SHE Discover Fall 2020

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Mecklenburg

Fall 2020

Early years of Clarksville, VA

Mecklenburg County Military History

Lady Jean Skipwith’s exceptional library

Maps & Guides to Lake Communities • Boat Ramps in Virginia & North Carolina

DISCOVER Mecklenburg | Fall 2020 | 1

Welcome from

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discover Discover what you’re missing in Mecklenburg!

Destination: SOUTH HILL Volume 14 Issue 1 Fall 2020 GENERAL MANAGER Randy Velvin EDITORIAL Jami Snead Alina Moody Joyce French PHOTOGRAPHERS Jami Snead Alina Moody GRAPHICS AND DESIGN Lizbeth Nauta ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT Barbara Arthur FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION 434-447-3178 or Ashley Gee Account Executive 434-774-1890 (cell) advertising@thenewsprogress.com The News-Progress Brunswick Times-Gazette The Warren Record Independent-Messenger South Hill Enterprise The News Progress Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer lllllllll lllllllll

Mecklenburg

Contents 6

Clarksville, VA The early years of a charming lake town

8

Mecklenburg localities garner $25,000 to promote tourism

10

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Steeped in Military History

12

Maker’s Market aims to make producers profitable

15

Boat ramps in Virginia and North Carolina

20 22 25 29

PO Box 60, South Hill, Va. 23970 (434) 447-3178 editor@southhillenterprise.com

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John H. Kerr Lake Subdivisions Lake Gaston Lady Jean Skipwith’s exceptional library Chase City’s hidden gem: McCallum More Museum and Gardens

Here in

Mecklenburg

Welcome to Mecklenburg County, home of three lakes, picturesque small towns, rural farmland, and more. Whether you are a first-time visitor, a frequent stopper, or a resident, we hope you will be inspired to visit a part of the county you may not have seen before.

Mecklenburg County was formed in 1765 from Lunenburg County. Its county seat is the charming small town of Boydton. Halfway between Raleigh and Richmond, and midway between the mountains and the beach, the county has become a destination for summer weekend getaways. No doubt the biggest draw for travelers is one of the two lakes in the southern part of the county, Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Lake) and Lake Gaston, but some of those visitors, appreciating the package that Mecklenburg County has to offer, have elected to stay.

Come to Mecklenburg County to boat, fish, swim, hike, camp, eat, shop, catch a summer concert, celebrate a holiday, watch a play or learn about Virginia history. Whether you’re looking for small town charm, lake life, or country living, you can find it here in Mecklenburg.

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Clarksville, VA The early years of a charming lake town

Jami Snead Every year campers, boaters, water sports enthusiasts, and retirees flock to Mecklenburg County’s small town on the lake. With its vast history and amazing views of Buggs Island Lake, or Kerr Lake if you are on the North Carolina side, Clarksville, Virginia continues to grow and prosper.

The town was founded in 1818 by a prominent landowner named Clark Royster. After inheriting 376 acres of land from his late father, Royster petitioned the Virginia General Assembly to establish a town on 25 acres of his property already containing a ferry landing, a tobacco warehouse and inspection station, and a tavern. His request was granted in 1818 and so the town of Clarksville was born.

Over a hundred years before Clark Royster ever thought of creating a town

in the area, the Occoneechee Indian tribe occupied the surrounding lands of what was later established as Clarksville. Many years prior to the construction of the John H. Kerr Reservoir was built and the lake was created, Occoneechee Island and the future town sat at the junction of the Dan and Roanoke Rivers.

In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon, a Virginia Colonist and leader of Bacon’s Rebellion, battled with the Native American tribe on the island, killing 300 tribe members. Weakened from the battle, the Occoneechee slowly started to leave the area for what is now Vance County, NC. Within 50 years, the tribe and its descendants had completely disappeared from the island.

In the 1700s, English settlers were not quick to populate the area due to the difficulty navigating the waters of the two rivers that flowed into the Al-

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bermarle Sound in North Carolina. Tobacco farmers and traders traveled by ferry from the south shore to the north shore of what is now Clarksville and then proceeded to travel by land on a plank road to the closest inspection station in Petersburg, VA. It was not until the nineteenth-century that public funds were used to finance the Roanoke Navigation Company after Virginia and North Carolina leaders fought to improve transportation in the Roanoke River Valley. Construction began on a nine-mile canal in 1817 and was completed in 1823 with three locks and an aqueduct that assisted in navigation of the river.

Trade routes between Norfolk and Southside Virginia were now open with the completion of the canal allowing Mecklenburg tobacco farmers to transport products down the Roanoke River, past the Gaston-Weldon canal in North

Carolina, and then on to Norfolk through the Dismal Swamp Canal.

