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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 2021 STATE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS
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COVER PAGE: The Appomattox Raiders softball team lifts the VHSL Class 2 Softball State Championship trophy after defeating Randolph-Henry in June 2021. Charles Conrad/Discover Apppomattox APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 3
Table of Contents
6-7 | APPOMATTOX SNAPSHOTS PHOTOS OF THE COMMUNITY
8 | FEATURES RAIDERS SOFTBALL ‘SIMPLY THE BEST’
12 | FEATURES LOCAL WOMAN GIVES HOME TO DOG USED FOR RESEARCH
16 | FEATURES MONTE W. MAYS MIDTOWN MUSEUM WELCOMED
22 | MEET THE LOCALS FARMER OF THE YEAR
24 | MEET THE LOCALS TEACHER OF THE YEAR
26 | MEET THE LOCALS VIETNAM VET
30 | MEET THE LOCALS SAUCE WINNER
34-36 | DISCOVER LEARN MORE ABOUT APPOMATTOX COUNTY WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING!
42-47 | DIRECTORY
4 | DISCOVER M AGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
Fans of the Appomattox Raiders softball team celebrate after the team wins the VHSL Class 2 Softball State Championship. Charles Conrad/Discover Apppomattox
APPOMATTOX Snapshots
SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS
Send in your photos of Appomattox County for a chance to be published in Discover Appomattox magazine and Times Virginian newspaper. Email quality photos at less than 10MB to C.E. Adams at editor@timesvirginian.com. Please include name of person who took the photo and where and when the photo was taken.
Appomattox County resident Karin Robertson took the photo above of a sunrise at a Bent Creek farm. Kenzlee, Dagen and Dawson (pictured at top right) enjoy a snow day in Appomattox. Photo by Kayla Elliott. Shown at right is a crowd and ride at Courtland Festival Park at the 2021 Appomattox Railroad Festival. Photo by Charles Conrad.
6 | DISCOVER M AGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
Shown at top, out of 186 chapters and 9,901 FFA members across the state, Appomattox Senior FFA placed first in the National Chapter Award contest at the 95th Virginia FFA Convention. Pictured are Appomattox Senior FFA representatives to the state convention: (front row, from left) Rose Clark, Andrew Gallier, Elijah Moore, Christian Godin, Savannah Jones, (back row) Carter Swanberg, Tyler Martin, William Morgan and Thomas Wilson. Photo contributed. Kabella Mullins and her dog Maggie (pictured at left) enjoy the snow in Appomattox County. Photo by Samantha Campbell. Locals Stone and his sister Fayth are shown above at Gross Orchard in Bedford, where they went Apple picking. Photo contributed by Roger Stough.
APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 7
Features
‘SIMPLY THE BEST’
How the softball team became champions In 1979, the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was nicknamed “The City of Champions” after the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl and the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series. In 2021, perhaps the Town of Appomattox could be nicknamed “The Town of Champions” after the Appomattox County High School Raiders softball team claimed the VHSL Class 2 Softball State Championship with a 2-0 victory over the Randolph-Henry Statesmen. The softball Raiders join the 2020/21 champion football team as the state’s elite Class 2 programs in their respective sports. Courtney Layne pitched her fourth perfect game of the season, and Macee Hargis drove in Kelsey Hackett with a triple to right field in the
8 | DISCOVER M AGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
Article & Photos by Charles Conrad bottom of the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie and catapult the Raiders to the road win at Charlotte Court House. It is the first softball state championship for ACHS since 1987, when current Raiders head coach Janet Rawes was a member of that team coached by Mary Tolley. The first three innings produced only two base runners in a pitcher’s duel between Layne and Danner Allen of Randolph-Henry. The only runner to reach base was Hackett with a leadoff single in the first inning and a double to the left field wall in the third. Ironically, Hackett and Allen are cousins. The Raiders loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning but couldn’t capitalize
Features on the scoring opportunity. Hargis got on base with a single, and the next two batters — Layne on an infield hit and Abby Wilkerson on a bunt — filled up the bases as the Statesmen defense made no play on both at-bats. However, Hargis was tagged out in a rundown between third base and home plate after a wild pitch, and Carrington Moore grounded out to second base to end the threat. Raiders right fielder Emily Purcell helped to secure the perfect game for Layne with a spectacular diving catch of a short fly ball in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hackett led off the top of the sixth inning with her third base hit of the game, a double to center field. Two batters later, Hargis blasted a triple to right field and slid into third base after Hackett touched home plate for the first run of the game. Layne then grounded into a fielder’s choice to second base
that brought Hargis in from third for a 2-0 Raiders lead. Hackett said she knew that when her foot touched home plate that late in the game, she knew the championship belonged to the Raiders. “I had so much confidence in Courtney and our defense that I was like, ‘We got this. We just did it.’” Hargis, who had faced Allen two times prior to the game-winner, said she had developed a feel for Allen’s pitching style and knew she needed to be patient until she saw the right pitch come her way. “I feel like it’s my mental state before, kinda like I just tell myself that I’m confident that I can hit this pitch. I got a single on the (at bat) before that, so I kinda knew where the pitch was gonna be. I guess you could say my eyes do get wide but I was ready for anything she was gonna throw at me. She likes to throw outside pitches, so you
have to wait a bit longer on those and I just had to work on my timing and making sure I didn’t swing too fast,” Hargis said. Hargis said that although she was waved to third base on the play by third base coach Davy Hackett, she wasn’t initially sure if she could make it safely. She feels good coming through for her teammates in the clutch, however. “It feels great. I really love my team, and I’m proud of every one of them, so winning with them is the best feeling ever,” she said. Layne retired the side in the sixth and seventh innings. The game ended on a fly ball by Statesmen batter Allen to left fielder Tori Hoffman. When Hoffman secured the final out in her glove, Raider players and coaches rushed the infield in celebration. Raider fans — who showed up in full force to support the softball girls in their quest to wear to the 2021 state crown — erupted
At left, Macee Hargis of Appomattox slides safely into third base after driving in what proved to be the winning run in the state championship game on a base hit against Randolph-Henry. Raiders assistant coach Davy Hackett assists with the “safe” call. Above right, Appomattox Raiders pitcher Courtney Layne, shown firing a pitch against Randolph-Henry, was a major factor in the softball team’s state championship season.
APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 9
Features
The Appomattox Raiders softball team poses in front of the scoreboard with their 2021 VHSL Class 2 State Championship trophy and medals. Kneeling, from left: Haleigh Tweedy, Carrington Moore, Kelsey Hackett, Emily Purcell and Michaela Williams. Standing, from left: Appomattox County High School Principal Poldi Moreno, Assistant Coach Davy Hackett, Assistant Coach Jennifer Hackett, Dixie Gordon, Kelsie White, Abby Wilkerson, Courtney Layne, Abbey Mann, Macee Hargis, Tori Hoffman, Julianna Southall, Assistant Coach Tuesday Van Engan, Head Coach Janet Rawes and Appomattox County High School Athletic Director Chris Dodge.
