Keswick Life Digital Edition September 2020

KESWICK Lifestyles in Keswick and its environs - September 2020

In this issue

shop. sip. eat.

LIFE

play. local.

Shadwell // Keswick // Cismont

plus: weddings, overheard, going out, commmunity, best bets, bookworm, only in keswick and much more

2729 DEEP CREEK ROAD

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PA L M Y R A , VA

Roseberry—An exceptional horse farm in tranquil yet convenient setting. Lovely 2 bedroom home (easily expanded to 4), tucked away behind a thoughtfully designed equestrian operation. Beautiful 14-stall stable RESIDENTIAL • FARMS • LAND

(wide aisle, two tack rooms, office, bath and wash stall) is the centerpiece of this 30-acre property. Stable is centrally located around 7 paddocks, all with water and three with run-in sheds. Oversized ring (150x240) with excellent footing is well positioned near the barn. Versatile farm, perfect for hunter/jumper operation,

W I L E Y P RO P ERT Y. C O M

boarders or horse enthusiast seeking tranquility less than 25 minutes to Charlottesville, 45 to Richmond.

Easy access for horse transportation on I-64 and 250 (East-West) and Route 15 (North-South). $715,000

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M L S 60 5 8 92

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PETER WILEY

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4 3 4 4 2 2 2 0 90

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PE T E R@ WIL E YPRO PE RT Y.CO M

OLD FORD (C. 1860)

3722 FOSTERS BRANCH ROAD

6255 INDIAN RIDGE ROAD

$1, 450, 000

$ 1 , 9 5 0, 0 0 0

$1,100,000

Charming, historic 208-acre property. Mountain

Classic midcentury modern, dramatic hilltop

Architect-designed home in Earlysville.

views, long Rapidan River frontage in desireable

mountain views. Redwood siding, Brazilian

wonderful proportions and a desirable open

southern Madison County. Mostly open fields,

slate/cork floors, renovated kitchen/bathrooms,

floor plan. Single story 3 bed, 3.5 bath home

rolling topography. Private 3 bed, 2.5 bath main

top tier appliances, custom cabinetry, wine

boasts open floor plan, 10’ ceilings, oak

house with river views. Parcel also includes one

cooler, soapstone soaking tub, German fixtures,

flooring, coffered ceilings, 8’ doors, gourmet

other home, guest cottage and two barns. Single

heated saltwater pool, and 2 renovated

kitchen, great room with wood burning

division right under conservation easement.

guesthouses. Total privacy and serenity abound.

fireplace. Whole house is ADA compliant.

JUSTI N WI LE Y | M LS 6 0 0 57 8 | 4 3 4 9 8 1 5528

P E T E R W I L E Y | M L S 60 5 5 8 2 | 4 3 4 4 2 2 2 0 90

J U ST IN WIL E Y | M L S 6 08178 | 434 9 81 5528

Cobham Cottage

Simplicity, Elegance & Comfort

Keswick, VA Albemarle County • 10 miles into Downtown Charlottesville

Rare find in Keswick • Totally remodelled in 2015 • 3,400 sf with 4 Bedrooms, 3½ Baths • Large 1st level Master Suite with Fireplace • Sophisticated Country Kitchen • Unique Living Spaces • Rustic Chic Living Room • Large SunPorch • Wooden Floors & 11ft Ceilings • Charming Garden Shed with Raised Beds • Garden Vignettes for Outdoor Enjoyment • Mountain Views • Energy Efficient Systems & Mechanics • Built in 1936 as the Cobham General Store & Post Office.

Offered for $595,750. mls 608940 Licensed in Virginia and North Carolina

Contact Duke & Sharon Merrick for more information:

Office: 434-951-5160 or Mobile: 434-962-5658 DukeandSharon@KeswickProperties.com www.KeswickProperties.com Ednam Hall • 1100 Dryden Lane Charlottesville, VA 22903

3

SEPTEMBER 2020

IN THIS September ISSUE 2020

Pandemic Protocols In Place

Al Fresco Tasting Room

Socially distanced, sophisticated and relaxed.

Lite Fare Friday, Full Lunch Saturday/Sunday Tastings Friday thru Sunday from Midday to 6pm

10 ON THE COVER shop. sip. eat. play. local.

Take a little tour starting down at Shadwell corner, for the store, then across the river to visit Jefferson Vineyards and Simeon Market. Then, back around the Shadwell point, to the wine and gourmet shop, In Vino Veritas, then up to Cismont, for the classic convenience store, get creative at Greg Britt's design studio/shop and Nancy Parson's Country House Antiques. We then mention Keswick Vineyards, the new open-air outdoor tasting experience at Castle Hill Cider, their grounds, and the event space – come on, hop in and take the tour! Get the details on page 9, stay local, shop, sip, eat and play!

9 SPORTING World-class tennis comes to Keswick – Keswick Hall has unveiled their newly com434.296.0047

castlehillcider.com

pleted tennis facility as a part of the hotel's multi-million dollar restoration. Molly and Robert Hardie, Keswick Hall owners, have just introduced the complex's newly renovated tennis facility, which uses the same clay as the French and Italian Open events. The members of the Keswick Club are already enjoying the fully restored courts. They are sure to be a popular attraction for the hotel guests upon completion of the property's full renovation. Read all the developments on page 10.

4

KESWICK LIFE

12 WEDDINGS Get a front row seat at four weddings that were held in Keswick over the past few

weeks, we have all the details and the photos to make you smile, during these difficult times – details on pages 12-14.

Freshly renovated, the same historic charm, modern amenities.

Founded in 1896, now available for your special event.

Freshly renovated, the same historic charm, modern amenities.

Founded in 1896, now available for your special event.

15 COMMUNITY This past week, Building Goodness Foundation (BGF) announced a new initiative to

support the Keswick community during the pandemic. Together with their partner C'ville Builds, a coalition of over 30 partners, the former school for African American children, St. John Elementary School in Keswick, will be restored and transformed into a community and fitness center. Read all about it on page 15.

Reserve for your Special Event 434.979.0963

OUR COLUMNISTS Reserve for your Special Event 434.979.0963 18 BOOKWORM What a strange summer we have had, but the cool weather of fall is here, and the

smell of apples and pumpkin bread are starting to fill the air. It's time for crisp days and cozy nights by the fire, and it's also time to get ready for Halloween – so here are a few tales to set the mood. Some are older releases, and some are newer finds.

So, I hope these take your minds off some of the turmoil around us. – Suzanne Nash, Keswick life's book reviewer on her cozy fall pages all the great reviews on page 18.

20 TRAVEL For Charlie Thacher, Keswick Life's travel contributor, it’s the first year he hasn't

planned a trip to fish the West in almost 40 years. He may yet, but Covid, combined with two cracked ribs from separate klutzy mishaps have, so far, have shut him down. He takes us back to his first occidental angling excursion, and how it started, perhaps it’s surprising that he ever took another. Reflect back in time with Charlie, pages 20-21.

Charlie Thacher and wife Ann moved to Keswick in 2008 from New York, to be near their kids and (now) four grandchildren.

He has been an avid fly fisher for over 35 years, traveling extensively, primarily in pursuit of wily trout. Along with two other anglers, Charlie was a founder of the Anglers Club of Charlottesville, which has about 65 august members. He is a member of the Anglers Club of New York and the Paris Fario Club, and writes regularly for the New York Club’s journal and Classic Angling, a British magazine. Also, he has compiled and published a bibliography of angling books.

Suzanne Nash, raised in Lynchburg Virginia, graduated from Wake Forest University and immediately moved to Charlottesville, Virginia to pursue all sorts of things, including working in insurance, marketing and television. The mother of two teenagers is currently the manufacturer of a lingerie and swimsuit design company, the director of education at Grace Episcopal Church and enjoys freelance writing and theatre in her free time.

Tony Vanderwarker, raised in New England, spent a couple years at Yale and then served two years in the Peace Corps where he got bitten both by tsetse flies and the writing bug. He went to film school at NYU and made documentaries and a full length film which didn’t sell so he decided to try shorter films and went into advertising. Fifteen years later, he had his own ad agency in Chicago where he did “Be Like Mike” for Gatorade.

When his partners bought him out, Tony finally had a chance to write full time. It only took him fifteen more years to finally get a book published. “Who cares?” Tony says, “some writers hit paydirt fast, others take longer. I’m just glad my time has come.” visit www.tonyvanderwarker.com

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Overheard

COVID TESTING COVID-19 testing will now be available every Friday evening at least through October: Where: 1138 Rosehill Drive, Charlottesville - TJHD (Thomas Jefferson Health Dept.) Hours of operation: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Cost: Free, Process: Drive-thru, Additional COVID-19 Information can be found at the TJHD.org website COVID-19 Hotline: 434-972-6261.

FROM THE SUPERVISOR Bea LaPisto-Kirtley, Albemarle County Supervisor, Rivanna Magisterial District, wants to be sure we stay connected, especially with two county programs currently in place.

For household residents and individuals in the

county, programs are available, run in partnership with the United Way of Greater Charlottesville, by phone only, the Emergency Fund hotline: 434-326-0950, Monday-Friday. The eligible expenses include: rent/ mortgage assistance, utility payments, groceries/prescriptions, childcare. Up to $1,000 for non-rent/mortgage payments; rent/mortgage assistance that will be allocated based on the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Developments program guidelines determined by the household size.

For local businesses needing support and resources for impacts due to COVID-19: please visit www.enablealbemarle.org for the latest information. Additional Lift Grants for local businesses are now available through the County. The first round of grant funding was very successful. Thank you to all that applied for our Safer Spaces and Places grants through the CARES program that assists businesses in expanding their outdoor areas to attract additional customers.

Contact Bea by email, bkirtley@albemarle.org or calling her directly at (434) 529-0239.

BRAVO Congratulations to Michie Tavern on being named Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association’s RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR! Well done Greg MacDonald and staff!

ON AND OFF THE MARKET New to the area market is 528 Clarks Tract, ”Sommers Lake”, with 5 beds, 6+ baths and 11264 sf on 7.7 acres at $2.195m. 3908 Stony Point Road with 4 beds, 2.5 baths and 3084 sf on 8.1 acres at $525k. 6693 Louisa Road, “Cobham Court”, with 4 beds, 3.5 baths and 3400 sf at $597.7k. 8943 Campbell Road, “Cardinal Hall”’ with 5 beds, 4 baths and 3384 sf on 10 acres is $799k.

875 Black Cat Road with 4 beds, 4 baths and 4654 sf on 2 acres is $665k. 1094 Milton Drive with 3 beds, 2 baths and 2235 sf on 1.3 acres is $350k. In Glenmore 2433 Ferndown Lane with 3 beds, 2.5 baths and 2080 sf is $569.9k. 2024 Piper Way with 4 beds, 3.5 baths and 3074 sf is $589k. 2020 Farringdon Road with 6 beds, 6.5 baths and 6653 sf is $995k whilst 2025 Farringdon Road with 3 beds, 3.5 baths and 4038 sf on 1.1 acres is $869k. 1538 Bremberton Lane with 5 beds, 4.5 baths and 4112 sf is $499k.

Going Out GORDONSVILLE Main Street Events in Historic Gordonsville, Virginia, held a hugely successful 2-day Fall Celebration on Main Street, featuring music, food, art & vendors on Oct. 2nd & 3rd, with pandemic precautions strictly enforced.

The collaboration "Main Street Events LLC" is backed

by Cavallo Gallery, Well Hung Vineyard, and The Nathaniel Inn. They are planning a November event now with Holiday events in the works for Main Street as well. They offer a First Fridays in front of Town Hall (free music & food) that have grown and are becoming increasingly popular with the community & visitors.