With a booming tobacco trade system, Clarksville was officially incorporated in 1821 and by 1833 a second tobacco inspection station was opened at Venable’s Warehouse. R.H. Moss and Brothers Factory in Clarksville was producing more tobacco than any other establishment in Virginia or North Carolina. “In 1836, Martin’s Gazetteer of Virginia described Clarksville as a bustling river town filled with workers and a strong economy centered on tobacco.” (Two Mecklenburg Towns: Boydton and Clarksville) In 1855, following the ongoing struggle to maintain the canal system, the Roanoke Valley Railroad installed a train service running south from Clarksville to Manson, NC and connected to the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad. Plans for a railroad extension running north from Clarksville through what is now Chase City to the Keysville Depot were placed on hold with the eruption of the Civil War in 1861.

More than 200 Clarksville men served as soldiers of the Confederacy and in August all “free, able-bodied men of color” were drafted to the cause. According to the United States Census of 1860 there were 898 free people of color living in Mecklenburg County at the time.

Confederate Army General, William Mahone, moved his family to Clarksville during the war because he believed that they would be safer there than in their Petersburg home. Dur During their stay they lived in a house on Sixth Street, now known as the Judge Henry Wood, Jr. house. General Mahone was well known for his victory over the Union Army in 1864 at the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg.

In the years after the war Clarksville residents were “eager to restart efforts to improve the area’s river transportation to facilitate the movement of goods to and from the town.”

The United States Army Corp of Engineers was brought in to evaluate the conditions of the Roanoke River between Clarksville and Eaton Falls and make recommendations on how to improve steamboat traffic through the area. In 1889 it

was concluded that the estimated cost for the necessary improvements would be around $280,000 and that the expense was “not worthy of approval by the General Government.”

The Corp of Engineers report detailed Clarksville as “a small town of about 800 population, formerly the seat of large tobacco trade, but now mainly important as the point where two lines of railroad cross the head of the Roanoke River.”

In 1893 the town suffered a devastating fire that wiped out many of the businesses and residences along Fifth Street, robbing hundreds of their homes and possessions. The Local newspaper reported: “The fire fiend has been in our midst.

Two and one-half of his fell work sufficed to out over fifty residences and places of business and to render upwards of 100 people homeless, foodless, and clothesless. Thirty-five entire families are known to be burned out of house and home, many of them saving only the clothes on their backs.

They were poor people and their loss completely overcomes them.”

Clarksville residents and business owners were continuously plagued with unpredictable flooding of the Roanoke River. There was talk of building a dam as early as 1920 but the proposal was presented as a way to provide electricity to the area. After a flood in 1940, which resulted in $5 million in damages. North Carolina Congressman, John H. Kerr, began pushing even harder for dam construction. Finally in 1944 the United States Congress approved the construction of a dam on Buggs Island, 20 miles south of Clarksville.

With the completion of the dam, the town was changed indefinitely. Rivers turned to lakes and water now covered parts of the town where there had only been land. The Clarksville that we know today still thrives on the use of its waterway.

Folks travel from the north, south, east, and west to take advantage of its breath-taking scenery, competitive fishing, rich history, and small lake town charm.

____________________

2003, Two Mecklenburg Towns; Boydton and Clarksville, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Richmond, VA.

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Mecklenburg localities garner $25,000 to promote tourism

By Alina Moody The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) DMO WanderLove Recovery Grant Program—a new grant made available to Virginia’s Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) across the Commonwealth that have been heavily impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic to fund recovering marketing initiatives— gifted a $10,000 grant to both the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce and the Mecklenburg County Tourism board. The Town of South Hill was also awarded a $5,000 grant through the same program.

The Clarksville Chamber of Commerce stated that they will be using their $10,000 grant to continue driving people to the area. They began implementing the WanderLove logo into their commercials that started airing in early July in the Raleigh and Norfolk areas, and they have also begun placing ads in magazines, digital and local media outlets.

Mecklenburg County Tourism likewise said that their plan for using the funds is to promote road trips to Mecklenburg.

They also began incorporating the WanderLove Campaign designed to promote outdoor recreation and hidden gems in

rural small town America while adding a few fun twists like a digital treasure hunt centered around all of the LoveWorks signs across the county. The goal of the treasure hunt was be to collect all 4 “treasures” and register for the chance to win a complimentary “MoreMeck” weekend for two, including lodging, and activity and dining. Corrine Garrity was the winner of the treasure hunt, and came to Mecklenburg County the weekend of August 15 to enjoy her winnings.

A post congratulating her can be found on the “Visit Mecklenburg County VA” Facebook page.

The South Hill Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Shannon Lambert said that the funds provided through the Wanderlove program will go to promoting tourism and commerce in the South Hill region. She stated, “Our businesses are the lifeblood of commerce in our community, and the South Hill Chamber of Commerce is committed to our mission of providing leadership for regional business development, and positively influencing the quality of life for our community.”

Mecklenburg County Tourism, the Clarksville Chamber, the Town of South Hill, Chase City towns & chamber offices have all joined together to invest

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in the new everWandr program. Tourists are now able to pre-plan their trip to the county by accessing the Plan you Trip widget from the Clarksville Chamber’s website.

The Clarksville Chamber of Commerce has additionally begun to place WanderLove postcards through town for visitors to fill out and tell them about their trip. Tourists will be able to turn in postcards at the drop boxes and will be registered to win $200 in Chamber cash which will be given away at their Holiday Open House in November. There will also be a photo booth set up at future events so people can take pictures and share them through social media.