joyfully as yet another Appomattox team brings home a state championship trophy. Raiders head coach Janet Rawes, who was a member of the 1987 Appomattox state softball championship squad coached by Mary Tolley, felt “ecstatic” for the 2021 team has overcome the odds — losing six seniors to 2020 graduation and losing a year’s experience due to the COVID-19 shutdown. “Right now, it’s kinda crazy. You don’t know how to feel. I don’t think it’s really set in yet. You know, these kids got so much taken away from them last year, and to win this year it’s great. There’s no words, I don’t think, that you can put to that,” she said. Layne, who hurled 15 strikeouts against Randolph-Henry, has held the same mental approach to all of the teams she’s faced in the 2021 regional and state playoffs because she knows every team at this level is capable of winning. “This entire post-season all the teams that we’ve played, they’ve come out swinging and they’re really aggressive, so I’ve got to take it pitch by pitch and get some swing and misses,” Layne said. Although Layne was a bit nervous because of the game’s magnitude (which many players likely were), the team bus ride from Appomattox to Charlotte Court House helped to keep her mentally grounded. 10 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
“I was pretty nervous but I had trust in all my teammates. We were having a good time on the bus ride, so they calmed me down,” she said. Just a few hours prior to the 1 p.m. start of the game in June 2021, the Raiders were escorted out of town by the Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department, Appomattox County Rescue Squad and Appomattox County Sheriff’s Office. Many well-wishers lined the bus route, holding signs and cheering on the team as they embarked on their journey. “It was a community effort, and we had the whole town backing us,” Layne said of the fan support. “We had a parade that led us out (of town), so I know it wasn’t just a team effort — it took an entire community for this one.” Moore commented on the competitive nature of the championship game, symbolized on a play she was involved in while in the top of the seventh inning. Moore belted a double to left field and later collided with Statesmen third baseman Taylor Trent on a fielder’s choice infield ground ball by Julianna Southall that was thrown to third. Moore was hurt on the play, having gotten the wind knocked out of her. When she came off the field, she exited the dugout and bent over in pain but returned to the field in the bottom of the seventh. “The girl bobbled the ball, and I thought she was gonna throw it to first … It just knocked the breath out of me,” Moore said. “I think (both teams) wanted it. It just came down to the hitting, for the most part. They had a pretty solid team; they had some good hitters and some good players in the field, and so did we. But I think we hit the ball better than they did.” Moore, a sophomore at the time, said she felt “happy” and “successful” after Saturday’s championship win, but did not make any predictions regarding a Raider repeat in 2022. “I don’t know, we’ll see. We just have to take it game by game,” Moore said in regard to the next season. Michaela Williams, who split time in right field with Purcell in the 2021 season, was thrilled with the victory but didn’t feel the magnitude of the game until after play began. “It’s crazy; I can’t even believe it, honestly,” Williams said. “When we showed up, it really didn’t feel like a state’s game at first, but when we got to playing, it felt awesome.” Summing up the 2021 season with the word “extraordinary,” Williams complimented her right field platoon partner and the rest of her team for the way they’ve interacted with one another. “She’s a great teammate,” she said of Purcell. “I love the entire team; we get along better than any other team I’ve been with.” In her last game wearing a Raider softball uniform, Southall — also the 2020/21 Homecoming Queen — said that leaving with a state title was a perfect ending and well-deserved by
Features her teammates. “I couldn’t have had a better outcome for my senior year,” Southall said. “These girls did so good this whole season, we improved so much, and we really did deserve this.” Randolph-Henry finished the season at 15-1, a record that head coach Mike Adams said was unthinkable after a three-win season in 2019. Adams attributed his team’s turnaround to “hard work and young players still listening to you.” Even tough the Statesmen fell short in the championship game, Adams said the future looks bright for the young team and congratulated Appomattox for their victory. “It was great ballgame; two very, very good pitchers,” Adams had said. “We were just not able to put the ball in play today. But we feel good, we started four freshmen and they played most of the year so we’ve got a good group coming back and we’re excited about that. But Appomattox deserves all the credit in the world. They were well-coached, well-prepared, and they looked very good.” Likewise, Appomattox, which finished 2021 undefeated at 15-0 (one game against Gretna was called due to rain with
Appomattox leading 1-0 after one inning), returns most of their starters in 2022, losing left fielder Southall, center fielder Abbey Mann and pinch runner Kelsie White to graduation. No matter what happens this season or in the future, the 2021 softball team has left a legacy that will be remembered in the Appomattox community for ages to come with their name listed on the Louise Martin Field scoreboard and the two Raider championship signs at opposite town entrances. “It’s great,” said Rawes in expressing what the championship means to the community and the current state of Raider athletics. “It just shows the caliber of athletes that Appomattox has right now, and the hard work that they’re putting in when nobody’s looking.” Southall will be able to tell the 2021 softball state championship story well into the future, and is grateful to be a part of placing the Raider program on a higher level at ACHS as well as earning recognition statewide. “I feel like it really put softball in one of the sports that’s big now,” she said, “and really puts Appomattox on the map.”•
APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAG AZINE | 11
Features
LOCAL WOMAN
GIVES HOME TO DOG USED FOR RESEARCH
Becomes 1st Va. participant of Homes for Animal Heroes Written by Jeffrey Westbrook Photos contributed
Learning about everyday life in the real world and outside a research facility has meant a steep learning curve for Garnet, an Animal Hero that helped researchers studying solutions for heart arrhythmia. After retiring as a research animal, Garnet was taken in by Vicki King of Appomattox, the first foster home provider in Virginia for Homes for American Heroes.
12 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
For nearly two decades, Vicki King of Appomattox has worked professionally with dogs, primarily teaching dog agility classes where dogs learn jumps and other show skills. Last year, she has embarked on a new dog-related experience as the first foster home in Virginia for the Homes for Animal Heroes program. She welcomed Garnet, a hound mix, into her home. Garnet, who was a year and a half old when she was taken in, had lived her entire life first at a kennel where she was bred, and then at a medical research institute. The dogs in the Homes for Animal Heroes program start out life helping medical researchers to develop treatments for diseases including heart disease, COVID, cancer, HIV, diabetes, Ebola, influenza, arthritis, asthma, epilepsy, spinal cord injury, blindness, deafness, Alzheimer’s and more. The treatments gained from research involving dogs helps not only human patients but also dogs with diseases. Once a dog’s research project is complete, the dog retires, and the researchers want to see that animal find a forever home. “Caretakers and researchers at the institutes will often adopt a dog, but there are only so many homes available that way,” explained King. Rehoming research dogs is not as straightforward as finding homes for pets at an animal shelter. These research dogs have been well cared for, but having lived in an institutional environment all their lives, they are completely unfamiliar with the outside world and the sights, sounds, smells and experiences that make up everyday life for most pet dogs.
Features
That is where volunteers like King come into the picture. They provide a foster home for a few months, teaching and acclimating these animals to the experiences of life. Aside from the obvious need to housebreak the dogs, there is much that goes into the few months the dogs stay in the foster home. King reports that Garnet “gets nervous from sounds.” Birds, motor vehicles, vacuum cleaners, appliances, even flushing toilets are all new noises with which the dogs must be familiarized. Garnet also struggles with spatial awareness and runs into people and objects frequently. “At first, she was afraid of everything. I had to carry her in and out of the house,” King recalled. She observed that Garnet “is very clean and “lets me do anything,” such as clipping nails. King noted that at first, the wide-open sky spooked Garnet. “She had never really seen the sky,” King said. “The first time she saw an airplane vapor trail, she stared at it for a minute, and then she ducked and ran sideways. She wasn’t sure if it was going to fall on her.” Another factor weighing on the retired research dogs’ reorientation is that many of them are hounds. “Hounds think a little differently than other dogs,” King commented. She must meet the dog at its level of understanding and work with it to acclimate to home life. And while beagles tend to be more outgoing than other hounds, Garnet is a hound mix (probably with some American hound in her, King speculated),
and she tends to be shy around new people and timid in new experiences. There is no set length of time for the dogs to remain in foster care. They stay until they are ready, from a few to several months. While foster and permanent families do not learn much about the dog’s past location or research involvement, King knows that Garnet was part of research on cardiac arrhythmia. She had a pacemaker and another piece of medical equipment in her. She came to King’s home with three incisions: two from the removal of that equipment, and a third from being spayed. King learned about the program through her breeder from whom she gets her show dogs. The breeder has worked with Dr. Cindy Buckmaster, who founded Homes for Animal Heroes, and passed along information about it. Both the foster homes and the forever homes go through a strict vetting and application process. King got on an email group for the program, and she received a message that the first dog in Virginia was available. Now there is a Virginia State Coordinator for Homes for Animal Heroes. The COVID shutdowns created a problem for research animals across the country, King noted. “When COVID hit, there were all these animals in research facilities, but everything was shut down,” she said. Of course the animals were cared for, but the research in many cases came to a halt. In addition to caring for Garnet, King — who had retired from health care work in Lynchburg — still trains dogs and teaches dog agility classes. She lost her house, shade trees, kennels and APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 13
Features dog training equipment when a tornado hit Appomattox County in 2016. She has a new house, and to compensate for the lost shade, she has put up a Farmtech brand Clearspan shade, which keeps the yard 20 degrees cooler than in the direct sunlight. People come from as far away as Roanoke, Williamsburg, South Boston and Danville for King’s classes. She estimates that the average drive for the attendees is about an hour and a half. She also has her own top-of-the-line show dogs. She had the top AKC Dalmatians for four years running and has another one coming along.
