history’s stories
CIVIL WAR DRONES By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks
Fort Sumter had surrendered to the Southern Confederacy on April 12, 1861 a few days before Thaddeus Lowe took flight in his hot air balloon called the Enterprise from Cincinnati, Ohio. The plan was for the flight to end in Washington, however, the winds took the Enterprise southward and the balloon landed in Unionville, South Carolina on April 19, 1861. Lowe was taken into custody by the Confederates as a suspected northern spy. He talked his captors into releasing him by telling them he was experimenting with balloon flight and did not have any Union support. It was during this time that he came up with the idea of using balloons for reconnaissance since he could see for many miles from over 500 feet up. Salmon Chase the Treasury Secretary arranged a meeting with Lowe and President Lincoln in June 1861, where Lowe demonstrated the use of balloon reconnaissance and the use of the telegraph from the balloon in air to the ground. Lincoln was impressed and established a civilian organization for the Balloon Corps under the Topographical Engineers. Lowe constructed several balloons all able to ascend to 5,000 feet as chief of the Corps. In July 1861 fellow aeronaut as they were called, John LaMountain also was trying to get Union contracts for balloon reconnaissance went to Fort Monroe and made two ascents for General Benjamin Butler. This was the first aerial reconnaissance of the Civil War and made John LaMountain the first aeronaut to perform the duties which he never received total recognition for, since he did not have the support of the Union Army and Lowe refused to assist him. LaMountain was never heard from again after General McClellan dismissed him in February 1862 from further activities with the balloons. At Fredericksburg in December 1862 the balloon has several ascents in what we now call Chatham between the Virginia Department of Highways office and the home of the editor of the FP. Years ago I found some of the iron ballast that was used and the balloon launch site. The Southern Army formed its own balloon corps in 1862. Unlike the hydrogen filled with hot air. Unfortunately the Southern balloons were captured by the Union Army before they could provide much need information. The Union actually had the beginnings of the first aircraft carrier as they took a coal barrage and converted it to a floating balloon launch pad that carried the balloon and its crew on water. Here it was the 1860’s and we had aerial reconnaissance from a floating boat. The Aeronauts were unable to defend their balloons, however, they could direct effective artillery fire into unseen enemy positions. Dedicated to the memory of LUCILLE INGALLS, KATHRYN MASSEY AND BEN WOODBRIDGE
OUR HERITAGE grub in the burg: the greek empire
By barbra anderson The current upsurge of dining in Fredericksburg mirrors the explosion of restaurants that opened in the 1930s. Most of these restaurants—11 of them—were owned by Greek immigrants. George Calamos came to the United States on his own from southern Greece when he was only 16. He settled here in 1908 and opened a fruit stand. He was the only Greek in town. From these meager beginnings rises the Fredericksburg Greek restaurant empire. The Dixie Diner was a classic aluminum diner Embodying the American car, prefabricated and shipped with counters dream, Calamos soon married a local and booths in place. Long gone, the Dixie girl, Margaret White, and expanded his Diner was located across the street from fruit stand into the Olympia Candy where Roxbury Farm and Garden Center Kitchen on William Street. His success stands now. prompted him to open the Victory Lunch and later the first aluminum diner him up with his sister-in-law, Ida May. The in Fredericksburg, the Dixie Diner—both young couple bought an old gas station on on Lafayette Boulevard when it was part Princess Anne Street and converted it into the Palm Grill. In 1938, they tore it down of Route 1. In 1909, John Pappendreou, our and built a new two-story building in Art second Greek, came to town and started Deco style, featuring curved glass the Athens Cafe at Caroline and Hanover. windows, salmon-colored tiles, and a neon Within a few years, he was able to open marquee. The second floor was home to the Athens Hotel across the street, the Gold Room, an elegant dinner dancing featuring 58 “European plan” rooms and a club that featured big band orchestras. Although these Greek-owned billiard hall. restaurants prospered, not all These are the two “pioneer fathers” of the Greek community in Fredericksburg citizens welcomed this Fredericksburg. After 25 years of growth influx of immigrants. Vicki Harrison, and prosperity, the local Greeks published Calamos’ granddaughter, tells stories of a booklet, “The Fredericksburg Greek discrimination and outright hatred. The Colony,” to commemorate their KKK burned a cross on the lawn of her success. The directory lists 15 Greek- grandparents’ William Street home. Her owned businesses in 1933, including the A- grandmother, the first local girl to marry 1 Café, Commercial Restaurant, Occidental a Greek, faced such consistent censure Restaurant, Liberty Confectionery, and that she wrote a letter to the newspaper in protest. The 1933 Greek Colony booklet Central Lunch. In 1940, Paul Vivros opened the Recreation Center, which still repeatedly assures its readers that Greeks are “progressive, thrifty, and law-abiding serves the best hot dogs in town. One of the most famous Greek- citizens.” Sadly, most of these early owned restaurants was the Palm Grill eateries are gone. However, the Greek (later the Irish Brigade). Gus Rangos came tradition of owning restaurants in to Fredericksburg in 1929 with $1.10 in his pocket. He spent his last dime at the Fredericksburg continues today, with Commercial Restaurant, where the owner places like Spirits, the Parthenon, the General Store, and the 2400 Diner. (another Greek) gave him a job and set
SARA IRBY art with a full heart By a.e.bayne
The finest art can be born of an insatiable desire to create, a compelling passion that drives the artist beyond all other pursuits. It can also develop through an appreciation of other artists’ styles, inspiring one to experiment with unfamiliar forms of creativity. For local artist and gallery owner Sara Irby, these two forces converge at Studio A & Gallery on Princess Anne Street. Not only is Irby a talented and multi-dimensional artist in her own right, but she actively engages with the arts community by promoting other artists in her gallery each month with true appreciation and enthusiasm for their work.