Tina Morgan, Mecklenburg County Tourism Coordinator relayed, “This opportunity comes at a time when the tourism industry is having to be very creative. Travel research shows that people are more willing to take road trips and explore small town America than to travel far and abroad to big cities. That is the perfect opportunity for Mecklenburg County. Not only are we an ideal outdoor recreation destination, we have so much to offer in our small towns and I am so excited to launch this campaign to help us get discovered in new and exciting ways.”

Sheila Cuykendall, Executive Director of the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce, remarked, “I am so excited to be awarded this grant for Clarksville. Applying for grants has been out of my wheelhouse and beyond what I ever thought I could do. With a little encouragement, I applied and was granted $10,000.00. I am so excited for Clarksville, with everything that is going on in 2020 we need to drive income to our area and tourism is the fastest way to infuse money into our local economy.”

Tourism is one of the Commonwealth’s largest economic engines, with visitors to Mecklenburg County spending more than $144.4 million in 2018, supporting 1,431 work opportunities and contributing $4.2 million in local and state tax revenue. The tourism and hospitality industries have also been among the hardest-hit by the pandemic, experiencing decreased revenue and job loss, along with the temporary closure of many tourism-related businesses. A revived tourism economy can help spur new economic activity and inject critical funds back into Virginia communities.

“Virginia tourism is a critical sector of our economy and has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “Getting travelers back on the road and spending money in our cities and towns is one of the fastest ways to inject dollars back into our economy and our communities. The Virginia Tourism Corporation’s DMO WanderLove Recovery Grants give localities the ability to market their destination as safe and welcoming when visitors are ready to resume travel.”

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Mecklenburg County, Virginia Steeped in Military History Mecklenburg County has a heritage that is rich in patriotism and military history. Over the years our young men and women have demonstrated a selfless willingness to serve and fight to defend our way of life. In an effort to ensure that our heroes will never be forgotten we must continue to bring their memories to the forefront. The Medal of Honor is the United States of America’s highest and most-prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. Mecklenburg County is the proud home of two Medal of Honor recipients, Henry Johnson and Earle D. Gregory, which, in itself, is exceptional for a rural county with such a small population.

Henry Johnson, born in Boydton in 1850 was a Buffalo Soldier in the United Sates Army and received America’s highest military decoration for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.

Johnson enlisted in the Army at Detroit, Michigan as an original member of F Troop of the 10th Cavalry where he fought against the Cheyenne on the Republican River. Johnson next joined D Troop and was stationed at Fort Wallace. According to Wikipedia while patrolling southern Colorado, “on September 29, 1879, a group of Ute warriors, led by Chief Colorow ambushed a group of around 175 soldiers and militiamen from Fort Steel near Milk Creek. At the same time, the Utes also killed the Indian agent and his white employee at the Ute reservation nearby. The troops near the creek created a perimeter around their wagons with dead animals while their remaining animals were picked off by the Utes. Captain Francis Dodge, Sergeant Johnson, and D Troop arrived on October 2, 1879 and were able to enter the encampment without being shot at. For the next three days, D Troop’s animals were picked off, leaving only four wounded horses. Johnson was charged with the responsibility of securing the outposts for the defense for the encampment, and under heavy fire from the Utes, made the rounds to meet with his men. On October 5, five troops from the 5th Cavalry arrived shortly after the Ute attackers dispersed.1

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Johnson was awarded the Medal of Honor at Fort Robinson on September 22, 18902 for his actions during the Battle of Milk Creek against the Ute Indians. His citation reads: Voluntarily left fortified shelter and under heavy fire at close range made the rounds of the pits to instruct the guards, fought his way to the creek and back to bring water to the wounded.

--Indian War Period Medal of Honor recipients, 22 September 18903)

Shortly after the 5th Cavalry arrived on October 5, 1879, Johnson and D Troop of the 9th Cavalry headed to New Mexico and spent the next two years fighting the Apaches in Victorio’s War. He was discharged in January 1883 at Fort Riley. Johnson reenlisted two months later with the 10th Cavalry and was stationed at Fort Grant to once again fight the Apaches. After this five year enlistment ended in 1888, he rejoined the 9th Cavalry in K Troop.(1) K Troop patrolled the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation for four months in the winter of 1890-1891 before it was moved to Fort Myer in Virginia. K Troop returned to Fort Robinson in 1893. Johnson’s final five-year enlistment with K Troop ended in 1898, before the troop was sent to Cuba for the Spanish-American War. Johnson retired that same year to Washington, D.C. (1) He died on January 31, 1904 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in section 23, lot 16547.(4)