King summed up the work of Homes for Animal Heroes by saying, “It’s about quality of life for the dogs. They’re doing the best that they can for these dogs and finding them good homes so they can live life.” For more information about the Homes for Animal Heroes program or to learn how to become a foster home or permanent home for a dog, visit the organization’s website at homesforanimalheroes.com, visit NAIA’s webstie at naiaonline. org, find Homes for American Heroes on Facebook, send email to naia@naiaonline.org, or call 503-227-8450. •
After retiring as a research animal, Garnet was taken in by Vicki King of Appomattox, the first foster home provider in Virginia for Homes for American Heroes.
14 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
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Appomattox County High School student-athletes were honored at the Monte W. Mays Midtown Museum ribbon cutting. From left: Tre Lawing, Courtney Layne, Monte Mays and Kelsey Hackett. Photo by Lisa Coleman. 16 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
Features
MONTE W. MAYS
Written by Charles Conrad
MIDTOWN MUSEUM WELCOMED If you’ve always wanted to see a coffee
that are rare, for around 50 years, and
grinder, phonograph and bread maker from
decided to open a museum — on the advice
the late 1800s, or a World War II soldier’s
of other people — to showcase those items
cigarette pack that has never been opened,
for the public and help others understand
a vintage Marilyn Monroe doll, or more Elvis
the important contributions of this rather
Presley items, you’re now in luck.
small community.
The Monte W. Mays Midtown Museum is
“My main theme was to emphasize how
officially open and celebrated with a ribbon
much Appomattox has accomplished for its
cutting ceremony in December.
size,” he said. “We’re one of the smallest
The museum displays more than 200,000
localities in the state of Virginia. We were
items and is located at 312 Court Street,
formed from other counties … We’ve had
Appomattox, across the street from the
three elected congressmen, which is unheard
Appomattox County Court House. The
of for our size. We’ve had two elected state
Monte W. Mays & Associates tax office,
senators … and we’ve had two elected
which opened in 2008, is located in the
state delegates …”
same building. The Salvation Army Thrift
An important group that Mays wants to
Store was the most recent occupant of the
reach is the county’s youth. He said that a
space that now holds the museum artifacts
number of the local schools will be taking
until it closed in 2019.
field trips to the museum when the COVID-19
Mays has been collecting items, many
risks subside.
APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 17
Features “My main theme,” Mays said again, “was to emphasize what
• Irene Mays’ Kitchen: Displays kitchen items from
the little, small town of Appomattox has done over the years.
Mays’ mother Irene such as frying pans, a meat block,
But I also want it to be entertaining but educational for our
lard cans, a wooden ice box, an eight-leaf harvest
young people.”
table, and Depression Era glass.
Part of that educational process is a booklet in the museum that describes the duties of the county’s constitutional officers, the local delegate, local senator and others in public office. The Political Room display shows the past and current county and town public servants and representatives as well as all U.S. presidents. Also paying homage to the local history are displays or information about all members of the Appomattox Scholastic
• Texaco Room: Features vintage Texaco toys such as trucks, gas pumps and wreckers. • Your Favorite Libations: Vintage types of alcohol items such as old beer cans, wine and liquor bottles, and even a “Billy Beer” for those who remember former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s brother.
Sports Hall of Fame, the 19 state championships of Appomattox
The Sports section shows items such as tickets from all the Super
County High School, former athletic coaches, such as Gordon
Bowls, and icons such as Dale Earnhardt, Jackie Robinson and
Bragg and Louise Martin, major local businesses and business
Cal Ripken, and the Washington Redskins Village.
leaders, and physicians.
In the back room of the museum are three antique cars.
Medical supplies and documents from long-time Appomattox
The large collection, which takes up all of the designated space
physician, the late Dr. Larry Smith, are one of the interesting
inside the building, was accumulated by Mays through various
features, along with his pilot license that Mays said Smith obtained before his driver’s license. There is a door over 100 years old from a former drug store on Main Street, as well as a 1930s license from Dr. Charles James to sell liquor, opium and cocaine — the latter two of which were used for medical purposes at the time. Among the categories of interest in the museum are the following: • Cola Wars: Items from soda brands both current and defunct. • Toyland: A variety of vintage toys made of metal, dolls, pedaled vehicles and more. • Tobacco Row: Many types of tobacco products and tools. • Gasoline Alley: Old items such as a manuallyoperated gravity pump, brand-name pumps and signs, oil cans, quart cans and more. • World War II: Multiple items such as a tent, uniforms,
means spanning five decades. “I would just pick up rare stuff over the years, and a lot of people would bring it to me,” he said. “This time of year, when they had to pay their real estate and personal property taxes, they would bring me rare stuff, and if it’s rare and I could use it and would enjoy it, I bought it. And then after 50 years, it just mounts up.” Attending the ribbon cutting were a number of county officials and former U.S. Congressman Virgil Goode. Four ACHS studentathletes were honored — senior football player Tre Lawing and senior softball players Abby Wilkerson, Courtney Layne and Kelsey Hackett — all of whom will be playing collegiate athletics. Wilkerson was unable to attend. The Monte W. Mays Midtown Museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Price of admission is $8; however, the fee is reduced to $7
rifles, food ration cans, and a flag that flew at the U.S.
for people age 65 and older, school teachers, elected officials
Capitol in Washington, D.C.
and first responders. Children age 11-18 get in for $6; age 5-10
• Civil War: Includes money, rifles, bullets, a mail bag, soldier’s letters to his wife in Bedford and more. 18 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
($5), and age four and under (free). Ten percent of all proceeds go to Appomattox Youth Sports.•
Features
Pictured at top is a section of various vintage items on display in the Monte W. Mays Midtown Museum. Below, Monte W. Mays Midtown Museum held a ribbon cutting ceremony in December. Monte Mays is standing third from left, next to his wife Linda (center). Photos by Lisa Coleman. APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 19
Meet the Locals
MEET ORA MCCOY
NRCS FARMER OF THE YEAR Written by John Markon, Virginia NRCS
Above at left, Farmer of the Year Ora McCoy (center front) is shown with (from left) nephew Stuart Jones, grandson Reid McCoy, son Edward McCoy Jr. and farm manager Donnie Franklin. Ora maintains a family museum on a living room wall, as seen above at right, in the main house on her Appomattox County farm. Photos by John Markon/Virginia NRCS.