Keep an eye on Keswick Life for updates, dates, and information – this group, as they continue to gain traction, are looking forward to a market next year, a possible wine festival, and some antique car events!

Under contract is 4973 Richmond Road with 2 beds, 2

baths and 2290 sf on 3 acres at $299k after 54 days. Also 356 Richmond Road with 4 beds, 3.5 baths and 4788 sf on 14.4 acres at $875k in 76 days. 140 Willow Drive in Fieldstone with 3 beds, 3.5 baths and 2891 sf on 2 acres at $445k in 4 days. In Glenmore 1696 Paddington Circle with 5 beds, 4.5 baths and 4940 sf originally $950k, then $739k in 568 days. 3210 Melrose Circle with 5 beds, 5.5 baths and 6201 sf at $1.11m in 108 days. 536 Drumin Road with 3 beds, 3.5 baths and 3020 sf at $675k in 55 days. 3303 Heathcote Lane with 4 beds, 3.5 baths and 4159 sf at $749k in 12 days and 3434 Darby Road with 4 beds, 3.5 baths and 2715 sf at $595k in 1 day.

Closed around the area is 18 Pelham Drive, 5.8 acres

in Hidden Hills, originally at $169k sold for $140k in 1290 days. 4690 Further Lane with 7 beds, 7+ baths and 8235 sf on 3.8 acres originally at $1.175m sold for $1.095m in 191 days. In Glenmore 2311 Grey Heron Road with 5 beds, 4.5 baths and 6078 sf on 2.6 acres listed at $1.299m sold for $1.205m in 1 day. 1318 Piper Way with 4 beds, 3 baths and 3016 sf originally at $599k, then $499k sold for $484k in 513 days. 756 Bothwell Lane with 4 beds, 3.5 baths and 3507 sf, a new home, sold for $781k. 1407 Sunderland Lane with 6 beds, 5.5 baths and 5766 sf listed at $865k sold for $810k in 73 days. There were 5 sold in Rivanna Ridge.

Price adjusted around the area is 862 Club Drive in

Keswick Estate with 4 beds, 5.5 baths and 7401 sf on 3.3 acres down by $100k to $2.395m in 79 days. In Glenmore 12 of the new contruction homes increased in their listing price by $10k or more. 3420 Cesford Court with 5 beds, 5.5 baths and 7080 sf came down from $899k to $875k in 75 days. 3093 Darby Road with 6 beds, 5+ baths and 7605 sf came down from $1.285m to $1.250m in 167 days. 518 Drumin Road with 4 beds, 3.5 baths and 3119 sf came down from $698k to $689k to in 157 days and 2242 Waterstone Way with 5 beds, 4.5 baths and 5943 sf came down from $928k to $899.9k in 71 days.

COMING SOON Keswick Hall, in all its' remodeled glory, is coming soon. Sources in the press department say to expect the new Jean-Gorges Restaurant and the Hotel be open for business in the Spring of 2021.

HONORING Remember and Honor Loved Ones at the 29th Hospice of the Piedmont Memorial Illumination, Thursday, December 10, 2020. This year, for our community's safety, they will be holding our annual Memorial Illumination virtually. The idea is to celebrate all those you wish to remember and honor this holiday season with music, poems, and reflection, all by the "light" of luminaries.

You are invited to "light a light" to celebrate those whose lives you wish to remember and want to acknowledge the additional difficulty of grief and loss during these challenging times. By contributing $15 or more, you can sponsor a luminary that will shine in memory or honor of your loved one(s) at the event. For every luminary you sponsor, a tribute card will be sent to you. Your donation sustains Hospice of the Piedmont in its vision to ensure that no one in our community dies alone or in pain and provides free grief support to anyone in our community. For more information about the Virtual Memorial Illumination, please click here. If you or someone you know needs grief support, please call 800975-5501.

Please be sure to write in and tell us your overheard, by email to editor@keswicklife.com

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KESWICK LIFE

2884 PALMER DRIVE | $2,675,000 | MLS 604640 4 Bedrooms • 4 Full Bath & 1 Half Bath • 4,118sqft • 4.15 Acres • 2.5 Car Garage

3280 BROADMOORE DRIVE | $2,700,000 | MLS 604638 4 Bedrooms • 3 Full Bath & 1 Half Bath • 4,000 sqft • 2 Car Garage

2869 PALMER DRIVE | $2,850,000 | MLS 604639 4 Bedrooms • 4 Full Bath & 2 Half Bath • 4,606sqft • 3 Car Garage • Unfinished Basement • 3.3 Acres

2559 PALMER DRIVE | $2,425,000 | MLS 604636 3 Bedroom • 3 Full Bath & 1 Half Bath • 3,750sqft • 2 Acres

2571 PALMER DRIVE | $2,625,000 | MLS 604637 4 Bedroom • 4 Full Bath & 1 Half Bath • 4080sqft • 2 Car Garage • 2.7 Acres

Frank Hardy Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to present 5 newly constructed exclusive residences within Keswick Estate. The product of intensive planning and collaboration among the area’s top builders and architects, these homes embody the highest standard of craftsmanship. Owners of these homes will enjoy thoughtfully-designed floor plans with main-level masters, spacious secondary bedrooms and seamless transitions between the indoor and outdoor space. keswickestate.com Murdoch Matheson 434.981.7439 murdoch.matheson@sothebysrealty.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

ONLY IN KESWICK Hiding Under the Bed

When I was a little kid, if I had nightmares I’d often

BY TONY VANDERWARKER willies. One whiff of their droplets could be enough to put you on the list. And those idiots who parade around without masks might as well be painting a huge red target on their chests and god forbid you get near them— they’ll paint one on you too.

wake up in the morning under the bed. Under the bed seemed to be a safe place to protect me from the hordes of demons and monsters that I imagined were coming after me.

Life sure has changed. When was the last time you got dressed up? I have slacks and sport jackets I haven’t touched in eight months. Why get dressed up when they’re no place to go?

That’s what life feels like these days, hiding under the bed. We cower in our houses, afraid to go out because the virus might strike us and add our names to the last list anybody wants to be on.

I thought we were being good bed-hiders until my wife went to a social distanced gathering of friends. “These ladies haven’t gone out to a restaurant, they don’t go anywhere,” she told me. “They pick up their groceries at the curb, speak to their docs over the phone and they all say their husbands are going crazy, none of the guys can stand being cooped up. And when I told them we’d gone out to a couple restaurants, they were totally shocked. They acted like we’d just sauntered across the DMZ. And those who have husbands who work,” she went on, “have moved their offices home, cluttering their dining rooms with piles of files and correspondence.

‘It drives me crazy,’ one said, ‘now he’s sneaking his stuff into the library, pretty soon he’ll take over the entire first floor.’ When they quizzed me about how many times we’ve been out to a restaurant and I answered, ‘Maybe five or six’ I swear they looked at me like I was a foolhardy idiot bent on committing suicide.”

Back to the list, the damn list. That six-figure number that appears on your TV screen. Every day it grows, creeps up and up giving you the eerie feeling that you might be next, you might be the one who jumps the number from 215,999 to 216,000. I make it a practice to look away quickly so I don’t dwell on it, go back to hiding under bed, at least figuratively. Am I being paranoid? Aren’t we all?

Then there’s the phenomenon of mask slippage. If you do go out the dreaded image is of someone whose mask has slid down off their nose. You quickly find yourself leaping off to the side to give them a wide berth.

What’s even worse is those mask droopers, those with their face coverings clustered down around their necks.

Maybe they’ve forgotten to pull the mask up, maybe they’re sick of wearing it but it’s enough to give you the

157 ACRE ESTATE IN THE HEART OF FREE UNION - EXCELLENT VIEWS

We’ve actually had some social gatherings at the home we’re now renting. Yup, we’ve really had people over for drinks and dinner. Before you start thinking we’re crazy, let me explain that we have a good-sized walled area in our yard carpeted with pea gravel. We call it the Playpen, it has a grouping of socially-distance Adirondack chairs and a bunch of stools arranged around a firepit. We invite a bunch of friends over and they actually show up, not only because they’re starved for company but because everyone can sit at a safe distance.

Having a few drinks and yukking it up like the world isn’t going to hell in a handbasket. Pretending that someday everything will be going back to normal and we don’t have to fret about mask slippage, worry about mask droopers or get freaked by the dread number, everything seems hunky-dory.

It’s kind of like hiding under the bed--only outside.

CHARMING KESWICK COUNTRY PROPERTY

w/

GUEST HOUSE

3396 Fox Mountain Road • $1,995,000

5450 Stony Point Pass • $1,295,000

This idyllic country estate offers a tranquil, protected setting with excellent views adjacent to other estates, 20-25 minutes west of Charlottesville. The welcoming residence was reconstructed on the current, stunning homesite in 1991 by Gibson Magerfield of reclaimed, c. 1800 materials. High ceilings, wide plank pine floors, antique mantels & stunning wainscoting abound. The core structure has only been enhanced with the addition of guest suites & modern systems. A remarkable barn & log guest cabin complete the offering, all located in absolute privacy with sweeping mountain views. MLS# 581764

Tucked away off a quiet Keswick Lane, Cedarcroft is an idyllic, c. 1932 clapboard home sited on over 2 acres of level, verdant lawns dotted by hardwoods, boxwood borders, & established perennial beds. Comprehensively renovated in ‘93, the current owners have continued to improve this lovely country property located 15 mins from both C’ville & Gordonsville. Add’l 945 sf guest space w/ full bath adj. to the house. Two 2-bay garages are graced w/ Stokes of England weathervanes. Outdoor living options incl’ delightful soapstone-floored sunroom + screened porch w/ skylights & ceiling fans. MLS# 603434

434.466.2992 lwoodriff@loringwoodriff.com

401 Park Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 WWW.LORINGWOODRIFF.COM

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KESWICK LIFE

SPORTING

Keswick Hall Unveils New Tennis Facility Using Same Clay as French & Italian Open World-class tennis comes to Keswick – Keswick Hall

BY COLIN DOUGHERTY Will the upgraded facilities play host to tennis tournaments?

"We host several community tennis events each year, such as leagues and small tournaments. The facility will certainly draw some exhibition matches being the only venue of its kind anywhere in the area.”

has unveiled their newly completed tennis facility as a part of the hotel's multi-million dollar restoration.

Molly and Robert Hardie, Keswick Hall owners, have just introduced the complex's newly renovated tennis facility, which uses the same clay as the French and Italian Open events. The members of the Keswick Club are already enjoying the fully restored courts. They are sure to be a popular attraction for the hotel guests upon completion of the property's full renovation.

How will these upgrades help the facility moving forward? Will this allow you to host high-profile tournaments?

"The tennis courts at Keswick have always been popular with our Club members and hotel guests -- but this will make them even more so. While the court's quality will be unmatched, we do not have the scale of spectator seating that would be required for a pro tournament, but we are already planning some destination tennis events that are sure to be a draw.

The products behind the new courts come from HarTru, who are local to Charlottesville and a global tennis company. As the world's leading one-stop-shop for tennis court surfaces, consultation, equipment, and accessories, har-Tru strives to help clients build and maintain the best courts in the world, leveraging its products, knowledge, and experience to most effectively meet the needs of each project. Har-Tru stays active in the industry as an advocate for the sport and a sponsor of tennisrelated activities.