Earle Davis Gregory was a World War I Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions in 1918 during the MeuseArgonne Offensive in France. Gregory entered service through the National Guard and was attached to Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry, 29th Division during World War I. Gregory received the Medal of Honor for actions as a U.S. Army sergeant during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in World War I. On October 8, 1918, Sgt. Earle D. Gregory at Boise-de-Consenvoye, north of Verdun, France, seized a rifle and trench-mortar shell, which he used as a hand grenade. Shouting “I will get them,” he left his detachment of the trench-mortar platoon, and advancing ahead of the infantry, captured a machinegun and three of the enemy. Advancing still farther from the machinegun nest, he captured a 7.5-centimeter mountain howitzer and, entering a dugout in the immediate vicinity, single-handedly captured 19 of the enemy. For this act he received the Medal of Honor. Major General Omar Bundy presented Gregory his medal in a ceremony at Camp Lee, Virginia on April 29, 1919. He was also awarded the Purple Heart, the Croix de Guerre, Medal of the Legion of Honor, Medaille Militarie, and the Montengrin Order of Merit for his actions during the MeuseArgonne Offensive.

Davis, who was raised in Chase City, enrolled in Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) following his discharge from the Army in 1919. He was a 1923 graduate and member of the Corps of Cadets.

While at VPI, he studied Electrical Engineering.

During his senior year, he served as Alpha company commander and President of the Corps of Cadets. He was voted Most Popular Cadet by his peers during his senior year. After completing college Gregory pursued a career with the Veterans Administration.

On January 6, 1972, Gregory died at his home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and is buried at the Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. His grave can be found in Section 18, Lot 60.

The renowned Gregory Guard, the Honorary Military Drill Team for Virginia Tech, is named in memory of Sergeant Gregory.

Earl D. Gregory

Wikipedia 1. “Gregory’s Original Military Decorations as Maintained in the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Special Collections”. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2017.

2. ^ “Medal of Honor recipients”. World War I. United States Army Center of Military History. November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013.

3. ^ “Earle Davis Gregory”. Military Times Hall of Valor. Military Times. November 18, 2013. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

1. Schubert, Frank N. (1997). Black Valor: Buffalo Soldiers and the Medal of Honor, 1870-1898. Scholarly Resources Inc. pp. 61-71.

ISBN 9780842025867.

2. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Schubert, Frank N (1997). “Ten Troopers: Buffalo Soldier Medal of Honor Men Who Served at Fort Robinson” (PDF). Nebraska History. Nebraska State Historical Society (78): 151–157. Retrieved May 16, 2015.

3. ^ “Indian War Period Medal of Honor recipients”. Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. July 30, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2015.

4. ^ “Medal of Honor Recipients: Arlington National Cemetery” (PDF). Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved May 16, 2015.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

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Maker’s Market aims to make producers profitable Jami Snead Enterprise Staff Writer

The Maker’s Market of South Hill serves as a starting line for local farmers and producers looking for a way to get their products out. The Southern Virginia Food Hub offers extensive knowledge to those in a twelve county region on how to build their product into a brand. Those not looking to sell anything can still visit the market where locally sourced brands and produce are sold or try their freshly baked scones, cakes, or pies. Customers may also take advantage of the ready to eat meals made with fresh local ingredients.

The market is a 501 C3 non-profit economic development project. While they are not a for profit business, they work to promote, build, and grow for profit businesses.

The project focuses on food and farming. Say you are a farmer who loves growing cucumbers but you have no place to sell them. You could visit the hub to receive training on how to get started. You would learn what permits and certifications are needed to begin selling your product while gaining connections to the Department of Agriculture and the Southern Virginia Food Hub. Now say an individual is interested in making

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pickles but has no desire to grow the cucumbers needed to make them. The Maker’s Market would bring the two together to provide the pickle maker with locally sourced cucumbers while helping the farmer sell his produce. The pickle maker can now rent the Marker’s Market kitchen and use it to produce larger amounts. “To simplify, it saves the producer a lot of headache in having to prepare their home for health inspection to be able to produce from their own kitchen. The kitchen here has already been inspected and approved,” said Maker’s Market Manager, Jo Ann Farnsworth.

The hub can also be used as a place to meet inspectors, find out what permits are needed, develop a label, and gain an understanding of how to brand and sell the product. The market serves as a “lab” and a “testing” place for the product.

Consumer feedback is extremely welcome within the market. The staff will gently and kindly relay any compliments or criticisms to the producer and discuss a plan for bettering the product. “You can meet all of your government requirements and still not be successful to the consumer. That’s where we kind of come in to make sure that you are trained on all of your government requirements and then we help you to get going marketing wise,” said Farnsworth.

The Farmer’s Market, opened seasonally across the street from the Maker’s Market, is a great way to start selling your product. It is a one on one selling experience and gives the producer a chance to hear feedback from the consumer directly. Farmer’s Market Manager, Wally Maczka, oversees the operation while Michael Farnsworth pulls double duty as the Assistant Manager at the Maker’s Market as well as the delivery driver for the Farmer’s Market. Michael created a route to pickup produce from farmers in a refrigerated truck in an effort to save them a trip to drop off their product in South Hill.