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Irby’s own development as an artist began when she was child. Irby laughs, “My brother and I would get into trouble at school because we were always drawing things. I remember on the first day of high school when my teacher, a woman who looked like the stereotypical schoolmarm with greying hair and stern features, looked at my name and said, ‘Gayhart. Are you Joe Gayhart’s sister? Don’t even think about drawing during classes.’ We lived in a very small town at the time, so everyone knew you.” While art programs did exist, Irby says that when she entered Longwood College (prior to its university status) she had intended to become a teacher of art or elementary school. When she left, she was given only one option: teach elementary school. “There just weren’t that many self-contained art classes at that time,” she says. Irby stayed in education for most of her adult life, first at the elementary level, then as a special education teacher. She earned a Masters of Special Education degree from UVA and became a supervisor in her school district, and later she moved into a position at the
Virginia Department of Education before retiring in 1992. In 1999, Irby says she was walking to get some coffee when she noticed a rent sign in the window of 1011A on Princess Anne Street. She decided to take a peek. Irby explains, “I went up and I thought oh, I’ve got to have this space. What great light! I fell in love with it because it has so much space. I didn’t really have many pieces at the time. I started small with China painting and Limoges boxes and a vase. Then First Fridays started downtown, and I thought it would be one way to get people to come upstairs. I found that showing other artists’ work was the most fun, because it’s much more exciting to be able to say ‘Oh, her water colors are fantastic. You really must see them.’ Plus, they get to see my art as well.” Irby has witnessed many changes to the art scene in Fredericksburg since she first signed the rent agreement for Studio A & Gallery: “We went from a few artists to a gazillion, which is wonderful. Now there’s a studio or a gallery on every corner. All of the sudden we started having exhibits of real paintings in restaurants, which I think is great, and the
First Friday thing came along, LibertyTown opened up, then the receptions, and the library’s show is so hot now you can’t even get into it. All of these are positive happenings for the arts in Fredericksburg.” In seemingly parallel fashion, Irby’s own work has evolved over the years. She says that someone once told her that an artist has to have a recognizable style, but she realized that it wasn’t true. She laughs, “I hope my style is spontaneous and fresh. I don’t want things to be repetitive or boring. I always need to keep trying different things.” Sara Irby’s featured artist for July 2015 is Jurgen Brat. Discover more about her and all the First Friday featured artists at her website: sarairbystudioagallery.wordpress.com/ . A.E. Bayne is a writer and artist who has lived in Fredericksburg for 17 years.
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Raspberries, Blackberries, Peaches, Sweet Corn, Tall Tunnel Tomatoes, Blueberries, Heirloom Watermelons & Cantaloupes PLUS Snead Farm Raspberry & Blackberry Preserves, Butter, and Free Range Eggs 10 mi. S.E. of downtown on right side of Rt. 17 Open 9-5 Daily
540/371-9328
www.sneadsfarm.com
Central Rappahannock
HERITAGE CENTER Volunteers needed to process historical documents and aid researchers. Training provided. Phone 540-373-3704 or email crhc@verizon.net Open to the public for scholarly research
The Heritage Center 18
July 2015
Maury Commons
900 Barton St
Front porch fredericksburg
Fredericksburg
Enjoy Snead Farm Produce at Sunken Well Tavern, LaPetite Auberge, Bistro Bethem, J Brian’s, Vivify, Kybecca, Castigllias & Olde Town Butcher
front porch fredericksburg
July 2015
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