Construction was completed by Tennis Courts Inc, the recognized leader for building, renovating, and maintaining tennis courts and sports surfaces in the MidAtlantic region. During their 44 years of operation, TCI has assembled the most experienced workforce lead by owner Herb Osburn, who remains one of the longestrunning confirmed Certified Tennis Court Builders, as recognized by the American Sports Builders Association in the United States. TCI had the expertise to take this Keswick project from conception to completion to refurbish the existing courts, as needed.

"It was so important for us to partner with Har-Tru and Tennis Courts, Inc – not only because they too are Virginia-based companies – but because we are trying to provide our guests with a truly distinctive experience when they stay with us at Keswick Hall," said Molly Hardie. "Clay courts offer a multitude of benefits from a physical perspective to improving playability – and to the simple aesthetics of a beautiful looking court," she concluded.

A total of seven courts were completed. The first two were the property's hard courts that were converted to Har-Tru's All-Weather Claytech European Red Clay Courts, a hybrid surface that combines the luxury of the year-round play of a hard court with the beauty and playability of a clay court. Next, two pre-existing subirrigated green clay courts were converted to red clay, bringing the first European sub-irrigated red clay courts to the region. The most technically advanced work was on the three pre-existing above-ground irrigated green courts that were rebuilt to include Har-Tru's state-ofthe-art HyQ sub-irrigation system, as well as the European Red Clay. HyQ provides the most consistent clay court experience possible while using less water and decreasing the surface material loss from wind and erosion.

"Combining the luxury and beauty of red clay with the responsible innovation of HyQ sub-irrigation – plus the same lighting system that is in use at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York -- enables us to offer one of the most desirable and exclusive tennis facilities in the country," enthused Robert Hardie.

“We are so excited to make these amazing courts available to our club members and future guests alike.” - Robert Hardie.

I caught up with Keswick's Tennis Director, Tristan Venable, and publicist Kelsey Sharp and asked a few questions: What prompted Keswick Hall to upgrade the facilities?

"On top of the new expansive hotel and restaurant renovations, the property as a whole has always seen that each component was crafted with the absolute highest quality such as the Pete Dye golf course upgrades and the heated swimming pool. The tennis facility was due for an expansive revamp, and we are extremely excited to offer our membership such a unique and world-class facility in the Charlottesville area.”

Where do the upgraded tennis courts fit into Keswick Hall’s athletic profile?

"We feel this incredible offering certainly brings the tennis facility up to the level of our Full Cry Golf Course.

We want to offer our members and guests the best experience possible -- whether from an invigorating match, a great round of golf -- or a delicious meal. We have certainly found through the years that our guests enjoy athletic leisure time activities -- and right now, outdoor activities are more important than ever. With state-ofthe-art LED lighting and the only European Red Clay court in the region, including two Claytech all-weather courts that will allow playing twelve months of the year, this facility is certain to be one of our most popular activities at the property."

9

How many people typically utilized these courts before the upgrade? Now how many more people will be able to use the facility?

"Tennis participation at Keswick Hall has always been strong. With these amazing upgrades, we have already added many new memberships, and there is a very healthy activity in the tennis program. Members have been extremely positive with their feedback on the surface and lighting. Our Teaching Pro, Gabriela, and I have played tennis around the world, and we love the unique aesthetics we now have at Keswick Hall -- and enjoy how soft the court is on the body versus hard court and even green clay courts.”

How significant is this upgrade for the Charlottesville area?

"We are pleased to offer this exceptional and unique facility for our members in the local area. Charlottesville has a thriving tennis community, many of whom truly appreciate European red clay courts' value. Keswick Hall has always been a sought-out destination for the entire east coast and beyond -- with the completion of the upgrade of the tennis courts, along with the other wonderful elements the hotel will offer upon completion, the popularity of the property is sure to increase, complementing all of the great attractions of Charlottesville."

In case you are new to the area or planning to visit Keswick and its environs, let's step back and say a word about Keswick Hall - just a two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., and a one-hour drive from Richmond, Virginia. Perfectly nestled in the heart of the Virginia Piedmont region, in a centuries-old community known for its wine vineyards, a cidery, and lush, rolling countryside, this luxury hotel is a historic landmark boasting a rich cultural past. Upon completion, sometime in the spring of 2021, Keswick Hall will provide an unparalleled retreat for guests through its distinctive design, outstanding cuisine in partnership with Chef JeanGeorges Vongerichten, attentive service, and resortstyle amenities. The property will feature a dramatic outdoor infinity pool and; an 18-hole Pete Dye-designed golf course, the seven tennis courts, and meetings, weddings, and event spaces.

SEPTEMBER 2020

COVER STORY

shop. sip. eat.

play. local.

Shadwell // Keswick // Cismont

BY COLIN DOUGHERTY

IN VINO VERITAS - Wine & Gourmet Shop

COUNTRY HOUSE ANTIQUES - Go Shop

For the better part of a decade owner, Erin Scala worked in New York City at several Michelin star restaurants, notably JoJo, PUBLIC, and The Musket Room. In 2014, she returned to her home state of Virginia to run the wine programs at local downtown restaurants, Fleurie & Petit Pois. Today, she is the sommelier at Common House social club in downtown Charlottesville, and since 2017, she's owned In Vino Veritas Fine Wines, a wine retail shop in Keswick, Virginia.

Country House Antiques offers art, antiques, and décor for the country house and garden. Nancy Parsons, the owner, specializes in antique and unique equestrian pieces related to foxhunting, polo, and racing. The shop also offers 18th and 19th century English, French and American furniture and lovingly curated vintage pieces. Check out a display of handmade rugs with access to a larger inventory of rugs upon request. Many items are consigned from area farms and estates – it is undoubtedly a treasure hunt!

Erin writes the thinking-drinking wine blog, produces audio essays for the I'll Drink to That wine podcast, and consults about wine privately and commercially through her company, ThinkBev. Her articles about wine have been published in The Washington Post, Wine & Spirits, Wine & Country Living, and Knife & Fork magazine. For several years, she covered the Virginia wine scene in a column for her local paper, The C-Ville Weekly.

On any given day, you might find a wonderful 18th-century highboy, a vintage needlepoint pillow featuring horses, hounds, or foxes, or an antique sculpture of a whippet for a special place in So many great treasures inside, your garden. Recently, some unique midcentury modern pieces have come in. New inventory arabsolutely worth a visit. rives every week, and the best pieces go quickly.

She posts on Instagram or Facebook to see the new arrivals. Nancy comments, “I’m so grateful to the Keswick community for supporting my shop, now in its fifth year!

We are open every weekend, and we hope to see you soon!”

Need some wine for the changing season? We've got you covered! Try the Fall Case Mixed Varietal Special - $159.00/Case

Named one of Wine Enthusiast's 40 Under 40 wine professionals to watch, her wine list at Fleurie won a Wine Spectator "Best of Award of Excellence" in 2016 and 2017.

Erin received a James Beard Rhône Rangers Travel Study Grant to study Rhône varieties in California in 2016. She competed in the Sommelier Scavenger Hunt held by Wine & Spirits Magazine to find delicious Pinot Noirs in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA in 2017. In January 2018, the I'll Drink to That podcast was written up in the New York Times.

Certified as a Certified Sake Professional, and also with the WSET Diploma of Wines and Spirits, she believes that fermented beverages are a unique and dynamic communion with time and place and that often the best beverages come from small vineyards, orchards, and breweries using products farmed by passionate families who believe in minimal intervention.

This Italian Snack Pack includes two recipes and a few Italian-made treats, includes Garganelli pasta, Arborio risotto, Little Gina's pizzelle cookies, and lemon marmalade - $27.00, shipping available for social distancing gift giving!

IN VINO VERITAS - Wine & Gourmet Shop Located: 3015 Louisa Road ~ Keswick // Phone: ​434-977-6366 Email: erin@invinoveritasva.com CURRENT HOURS // Monday - Thursday 11am-6:00pm, Friday 11am - 7:30pm,​ Saturday 11am - 6pm, Sunday closed

Please be sure to write in and tell us your thoughts, questions, concerns, and comments related to this article, by email to editor@keswicklife.com

COUNTRY HOUSE ANTIQUES - Go Shop Located: 5447 Gordonsville Road, Keswick // Phone: ​434-295-0616 CURRENT HOURS // Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 5pm or by appointment.

STOKES OF ENGLAND – Blacksmithing Founded in 1981 by Joe Stokes and oldest son Stephen Stokes, first commissions were for knives, swords, furniture, hardware, and fire screens, but eventually included gates railings, lighting, and balconies. Their work has been featured in many prestigious publications over the years, including Architectural Digest, Southern Living, Home and Garden, and Shropshire Magazine and being written about in the New York Times and Washington Post and many local publications, including Keswick Life.

Stephen and his team of skilled craftsmen work directly with their clients. Recently, Stokes of England was commissioned to make all the hand-forged iron gates and balconies for the new business school at An artisan butterfly bench for William and Mary College in Williamsburg, VA. sale, Stephen puts the finishing Stokes of England operates a showroom and galtouches, $1,800.00. Seasonal lery where a wide variety of artisan pieces are ofhorseshoe pumpkins, make fered, including furniture, lighting, hardware, and sweet gifts, priceless! traditionally made wooden doors with iron strap hinges and hand-forged locks. Custom orders available; also, make an appointment to tour the forge and watch the blacksmiths at work on the forges and anvils.

STOKES OF ENGLAND - Blacksmithing Located: 4085 Keswick Rd, Keswick // Phone: ​434-295-9848 CURRENT HOURS - Flexible but by appointment.

10

KESWICK LIFE

TASTING ROOMS – Cidery & Wineries

THE CLIFTON - Sleep, Eat & Drink

Three tastings rooms come to mind in the immediate area of Keswick, first is an apple cidery, Castle Hill Cider, which offers their extraordinary grounds and tasting room Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from midday to 6 pm, with light fare on Fridays and a full lunch menu on the weekends. Just down the road, you will find Keswick Vineyards, with the tasting room open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, reservations not required but suggested on the weekends. Next, to the opposite end of my tour, around the Shadwell horn, across the river, towards Monticello, you will run across Jefferson Vineyards, open midday to 6 pm Thursday thru Sunday. Don't miss the Simeon Market while you are on this side of Keswick environs – they are stocked up on picnic baskets, picnic blankets, and all other great goodies to fill those baskets!

One word comes to mind – staycation! This local spot is a favorite for the socially distanced these days as the Clifton does a beautiful job of keeping us all safely separated.

The original 1799 building is full of history, modern charm, and seven newly renovated and luxurious bedrooms and suites. The different but equally beautiful views from these rooms include the Monticello Mountain, the cascading waterfalls of their superb pool, and the beautiful lawns and gardens. All rooms offer the finest of rural and modern amenities.

GREGORY BRITT DESIGN - Create Gregory has a knack for creating inspired flower arrangements, dream weddings, lovely cocktail parties, and a myriad of events. He can design your gardens, style your photoshoot, and decorate your home for any holiday.

The design studio, turned shop, is an excellent addition to the area. The space is charming and vibrant and packed with interesting plants, vases, pottery, vintage, retro, gifts, antiques, one of a kind finds, and treasures, many from Gregory's collection.