The Maker’s Market kitchen offers a wide variety of desserts, fresh baked breads, and ready to eat meals. Chef Jessica Davis and SousChef Michael Farnsworth focus on using produce from farmers within the SVFH’s twelve county region. Longtime Baker, Janette Wright, has been with the Makers Market since the beginning and specializes in making fresh bread and a variety of scones that are constantly praised around town. Pastry Chef, Jodi Tillotson, rolls out amazing desserts like Dutch Apple pies, Chocolate-Amaretto bread pudding, and gooey cinnamon buns. Finally the operation would not be complete without the hard work of Floor Manager Lynn Minter and Grocery and Kitchen Staff Member, Lisa Mills. The Maker’s Market is currently seeking two part-time grocery and kitchen staff members to join their team. If you are interested in applying please email Jo Ann Farnsworth at jfarns.jaf@gmail.com.

Janetta Wright has been a baker at the Maker’s Market for many years.

Lynn Minter (left) is the Floor Manager and Jo Ann Farnsworth (right) is the Maker’s Market Manager.

Wally Maczka (left) is the Farmer’s Market Manager and Michael Farnsworth (right) works as a Delivery Driver for the market.

Jodi Tillotson (left) is the Pastry Chef, Michael Farnsworth (middle) is the Sous-Chef and Assistant Manager, and Jessica A. Davis (right) is the Chef. (Not pictured: Lisa Mills, Grocery and Kitchen Staff) Strawberry cake with strawberry buttercream.

Dutch Apple Pies

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The Maker’s Market is a project that is still getting on its feet and the COVID-19 pandemic did not make the process any easier. Like a lot of local businesses the doors had to be closed to the public. “It’s been hard and I don’t think I’m even beginning to exaggerate. We have, I’m going to say we but I mean Jo Ann, she has done a herculean act in getting us back open.

When we closed the first part of April because Mecklenburg County was getting more cases and at the time that scared us.”

With a limited staff and growing safety concerns the Board and staff decided to shut down and take a minute to figure out how to get their feet back under them. “I honestly think we’re back better than ever and we have got a great team.”

Though the Marker’s Market is not directly linked to the Town of South Hill, staff and management acknowledge that the project would not have happened without the town’s support as well as the support of the Southside Planning Commission. “We could have gotten the grants that were needed to get this project off of the ground if we didn’t have the support of those two entities. This project will never be for profit. It can’t be because there’s so much that we have to give. It’s not our Sauteed onions and peppers job to be profitable. It’s our job to prepared for chicken fajita make the farmers and producers bowls. profitable.”

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Boat Ramps There are nearly 30 boat ramps situated on Kerr Lake throughout Virginia and North Carolina, managed by a variety of entities in the two states. Some ramps are located inside campgrounds, state parks or recreation areas. Some charge a small fee for use. All ramps are subject to closure based on weather conditions, lake water levels or time of year. Please check with the operating entity for definite statuses of individual ramps or further information.

Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers; 1. Bluestone Access Area, located in Virginia 2. Buffalo Park, located in Virginia 3. Eagle Point Landing, located in Virginia 4. Eastland Creek Landing, located in Virginia 5. Island Creek Park, located in Virginia 6. Ivy Hill Park, located in Virginia 7. Longwood Recreation Area, located in Virginia 8. North Bend Park, located in Virginia 9. Palmer Point, located in Virginia 10. Rudds Creek Recreation Area, located in Virginia 11. Tailrace Park, located in Virginia 12. Stanton River View Park, located in Virginia 13. Grassy Creek Park, located in North Carolina

for Kerr Lake, Virginia and North Carolina Operated by the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation 20. County Line Park, located in North Carolina 21. Henderson Point, located in North Carolina 22. Hibernia Recreation Area, located in North Carolina 23. Nutbush Creek Recreation Area, located in North Carolina 24. Satterwhite Point, located in North Carolina 25. Williamsboro Wayside, Located in North Carolina 26. Kimball Point Recreation Area, located in North Carolina Privately owned and operated 27. Clarksville Marina, located in Virginia 28. Satterwhite Point Marina, located in North Carolina 29. Steel Creek Marina, located in North Carolina

Operated by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries 14. Hyco Landing, located in Virginia Operated by the North Carolina Department of Water Resources 15. Flemingtown Road Landing, located in North Carolina Operated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 16. Staunton River State Park, located in Virginia 17. Occoneechee State Park, located in Virginia Operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia 18. Clover Landing, located in Virginia Operated by North Carolina Parks 19. Bullocksville Park, located in North Carolina

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B-3 Alma Lynch....................................................... 1 B-2 Americamps ..................................................... 2 B-2 Anchorage ........................................................ 3 B-2 Ancor Cove ...................................................... 4 B-6 Arcadia ............................................................. 5 A-1 Baird-Martin ..................................................... 6 B-5 Bairds Point...................................................... 7 A-3 Barker .............................................................. 8 B-6 Beaver Creek ................................................... 9 B-4 Beach Ridge .................................................. 10 B-3 Beechwood .................................................... 11 A-1 Beechwood Estates ....................................... 12 C-6 Bluebird Point .................................................. 3 B-5 Blue Heron Park............................................. 14 A-2 Boyds Mill....................................................... 15 A-6 Bradley Acres ................................................. 16 A-2 Brandon Grove............................................... 17 A-4 Braswell ......................................................... 18 A-1 Breezy Acres .................................................. 19 B-6 Bridgewater Cove .......................................... 20 B-6 Buccaneer Point............................................. 22 A-2 Buckhead ....................................................... 23

