295,000Corrotoman By The Bay6’ MLW3 BR, 2 BAUnique RiverHome on theCorrotoman RiverCommunity amenities$360,000ReedvilleLocated onChesapeake Bay5 BR, 3 BAAmazing beach housew/many upgrades$859,000Beautiful Waterfronton Urbanna CreekSouthern living style home.Spacious 5,285 sq. ft. Customfinishes. Lovely 8.5 acres includes extra lot.VA Garden Tour2008. Guest quarters above 2-bay garage. Screened porches.Wide water views. Boathouse, lift. 6’MLW. Williamsburg andRichmond International Airport within 50 minutes. $939,000FRANK HARDY, INC. REALTORSWATERFRONT AND ESTATE BROKERSChesapeake Bay OfficeElizabeth Johnson 804-240-5909www.WaterfrontandEstate.comCathy B. Jackson804-436-4878MIDDLE BAY REALTYKenny Kuykendall804-761-3015FRANK HARDY, INC. REALTORSWATERFRONT AND ESTATE BROKERSChesapeake Bay OfficeFrank Johnson 804-815-8722www.WaterfrontandEstate.com