Ok, the holidays are coming, and you might be thinking about decorating, have no fear; this team can help! Holiday decorating and parties with wreaths, garlands, and styling are available at the Visit to shop, call Gregory to end of November. plan a party, decorate for the Gregory began gardening while growing up in Inholidays, or just for some shel- diana. During college, he studied art history and tering at home fun! painting. He worked in small florist's shops and

event design companies. After college, it was to New York City, free-lancing for all of the design stars, while simultaneously working on his painting. In 1999, the business Gregory Britt Design was born. After acquiring some fantastic clients, Gregory was fortunate to travel and create celebrations for them worldwide. The charming village of Washington, Virginia, was the next adventure. The world-renowned Inn at Little Washington welcomed Gregory as their floral and event designer, and then after ten years, he ventured to Keswick. Gregory lives in Keswick on a farm with dogs, cats, horses, and of course, gardens.

GREGORY BRITT DESIGN - Go Shop, Plan a Party, decorate for any reason.

Located: 5445 Gordonsville Road, Keswick // Phone: ​540-522-0531 CURRENT HOURS // Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 5pm or by appointment.

LEGACY MARKET - Convenience Store One recent visitor was skeptical about food from a gas station, but Legacy Market did not disappoint!

Everything is made fresh with quality ingredients. The sandwiches and sides are delicious. Our reader's favorites were the custom sandwiches, the Mulberry, Washington, and Louisa. "It was damn good, especially with the added tomato slices he requested!" he exclaimed.

This C-Store sits at the gateway to Keswick and Cimont areas. It is essential for me to fill up on Exxon products and quickly get the propane tank for my patio grilling - literally just a 1/4 mile down the road for me. The nightly dinners, featuring southern comfort food specialties like fried chicken or fried catfish, with two sides, are a weeknight value at $6.99.

Choose from a wide array of specialty sandwiches or build The parking is tight, it is what it is, so you'll have to your own; most everything is be patient. The staff is always warm and friendly $5.99 and up. the coffee fresh and hot!

LEGACY MARKET - Convenience Store, Exxon Fuel, Propane Tank Exchange Located: 3008 Richmond Rd ~ Shadwell // Phone: ​434-245-0315 CURRENT HOURS // Monday - Thursday 4:30am-10:00pm, Friday 4:30am11:00pm, Saturday 4:30am - 11pm, Sunday 6am - 9pm

With its sun-drenched veranda and an enclosed patio with stunning views of the Virginia countryside through floor-to-ceiling windows, the restaurant '1799' is one of the most romantic restaurants in the area. The seasonal menu highlights dishes showcasing local ingredients—with many sourced from the chef's garden—to create distinctive regional food. The cuisine is perfectly complemented by inventive cocktails and an extensive wine selection featuring Virginia's most celebrated wines and ciders, along with vintages from around the world.

They serve breakfast (yes, locals can be seated without being a hotel guest) and dinner daily, but lunch is performed only on the weekends, but do call ahead to be sure they aren't closed for a wedding. Guests of the hotel enjoy complimentary continental breakfast each morning of their stay.

Located just off The Clifton Lounge is The Copper Bar, a sophisticated and chic cocktail bar, aka the local Pub. It features a modern quartz bar with copper trim-lined oak shelves and mirrors on one side with lush velvet banquettes on the other. The space offers a hushed, intimate vibe for guests to savor original and inventive seasonal libations.

Try a weeknight local-staycation, swim in the heated pool, enjoy a dinner – you'll remember how it is like riding a bike but with a mask.

THE CLIFTON - Sleep, Eat & Drink Located: 1296 Clifton Inn Drive, Shadwell // Phone: ​434-971-1800 Email: reception@the-clifton.com CURRENT HOURS // Cocktails & Dinner by reservation, Breakfast daily, Lunch on the weekends but do call ahead. Lodging and visit arrangements, best to call.

CISMONT MARKET & DELI - C-Store As an early morning patron, I am typically greeted

by Judy and Gregory, a friendly welcome and willingness to put up with my 'custom' orders with a smile while we are all still waking up. This convenience store stocks a range of everyday items such as coffee, groceries, snack foods, confectionery, soft drinks, tobacco products, over-the-counter drugs, toiletries, newspapers, and some gifts suitable to not let you walk into a host's home empty-handed.

They even have some NFL gift apparel and gear right now, heavy on the Eagles, of course – makes me happy as I am originally from Philadelphia.

They have great BLTs, double bacon cheeseburgers, and fried chicken – some say it is the best they have ever had. Still, the Cismont Market hands down set themselves apart by offering Diesel fuel, a rarity these days in the Keswick environs.

Don't miss this long-standing Keswick staple; every out-of-towner must stop in. You just haven't been here unless you have visited this Keswick environs classic.

CISMONT MARKET & DELI - Convenience Store, Exxon Fuel, Diesel Fuel Located: 5412 Louisa Road ~ Keswick // Phone: ​434-295-1866 CURRENT HOURS // Monday - Saturday 5am-10:00pm, Sunday 6am - 9pm

11

SEPTEMBER 2020

WEDDINGS

Of COVID and Weddings... Annie Morony - Taylor Rash

BY ANNIE RASH

L

ike most girls, I had dreamt of my picture-perfect wedding. Following a romantic proposal on the beach, Taylor doubled down by surprising me with my family joining us for dinner. Unbeknownst to him, this meant not 10 minutes after he popped the question my mom, my sister, and I had already chosen a date and started on discussions of wedding details.

Despite planning between New York City and Charlottesville, we had put together a fully executable plan with committed vendors in less than a month. Friends and family were shocked at how quick and organized the planning was. Wedding magic makers are in high demand so we had to be on the ball to secure my choice wand-wielders were available to do their thing. Merely three weeks after my engagement, I was in Sarah Seven NYC sipping champagne out of mugs with two of my friends as I tried on dresses. Having long snidely mocked ‘Say Yes to the Dress’, I, nonetheless, sobbed when I tried on the dress of my dreams.

Much to my surprise, with each new step planning continued to be fun and easy! As absurd as it was, picking the stamps for the invitations-- because of course you need to pick two different ones--proved to be one of the more challenging aspects. With each passing day, my dream wedding became more and more of a reality. In February, the calligraphed invitations arrived and Taylor and I busily stuffed and sorted envelopes.

We had always planned to officially marry before our wedding date. Our officiant of choice didn’t meet the stringent demands of the Old Dominion. As the news grew darker and darker, we decided we needed to act sooner than later. On what would be the penultimate day before Governor Cuomo shuttered non essential government operations, we gathered our hand sanitizer, masks, and a borrowed thrift store white dress and headed to the courthouse. With my bridesmaid/upstairs neighbor as our sole witness, we were married by a clerk on March 16th. Days later, the city shut down and our world turned upside down.

As if a wedding wasn’t a big enough life step, our plan was to move to Virginia shortly before our May wedding. As March crept on, our parents' anxious calls first as murmurs grew into roars as news of a pandemic dominated the news. "Don't you think you should move home now rather than wait?

It's going to get worse." In what now seems like insane naivete, we brushed off their concerns; “This will be over in a month.” Not until we saw the hospital tents erected in Central Park did the severity of the situation take hold.

A few days before the invitations were scheduled for mailing, my mom started dragging her feet about the timing. "Maybe we should wait a day or two to see how this thing is going to play out. It won't hurt if your invitation goes out a little late." By the end of March, we had joined the masses fleeing the City and also made the tough call to postpone our wedding. It stung but seemed like the right choice, after all, it was still happening. Back in Virginia, we miraculously came up with a new date later in the fall that all our vendors had available - the holy grail! In six months we reasoned there was plenty of time for things to get under control...

With each passing month, things got worse, not better. Wedding planning which had once been full of excitement turned into an exercise in maniacally seeking the “bright side” and a safe way to still have our big day. One day the NYT published a story of dozens sickened and some dying from attending a wedding. The funny thing about a wedding is you pick the people you care about most in the world; so how could you ever put those people at risk? More questions: Should we postpone again?

When will it get better? Could we find a day that worked for all our vendors? Do we even want to wait another year for a ceremony? With all of these swirling around in our heads,Taylor looked at me knowing how much I was looking forward to our big day, “We’re really not doing this are we?” We cancelled.

‘It wasn’t the easy choice, but it was the grown-up choice, everyone told us, congratulating us on our maturity. You know what they don’t tell you about being a grown up? It sucks, I mourned the day that could’ve been, I cried when I thought about my perfect dress, I couldn’t even look at my invitations, I cursed under my breath at every wedding I saw going ahead full steam. While I wallowed, my wedding team and my family stepped in and suggested we have a photographer come one day and take some pictures, so we could at least have some memories in our wedding finery.

September 12th was a day I’ll never forget. It was the complete opposite of what I’d dreamed of and it was absolutely perfect. Praying for clear skies, each mile from our new home in Richmond to Charlottesville brought more rain and heavy cloud cover. I readied missing all but one my bridesmaids, my niece, who dutifully fluffed my dress. No official glam squad, my sister helped with my makeup and Marilyn, my wedding planner masked up to style my hair. My father never walked me down the aisle, but he was one of the first to see me in my dress and hug me. With a small group of family and the fabulous Sarah Cramer to capture, Taylor and I smiled our most genuine, happy smiles at finally being able to really celebrate. In the late summer air, we enjoyed dinner compliments of Chef Mike and were surrounded by stunning blooms from the Floral Images team, as we laughed and toasted to the future, forgetting the past. Days later, my dry cleaner nearly fainted when I brought her my dress, stained with mud, grass, bourbon, and bacon grease. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

We will one day have a big anniversary party and celebrate our union with all our guests as we’d originally planned, or... we may not. There’s a lot still up in the air. I have a fat stack of gorgeous hand-addressed invitations I’m still not quite sure what to do with. But however messy and uncertain this journey was, we are overwhelmed and grateful and most importantly after all of this…married.

12

KESWICK LIFE

WEDDINGS

Jane de Shields Whitaker Weds Peter Railey Taylor, Jr.

BY KESWICK LIFE

Jane de Shields Whitaker and Peter Railey Taylor, Jr. were married October 10, 2020 at Castle Hill, the home of the groom’s parents in Keswick, VA. The Reverend Dr. John F. McCard, Rector of St. James’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA., performed the ceremony against the backdrop of Walnut Mountain. Benjamin Taylor, brother of the groom, was best man. Sarah and Isabel Whitaker, maids of honor and sisters of the bride, offered readings.

The bride, 28, is Associate Brand Manager, Baby Care at Johnson & Johnson in Skillman, New Jersey. She graduated from the Collegiate School, Sewanee, the University of the South, and earned an M.B.A. at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Janie is a daughter of Norvell Beazley Whitaker and Charles Newton Whitaker of Richmond, VA. Mr. Whitaker is Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of the Altria Group, Inc. He is the former Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Valentine, a Richmond history museum, and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

The groom, 30, is an Investment Banking Associate in the Financial Restructuring Group at Houlihan Lokey, in New York. Peter graduated from Groton, the University of Virginia, and received an M.B.A. at the Darden School of Business. He is a son of Ann Hallquist Taylor and Peter Railey Taylor, Sr. Ann is Chief Relationship Officer at the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, and Peter is the co-owner of Speedball Art Products, a 120-year-old manufacturer of art products based in Statesville, NC. He is the Vice-Chair of the Albemarle County Easement Authority, a board member of The Keswick Hunt Club, and a farmer.

While Peter and Janie were born 18 months apart in Charlottesville, they first met on the Long Island Railroad to Amagansett in the summer of 2015. From that moment Peter knew that he would someday ask Janie to be his wife. The chance meeting of strangers on a train blossomed into romance in March 2017, when they discovered that both were matriculating at Darden that fall. They have been together ever since –studying, working, hiking and fishing in far flung places -- from Iceland to Bath County and from Patagonia to Nantucket. As the pandemic descended on New York, they have sheltered with the Whitakers and Taylors – bringing the two families ever closer together.

