Pv may june 17

The Horses of the Civil War • Charlotteville’s Guitar Maker to the Stars

THE HOME ISSUE

Building Dream Homes in a Stronghold of Open Space

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Illuminating Your Space with Light Sculpture

MAY/JUNE 2017 • $5.95

Piedmont Inspiration Inside Renowned Designer Barry Dixon’s Elway Hall

CHERI WOODARDREALTY Rappahannock

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Fabulous inn & restaurant, Flint Hill

Commanding a strategic site overlooking the picturesque village of Flint Hill, this beautifully renovated old Schoolhouse has been transformed into a splendid inn and restaurant. With fine dining, a pub, four guest suites and almost 5 ac of beautiful grounds, this facility has everything an entrepreneur needs to create a fabulous destination. $1,695,000

sunset vieW FarM, castleton

Thoughtfully sited on 25.5 acres, Sunset View Farm is the perfect combination of views, rolling pasture and woods. The 4 bdr., 3.5 bth. home features a first-floor master suite, gourmet kitchen, and a charming front porch. Six-stall center aisle barn. $569,000

Hickerson Mountain, Flint Hill

With 360 degree views limited only by the clarity of the day, this 209 acre tract is simply awe-inspiring. At over 1,300 feet of elevation, this sweeping mountaintop land is a one-of-akind property. $2,250,000

Fauquier

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Madison

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Culpeper

tHe oaks, WasHington

This gem of a house on 28.8 acres is an exceptional example of a rambling country home. The home marries an original four-room log cabin c.1749 with 2 additions to form a comfortable country 3 bd., 2 ba. home. It was completely remodeled in the early 1990s and has a 2bd., 2 ba. Guest cottage. $895,000

60 Jenkins lane, speryville

This old farmhouse has been remodeled and updated and now it is a charming 2 bedroom, 2 bath home with a great kitchen, fireplace and exposed beams. It is located on 29 spectacular acres of big trees, rolling fields and great views. $495,000

gordon clan cHateau, Huntly

Nestled on a secluded hilltop, Gordon Clan Lane is the essence of country luxury with 4 bds and 5 ba. The 24 acre +/- property features mature landscaping, a gorgeous pond and an indoor pool. $1,295,000

tHe FarM on MaJor broWn rd

The 272.5 ac Farm on Major Brown Road is a mix of open land,woods, views and frontage on the Hughes River.The property has a 6,000-sf center with 5 bds and 7 ba + more. $2,359,000

cheriwoodard.com (540) 987-8500

37 Main Street, Sperryville, VA 22740

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luxury.

the inn at willow grove

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FEATURES MAY/JUNE 2017 • VOLUME XI • ISSUE 3

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Piedmont Homes

Piedmont Inspiration Inside renowned designer Barry Dixon’s Elway Hall

BY MORGAN HENSLEY

Building Dream Homes in a Stronghold of Open Space Thoughtful construction

by Rappahannock homebuilder Joe Keyser.

BY ANDREW HALEY

Moving Through Darkness into Light Illuminating your space with light sculpture

BY REBEKAH GRAVES

ON THE COVER (and left) World-renowned Warrenton designer Barry Dixon, with his beloved Dinah. “When I get ‘designer’s block,’ I go for a walk with Dinah. Works every time!”

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JORDAN KEOPKE PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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DEPARTMENTS

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BY NANCY JENNIS OLDS

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George Rowand

Man vs. Burn Pile

A Look Inside the State Arboretum

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Grass Rootes: Farm to table with a side of history; Cooking with daylilies

Cavalry re-enactors and the Piedmont’s equine legacy

The Guitar Artist: Local luthier shapes world-class instruments

In Memorium

Life in the Piedmont

BY TONY VANDERWARKER

Food

BY MORGAN HENSLEY AND LAURIE BETH GILLS

Heritage

BY NANCY JENNIS OLDS

Conservation

BY GLENDA BOOTH

Music

BY ERIC WALLACE

CONTRIBUTORS / 8 • HAPPENINGS / 12 • DESSERTS / 61 4 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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BY JACLYN DYRHOLM (LEFT); COURTESY OF VIRGINIA STATE ARBORETUM (CENTER); COURTESY OF J.J. HUCKIN (RIGHT)

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OUR MISSION

The Piedmont Virginian A journal of appreciation of nature, place, people, and ways of life.