About 16,000 people live in Virginia’s
as a pianist. Today, McCoy spends much
of this longtime community activist by
historic Appomattox County, and Ora
of her “free time” promoting the Carver-
recognizing her as its 2021 Farmer of
Scruggs McCoy isn’t exaggerating when
Price Legacy Museum, which emphasizes
the Year.
she says she’s met just about all of them.
local African American heritage in a place
“This award recognizes and honors
where history often seems to start and stop
minority producers who are outstanding
on April 9, 1865.*
stewards of the land and promote
Some of them got to know her in 1975 when she was named the county’s first female postmaster (the first African
“There are lots of stories here in
conservation in their communities,” said
American to hold the position). Others may
Appomattox,” McCoy said. “I think they
Dr. Edwin Martinez Martinez, NRCS’ state
have encountered her during an eight-
should all be heard.”
conservationist for Virginia. “Ms. McCoy
year hitch on the county school board or
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation
checks both boxes and we are thrilled to
at three local churches where she served
Service is pleased to help share the story
have a small part in preserving the land
22 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
Meet the Locals she so dearly loves.”
farm and be good stewards,” said Edward McCoy Jr., who lives
The story of Scruggs Farm begins at the end of the Civil War
near Richmond but visits the farm frequently. “We want to make
when newly freed slaves Daniel and Phoebe Scruggs actually
sure we use good environmental practices to maintain the farm.
received the often mythical “40 acres and a mule” Union military commanders promised to all emancipated slaves. The family holdings increased to 335 acres over three generations, but
It’s part of our long-term strategy to grow the farm and make it sustainable.”
much of the property was sold after the death of McCoy’s father.
“It’s been a labor of love getting it to the size and scope we
McCoy, her late husband and her son, Edward McCoy Jr., all
are at now,” he added. “We want to earn enough to preserve the
invested considerable time, effort and resources to buy back all
land as a fun place where younger generations can come and
but about 13 acres divided among numerous heirs.
hang out with the animals, enjoy the woods and ride the four-
“Which is one reason why you don’t see too many black families still on their original properties,” said McCoy, who was born in the farmhouse and lived on site until 1970. “In a lot of other families, once some of the heirs moved away from
wheel-drive vehicles if they want to. We see the farm as a family playground as much as a working farm.” For Ora McCoy, the land has even larger significance as a
Appomattox, all they usually wanted to do was sell when it was
gathering place for the community. She hosts a picnic every year
their turn to inherit. We had to be very patient, but we eventually
for three to four hundred of her neighbors, inviting them to come
bought up all the pieces that were willed to my siblings to allow
out and enjoy the property.
us to keep the land as a farm and to continue the legacy.” At age 79, McCoy is very involved in the family business but leaves much of the day-to-day operations to longtime farm manager Donnie Franklin. The operation transitioned from crops to cattle in the 1980s, and the family now manages about 200
Her passion for family history is immediately obvious when visitors walk into the living room and view an entire wall of family photos and newspaper clippings detailing major developments in the Scruggs/McCoy saga. Many of the men and women
head on three different farm sites. Their efforts to expand the
featured in the wall display were farmers and are buried in a
cattle operation also prompted them to focus additional attention
small graveyard behind the house, further connecting past
on stewardship.
to present.
“The drier the year, the less water that’s in our creeks and
“That core 40 acres still belongs to us, and it’s my aim to see
springs,” explained Franklin. “Our water table has dropped a
that it always will,” she said, “I make my son and my grandson
lot, and the cows were staying in the water more because the water level was getting so low.” The family worked with the Robert E. Lee Soil & Water
promise me all the time that they’ll never sell it. I’m sure they get tired of me doing that, but it’s that important to me.”
Conservation District to implement rotational grazing with fencing
“Nana has nothing to worry about,” said grandson Reid
and an alternative watering system to keep the cattle out of a
McCoy. “It’s always been a very special place because of the
stream that runs through the property.
history and legacy and connection to family. Every time I come
With assistance from the NRCS field office in Rustburg, they also developed a conservation plan for the farm’s 200 wooded acres that includes tree and shrub plantings as food sources for wildlife and practices to improve soil quality. These activities will be undertaken with financial assistance from the NRCS
here, it’s just home.” *The Appomattox National Historical Park is only a few miles away from her family farm and lures thousands of visitors every year to explore the site of the last Civil War battle fought
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which offers payments
in Virginia. The final hostile shots were fired on the morning
for the conservation performance of existing practices.
Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at the McLean
“That falls in line with what we’re trying to do to conserve the
house on April 9, 1865. • APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 23
Meet the Locals
MEET CONROY REGION 8 TEACHER OF THE YEAR Written by Charles Conrad
Brendan M. Conroy is shown with his plaque after being named the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year by Appomattox County Public Schools. He went on to become the Region 8 Teacher of the Year. Photo contributed by Appomattox County Public Schools.
24 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
When Appomattox County High School (ACHS) teacher Brendan M. Conroy was named the Region 8 Teacher of the Year, it came as somewhat of a surprise. “It’s certainly a shock; I mean this is awesome,” he said. “I’m happy I have the opportunity to work with these kids. A lot of kids have trouble getting through school, especially in today’s day and age with the pandemic going on.” Conroy, who enjoys working with young people in his current profession, was notified of the achievement in a surprise announcement in the ACHS library in October and was greeted by his family, various school personnel and school board members, and two state education representatives. In May, Conroy was named the Appomattox County Public Schools division Teacher of the Year and was then asked to submit a packet of information about himself, his calling, and his commitment to his profession to enter the running for the r egional award. Conroy instructs in the GED/Individual Student Alternative Education Program. He described his role as assisting students who are “having some difficulties getting their diploma and trying to get them to work-life skills and academic credentials to enter the workforce.” Before being hired by ACHS four years ago, Conroy retired in 2017 from a 20-year-career working for the U.S. government, having served in the U.S. Navy and the CIA. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, with merit as a nuclear engineer. Conroy is described as a “career switcher” in the education profession, a term to describe someone who has earned at least a bachelor’s degree and worked three or more years full-time
Meet the Locals
Appomattox County High School teacher Brendan M. Conroy (second from left) was named the Region 8 Teacher of the Year. He is shown here with members of his ACHS family: (front row, from left) Kristin Conroy, Brendan Conroy, Holly Conroy, Katie Conroy, Erin Gilsbach, (back row, from left) Keenan Conroy, Reagan Conroy and Jim Conroy. Photo by Charles Condrad. in another career field before becoming licensed to teach in the commonwealth. Appomattox County Public Schools Superintendent Annette Bennett expressed gratitude to Conroy for his contributions to the school district. “Given his background, there is no doubt that Mr. Conroy brings a wealth of valuable life experiences into his classroom,” she said. “For the many contributions he brings to our school division, we are thankful for Mr. Conroy’s decision to change careers.” Among the many people who were in attendance for Conroy’s award announcement were Dr. James Lane, state superintendent of instruction; Dr. Rosa Atkins, assistant superintendent of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Region Liaison to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE); ACHS Principal Poldi Moreno; and Appomattox County School Board members Jason
Wells and Chairman Greg Smith. “We think all the time about how heroic our teachers have been, especially during the past year … and you are an example for every teacher in our commonwealth for the excellence that is out there in our field,” Lane said while congratulating Conroy on behalf of the VDOE. Lane also presented Conroy with a letter of congratulations from then-governor Ralph Northam. Conroy and his family — wife Kristin and children Reagan, Katie, Keenan — relocated to Appomattox County after his retirement from government work. “I bought a farm off the internet; I was living on the West Coast at the time,” he said. “I found a location here in Appomattox in 2017, and I’ve had a great time since — I love this place.”• APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 25
Meet the Locals
MEET BILLOPS
A VIETNAM VET WITH A STORY TO TELL Article & photos by Jeffrey Westbrook
Our nation owes much to the men and women who have served in the U.S. military to defend our land and our freedom, and accordingly, we have several days throughout the year to recall what they have done. I’m reminded of a fascinating conversation I had with one of our veterans, Joseph Billops of Appomattox, on Veterans Day. We met quite by chance at the American Legion Post 104 following the Veterans Day program the Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9855 (both of Appomattox) held. We met while standing in line for the lunch, which followed, and we sat together while he regaled me with stories of what life in the military was like in the 1960s during the Vietnam War. I would recommend that everyone take some time to listen to the stories of veterans, at least those who are willing to talk about their experiences. He is a member of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. (In the interest of full disclosure, I told Mr. Billops up front that I write for the newspaper and would like to write about his experiences, and he was OK with it. In fact, the kind man thanked me for listening to his story! Yet as this story unfolds, you will see that I came away from our conversation with a treasure of a tale and new appreciation for what he and so many others have done in service of our country.) Joseph Billops earned the Bronze Star Medal “for heroism in ground combat” in Vietnam.