After a honeymoon in Palm Beach, FL, the couple will reside in the West Village of New York City.

Emily Jane Cuthbert Robert Nevin Standish Sackson Miss Emily Jane Cuthbert, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Cuthbert of Reinholds,

Pennsylvania, was married to Mr. Robert Nevin Standish Sackson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Alan Sackson of Keswick, Virginia on Saturday, June 27th at Grelen Nursery in Somerset, VA. Pastor Joel Hertzog of the Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church in Reamstown, PA officiated the evening ceremony.

The bride was attended by Ms. Rachel Marstellar of Schoeneck, PA, Ms. Kara Hess of Reinholds, PA, Mrs. Angela Weiler of Ephrata, PA, Ms. Madison Garrigan of Ephrata, PA, Ms. Christina Kauffman of Stevens, PA, Ms. Stefanie Roberto of Willow Street, PA and Miss Eleanor Huff Stewart Sackson, sister of the groom. Miss Keira Cuthbert and Master Timothy Cuthbert, niece and nephew of the bride, served as flower girl and ring bearer.

Mr. John Cunningham Stewart Sackson, brother of the groom, stood as best man, while Mssrs. Chris Brodnik and Soren Olegnowicz, of Charlottesville, William Hoelke of New York Brendon Stone of Allentown, PA and Nathaniel Andrew Albert Sackson, youngest brother of the groom, served as ushers.

Mrs. Sackson is a graduate of Cocalico High School in Denver, PA and of Millersville University, Millersville, PA . She is employed as a fourth grade teacher at Doe Run Elementary in Mannheim, PA. Mr. Sackson, a graduate of Saint Anne’s Belfield School, Lehigh University and Drexel University, is Supply Chain Operations Team Leader at QVC in West Chester, PA. The groom is the grandson of Mr. Mitchell Sackson of Tampa, Florida and Mrs. Robert Nevin Standish, Jr. of Charlottesville. He is also a descendant of Captain Myles Standish, passenger on the Mayflower.

After a honeymoon at Primland Resort in Meadows of Dan, Va., the couple will reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

13

SEPTEMBER 2020

WEDDINGS

BY KESWICK LIFE

◆ MEADOW HILL FARM ◆ Greenwood, Virginia

D

SOL

Traditional Virginia farm house located 15 miles west of Charlottesville. Open pasture land and elevated home site provides generous views of Piedmont country side. 6 BR 5.5 BA, 6 fireplaces, rich pine and oak hardwood flooring, high ceilings at all levels, modern baths and appliances. Guest cottage with full bath. Beautiful mature landscaping.

Audrey Elaine Lorenzoni John Cunningham Stewart Sackson Miss Audrey Elaine Lorenzoni, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Matthew Lorenzoni of Charlottesville, Virginia, was married on Saturday, August 8th to Mr. John Cunningham Stewart Sackson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Alan Sackson of Keswick, in a garden wedding at Harkaway, family home of the groom. The Reverend Seth Lovell of Olivet Presbyterian Church officiated.

The bride was given in marriage by her father and attended by her sister, Miss Anne Claire Lorenzoni and sister-in-law, Miss Eleanor Huff Stewart Sackson. A dinner reception followed the ceremony and the couple will celebrate their marriage in 2021.

Mrs. Sackson is an owner of the Ragged Mountain Running Shop in Charlottesville. She graduated from Western Albemarle High School and the University of Virginia. Mr. Sackson, who was attended by his brothers, Mr. Robert Nevin Standish Sackson and Mr. Nathaniel Andrew Albert Sackson, as well as his brothers-in-law, Mssrs. Alec Danforth and Adrian James Lorenzoni, graduated from the Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ and the University of Virginia. Currently, he is employed by the Ragged Mountain Running Shop.

The couple will reside in Charlottesville.

MLS#595248

$1,950,000

MCLEAN FAULCONER INC. Farm, Estate and Residential Brokers

Mark Mascottte

434.825.8610 ◆ markmascotte@gmail.com

www.mcleanfaulconer.com

14

KESWICK LIFE

COMMUNITY

Foundation Program Aides Keswick's St. John's School Transformation O

STORY BY COLIN DOUGHERTY // PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH H. SUTTON

n October 6th, 2020, at a press conference, Building Goodness Foundation (BGF) announced a new initiative to support the Keswick community during the pandemic.

Together with their partner C'ville Builds, a coalition of over 30 partners, the former school for African American children, St. John Elementary School in Keswick, will be restored and transformed into a community and fitness center. Rebecca Kinney, St. John's board president and spokesperson, shared that contractor Alexander Nicholson has stepped up to the challenge, along with Preservation Architect Joseph Lahendro. Portions of the project will be free of cost to St. John's, but some tasks will be paid at the contractor's actual cost or a market price depending on the required type of work. Architect Lahendro has agreed to handle all the plans at no cost to St. John. There are additional and significant savings from the partnership with BGF, who will see this project through until the completion, offering all sorts of assistance with their contacts and fundraising skill set. Currently, St. John's is seeking donations to raise the required capital to complete the project.

Baptist Church purchased the school from the private owner. The St. John Family Life and Fitness Center will have a lifetime home in the historic landmark located in the Keswick environs (Cobham).

The history of the St. John Elementary School (Rosenwald Schools of Virginia) is all about education. So few Rosenwald Schools remain that in 2002 the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed them among its "most endangered places." The St. John Rosenwald School is one of over five thousand schools, shops, and teachers' homes in the United States built primarily for African-Americans' education in the early twentieth century. This structure is one of the three hundred and seven historic Rosenwald schools built in Virginia between 1917 and 1932. Today St. John Elementary School, built-in 1922, is one of seven schools identified in Albemarle County as a Rosenwald School.

C'ville Builds Project Manager for BGF, Courtney Polk, said, "This year has been hard for everyone, especially local nonprofit organizations and small businesses. The last thing they should have to worry about is their building falling apart or not having the space they need to do their work. Through collective giving, industry partnerships, and safe volunteer opportunities, C'ville Builds gives us a chance to make a tangible difference in our community that is incredibly needed right now."

BGF Board President Jack Horn reaffirmed C’ville Builds partners’ commitment: “Now more than ever, access to safe, healthy homes, nonprofit services, and stable small businesses must be guaranteed to all.”

The idea to construct these schools started after Booker T. Washington requested that funds donated to the Tuskegee Institute by Julius Rosenwald (co-owner of Sears and Roebuck) be used to build six schools in Alabama for African American children. After seeing Photo, Becky Kinney, repre- this effort's success, Rosenwald established the Julius senting the St. Johns Fam- Rosenwald Fund, which also required matching funds ily Life and Fitness Cen- from the community. ter-St. John's Rosenwald As with all of the Rosenwald Schools, this school was School restoration project built under strict guidelines of the time. The goal was (far right) with Building to provide a clean, affordable structure designed for a Goodness Foundation staff better learning environment. The windows were large (from the left): Courtney to provide adequate light, high ceilings for fresh air Polk – Grants Manager and ventilation, spacious classrooms to avoid overcrowdKatherine Garstang – Ad- ing, and large coatrooms for coats' storage. ministrative Director Local Sometime in the 1950's the St. John Elementary School Projects Manager. was closed and sold to a private buyer who converted it into personal living quarters. In 2003, the St. John

Once the center is renovated, it will serve as a fitness center, museum, and a health resource library, community auditorium, and meeting center for the community and surrounding areas. It will also be an emergency center for the community to shower and prepare meals during power outages. The goal of The St. John Family Life and Fitness Center (SJFLFC) is to provide the physical, educational and spiritual programs that will enhance the participants in living a better quality of life – to continue the legacy of education established in the past into the future; with the education of the mind, body, and soul.

C'Ville Builds, a BGF program, is a coalition of builders, minority-led and serving organizations, community members, donors, and volunteers to support a healthy, equitable, and prosperous Charlottesville. The program offers construction repair and restoration in the Charlottesville/Keswick area, specifically for nonprofit organizations, low-income homeowners, and small businesses struggling due to the pandemic. Special consideration is given to project recipients focusing on racial equity; the SJFLFC was a perfect fit!

BGF Board President Jack Horn reaffirmed C'ville Builds partners' commitment: "Now more than ever, access to safe, healthy homes, nonprofit services, and stable small businesses must be guaranteed to all."

C'ville Builds aims to complete 25 projects within the next 18 months. With fundraising underway, work has already started on five projects, including construction work at Pearl Island Café, On Our Own, and Culinary Concepts AB. They will also tackle the restoration of the St. John elementary school in Keswick.

Building Goodness Foundation was founded in 1999, a Charlottesville-based nonprofit construction organization that connects skilled volunteers from the design and construction industries with international and local opportunities to use their professional skills for a good cause. Internationally, BGF has built six clinics, nine schools, and more than 1,130 houses for vulnerable communities. Locally, their projects serve more than 9,000 residents annually.

C'ville Builds is currently accepting applications for projects. More information and eligibility criteria can be found at www.buildinggoodness.org/cvillebuildsfund or call the BGF office (434) 973 0993. C'ville Builds is generously supported by three lead partners: Blue Ridge Bank, The Manning Family Foundation, and Building Goodness in April (the students from Darden School of Business).

Through C'ville Builds, the St. John's project will receive up to $15k towards their project, plus the value of Alexander Nicholson and the preservation architect's contributions at zero or near their actual cost. To assist St. John Family Life and Fitness Center in raising the additional funds, please call Rebecca Kinney at 301-379-1041.

15

SEPTEMBER 2020

503 Faulconer Drive Charlottesville, VA 22903 Office: 434.295.1131 Fax: 434.293.7377

MCLFarm, EAN FAULCONER INC. Estate and Residential Brokers

The right realtor makes all the difference!

◆ WHITE OAK FARM ◆

Situated amongst stately and mature oaks is this picturesque and peaceful 45+ acre farm only a short distance from Charlottesville. Fully renovated and beautifully maintained 4,500+ sf. home is sited in the heart of the property with attractive views of rolling meadow, professional riding arena, pond, and mature forest. House contains 4 BR, 4.5 BA, living room with fireplace, and dining room. Farm improvements include stables with attached apartment and studio, workshop and storage with adjacent equipment shed.

Ideal small farm or equestrian estate. MLS#601428 $1,875,000 Steve McLean,434.981.1863

◆ KESWICK COUNTRY CLUB ◆ Bordering (Full Cry) Pete Dye golf course and lake, within grounds of Keswick Hall, 5-star luxury resort, is this magnificent 5-BR residence constructed of the finest materials with attention to every detail. MLS#603398 $4,200,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

◆ COBHAM ◆ 29+ acres in Keswick offers great potential for private estate with multiple homesite locations or business ventures! Includes beautiful barn perched on knoll. Being sold complete with farm equipment and livestock! MLS#606017 $945,000 Steve McLean,434.981.1863

◆ ASHCROFT ◆ Stunning mountain views abound throughout this bright, spacious, 4-BR residence. Privately tucked on 2.26 acres adjoining common space.

Located minutes from Pantops, UVA, and all Charlottesville has to offer. MLS#607638 $1,195,000 C. Dammann, 434.981.1250

◆ MILTON VILLAGE ◆ 21-acre lot minutes east of Charlottesville.