C-3 Buck Springs.................................................. 24 B-4 Buggs Point.................................................... 25 B-3 Burwell Acres ................................................. 26 C-4 Canaan Shores .............................................. 27 A-1 Cannons Ferry ............................................... 28 B-5 Carolina Pines................................................ 29 B-5 Cedar Hill ....................................................... 30 B-5 Cedar Point .................................................... 31 A-6 Cedar Ridge ................................................... 32 B-6 Cedar Ridge ................................................... 33 A-2 Champion Forest ........................................... 34 B-5 Chamelon Heights ......................................... 35 B-6 Chestnut Hills ............................................... 36 B-6 Clear Water .................................................... 37 A-1 Cliffs on the Roanoke..................................... 38 A-5 Clyde’s Retreat .............................................. 39 A-1 Cold Spring Shores ........................................ 40 A-3 Colonial Estates ............................................. 41 A-6 Colony Club ................................................... 42 C-4 Cornerstone ................................................... 43 A-5 Country Clue Shores...................................... 44 B-6 Cover Manor .................................................. 45

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B-3 Coventry......................................................... 46 B-5 Creekside Shore ............................................ 47 B-6 Crescent Beach ............................................. 48 B-6 Cross Creek ................................................... 49 B-6 Cross Cut ....................................................... 50 C-4 Deacon’s Point............................................... 51 C-4 Deercreek ...................................................... 52 B-6 Deer Haven .................................................... 53 A-6 Delbridge Estates........................................... 54 B-6 Dividing Line .................................................. 55 B-5 Dogwood Branch ........................................... 56 B-4 Dorothy Ellis Estates ...................................... 57 B-5 Dove Manor .................................................. 58 B-4 Eagle’s Cove .................................................. 59 B-5 Eagle Point..................................................... 60 C-6 Eastern Shores .............................................. 61 B-4 East Fork Plantation....................................... 62 B-4 Eaton’s Ferry Estates..................................... 63 B-6 Edwards Beach .............................................. 64 B-4 Elams Place ................................................... 65 C-5 Ellis Development .......................................... 66 A-6 Ellis Estates ................................................... 67

A-3 Eugene Clary ................................................. 68 B-5 Evergreen ...................................................... 69 B-6 Faulcon Dev ................................................... 70 B-5 Ferncliff .......................................................... 71 B-4 Fernwood Estates .......................................... 72 C-5 Forest Cove ................................................... 73 B-6 Four Season .................................................. 74 B-6 Fox Hollow ..................................................... 75 B-6 Fox Point ........................................................ 76 B-2 Fox Run ......................................................... 77 A-1 Friendly Acres ................................................ 78 B-3 Gaston Heights .............................................. 79 A-1 Granite Hall .................................................... 80 B-2 Great Creek Landing...................................... 81 B-6 Green Park..................................................... 82 B-2 Grover C. Baird Estates ................................. 83 A-4 Hammack ....................................................... 84 B-4 Happy Valley .................................................. 85 B-3 Harbor Landing .............................................. 86 B-5 Harrison ........................................................ 87 A-1 Hawks Nest Point........................................... 88 B-5 Heather Glen ................................................. 89

B-6 Heritage Pointe .............................................. 90 A-1 Hicks Hill ........................................................ 91 A-6 Hidden Acres.................................................. 92 B-3 Hillcrest Point ................................................. 93 A-1 Hinton Mills .................................................... 94 B-2 Holly Grove Estates ....................................... 95 A-6 Holly Hill Shores............................................. 96 B-3 Holly Trail ...................................................... 97 C-5 Hoot Owl Run ................................................ 98 B-4 Hunter’s Creek ............................................... 99 B-5 Indian Run.................................................... 100 B-4 Jack’s Landing ............................................. 101 A-1 Johnson ....................................................... 102 B-2 Joyceville ..................................................... 103 B-6 King Soloman’s Cove................................... 104 B-6 King’s Estates .............................................. 105 C-3 Lake Gaston Estates ................................... 106 A-6 Lake Gaston Estates.................................... 107 B-5 Lake Shores-N ............................................. 108 B-6 Lake Shores-S ............................................. 109 B-4 Lakeside....................................................... 110 B-3 Lakeview .......................................................111

B-5 Lakeview Estates (old) ........

B-2 Lakewoods ..........................

B-4 Laura Woods.......................

B-3 Lazy Point ...........................

C-6 Lee’s Point ..........................

B-5 Little Emporia ......................

B-2 Little Ponderosa ..................

A-5 Lizard Creek........................

B-2 Long Branch Shores ...........

B-6 Lookout Point ......................

A-6 Lost Cove ............................

A-1 Lucy M. Shaw .....................