Billops, 81, was born in Seaport, Delaware, on June 1, 1940, at his family home, early on during World War II. He grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. Billops served in the United States Army, more specifically,
26 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
Meet the Locals
in the Riverines, as a medic. Since I was not familiar with the Riverines, his narrative introduced new (to me) aspects of history, and of course inspired later on a bit of reading about that force. The Mobile Riverine Force of the Mekong Delta was a joint force of the United States Army and Navy, specializing in, not surprisingly, river assault warfare. Billops recalled that there were around 3,000 rivers in the Mekong Delta, and during the rainy season, river boats provided the best (and often only) means of transportation for troops and weapons. He explained that during the rainy season they would use boats to get around, and during the dry season they would rely more on helicopters. He showed me a picture of his unit disembarking
Shown above, children from Appomattox Christian Academy brought Veterans Day cards they had made for veterans at the American Legion, including Joseph Billops (5th from left). At right is one of the photos Joseph brought along with certificates to the American Legion Veterans Day ceremony, willing to share his memories with those who would take the time to listen. It was a Tango Navy Boat carrying the Riverines in the Mekong Delta. APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 27
Meet the Locals from a Tango, a Navy owned and operated troop transport boat
America authorized by executive order, February 4, 1944, has
(officially known as an Armored Troop Carrier or ATC, of which
awarded THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL with V device to Specialist
there were 52, I later read).
Five E5Joseph E. Billops (service number) Regular Army FOR
While war in general and certainly the Vietnam War exposed
HEROISM IN GROUND COMBAT against a hostile force in the
the combatants to terrible experiences, there were also some
Republic of Vietnam on 16 August, 1968 given under my hand
good memories, and in retrospect Billops sees the humor in some
in the city of Washington this twenty-seventh day of September,
situations. Mid-way through his story of rivers and boats, he told
1968. (Signed by) Julian J. Ewell, Major General, USA (and)
me, “There’s one fact I left off. I can’t swim.”
Stanley R. Resor, Secretary of the Army.” (Specialist E-5 is the
Positive memories for the former medic included “taking care
rank of sergeant.)
of the wounded: bullets, shrapnel, punji pits and stakes” were
Billops gave me a photocopy of a document from the U.S.
some of the dangers the soldiers faced. (Punji pits resulted in
Army that provided further details about his heroism and award.
another search; the Viet Cong — North Vietnamese — would
It describes the reason for the award as follows: “For heroism in
use sharpened bamboo sticks, often tipped with poison or other
connection with military operations against an armed hostile force
noxious substances. Placed in camouflaged pits, these low-tech
in the Republic of Vietnam: Specialist Five Billops distinguished
defenses caused great apprehension for American soldiers.)
himself by valorous actions on 16 August 1968, while serving
“I couldn’t save everybody, but I saved everyone that I could.
as a Medical Aidman with Headquarters and Headquarters
At times I tripped a mine on the way to help someone else who
Company, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, on a reconnaissance in
had tripped a mine. I got wounded from shrapnel in my leg, and
force mission along the Song Ben Tre River in Kien Hoa Province.
I still have a scar on my forehead. But I didn’t stop. I got up and
When a hostile enemy force launched an attack on several boats
kept going,” he recalled.
with automatic weapons and rockets, Specialist Billops braved
Of course, many memories of the war involve terrible
the intense fire to jump to another boat with medical supplies and
experiences. What stands out to him the most, over 50
aid the wounded until they could be evacuated. Specialist Five
years later?
Billops’ personal bravery and devotion to duty are in keeping
“There are things I don’t talk about because they were so bad,” he said. On this occasion, Billops opened up about one such terrible memory.
with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Infantry Division and the United States Army.” Also in 1968, Billops’ father passed away.
“One time we went into a village we had been through before.
“I was stationed in Vietnam at the time,” he said. “My mother
A child about 5 or 6 years old ran out and grabbed a soldier.
got me home through the assistance of the Red Cross. They
They both exploded; the child had a grenade in his hand. The
pulled me out of a firefight. They had my stuff, and they flew me
Viet Cong were really treacherous. They would threaten citizens.
home, through San Francisco to Delaware. Martin Luther King
“Another time a child was running toward me with a grenade
Jr. had been assassinated, and there was all kinds of trouble. I
in hand. I remembered what had happened before, and I shot
got stopped on the street by the Delaware National Guard. They
the child, and the child exploded.” It was a case where the child
jumped out of a jeep with rifles shouldered and told me, ‘Stop!
would die either way, and this medic was faced with the awful
Police!’ We went to the police station, and I told them I was in the
situation of kill or be killed. It is horrors like this that haunt veterans
military — I was still in uniform.
decades later. In 1968 Billops earned the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism. He had his medal with him on Veterans Day at the American Legion, along with the certificate that accompanied it. It proclaims, “The United States of America to all who shall see this presents, greeting: this is to certify that the President of the United States of 28 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
“They gave me a ride to my father’s house. He passed three weeks later. I was there holding his hand when he passed. There’s nobody on this world that I respected more than my father.” When his 30-day emergency leave ended, the young soldier went back to Vietnam, only to be shuffled around by the army. “A few months later, I was sent back to the U.S. for a new
Meet the Locals
Vietnam Veteran Joseph Billops still wears a hat, pictured above at left, displaying the patch of the Mobile Riverine Force of the Mekong Delta, the force in which he served. Shown at right is the Bronze Star Medal certificate earned by Joseph Billops.
assignment. But the new assignment was canceled before I even started it, and I was sent back to Vietnam for a second year.” Later after the war, Billops went on to serve as a staff sergeant and then a reserves master sergeant, as a flight medicine technician.
keep our nation free. “The change has happened, as far as I can see, as a difference of generations,” Billops observed. It was especially people of draft age during the U.S. involvement in Vietnam who protested the war.
Following his military service, Billops continued in the medical
“(Things started changing) after our participation in Vietnam
field as a civilian. He started as a respiratory therapist and later
ended in 1975. The draft had ended in 1973, and also in 1973
became a cardiology technician for EKG. He retired from the
many POWs were sent back from North Vietnam,” he noted.
National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The veteran was married twice. His first wife passed away
To this day, in spite of the personal difficulties the war inflicted upon him, Billops remains rightly proud of his role.
after 10 years. Then a few years ago, he lost his second wife
“I’m not famous. I’m a history buff, and I don’t mind making
of 46 years. Because of the high cost of living in Montgomery
history. I’m an ordinary father, grandfather, and great-
County, Maryland, and because “my daughter kept on me to
grandfather,” he concluded.
come here” to Appomattox, he moved here and now resides with his granddaughter.
It is the stories such as this one, the real-life experiences of “ordinary” people right in our community, that make the history of
“She insisted that I move in with her,” he explained.
this war and others in which our nation fought hit home for those
We discussed the change in attitude toward the military and
of us who enjoy the blessings of liberty they fought to defend for
those in the service from the troubled times of the Vietnam War to today, that switch from public hostility to today’s climate of gratitude and appreciation toward those who have served to
us and for people around the world. Thank you, Joseph Billops, for your service in the United States military. • APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 29
Meet the Locals
MEET BO STAWICKI A TWO-TIME NATIONAL SAUCE WINNER Written by Courtney Mendenhall
Concord resident Bo Stawicki is pictured with his wife Kristin; their sons Joseph, Ryan, Matthew and Jordan; and their dog Max in December 2020. Photo contributed.