Level building site with well and soils tested for drain field. 4-board fence along road frontage. Creek, small pond, and automatic waterers. MLS#586469 $375,000 Mark Mascotte, 434.825.8610

◆ LONESOME MOUNTAIN ROAD ◆ 5-acre lot that has not been available for many years.This country but close-to-town location is conveniently located with quick access to Historic Downtown Mall, UVA, NGIC, airport, and North Fork Business Park. MLS#593160 $250,000 C. Dammann, 434.981.1250

◆ GLENMORE ◆ 0.75 acre lot on a quiet cut-de-sac near lovely Lake Lochen. There are many options on this corner lot. One of the few exceptional lots left with the location, size, and diversity of this lot. MLS#599250 $249,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

www.mcleanfaulconer.com 16

KESWICK LIFE

WHAT’S COOKING

Fisken's Pork Sliders with Slaw

What are the keys to a successful long-term relationship?

BY BROCK FISKEN

2 tablespoons grill seasoning blend (McCormick Montreal Poultry Blend) 1/4 cup Tamari dark soy 1 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoons hot red pepper flakes 1/4 cup Cilantro 4 large cloves garlic, chopped (more garlic = better) 2 teaspoons toasted (dark) sesame oil, 2 scallions, finely chopped Vegetable oil, for drizzling on the grill 2 pounds pork tenderloin

spoons white vinegar, two tablespoons dark brown sugar, two teaspoons Asian sesame oil, two teaspoons sesame seeds, optional, one teaspoon salt, 20 grinds black pepper.

Marinade for about an hour, if you go

longer or lose the pork flavor - grill to perfection, nice and reddish on high heat. Let cool and slice razor-thin with your kitchen knife. Grab your favorite small slider roll and top with the pork and a heaping amount of an excellent Asian slaw.

Here is my go-to Asian slaw: 1 bunch (6 large) scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced; 2 each of shredded head of green and shredded red cabbage; 1 small red onion, thinly sliced, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, two tablespoons grated fresh ginger (from about a 1-inch piece), two table-

Rough up the scallion slices a little with your fingers so all the tiny layers of the scallion whites separate. Toss the coleslaw mix or both kinds of cabbage, the red onion, and scallions together in a large bowl until everything is thoroughly mixed. You can make the slaw up to this point up to a day in advance as long as you keep it refrigerated. Before serving, bring the slaw back to room temperature, make the dressing, and toss.

Stir the remaining ingredients together in a small bowl until blended, then pour over the vegetables. Serve within 1 hour of dressing, or the cabbage will get wilty and sad.

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Call us at 434.979.4663 or visit HomeInstead.com/532 SEPTEMBER 2020

BOOKWORM REVIEWS Cozy Fireside Reads for Crisp Fall Days

BY SUZANNE NASH

What a strange summer we have had, but the cool weather of fall is here, and the

smell of apples and pumpkin bread are starting to fill the air. It’s time for crisp days and cozy nights by the fire and it’s also time to get ready for Halloween – so here are a few tales to set the mood. Some are older releases, and some are newer finds. So, I hope these take your minds off some of the turmoil around us.

Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver was one of New York Times best books of 2019 and is a bit of a gothic mystery that takes place in Edwardian Suffolk. If you like creepy old houses this is the novel for you. It is 1906 and a manor house sits at the edge of Fens (which happens to be a wilderness of water with whispering reeds). Nice creepy setting isn’t it? In this Manor house called Wake’s End there is a young girl, Maud who has grown up without a mother and under the thumb of a repressive father. As you move through the story you cannot decide what is real or supernatural and there is a overriding feel of psychopathy present. The beginning of the book sets the tone with a historian named Edmund Stearne using an ice pick and geological hammer to kill someone. He spends the rest of his life in an asylum. Why did he do it? Maud takes the reader through the unraveling of this mystery and keeps a tension between the supernatural and religion. There is a focus on a painting in the areas church called a DOOM painting which were often painted on church walls during the 12th and 13th centuries to depict the last judgement. It was generally the last thing people viewed as they left the church, so they were reminded of the fate that awaited them if they didn’t mind their Christian duties. Most were destroyed during the reformation but in this tale this painting provides the fodder for a descent into madness.

The Loney is another English gothic story which

debuted in 2015 and explores superstition and religion. Author Andrew Michael Hurley takes us to the seaside to follow the lives of the Smith family who, along with their parish’s new priest, travel to the Loney for the “cure”. Hanney Smith, the eldest son, is a mute and the mother hopes for a cure during the Easter Service there. The narrator is Hanney’s younger brother, who is nicknamed Tonto by the priest. The Loney is in the area of Morecambe Bay in north west England, described in the text as "that strange nowhere between the Wyre and the Lune" and it is indeed a whole character unto itself. This wild and unearthly landscape shapes the tale and the Catholic faith seems to be at battle with nature, as the reader struggles to determine what is supernatural and natural.

Hurley admits that the landscape and atmosphere of this particular coastal area of England affected how he wrote the story and you can see how his prose matches the wildness of the scene. It will pull you in and is the perfect read on a chilly fall night with the lights down low!

Now of course since Halloween is at hand, we have to have witches so I thought The Witch Finder’s Sister might be a good choice. This story by Beth Underdown is based on real events. It’s 1645 and Alice Hopkins returns to Essex after the death of her husband. In her absence, her bother Matthew seems to have climbed the ladder and acquired a great deal of power. He has become obsessed with finding witches and putting them on trial. Now Matthew Hopkins was indeed a real person and a “witch hunter” during that time. He may have had a sister and this story revolves around the premise that his sister may have had a different view of his rise to power and the consequences of his obsession. Matthew travels throughout

England in his search to root out evil and just as it was in Salem Massachusetts, it is chilling to see how quickly people can turn on each other.

I read The Mercies, by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, while on lockdown in London but immediately thought it was a good Keswick Life fall choice. In 1617 near a small Norwegian Island called Vardo a group of men are out fishing when a sudden storm comes up and all of the island’s men are lost at sea, save the priest. Vardo now becomes an island of women and together they have to figure out how to survive this tragedy. Eighteen months later a Scotsman named Abslom Cornet is sent with his new wife to the island to be their commissioner. When he arrives, he finds something rare in that time, a land filled with independent women. He becomes intent on rooting out the evil he finds in this place and all of those who he deems to be witches will soon face his wrath. Maren is one of the narrators along with the commissioner’s wife Ursa and together they tell a story of rebellion, customs and headstrong determination. Once again, this story is based in the reality of the storm and of the 1621 witch trials. Of particular note is the discrimination against the Sami, who were the indigenous people of Lapland. The Sami customs and beliefs came up hard against the Norwegian religious traditions and there are many cases of Sami being brought to trial and killed for being witches in Norway. I was fascinated as I knew very little about the Scandinavian or Lapland history.

The Darkness is a mystery set in Iceland and is the first in a series by Ragnor Jonasson. Detec-

tive Hulda Hermannsdottir works for the Reykjavik police. At 64 years of age she is being forced into early retirement and during her last two weeks she is given a cold case to investigate. The body of a young Russian asylum seeker has washed up on a remote beach. She soon discovers that the original officer handling the case was inept and that this is not a suicide as was previously reported. When Hulda discovers another similar death, she begins to piece together the connection to sex working in the area and find the lack of concern by local authorities disturbing. Hulda was always considered difficult to work with but as more and more people refuse to open up about the murders, she becomes more determined to solve this case before her time in the force is finished. The author is considered a master of Icelandic thrillers and CBS has just struck a deal to create an eight-part series of this book so read it before it comes to your TV screens!

The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way To Live Well by Meig Wiking

In keeping with the Scandinavian bent of the last couple books I thought you might also enjoy this one.

It’s the perfect little introduction to the idea of Hygge, which will help you transform your world into a cozy place of calm this fall and winter. It is one of my favorite little books to help you feel snuggled up and comforted in a world of craziness!

I hope you all enjoy the fall weather as much as I do and are able to eat loads of apples, take lots of walks and read loads of books! I promise I will be getting more to you soon

18

KESWICK LIFE

FEATURED PROPERTIES IN AND AROUND THE KESWICK ENVIRONS Idyllic Cedarcroft

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Tucked away off a quiet Keswick lane, Cedarcroft is an idyllic, c. 1932 clapboard home sited in the middle of over 2 acres of level, verdant lawns dotted by large hardwoods, boxwood borders & established perennial beds. Comprehensively renovated in '93, the current owners have continued to improve & meticulously maintain this lovely country property located 15 mins from both Ch'ville & Gordonsville. There is an add'l, 945 sf guest space or ideal home office w/ full bath adjacent to the house. The 2, two-bay garages are graced w/ Stokes of England weather vanes. Outdoor living options incl' a delightful soapstonefloored sun room + a screened porch complete w/ skylights & ceiling fans. Gourmet kitchen, vaulted family room, the list goes on. Call Loring Woodriff, 434-466-2992

Kesmont – Equestrian Estate

6480 Gordonsville Road, Keswick $1,495,000.00

After nearly 40 years the internationally renowned Stokes of England Blacksmithing Company is for sale! The sale will include the 6,000 sq. ft. forge building, all blacksmithing equipment, all welding equipment, metal inventory, showroom samples and all in stock consumables (grinding and sanding discs, welding rods etc) and even the pick-up truck!

Equestrian Estate in the Heart of Keswick, Cottage Homes are known for Natural Charm & Comfort and Kesmont offers a Refined Country House, Renovated Kitchen w/Chef's Layout, Granite tops & Maple Cabinetry, Open Floor Plan with Chic & Charming Living Spaces, Gunite Swimming Pool, 10-Stall Stable w/Tack Room, Wash Rack, Riding Arena, Board Fenced Paddocks w/Water, Guest House or Apartments w/3 Bedrooms, 2Bath, 2Kitchens, Equipment & Storage Buildings, Large Pond, Cottage Gardens, Outdoor Entertaining Terraces, Excellent Location. Important to Note: Property is included in the Fiber Optics project CenturyLink and Albemarle Co for 2021. Call Duke Merrick,

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Mountain Views in Ashcroft 5520 Lego Drive, Charlottesville $1,195,000.00

Stunning mountain views abound throughout this bright spacious and gracious four bedroom residence.

Privately tucked on 2.26 acres which adjoins common space on three sides. Current owner has thoughtfully reinvigorated both the exterior and interior with the highest quality materials. Terrific circular flow on main level with living room & fireplace, chefs kitchen with eating/sitting area & fireplace, dining room, master bedroom/bathroom with private screen porch, home office and mudroom. Second floor comprises three bedrooms, bonus room and two baths. Lower level is huge flexible space, home office, bath, kitchenette and storage. Located minutes from Pantops, Historic Mall, UVA & all Charlottesville has to offer. Call Charlotte Dammann, 434-981-1250

Historic 'La Fourche'

3555 Keswick Road, Keswick $1,950,000.00 Lovely historic manor house - only minutes from Charlottesville. The house has seen significant renovations and updates and includes two dependencies and a party barn. This is an elegant country home with a generous master bedroom and bathroom and 3 additional rooms on the second floor and 2 more bedrooms on the 3rd floor which includes an office. There is a two bedroom apartment attached to the house the "Tavern" and 2 additional cottages.

Gracious lawns and garden spaces... Call Murdoch Matheson, 434-981-7439

This unique sale also includes the owners international client list, the “Stokes of England” name and all the in-progress commissions. Stephen will be available as mentor, sales assistant and promotional front man for up to 2 years for a nominal fee and his well trained crew of 3 blacksmiths are eager to stay on working for the new owner. The Gallery retail shop lease is also available along with all stock therein for an additional $75,000.

Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to continue a fine Keswick tradition. $980,000. Be sure to check out www.StokesOfEngland.net for the fascinating company history. There is also a leasing aspect, contact Bev for details.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

TRAVEL

Tenderfoots in The Bob

BY CHARLES THACHER

It’s August and the Covid hunkerdown

sandwiches while you are waiting”. I don’t know what surprised us more – that our guide lost his horses or that he had a plane.

continues unabated. I’m sitting here in Keswick, listening to the muscular roar of the bikes as they bust out of the Cismont Store parking lot - which is giving me a hard case of Sturgis-envy, especially when I see pictures of all the bulging biker-babes in their red baseball caps and tattooed bods, ridin’, drinkin’ and playin’ hard, while all the while, standin’ by their god-fearing men. But, even for them, life has gotten tougher.

Two years back they permanently lost the Testicle Festival in Montana – a stopover of sublime debauchery for those cruising toward Sturgis from the west – and now they have to risk their lives to pursue the god-given pagan ritual that’s as American as apple pie. But bikers are nothing if they are not tough, and those that survive Covid will return, keeping America great.

For me, it’s the first year that I haven’t planned a trip to fish the West in almost 40 years. I may yet, but Covid, combined with two cracked ribs from separate klutzy mishaps have, so far, shut me down.

When I think back to my first occidental angling excursion, and how it started, perhaps it’s surprising that I ever took another. I had been dabbling at fly-fishing for a couple of years in early 1982, when I read an article about a trip to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area (called “The Bob” by locals and afficionados) in Montana, that combined nearly two days of riding horses and a bit more than four days of floating on the South Fork of the Flathead River, through a pristine and remote area.

I knew enough about fly-fishing to know that Montana was considered American Nirvana for pursuing it, and decided that this was the trip for me to get properly introduced.

The Bob is one of the largest wilderness areas in the U.S., slightly smaller than the state of Delaware. By law, it has no roads, but nearly 2,000 miles of trails, limited for use by people and stock. The South Fork begins in the southern part of The Bob, and travels northerly for nearly 100 miles (including the enormous Hungry Horse Reservoir) to join the Middle Fork and the North Fork, and form the main stem of the Flathead River, which flows into the Clark Fork of the Columbia, and ultimately to the Pacific Ocean.

I contacted the author of the article to get information about the outfitters that he had used for his trip – it was Gene Lee, assisted by his son, Cameron. The Author said that they were the only outfit running fishing trips in The Bob. I tracked Gene down on his ranch at the southern end of Hungry Horse, to get some details. He said that he would take two rafts accommodating at most four anglers, and that there was a narrow window of about six weeks to go, from late July through early September. Before that the spring runoff made the river too high and off-color, and after that the chances of snow and freezing weather were too great. The anglers didn’t need to be skilled riders, but they did have to be willing and able to sit on a horse for about 40 miles (35 going in and five coming out), sometimes over rough terrain.

Having no better choice, we lunched.

After a couple of hours, The Organizer started to get the glares from the other three, similar to the night before. Gene finally showed up at about 1PM, in a foul mood. He looked to be about 60 years old, seemed more than a bit cantankerous, and was very grizzled. His wife asked him about the lost horses.

“Couldn’t find em.”

I muttered, “What are we going to do?”

That was more miles than the total that I had ridden in my lifetime, but being intrepid or, more likely, lamebrained, I booked the first week in August and set about recruiting some friends to join me. Fortunately, Deliverance was still fresh in everyone’s mind, and I found three guys who, like me, pictured themselves as Burt Reynolds, although probably we all secretly thought that at least three Ned Beattys were among us. Doug was an old friend and an experienced and skilled outdoorsman. Tom a fishing friend, and Mike a lawyer and business associate. I was The Organizer, which would become important.

The trip started on Saturday, and the day before we stayed in Kalispell, Montana. That evening we went to see and fish the South Fork where it emerged below the dam that formed the Hungry Horse. OMG! It was the coldest river that any of us had ever encountered – about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. We only had light pack waders, and couldn’t stand in the river for more than a few minutes. Plus, we caught no fish. We were all neophyte anglers and had no idea that water being released from the bottom of a dam would be much colder (and support fewer fish) than that in the river above the reservoir. We figured that we had made a really bad choice of a river that we could not walk into, and that seemed devoid of fish. The Organizer caught some abuse at dinner, which soon became a pattern.

“What d’ya think we’re gonna do?

Only got one choice. Take the reserves.

They haven’t done this trip in about three years, but they’ll have to do.

Let’s get started. We’re late.” I didn’t think that “we” were late, but kept that inside.

Gene and Cameron loaded the ten horses (six for riding and four packhorses) into some trucks and we drove about 15 miles to the Spotted Bear Campground, where we would start. Three wranglers on horses met us there, with the rafts and the other equipment. They would ride with us for the 35 miles over two days, set up the first night’s campsite en route, drop off our equipment at the headwaters of the South Fork, ride back to Spotted Bear with the pack horses, then meet up with us again when we pulled out of the River at the end of the float, pack up, and we’d all go back to Spotted Bear.

“Didn’t he know that we were coming to start a weeklong trip today?”

The wranglers took the pack horses aside and started loading them with equipment. Gene said “I’ll ride the big bay mare, cause she’s pregnant and is like to be in a foul mood. And she ain’t been ridden in a few years.

He put the saddle and bridle on, walked around with her for a couple of minutes, speaking to her in the soft, dulcet tones of a horse whisperer, then he mounted her.

Holy s..t! Her hindquarters went four feet in the air, Gene flew about six feet and landed on his butt with a thud! The horse continued jumping around and snorting fire. Cameron quickly grabbed about ten feet of rope with a loop on one end, he put the loop around her neck, and tied the other end to a small tree. The big horse started running in circles around the tree until the rope got so short that she flipped over and was lying on her back – feet kicking up into the air and still snorting. Cameron walked up to her and, with his metal toed boot, kicked her as hard as he could, smack in middle of the head. Her eyes started dancing around in the sockets, looking as whacked out as Kid Sheleen’s steed in Cat Ballou. Then they went blank, and she passed out.

We had placed our lives for six days in the care of Curly from City Slickers, and his scary son. We were terrified.

“Yes, he knows, but the horses that he normally takes on his trips escaped overnight, and he and Cameron are flying around in Gene’s plane to see if he can find them.

He should be back soon. Why don’t you have some

Meanwhile, Gene was back on his feet. Cameron threw a bucket of water from a stream on the recalcitrant mare’s head, and she revived. He loosened the rope, helped her up, and Gene mounted her again. She de-

Saturday we were up early to take the 60-mile or so drive to Gene Lee’s ranch. The rough dirt road along the Reservoir was slower than expected, but we got there by 10AM, the appointed meeting time. A woman answered the door, introduced herself as Gene’s wife, and told us that he was out “looking for his horses.”

20

KESWICK LIFE

jectedly hung her head, and began docilely walking up the trail. Doug finally worked up the courage to mount his horse. No problems, and we all climbed on without incident. We started up the trail with Gene ambling along in the lead, followed by the four of us, then the pack horses, all watched by the wranglers, and Cameron bringing up the rear.

The peace was short lived. The pack horses were tied to one another in a line, and the second pack horse started nipping at the butt of the first, and a wrangler gave him a bit of the lash. But he wouldn’t quit, then the third pack horse started nipping at the second horse’s butt. Gene said don’t worry, that these horses, being reserves, had never been in a pack together and that a pack horse had strong beliefs about where he rightfully belonged in the pecking order. The nipping horses resented being behind the imposters ahead of them. We took his word for it, until we were riding up a steep and narrow stretch of the trail, and the first horse finally lost his patience and spun around to bite the nose of the second horse, who promptly did the same to the third horse. In a nanosecond the whole pack train slid off the side of the trail and about thirty feet down into a ravine.

The packs came apart and we could hear the sound of horses whinnying and smashing stuff. Holy s..t again!

Gene started screaming expletives at the pack horses, which seemed futile, while the wranglers and Cameron went down to untangle the mess. Amazingly, none of the horses were hurt. Only a spare oar, a net and some other equipment of minor import was broken. It took over an hour to re-assemble the pack train. While our leaders were doing that, our group had a meeting, the gist of which was “you’re The Organizer, so how the hell did you ever find these people?”. I deflected all responsibility, pointed out that logistically and financially we had no option other than continuing on, and the others begrudgingly accepted their fates. We all pondered how we could survive six days with these Keystone Kops. To our relief the wranglers re-ordered the pack horses and, sure enough, the pack train never had another incident.

In short order we came to a spot where the trail, maybe seven feet wide, bent to the right, and followed for several hundred yards in a semi-circle next to a high wall on our left. Gene said that the wranglers and the pack horses would turn left before the wall, and take a detour on the other side of it, which was about a half mile longer. As we approached the wall, we saw why. The trail alongside it overlooked, on the right, a sheer cliff with a straight vertical drop off of perhaps 400 hundred feet.

Whoa!

Tom asked Gene, “do you really want us to go on this trail?”

“Yup, always do. But if you’re too scared, you can go with the wranglers.”

He was challenging our manhood, but Tom was not embarrassed, and promptly joined the wranglers. I will admit that looking over that cliff from three feet above the top of a horse gave me that unpleasant feeling deep in my bowels, or some male place in that vicinity, that I get only from peering straight down from great heights.

Apparently, I wasn’t alone because Mike got off his horse and said that he’d walk with his horse behind us. Doug and I proceeded, but our horses kept leaning toward the drop off and looking directly down. That scared the bejesus out of us, and we tried to pull the horse’s heads back toward the wall, which they wanted no part of. Gene lost it.

“What the hell are you morons doing? Don’t you know that your horse doesn’t want to go over that cliff any more than you do? If you stop him from seeing what’s there, he may accidentally go over it. Let him look and he won’t. That’s just common sense.”

My solution was for me to stop looking and stare at the wall. Soon we were at the end of the wall and the cliff, and feeling pretty good about ourselves. Foolishly, because we were just sitting on top of a horse. After the cliff incident, things became pretty normal. Mike decided that he liked walking with his horse, and never re-mounted for the entire thirty miles or so, in and out.

Tom liked Mike’s idea, and walked most of the rest of the trip. Doug and I wanted to get our money’s worth, and rode all of the way. The price for me was sore thighs and walking bowlegged for a few days – well worth it.

We came back down to the river for the first night’s camp. Our group fished while camp was being set up, and dinner prepared. It was our first River sighting up close, and it was the most beautiful that I had ever seen, and still is today. The water was crystal clear, with long riffles and deep pools, where I could clearly see stones on the bottom, 15 or 20 feet down. I was really a beginner fly fisher, having been a few times and never taken lessons. The river was perfect for my skill set, as it had wide banks and nothing to interfere with my back casts, which were lousy. In fact, when I dropped the fly in the water on my back cast, normally a bad mistake, frequently a fish would take it, and as I began making the forward cast a trout would go flying through the air.

The river had a large population of scrappy Montana Cutthroat trout, and catching fish on dry flies, was simple, even for someone as inept as I was. Most of the fish were in the 10-13” range, with occasional larger ones up to about 17”. The River also had bull trout, which grow very large, but the guides didn’t mention them, and we never fished below the surface, where they hang out.

