CLARKSVILLE - Cooperative Living Magazine

DOWN HOME SERIES66LEESBURGThe year 2012 marks the 15th anniversary of CooperativeLiving magazine’s popular DOWN HOME feature,so we’re revisiting the communities weprofiled in 1997, the first year of theseries. On this second stop,we’ll be …81NEW CASTLERoanokeoke77WARM SPRINGS8164CLARKSVILLELBRIDGEWATERBOWLING GREENCharlottesvillele95HEATHSVILLELETANGIER ISLAND64Richmond460VICTORIAI8595WAKEFIELDEDOWN HOME INCLARKSVILLEby Tucker McLaughlin, Jr., Contributing WriterSam Caparatta grew up a perpetuallyimpatient hard-charger from upnorth, so he became genuinelyannoyed the first time seeking service in aClarksville, Va., store.Caparatta waited for what seemed anendless delay while two customers ahead ofhim discussed a recent social event withthe store’s owner.Finally, he got his chance to be served. Heangrily slammed his purchase on the counter.TUCKER MCLAUGHLIN JR. PHOTOThree decades later Caparatta, an affable,warm-hearted local business owner whoadores the Southside Virginia area, remembersthe owner’s reply: “You’re not fromhere, are you?”After tobacco’s decline and the loss oftwo local anchor industries, Clarksville hasfound its niche in Southside Virginia as aninvigorating tourism destination, renownedfor its Southern charm, hospitality and generouscommunity spirit.Clarksville offers unique shopping anda hometown feel. Located next to thesprawling John H. Kerr reservoir, it isVirginia’s only lakeside town.The anchor of Clarksville’s attraction forvisitors is the picturesque, sprawling JohnH. Kerr reservoir, a 50,000-acre floodcontroland hydroelectric reservoir createdin the early 1950s by the U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers. The lake is also called BuggsIsland Lake, after a small island in theRoanoke River just below the massive JohnH. Kerr Dam.This July will mark the 35th anniversaryof one of the signature events in the regiontied to the reservoir, the Virginia LakeFestival (July 19-21).Dale Hite, the owner of Hite’s Clothing,has been in business since 1974 and is justifiablyproud of his hometown.“What makes Clarksville unique isBuggs Island Lake … that differentiatesus from all other smalltowns. It attracts not onlytourists, but we’ve got a lot ofretirees. A lot of them havemoney and don’t like to drivefrom here to Raleigh or Durhamto shop. They like to spend theirmoney locally, because most ofthem have had enough of the city.They come here for the slow paceof life,” says Hite.And there are more people comingto enhance the quality of lifehere, all the time.Shelia Cuykendall, the newexecutive director of the ClarksvilleLake Country Chamber ofCommerce, is excited about thenewly announced marina projectJUSTIN EUBANK PHOTO30Cooperative Living/February 2012

1AT A GLANCE...JUSTIN EUBANK PHOTO2POPULATION: Approximately 1,400FOUNDED: In 1818, 100 acres adjoining theRoanoke River were laid out for the town andnamed after the land's owner, Clark Royster.FACTOIDS: The damming of the Roanoke Riverredefined the region, ushering in the 1953 constructionof the John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir.The 50,000-acre reservoir is also called BuggsIsland Lake after a small island just below the dam.Clarksville is the only town on the lake. In June of2011, a new world-record 143-pound blue catfishwas caught in Buggs Island Lake.3TUCKER MCLAUGHLIN JR. PHOTO1. The municipal dock offers complimentary day-use slips, allowing you todock, dine and shop in Clarksville. 2. The Mecklenburg County VeteransMemorial is located at the intersections of Highways 15/49 and Business 58.3. After retiring from the military, Joe Davidson made Clarksville home andbecame the longtime principal of Clarksville Elementary School.JUSTIN EUBANK PHOTOadministered by the staff at OcconeecheeState Park, which has made its own indeliblemark on tourism in the area.Justin Eubank, current president of theClarksville Chamber, says the marina projectis a state-funded booster shot that will essentiallydouble the amount of boat slips availablein town, beyond what is currently availableat the Clarksville Marina and the townmunicipal dock. “I think it’ll enhancetourism,” Eubank says.“Buggs Island is kind of an under-usedlake. If you’ve ever been to (nearby) HycoLake, you go out there and you feel likeyou’re in Times Square. There are so manyboats, so many people out there. Then, youcome here, you realize just how much spaceyou really do have, and it’s a so-much-moreenjoyableexperience, especially for families,”Eubank adds.Clarksville features unique shops thatoffer personal attention and a hometownfeel, from The Galleria to Virginia AvenueMall, with some 40 different vendors, toantiques dealers and much more.“Even though it’s a small town, it’s verydiverse. I grew up here and moved away, Iwent to college away, I went to work away,but I moved back here to raise my family,because I enjoy the quality of life. I canmake more money in Greensboro, orDallas or Richmond, but I prefer the lifestyle,knowing everybody here. I wouldn’ttrade that for anything,” Eubank says.“We’ve got a lot of transplants. It’s avery diverse group of people who liveshere. A lot of people, when they first gethere, complain that there’s nothing to do.But they just haven’t acclimated. After ayear or so, they can’t imagine going backto the city. This is just so much nicer. That’sthe big draw, the quality of life. There’s plentyto do, it’s just not all malls and traffic,”Eubank continues.And Eubank, noting the influence of nearbyindustries, points out, “We actually havethe infrastructure. With Microsoft (coming toBoydton), and Hewlett-Packett (homelandsecurity), we have the best Internet available.We have the best web you can get anywherein the country. There’s broadband availabilityhere that you wouldn’t believe.”Joe Davidson knows Clarksville as well asanyone. He’s a former educator who graduatedfrom West Virginia University in 1964 andalso had a career with the U.S. Navy. Justbefore he left the service, Davidson and hiswife, Gail, went on a camping trip to themountains and passed through Clarksville forthe first time.February 2012/www.co-opliving.com31