30 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
Affectionately named after the company Tiffany Bo Shades and Lamps (from his father being a welder before retiring), Concord resident Bo Stawicki and his well-known “Bo’s Honey Brown Hot Sauce” continues to be successful and aspiring throughout Lynchburg and the surrounding area. The New London, Connecticut, native was homeschooled until seventh grade where he began his early business-like ventures with gardening and selling fishing bait and chicken eggs as a youth. Stawicki played soccer and ran track during his teenage years in high school, where he holds a “shared” record for the four-by-four relay team (three minutes and 32 seconds). He went on to study business management at Liberty University from 1996 to 2000. After graduating, events took a turn as his son, Joseph (who is now 22 years old), needed open heart surgery at five weeks old. Joseph was set to have his surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital, and meanwhile Bo Stawicki had to move back to New York. Stawicki described the situation as being difficult but very “life-changing.” Joseph went on to have two more surgeries at age 8 and 13 to replace a heart valve (both times). Stawicki expressed that he was only 24 years old when Joseph needed the first surgery. “A lot of things I do in my life are drawn from the inspiration comes from him. To see his attitude and outlook on life has been great for me,” Stawicki said. Stawicki has been married for almost 14 years to Kristin (McCullen) Stawicki and has had three additional children: Ryan, 12, Matthew, 10, and Jordan, 6, since the birth of their first child Joseph. They all now live in Concord. He has always enjoyed cooking with his family and said that it was a tradition that brought them together. He later produced a mind-blowing recipe that would be a national sensation. A friend of his encouraged him to submit an application for the National
Meet the Locals Buffalo Wing Festival after tasting the sauce. Bo Stawicki said he did not think much of it at first but decided to monetize it after “blowing it off.” The 2012 festival took place on the Buffalo Bisons baseball field (minor league team) in Buffalo, New York, where he faced seven competitors (in-state and out-of-state). In attendance were judges from Disney, and he described the event as being “high energy and very fun.” Judges evaluated the competition and by unanimous vote, Stawicki was the first-place winner. “It was nerve-racking at first; I had a lot of adrenaline. For the first 30 seconds, I couldn’t believe it,” Stawicki said. He was invited back to the well-known festival for a second time in 2013 and placed first-place once again. This time he decided, “I better come up with a name for this.” The name stuck and drew a lot of attention from customers in Lynchburg and surrounding areas. He received an offer to come to entertainer Wendy Williams’ talk show but turned it down because he did not realize the potential it had. “Looking back, I wish I would have actually gone on the show; that’s the only thing I would change,” said Stawicki. He appeared on local radio stations to discuss his business and how it transpired into being a successful venture. The biggest driving factor besides people tasting the sauce is that 63 percent of consumers are returning customers. Stawicki attended Experience the Holidays in Appomattox at Courtland Festival Park last month with his son Matthew and saw a great turnout there. He also recently attended another event in Amherst. “One of the goals we have is to find a distributor and get us into stores and markets,” Stawicki said. “People send pictures of food that they make with the sauce. We want to grow organically and get more exposure.” Stawicki added that he is seeking local, regional and national suppliers. The company currently offers free delivery for any orders within 30 minutes of Lynchburg. The sauce can be used with everything from wings and soup to burgers and pizza. For more information about Bo’s Honey Brown Hot Sauce, visit https://honeybrownhot.com. • APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 31
Discover
APPOMATTOX COUNTY TOWN OF APPOMATTOX
Despite the unexpected pandemic, Appomattox County carries many successes under its belt from 2020-2021. Some of this progress was spurred on by the challenges of navigating the brave new world of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, countywide broadband expansion was developed to assist with at-home, school-related and workrelated needs. As work and education became more onlineoriented due to the pandemic, this was seen as a big need. Appomattox County partnered with Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) for its Firefly broadband project and Shentel for its broadband offerings. Appomattox County enhanced its economic development prospect activity for Appomattox County by creating a direct relationship with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP). Another bragging point for the county includes the efforts of the 911 dispatchers in becoming certified to offer emergency medical dispatch during 911 emergency calls. In light of COVID-19, the county saw to it that ionization units were installed in all county buildings to enhance safety for their workers. The ionization units reduce airborne viruses by 99 percent, including coronavirus, mold and other antigens. Events returned in 2021, including the Historic Appomattox Railroad Festival, held in honor of the late Dr. Paul Harvey, former mayor and town council member of Appomattox who died in October 2020. County leaders also are proud of its sports teams, including the Appomattox County High School football and softball teams, which won 2021 state championships. Through hard work and determination, localities such as Appomattox County continue to make progress — even in the wake of a pandemic. 34 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
The Town of Appomattox saw some changes brought on last year. Despite the loss and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were some shining moments worth noting. In 2020, the town made some changes related to curbside garbage collection. The 2020 Curbside Garbage Collection Contract was awarded to County Waste. The three-year contract came with two opportunities for renewal, meaning it could turn into a nine-year contract. The town received favorable comments on the fireworks show, and town staff also transitioned to new financial software. A new process for fielding community funding requests was put to use. The process entails the filling out of an application titled “Town of Appomattox Request for Community Funding Assistance.” It was hoped that the process would encourage more fiscal responsibility. “The policy is intended to ensure that all requests for funding are treated fairly and equally through the implementation of a standardized and transparent application, evaluation and approval process,” the town explained in the application. Also of note, in 2020 the town staff labored to apply for a grant that was awarded this year. The Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) in the amount of $650,000 was given to support the town’s Church Street Waterline Project. The town also is making progress with its downtown revitalization project.
Discover
TOWN OF PAMPLIN CITY
While some people may imagine the Pamplin City downtown area is reminiscent of a ghost town, a jaunt through Main Street today would state otherwise. Much has changed in Pamplin, which had been featured on Preservation Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Sites list in the past. The mayor of Pamplin City, Sarah Hamlett Blackwell, didn’t hide her excitement in looking back on the past year nor in looking forward to the future. She noted that from the water tower to the depot and the trail coming into Pamplin, and in enforcing blight regulations — there’s a lot to see in terms of progress. The hope for the High Bridge Trail and seeing the fruit of the changes is keeping Pamplin motivated. The water tower was a big win, she said. The parking lot for the depot, too — and the blight clean-up that’s happened — it’s an ongoing progress to be maintained. Financially, Pamplin is further ahead than they’ve ever been in quite some time, Blackwell noted. Pamplin Area Legacy Supporters continues to be a big mover and shaker in terms of progress for Pamplin with ongoing care for the downtown area’s revitalization and effort bringing a new Pamplin Museum. From a tourism perspective, Blackwell sees Pamplin’s progress as a benefit to all in Appomattox County. Looking forward, new businesses are in the pipeline for Main Street. Blackwell said she’ll be excited when they get a LOVE sign, believing it will be another draw to bring folks through Pamplin.
APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK At the original Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee, commanding general of the Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered his men to Ulysses S. Grant, general-in-chief of all United States forces. Though several Confederate armies under different commanders remained in the field, Lee’s surrender signaled the end of the Southern States’ attempt to create a separate nation. Three days later the men of the Army of Northern Virginia marched before the Union Army, laid down their flags, stacked their weapons, and began the journey back to their homes. For them it was an ending, but for the nation it was a new beginning.
Today, the National Park Service, which manages this historical park, allows the public to walk the old country lanes where these events took place and in the quietness and stillness imagine the activity of those April days of 1865. The Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is assisted by the Appomattox 1865 Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the understanding and appreciation of the heritage and significance of the park. The foundation focuses on efforts to preserve the past, augment financial support, commemorate history and enhance each and every visitor’s experience. The stories of Appomattox Court House go far beyond the final significant battles of this nation’s Civil War. Learn more by visiting 111 National Park Drive, Appomattox, or www.nps.gov/apco.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MUSEUM In the heart of Virginia, one will find Appomattox — the location of General Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant. An event that proved to be a turning point in American history. It’s only fitting that Appomattox should host the American Civil War Museum. Lee’s surrender brought an end to both the Confederate States of America and to the end of the American Civil War. It also hailed a new beginning as the nation once again became one. The American Civil War Museum in Appomattox is one of three locations in the state of Virginia. In the Appomattox location, there are more than 400 artifacts, photographs, and documents that tell the story of the American Civil War. One of the most notable displays is General Lee’s uniform coat and his sword. The exhibit also focuses on the lives of nine different people who lived during this tumultuous era of American history, providing visitors an opportunity to see the nation’s conflict through the lens APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 35
Discover of ordinary people of the day. The museum is located at 159 Horseshoe Road, near Appomattox Court House National Historical Park and the site of the Battle of Appomattox Station. To learn more about the museum, visit www.acwm.org or call 434-352-5791.