The clarity of the water on the South Fork was extraordinary. Looking out at the current, it was easy to seriously misjudge its depth. We learned this the first morning. Tom, who was very tall, but not the steadiest wader, walked out into a current which looked to be about two feet deep, but was actually well over three feet and moving faster than it appeared. When he tried to turn around to retreat (mistakenly facing downstream), exposing the full width of his body to the current, it swept him off his feet and he took two somersaults downstream. It was a very dangerous situation, but he righted himself somehow, and was able to swim and crawl to the bank, remarkably unharmed except for a few bruises. After that, he never waded out in the current again and we were all more respectful of the River’s power. The first night at camp we had a great meal, some beer and booze (before the days that wine was de rigueur), and the four of us settled down to drink and play poker. Gene looked on, and asked if he could join us. Turned out he loved poker and beer, and from then on, the five of us played every night, and he lightened up and became a fine and engaging host. He knew The Bob as well as anyone, and on the second day’s ride we saw some extraordinary scenery, including the famed Chinese Wall – a massive escarpment about 1,000 feet high and 12 miles long - that runs along the Continental Divide. Although The Bob contains many large animals, including black and grizzly bears, we saw only tracks or scat of them, except for a few mountain goats at a natural salt lick. On the other hand, we did not see another human being in the six days.

Floating the spectacularly beautiful river was pretty mellow. There was one short rapid that the guides took by themselves. It wasn’t really dangerous, but this was

21

an angling, not whitewater, trip. We pulled out to return to Spotted Bear just before the dangerous gorge, which is basically impassable (we saw it from about 1,000 feet up on the trail, and were told that it is so narrow, that you would have to swim through with the raft turned on its side). Missing that pullout could be a death sentence. And all day, every day, the fishing was superb.

We caught as many fish as we wanted (the first day I counted 70, then ceased counting), and watching them slowly rise to the surface of a clear, azure pool from fifteen feet below to eat a large Royal Wolff or Humpy will be etched in my memory forever. One day we stopped to take a lovely hike to a small lake, catching both great scenery and, in the outlet, the largest fish of our trip.

Today, the trip into the Bob to fish the South Fork is quite popular and, in fact, there are a variety of outfitters, and several different routes in and out for guided or do-it-yourself trips. But the river is still the river, the scenery is still the scenery, there are no vehicles or bikes, the fishing is easy-peasy, and you are in one of the last true wilderness areas in the lower 48. It seems that the cutthroats are a bit larger and most anglers spend at least some time fishing deep for bull trout, that can reach ten pounds or more. It’s a great experience, whether you fish or not. And maybe you can hire Curly.

Photos, opposite page, crossing a tributary.

This page, upper: The Magnificent Chinese Wall, lower, the happy anglers

Charles Thacher and wife Ann moved to Keswick in 2008 from New York, to be near their kids and (now) four grandchildren. He has been an avid fly fisher for over 35 years, traveling extensively, primarily in pursuit of wily trout. Along with two other anglers, Charlie was a founder of the Anglers Club of Charlottesville, which has about 65 august members. He is a member of the Anglers Club of New York and the Paris Fario Club, and writes regularly for the New York Club’s journal and Classic Angling, a British magazine. Also, he has compiled and published a bibliography of angling books.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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KESWICK

Tell it to keswick life... ...efil kciwsek ot ti lleT

Letter to the Editor”:o oft d Keswick raehrevO Life ruo ory your ro efiOverheard L kciwseK fto: o ”rotidE eht ot retteL“ a dneS Keswick Life, PO Box 32, Keswick, 74922 A VA V 22947 ,kciwseK ,23 xoB OP ,efiL kciwseK or email to: keswicklife@gmail.com moc.liamg@efilkciwsek :ot liame ro

LIFE

Lifestyles in Keswick and its environs The minds behind Keswick Life: EDITORIAL

EDITOR/FOUNDER Winkie Motley, editor@keswicklife.com CO-EDITOR Colin Dougherty, editor@keswicklife.com COLUMNISTS Tony Vanderwarker (Only In Keswick), Suzanne Nash (Bookworm) CONTRIBUTORS Sam Johnson (What's Cooking), Charles Thacher (Fiction/Travel) PROOF READER Staff Assistant

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Every month we bring you lifestyles in Keswick and its’ environs, from the scoop of a party and horsey happenings to practical advice on making the most of your garden, preserving land and updates from the surroundings! But don’t take our word for it - subscribe and discover, Keswick Life!

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Keswick Life is circulated to key locations in and around central Virginia for readers to pick up their free copy, one per person please, with subscriptions throughtout several counties in cenrtral Virginia and a few for those who have moved away throughout the United States and Canada.

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LEGAL STUFF

© 2020 KESWICK LIFE All editorial is fully protected or email to: keswicklife@gmail.com by copyright and may not be reproduced without writKeswick Life, PO Box 32, VA 22947 of the editor and ten consent andKeswick, explicit permission publisher. The editor assumes no responsibility for the Letter to the Editor” of Keswick Life or your Overheard to: information herein and reserves the right to refuse any advertising and/or editorial submission.

DECEMBER 12, 1975 – AUGUST 21, 2020

Pam’s family is asking her friends to assist them in creating a collection of memories for her children, James and Paige. They re-

quest that these not be condolences but hand-written anecdotes of thoughtful or even humorous interactions with Pam. Her mother, Pat Wilson, will save these until the children are older and would appreciate the reflections. The messages can be given to Sally Lamb, Jill Anderson, or mailed to: Far Fetched Farm, 5012 Bibb Store Road, Louisa, VA 23093.

To remember and celebrate Pam Cibula's amazing life as an equestrian, friend's of Pam created a Memorial Trophy to be presented at an appropriate local horse show. Any donation toward this traditional way to memorialize a great horse lovers is appreciated. Find it on gofundme, or quick link here: https://gf.me/u/y2haxz

Hildreth Davis McCray Wheeler OCTOBER 29, 1946 – AUGUST 29, 2020

Hildreth Davis McCray Wheeler, 73, of Keswick, died on August 29, 2020, at The Gordon House in Gordonsville, Va., after a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Gordon Lee Wheeler. Hilly was the daughter of the late Bernard Winn and Harriett Hildreth Scott McCray; and was predeceased by her brothers, Bernard W. McCray, John H. McCray, Lanier D. McCray and George Cole S. McCray.

Hilly attended St. Catherine's School, graduated from The Grier School in 1967 and was presented as a debutante in Richmond, Virginia, the following year. She continued her mother's legacy as an accomplished equestrian and started show jumping at a young age, winning many trophies. She was a member of Deep Run and Kes-

wick Hunt Clubs and qualified as a AAA rated judge. Hilly had a competitive spirit and enjoyed beating her nieces in backgammon.

She is survived by sisters-in-law, Jennie Ruth Smith McCray, Eve Mapp McCray, Emily Wheeler Rhodes, Lois Norvelle Wheeler; and brother-in-law, Kenneth Mason Wheeler. She is also survived by three nieces, Hildreth Lee McCray, Jennie Ruth McCray, Virginia Lee Cason; and nephew, Arthur Sackett McCray. Hilly also enjoyed 12 nieces and nephews from the Wheeler family.

Special thanks to Michele Stevens, Hospice of the Piedmont and to Tom May and his staff at The Gordon House who provided devoted care over the years. A private graveside service was held at the Monticello Memory Gardens, on Thursday, September 10th.

Cynthia Leigh Hoovler Hair

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Pamela Marie Cibula

Pam Cibula, a member of Keswick Hunt Club at one time, was an accomplished horsewoman who excelled in many disciplines, always elevated the Keswick Hunt with her kindness and brightened the day with her great smile. Pam went on to become Bull Run Hunt's kennel person for a year, a talented whipper in, and as always, a beautiful rider. Last year she won the Virginia Field Trial Championships on her horse Lelo, representing BRH. Pam rode to the top in the East Coast side saddle competitions last year as well as being a leading competitor in many other show rings. She was a generous instructor and always cheerful and willing to help.

DESIGN – PRODUCTION

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Colin Dougherty Published by a division of Keswick Life PHOTOGRAPHY Submitted by Authors, Keswickians, and others as credited.

OBITUARY

JANUARY 28, 1955 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 Cynthia Leigh Hoovler Hair, 65, of Warrenton, died September 12, 2020, in Fairfax. Born January 28, 1955, in Newport News, Cyndy was the oldest daughter of Charles Thomas Hoovler and Wilma Jean Avery Hoovler of The Plains. In addition to her mother, Cyndy is survived by her husband of 30 years, William Harding Hair Jr.; her two sisters, Karen H. (Michael) Crane of Middleburg, and Shelley H. (George) Payne of Keswick; her two daughters, Avery Shepherd (Collins) Hughes of Amissville, and Lauren Alicia Hair (fiancé Alex Chakalos) of Culpeper, and three grandchildren, William Collins Hughes Jr., Bryan Shepherd Hughes and Charles Scott Hughes of Amissville. Her father, “Chuck,” predeceased her in 2011. Cyndy attended Highland School in Warrenton and Notre Dame Academy near Middleburg. She loved participating in team sports, such as field hockey; she also enjoyed tennis and stick ball. After high school graduation, she matriculated at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where she walked on the school’s field hockey team. Cyndy reveled in the city’s lively music and arts scene.

Cyndy, having been introduced to riding in the mid-1960s with Mrs. Kathleen Sanders of New Baltimore, enjoyed and excelled at many equestrian sports, including showing and fox hunting.

As a young girl she rode with Winnie Howland and son, Billy, of Land-Ho Farm, and for Horse Show Hall of Fame members J. Arthur Reynolds at Fenton Farm, and Delmar Twyman of Orange.

As a teenager, she successfully participated in the Middleburg Orange County Pony Club on the national level. Cyndy was chosen to be a member of the second Junior Equestrian Exchange Program between the U.S. and The Netherlands, sponsored by the international People to People Sports Committee. She made many lifetime friends in Holland, most notably Harro Goudsmidt — more a brother than friend.

After Cyndy left school, she became employed as executive legal assistant at the law firm of Martin, Walker, Jones, Lawrence and Lynn in Warrenton, then worked as special events coordinator at Airlie Foundation in Warrenton. After serving as staff to several boards for Fauquier County, Cyndy’s field of work turned in the direction of her lifelong passion, the equestrian world. Following

stints at the Culpeper Farmers’ Cooperative and Tri-County Feeds, where she specialized in equine nutrition, Cyndy found her home as executive secretary for the Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America at Morven Park in Leesburg.

Cyndy was generous with her time. She volunteered for many years for the Warrenton Pony Show, where she served as past president of the Junior Committee and, later, on its board of directors. She was a long-time supporter of the Warrenton Horse Show and was a member of the “Lunch Bunch.” For years, Cyndy was a member of the Virginia Gold Cup Association, where she served as Co-Director of Volunteers and Steward Stand Marshal for both the Virginia and International Gold Cup races. One of Cyndy’s favorite events was the Orange County Hunt Team Chase, where she volunteered her time and often served as a judge. She also volunteered as a race official at many local point-to-point races. One of Cyndy’s lifelong passions was judging horse shows and helping young riders develop their discipline. Along with her mother, Cyndy was a founding member of the Short Circuit Association, stewarding its development from inception to end. For decades, Cyndy was a licensed USEF judge and also served as president of the Virginia Pony Breeders Association. She and her husband, Bill, have owned and operated Cedar Spring Farm near Warrenton for 27 years.

Over and above her lifetime of equestrian service and activities, Cyndy loved being with her family, especially her three grandsons, whom she home-schooled daily through the Covid-19 situation.

She and Bill have been long-time summer vacationers at Pawleys Island, S.C., where they enjoyed the annual “Beach Bocce” tournament.

Donations in memory of Cyndy be sent to Great Meadow Foundation, 5089 Old Tavern Road, The Plains, Va. 20198. (Please, put “Cyndy Hair Memorial” in the memo.)

Keswick Life, PO Box 32, Keswick, VA 22947 or email to: keswicklife@gmail.com

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