B-3 Lyons Creek East ................

B-3 Lyons Creek Estates ...........

B-6 Mallard Bay .........................

C-5 Mallard Point .......................

B-4 Maple Point .........................

A-1 Maratuck .............................

B-3 Mariners Cove.....................

A-1 Martindale ...........................

B-2 Matthews Manorwoods .......

A-1 Merrymount .........................

s (old) ................................. 112 .......................................... 113 .......................................... 115 .......................................... 116 .......................................... 117 .......................................... 117 .......................................... 118 .......................................... 119 ores .................................... 120 .......................................... 121 .......................................... 122 .......................................... 123 t ......................................... 124 ates .................................... 125 .......................................... 126 .......................................... 127 .......................................... 128 .......................................... 129 .......................................... 130 .......................................... 131 woods ................................ 132 .......................................... 133

B-4 Mill Creek Landing ....................................... 134 C-6 Mistipines ..................................................... 135 B-3 Moratuck Manor ........................................... 136 B-2 Morristown ................................................... 137 B-2 Moseley........................................................ 138 B-6 Myrick Estates.............................................. 139 B-2 Nocarva........................................................ 140 B-6 Nollwoods ................................................... 141 B-6 Northampton Heights ................................... 142 B-5 Northern Cove.............................................. 143 B-5 Northern Point .............................................. 144 B-4 North Shore Acres (1) .................................. 145 B-4 North Shore Acres (2) .................................. 146 B-5 Oak Grove.................................................... 147 B-4 Oak Ridge .................................................... 148 B-3 Old Bridge Point ........................................... 149 B-3 Olde Ferry Estates ....................................... 150 B-5 Osprey Point ................................................ 151 A-6 Paradise Point.............................................. 152 B-3 Pasture Gate ................................................ 153 A-6 Pea Hill Estates............................................ 154 A-6 Pea Hill Shores ............................................ 155

B-4 Pigeon Path ................................................. 156 B-4 Pigeon Roost .............................................. 157 B-3 Pine Bluff...................................................... 158 B-5 Pine Ridge Shores ....................................... 159 B-6 Pine View ..................................................... 160 B-6 Pinewood Acres ........................................... 161 B-5 Piney Point ................................................... 162 A-3 Piney Point ................................................... 163 A-3 Poplar Creek Estates ................................... 164 A-1 Portside ........................................................ 165 B-6 Powell’s Mill Point ........................................ 166 A-6 Poythress Estates ........................................ 167 B-5 Quail Ridge .................................................. 168 B-5 Red Bug ....................................................... 169 B-3 River Bend ................................................... 170 B-4 River Forest ................................................. 171 A-1 River Ridge .................................................. 172 B-5 Riverview ..................................................... 173 B-6 Roanoke Shores .......................................... 174 B-4 Roanoke Reserve ........................................ 235 B-3 Robinson Ferry Estates ............................... 175 B-5 Rochelle Cove.............................................. 176

A-6 Rock Island Cove ......................................... 177 B-4 Ross ............................................................ 178 C-4 Salmons Point.............................................. 179 B-5 Sandy Shores .............................................. 180 B-5 Sandy Trace ................................................. 181 C-4 Settlers Cove ............................................... 182 B-4 Shadowbrook Shores................................... 183 A-3 Slouan Shores ............................................. 184 B-2 Six on Sixpound ........................................... 185 B-4 Songbird View .............................................. 186 A-6 Southside Shores......................................... 187 B-6 Speckle Cove ............................................... 188 B-4 Spinnaker Point............................................ 189 B-6 Spring Garden Estates................................. 190 B-5 Springwood .................................................. 191 B-5 Stanleystone Estates ................................... 192 B-5 Starboard Point ............................................ 193 B-4 Sillwater ....................................................... 194 C-4 Stonehouse Acres........................................ 195 A-2 St. Tammy Landing ...................................... 196 B-2 Summer Place ............................................. 197 B-5 Summerwood ............................................... 198

B-5 Sunny Acres ................................................. 199 B-5 Sunset Point................................................. 200 C-5 Tangle Oakes ............................................... 201 A-2 Tanglewood Shores ..................................... 202 C-5 Thomfield Medlin ......................................... 203 B-2 Thornton Place............................................. 204 B-5 Timber Creek ............................................... 205 B-6 Timberline Shores ........................................ 206 B-2 Timbuctu ...................................................... 207 C-5 Triton Point................................................... 208 A-2 Tudor Estates ............................................... 209 B-3 Turkey Run .................................................. 210 B-5 Turtle Point ................................................... 211 B-4 Twin Oak Shores.......................................... 212 B-5 Two Creeks .................................................. 213 B-5 Walker Hill .................................................... 214 B-3 Warren Co. Acres ......................................... 215 B-6 Waterford ..................................................... 216 B-6 Watermans Point.......................................... 217 B-6 Webbs Gate ................................................. 218 B-3 West Winds .................................................. 219 B-6 Whippoorwill Hills ......................................... 220