Thrift Store has also acquired a special reputationamong area residents.There’s always been a spirit of eager volunteerismin the town.Teresa Beck, bookkeeper at Berry HillIrrigation, notes, “All it takes is a call ora need and people here really gather andget it done ... We all support eachother’s causes.”As Davidson points out, Clarksville residentsare genuinely concerned about theirneighbors. Newcomers and visitors find thefriendliness of the townspeople one of thecommunity’s main attractions.ONLY TOWN ON THE LAKECathy Ramsey has been here for 40years, and is the current owner ofClarksville Florist on the Lake.“Clarksville really stands out, because,for one thing, we’re the only town on thislake. That’s an asset for us,” she says.Ramsey has come to appreciateClarksville as a small, quaint, friendly town;an excellent place to live.Barbara Martin owns the VirginiaAvenue Mall, with 40 vendors. She appreciatesthe community’s support. Asked toexplain the appeal of this town, sheobserves, “It is very grounded. People arefriendly ... people will say hello in themorning, even if they don’t know you...”She moved to Clarksville from thenorth, and has enjoyed a comfortable life inthe community for 33 years.Caparatta and his wife, Aggie, have beenhere 32 years. He runs the very popularPizza Pub and has developed a side businessrepairing computers.“Clarksville’s a unique town,” he says.“The lake’s a well-kept secret. Clarksvillehas a lot to offer – fishing, a great golfcourse (the award-winning KindertonCountry Club, featuring its Donald Rossdesign), the people are friendly. We gettourism in here from all over the state, really.It’s hard to believe over at Occoneechee(State Park), which is so close toClarksville, we get over 200,000 visitorsevery year.”Caparatta is also very pleased with thenew Marina project. “When you offer betterthings to people, they want to come,” saysCaparatta. “I just love Clarksville. I just loveliving here, I love the people.“I’m originally from up around thePennsylvania, New Jersey area ... it took mea while to get used to life here,” he adds.“Now, when I go back up toPennsylvania or Jersey, it’s overwhelming. Ilove coming back to Clarksville.” February 2012/www.co-opliving.comJUSTIN EUBANK PHOTOIF YOU GO...Prestwould Plantation, the 1790shome of Sir Peyton and Lady JeanSkipwith, is a stunning national historiclandmark open April 15 – Oct. 31.Prestwould is located two miles north ofClarksville on U.S. 15.Prestwould Plantation has receivedimportant new additions to its originallibrary of Lady Jean Skipwith, whichwas the largest library of any woman in18th-century America, according toJulian B. Hudson, president of thePrestwould foundation.The library is noted for its volumes onhorticulture, astronomy, geography and18th century taboos, such as risqué fictionfor that period.The Clarksville Regional Museumhouses an 1800s parlor, the permanentBuffalo Springs room and a tobacco room.An exhibit at Occoneechee StatePark tells the Occoneechee Indian story,the Native Americans who first inhabitedthis area.The Mecklenburg County VeteransMemorial is dedicated to nearly 600 patriotsfrom Mecklenburg County. The Memorialis located at the intersections of Highways15/49 and Business 58 in Clarksville.The town has its own historic walkingtour, including some 60 buildings, homes,churches and businesses dating back to1824. There are wonderful architecturaltreasures on the Virginia NationalRegister of Historic Places.Clarksville’s Lakefest draws huge crowdsannually with a wide range of attractionsincluding hot air balloons, helicopterrides, live music and hundreds of vendors.Voted by the Southeast Tourism Society in2011 as “One of the Top 20 Festivals In TheSoutheast,” Lakefest is capped off eachyear by a spectacular display of fireworks.In 2012, the venerable Lakefest is 35years old, capped by the annual paradeof fireworks on the lake.Lakefest, planned for July 19-21, is oneof the major summer events in the region.Other fun events include the Fourth ofJuly Parade, Harvest Days Festival onOct. 6, Christmas Holiday Open Houseon Nov. 18, and Christmas Parade onDec. 7. For a full schedule of communityevents go to www.clarksvilleva.com, orcall 434-374-2436.Kinderton Country Club hosts a varietyof events for golfing enthusiasts, withpopular tournaments and other attractionsthat boost the overall tourist base.Clarksville also produced Lane Hite, thisyear’s Virginia State amateur medalist forstroke play.Clarksville has a variety of restaurantand culinary choices, including the distinctiveCooper’s Landing Inn and Traveler’sTavern. There’s the Great Wall Chineserestaurant and, as always, the ever-popularPizza Pub, among other options.Clarksville has extremely convenienttransportation links.The town is locatedoff U.S. Highway 58, which runs thelength of Virginia’s southern border. Thearea also features soon-to-be-expandedmarina boat options, and the LakeCountry Regional airport (formerlyMarks Municipal). JUSTIN EUBANK PHOTO33