CARVER-PRICE LEGACY MUSEUM Located on 102 Carver Lane in Appomattox, the Carver-Price Legacy Museum strives to preserve and depict the history of Black Americans from the perspective of daily school life during the segregation era. The buildings that now host the museum were home to Carver-Price High School. The school is named after Mozella Jordan Price, who supervised the African-American schools of Appomattox County, and George Washington Carver, a prominent black agricultural scientist and inventor. The school had its last graduating class in 1969. In 2008, the Carver-Price Alumni Association pulled together to open the museum. The many displays, exhibits and artifacts in the museum provide visitors with a thorough education on life for the black American moving forward after the Civil War era. Some of the memorabilia on display include photos, books and documents. The museum also holds a collection of DVDs featuring recorded interviews of Carver-Price teachers. These recordings provide history buffs or researchers with an oral history and unique perspective on this period of black American history. Teachers featured in recorded interviews include Harriet Pierce 36 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
James, Joan Lewis, Celestral Turner, Sara Elliot, Joseph Lewis and Josephine Webb. The museum offers tours to schools, churches and civic groups. To learn more about the museum, visit www.carver-price.com or call 434-352-7880.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM The Historical Society Museum and Library is housed in what was once the county jail. Construction began in 1895 and was completed in 1897. It is located in Courthouse Square at 337 Court Street, Appomattox. The third jail to have been built in Appomattox County, it was in continuous use until May 1981. The first two jails were located at the present Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. The museum, of Jeffersonian design, is sponsored by the Appomattox Historical Society for the purpose of preserving county history. Among its fascinating features are: a turn-of-thecentury one-room school, doctor’s office, jail cell, general store, country kitchen and room sponsored by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, which is devoted to memorabilia of the War Between the States plus numerous artifacts and interesting mementos of the past. For more information, visit www.appomattoxhistoricalsociety.org. •
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Wendy Panuska of Pamplin submitted this fall photo of Rock Springs Road in Appomattox. APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 39
Directory
Town of Appomattox Emergencies, Holidays & Nights
352-7414
Fire Department Linden Street
352-5212
Manager’s Office Linden Street
352-8268
Sheriff’s Department Morton Street
352-7414 352-8241
Library
352-5340
Magistrate
352-0422
Reassessment Board
352-2512
Recreation Department
352-5996
Rescue Squad
352-5433
School Board Office
352-8251
Sheriff
352-8241 352-7414
933-8010
933-8010
Director of Public Works
352-8631
Social Services
352-7125
Waste Water Treatment Plant
352-2391
Soil Survey
352-5403
10th District Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court
County of Appomattox Animal Warden
352-7922
Service Unit
352-8224
Building Inspection
352-8183
Treasurer’s Office
352-5200
Chamber of Commerce
352-2621
Virginia Cooperative Extension Service
352-8244
Voter Registration
352-5302
Clerk’s Office Circuit Court
352-5275
Commissioner of Revenue
352-7450
Commonwealth Attorney
352-7627
County Administrator
352-2637
Courthouse
352-5275
Crime Prevention
352-0429
DMV Select Office
352-5547
General District Court
352-5540
Health Department
352-2313
Dental Clinic
352-5794
Housing Assistance
352-0656
Jail
352-2666
Judge Office
352-0717
Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court
352-8224
Landfill
352-8184
42 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
Emergency Numbers Fire, Police, State Police & Rescue Squads Appomattox, Concord, Pamplin
9-1-1
Other Emergency Numbers National Response Center Oil & Toxic Chemical Spill 1-800-424-8802
Poison Centers Richmond (Voice/TDD)
1-800-552-6337
Charlottesville
1-800-451-1428
National Runaway Switchboard
1-800-621-4000
“Virginia Missing Children Information Clearing House”
1-800-822-4453
or dial the operator (0) & say:
“I want to report a _____ in (Town Name)” or “I want a policeman in (Town Name)”, etc. *If you are unable to stay at the telephone, clearly state to the operator the exact location where help is needed.
Directory
Churches
Memorial United Methodist Church 403 Court Street, Appomattox
352-5705
Appomattox Assembly of God Hwy. 460, Appomattox
352-2524
Appomattox Baptist Temple Hwy. 727
Mineral Springs Baptist Church 915 Norwood Road, Gladstone
933-8320
352-8010
Mt. Airy Baptist Church Hwy. 26, Gladstone
933-8207
352-5119
Beautiful Zion Baptist Church 5868 Rolling Hill Road Red House
Mt. Comfort Methodist Church Hwy. 611, Gladstone
933-8511
248-5255
Bethany Pentecostal Holiness Church Parsonage Spout Springs
Mt. Lyle Baptist Church 470 Tower Loop Road, Pamplin
248-5844
352-5048
Bethlehem United Methodist Church Concord
Mt. Obed Baptist Church Concord
993-3150
993-2873
Bible Baptist Church 297 Bible Baptist Road, Appomattox
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church 342 Mount Pleasant Road, Pamplin
248-6657
352-7817
Calvary Baptist Church Concord
Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church Hwy. 648, Appomattox
352-2761
993-3128
Canaan Baptist Church Hwy. 24, Appomattox
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Concord
993-2885
352-5303
Elon Baptist Church Pamplin
New Beginnings Ministry Hwy. 708, Appomattox
352-4940
248-6132
Evergreen Baptist Church Evergreen
New Concord Presbyterian Church 5588 New Chapel Road, Concord
993-2783
352-5716
Evergreen United Methodist 2466 Cedar Tree Road, Appomattox
New Hope Baptist Church Hwy. 24E, Appomattox
352-7968
352-2824
Freedom Word Church Appomattox
New Jerusalem Baptist Church 14287 Richmond Hwy, Appomattox
352-7339
352-2434
Galilee Baptist 180 Galilee Road, Gladstone
Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church Hwy. 631 & Hwy. 627
933-8566
933-8566
Galilee Baptist Church Hwy. 24, Appomattox
Paradise Ministries Baptist Church Appomattox
352-5253
352-5253
Glory Baptist Church 195 Park Lane, Appomattox
Peaceful Grove Baptist Church Concord
352-7658
352-7658
Grace Hills Baptist Church 4320 Pumping Station Road, Appomattox
Piney Ridge United Methodist Pamplin
248-3150
352-8847
Hebron Baptist Church Route 4, Appomattox
Pilot Mountain Baptist Church Route 646, Concord
993-3486
993-3828
Promise Land Baptist Church Hwy. 604, Concord
352-8319
The House of Prayer Hwy. 607, Gladstone
933-8288
Red Oak Baptist Church Hwy. 26, Appomattox
352-2404
Jordan Baptist Church Hwy. 608, Appomattox
352-2462
Reedy Springs Church Hwy. 648, Appomattox
352-2346
Liberty Baptist Church 1709 Church St., Appomattox
933-4476
Reformed Bible Church Harrell St., Appomattox
352-2667
Appomattox Presbyterian Church 9 Oakley Ave., Appomattox
APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 43
Directory
Seventh-Day Adventist Court Appomattox
352-2660
SHERIFF’S DEPT
Spout Spring Baptist Church Hwy. 647, Appomattox
352-5530
Spring Field Baptist Church Hwy. 654, Gladstone
933-8886
St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Oakleigh Ave., Appomattox
Town Shop 320 Linden St., Appomattox
352-8393
352-8296
Trinity United Methodist Route 2, Concord
Water Treatment Plant 216 Ethel St., Appomattox
352-2391
993-3308 248-6671
Vera Church of God Parsonage, Vera
352-8319
White Oak Grove Baptist Church Hwy. 665, Pamplin
248-6963
Zion Baptist Church Hwy. 678, Pamplin
248-6463
Government - City, Village & Township
352-8241 933-8393
Town Offices Route 40W, Charlotte CH
542-5781
TOWN OF GLADSTONE Fire (To Report a Fire) Hwy 60E, Gladstone
933-8225
Rescue Squad Hwy 60E, Gladstone
933-8383
CITY OF PAMPLIN
TOWN OF APPOMATTOX Emergencies (Holidays & Nights)
352-8214
Fire Department - Linden St., Appomattox
352-5212
Manager’s Office - Linden St., Appomattox
352-8268
Pamplin Community Center
248-6600
Pamplin Depot Branch Library
248-9858
Mayor’s Office Hwy 460, Pamplin
248-6514
Government - County & Parish County of Appomattox 117 Court St., Appomattox
SCHOOLS 352-8214
352-7098
EMERGENCY 911 Animal Control 297 Court St.