B-4 Whispering Pines ......................................... 221 B-4 Whitby Cove................................................. 222 C-4 Whit-Locke Point.......................................... 223 B-5 Wildwood Point ............................................ 224 B-6 Wilkins Court ................................................ 225 B-2 Will’s Landing ............................................... 226 B-4 Wilsor Oak ................................................... 227 B-4 Wilsor Pines ................................................. 228 B-6 Windy Pointe ................................................ 229 B-6 Windward Shores......................................... 230 B-3 Woodhaven .................................................. 231 B-6 Woodlake Point ............................................ 232 B-6 Woodlanndhurt............................................. 233 B-4 Woodland Shores ........................................ 234

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Lady Jean Skipwith’s exceptional library B y

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Skipwith—the unincorporated community between Chase City and Clarksville where Bluestone High School currently stands—has a rather famous namesake. The community was not name for Lady Skipwith per se, but rather for her husband’s lineage, The Skipwiths.

Lady Jean Skipwith was an owner of

the Prestwould Plantation in Clarksville, and was known as an avid book collector during her lifetime. Lady Jean married Sir Peyton Skipwith in 1788 following the death of her sister, Lady Anne, who was Sir Peyton’s first wife. Lady Anne reportedly died in childbirth in 1779, nine years before Lady Jean and Sir Peyton were married. Ghost stories surround her untimely death at the Wythe House in Colonial Williamsburg.

Sir Peyton’s second marriage was more fortunate, in that Lady Jean outlived her husband and maintained Prestwould Plantation after his death.

Lady Jean’s library has been lauded as quite possibly the largest personal library by a woman in the colonial period. Her collection still stands as the largest assembled by a Virginia woman.

The varied according to her interests; books in the collection included novels by several women writers of the time period—Maria, Edgeworth, Ann Radcliffe, Agnes Bennett and Amelia Opie among others; Gothic novels such as Matthew Lewis’s The Monk; as well as nearly a tenth of the collection being composed of children’s literature. She collected plenty of non-fiction works such as histories and biographies, but religious texts

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were notably absent from the collection. By the end of her life, her collection had grown to contain over 850 volumes.

Currently, much of the collection is housed at the William & Mary Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center.

Following her husband’s death in 1805, Lady Jean managed Prestwould Plantation until her death 21 years later. The Plantation, named for the Skipwiths country home “Prestwold Hall” was transferred to the Skipwith in 1765. Prestwould today remains one of the most intact and best document-

ed—thanks to the management of Lady Jean—surviving plantations in Southside Virginia. Prestwould’s extensive archives,including plans for the house and gardens, are currently held at The College of William & Mary, Earl Gregg Swem Library Special Collections.

Pictures of Lady Jean Skipwith’s collection provided by the College of William & Mary’s online exhibition, “Exceptional in Any Age” which was on display in the Marshall Gallery from April 26, 2016 to December 11, 2016. The exhibition summary is as follows: “By considering Lady Skipwith’s ownership of books, how her library differed from those of men, and what it allowed her to do, we gain some insight into the intellectual life of elite women during an important period of American history.”

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Chase City’s hidden gem:

MacCallum More Museum and Gardens B y

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The MacCallum More Museum and Gardens is the hidden gem of Chase City. MacCallum More sits nestled amidst the natural flora and fauna on Hudgins Street. The gardens were established in 1929 by Lucy M. Hudgins, wife to Edward W. Hudgins—former Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. The gardens have since been cultivated by three generations to become the beauty they are today.

Liz Lowrance, Executive Director of MacCallum More, says that they have, “somewhere near probably 200 different features of plants and flowers. The spring of the year is the best season to visit the gardens, because of the azaleas and dogwoods.” The staff try to keep the gardens blooming as much as possible throughout the year.

The gardens are joined by an arboretum as well as fountains and imported eclectic artworks. Lowrance relays in a video produced by Mecklenburg Tourism, “The Cloister is a piece that was actually brought here from Spain. When it was originally brought here, it was in store down here in the bottom until they got the platform for it to be built on. By the time they got that done, all the numbers had washed off as to what-went-where. So Mr. Hudgens—with pictures and the stone mason—tried to figure out where everything went. We can’t guarantee you they’re in the order they’re supposed to be in.”

The Museum portion of MacCallum More was opened in 1996. The museum hosts a variety of permanent and revolving exhibits and art displays. The five permanent fixtures of the museum include A History of the Thyne Institute; the Arthur Robertson

Arrowhead which features artifacts from the Archaic to the Woodland Periods; The Mecklenburg Hotel Collection which includes items that were rescued from the four-day fire then donated; the Estes Exhibit; and the Samurai Warrior—a statue that was featured in the gardens until he was blown over and shattered, but was then restored by the Smithsonians. The Museum also features portraits of George and Narcissa Endly, co-founders of Chase City.

MacCallum More Museum and Gardens is open for self-guided tours Monday through Saturday from 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. and on Sundays from 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. They can be contacted at (434) 372-0502. The Visit Mecklenburg VA Youtube channel features a new video posted two months ago showcasing MacCallum More.

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