352-7922
Building Inspections 297 Court St.
352-8183
352-7441
Circuit Court 297 Court St.
352-5275
352-5555
Commissioner of Revenue
352-7450
Commonwealth’s Attorney
352-7627
Community Center
352-5996
Agriculture Department 2020 Church St. 134 Evergreen Ave.
352-5390 352-5766
Bus Stop 1388 Confederate Blvd. Maintenance Shop 163 Price Lane STATE POLICE DIVISION 3 HQ 240 3rd Division Loop, Appomattox
352-7414
TOWN OF CHARLOTTE COURT HOUSE
Triumph Baptist Church Hwy. 665, Pamplin
Superintendent of Schools 2020 Church St., Appomattox
Morton St., Appomattox
993-2226
44 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
Directory
County Administration
352-2637
General District Court
352-5540
Juvenile Court Services Unit
352-8224
Juvenile & Domestic Court
352-8225
Appomattox Area Headquarters
352-7744
Magistrate
352-0422
Appomattox Residency Shop Hwy 24E, Appomattox
352-5376
PARKS & RECREATION
DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION Appomattox Residency Office
352-7136
Reporting Hazardous Road Conditions Snow/Flood Conditions Statewide Voice/TDD
220 Community Lane
352-5996
Public Safety 117 Court St.
352-3950
Sheriff’s Dept. Administrative Non-Emergency
352-2666
Treasurer’s Office
352-5200
VA Tech Extension Office
352-8244
Victim Witness Program
352-7791
National Park Service 239 George Peers Drive, Appomattox
Voter Registration 367 Virginia Ave.
352-5302
Gladstone 2418 Piedmont Road
Public Safety 117 Court St.
352-3950
Government - State State Police - For Emergencies Only Div 3 Headquarters - Appomattox
993-2226
State Police Hwy 613, Appomattox
352-7128
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL DEPT. Stores - Triangle Plaza Shopping Center
352-8077
Dept. of Conservation & Recreation State Parks Holliday Lake State Park Road, Appomattox
248-6308
Cooperative Extension Appomattox
352-8244
Motor Vehicles Dept of Linden St. Appomattox
352-5547
352-7135
1-800-387-7623
Government - United States Department of Agriculture Consolidated Farm Service Agency Hwy 460 E, Appomattox
352-5283 352-5610 352-8987 933-8136 933-4433
Pamplin 111 Church St.
248-5371
Spout Spring
352-2188
U.S. Postal Service
933-8136
Fire Departments Appomattox
352-5212
Darlington Heights Fire Department
248-6805
Gladstone
933-8225
Pamplin Vol. Fire Department
248-6690
Concord Non-Emergency Fire Dept.
993-3211
Red House Fire Department Annex 9467 Red House Road, Red House
248-9193
Red House Volunteer Fire Station 6620 Rolling Hill Road, Red House
248-6787
RESCUE SQUAD Appomattox & Pamplin
352-5433
Concord Rescue Squad Inc.
993-2166
APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 45
Directory
Gladstone Hwy 60E, Gladstone
933-8383
Parks Eastern National Park & Monument Assoc.
Police Departments Police/County Sheriff’s Dept. Morton St., Appomattox State Hwy 460E, Appomattox
352-2136
Holliday Lake State Park Office
248-6308
352-8241
Holliday Lake State Park Concession
248-6107
352-7414 933-8010
James River State Park, Gladstone
933-4355
352-7128
Rescue Squads - Non Emergency Appomattox County Rescue Squad
352-5433
Concord Rescue Squad Inc.
993-2085
Hospitals
Private Schools Cornerstone Christian Academy 169 Police Tower Road, Appomattox
352-2345
Secondary & Elementary Schools (Academic) Appomattox County Admin. Office Superintendent of Schools 124 Court St., Appomattox
352-8251
Adult Learning Center - Appomattox
352-8722
Maintenance Shop
352-5555
Supervisor of Transportation - Bus Stop
352-7441
Nights, Sundays & Holidays Appomattox High School Principals Office Cafeteria
352-7146 352-5022
947-4000
Appomattox County Elementary School Main Office Principals Office Assistant Principal Cafeteria Clinic
352-7463 352-7463 352-2742 352-5583 352-5411
Jamerson J Robert Memorial Library 157 Main St., Appomattox
352-5340
Town of Pamplin Library 115 Main St., Pamplin
248-9857
Appomattox County Middle School Principals Office Agriculture Department Guidance Department
352-8257 352-5390 352-2135
Appomattox County Primary School Principals Office Cafeteria Clinic
352-5766 352-7476 352-8937
Appomattox County Headstart 500 Ferguson St., Appomattox
352-4516
CENTRA 1920 Atherholt Road, Lynchburg
947-4700
Centra Gretna Medical Center 291 McBride Lane, Gretna
656-1274
Lynchburg General Hospital 1901 Tate Springs Road, Lynchburg
947-3000
Alan B Pearson Cancer Center 1701 Thomson Dr., Lynchburg
200-4522
Southside Community Hospital 800 Oak Street, Farmville
392-8811
Stroobants Cardiovascular Center 2410 Atherholt Road, Lynchburg
200-5252
Virginia Baptist Hospital 330 Rivermont Ave., Richmond
Public Libraries
Museums The American Civil War Museum 159 Horseshoe Road, Appomattox
352-5791
46 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | APPOMAT TOX
Directory
Featured Businesses
Pino’s Italian Restaurant Banquet Room Available • Closed Mondays Hours: Tues.-Thurs. 11-9:30; Fri.-Sat. 11-10:30; Sun. 12-9 Shoppes of Appomattox, Rt. 460
APARTMENTS THERKO LLC Sunnydale Apartments & Lombardy Apartments, Appomattox
660-2243
TELEPHONE BOOKS Appomattox Phone Book
BRASSIERES Absolute Perfection 819 Lee Grant Ave., Appomattox
YOUR LOCAL OPTION FOR DESIGN & PRINTING SERVICES
352-7973
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Natour’s Grocery 403 Old Courthouse Rd., Appomattox
352-7424
Riverside Grill 13020 Oakvill Rd., Gladstone
933-8342
Rt. 26 Market Grocery & Grill 5216 Oakville Rd., Appomattox
352-2700
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352-8215
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352-0233
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PHYSICIANS-FAMILY PRACTICE Blue Ridge Medical Center 624 Jones St., Appomattox
263-4000
REAL ESTATE Century 21 All Service 2071 Confederate Blvd., Appomattox
352-2318
RESTAURANTS Golden China 7811 Richmond Hwy., Appomattox
352-8596
APPOMAT TOX | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 47