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Affinities, not simply geography, create the Piedmont’s unique regional identity.

We strive to give voice to this special—even magical—place in the hopes that it remains so.

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EDITOR’S NOTE The Home Issue omes can be thought of in two ways: our physical houses, and our larger home in the natural community of the Piedmont. Homes reflect who we are, what we value, what we find beautiful, and what brings us serenity and peace of mind. With this in mind, we present the annual Home Issue.

First, we visit Elway Hall, the Warrenton home of world-renowned interior designer Barry Dixon. Since relocating to the Piedmont, he has been inspired by the natural surroundings on his property, which have made their way into his new design collections. One of Dixon’s mantras is to “bring the outside indoors,” not only with the colors and textures in his paints and fabrics, but with plants in the landscape, which often make their way inside to complement his existing decor.

Rappahannock homebuilder Joe Keyser melds his construction with the surrounding landscape—and local values of preservation and respecting open space. In working with his clients, Keyser translates their dreams and visions into the dwellings they will one day call home.

As our home in the broader sense, the Piedmont has been shaped by history, both human and equine. Nancy

H

Olds takes us into the world of cavalry reenactors, and the experiences of the horses who served with the soldiers in the Civil War. There’s also an undeniable sense of community found at dining tables. This issue contains five wonderful recipes, which the chefs encourage you to prepare with readily available fresh, local ingredients. And what’s fresher or more local than the flowers in your own backyard? Laurie Beth Gills’ creations are built around the common daylily (Hemerocallis fulva), whose nutty flavor is rivaled only by its beauty. Get them now while they’re in blossom!

Don’t forget to consult our calendar—in this print issue, on our website, and featured weekly on our blog and newsletter—to choose some of the many marvelous events around our Piedmont home.

Casual Cafe, Event Venue, Garden Shop & Trails

FARM TO TABLE MENU * ICE CREAM * SATURDAY TASTINGS Extensive Curated Virginia Beer, Cider & Wine List!

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FOUNDING EDITOR: Walter Nicklin

CO-FOUNDERS: Arthur W. (Nick) Arundel, Sandy Lerner

圀栀攀爀攀 攀瘀攀爀礀 昀爀愀洀攀 椀猀 圀栀攀爀攀 攀瘀攀爀礀 昀爀愀洀攀 椀猀 愀 眀漀爀欀 漀昀 愀爀琀⸀ 愀 眀漀爀欀 漀昀 愀爀琀⸀

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PHOTO DIRECTOR Jacki Dyrholm ACCOUNTING MANAGER Carina Richard Wheat ADVERTISING MANAGER Tom Spargur SENIOR ADVERTISING MEDIA CONSULTANT Jim Kelly CIRCULATION MANAGER Jan Clatterbuck

Restoration 䘀愀爀洀椀渀最琀漀渀 刀椀瘀攀爀 戀礀 倀攀琀攀 䈀攀爀最攀爀漀渀 䘀愀爀洀椀渀最琀漀渀 刀椀瘀攀爀 戀礀 倀攀琀攀 䈀攀爀最攀爀漀渀

㄀ 䔀愀猀琀 䴀愀椀渀 匀琀爀攀攀琀 䈀攀爀爀礀瘀椀氀氀攀Ⰰ 嘀椀爀最椀渀椀愀 ㈀㈀㘀㄀㄀ ㄀ 䔀愀猀琀 䴀愀椀渀 匀琀爀攀攀琀 ⠀㔀㐀 ⤀ 㤀㔀㔀ⴀ㌀㤀㌀㤀 䈀攀爀爀礀瘀椀氀氀攀Ⰰ 嘀椀爀最椀渀椀愀 ㈀㈀㘀㄀㄀ 椀渀昀漀䀀瀀栀洀椀氀氀攀爀⸀挀漀洀 ⠀㔀㐀 ⤀ 㤀㔀㔀ⴀ㌀㤀㌀㤀 眀眀眀⸀瀀栀洀椀氀氀攀爀猀琀甀搀椀漀⸀挀漀洀 椀渀昀漀䀀瀀栀洀椀氀氀攀爀⸀挀漀洀 眀眀眀⸀瀀栀洀椀氀氀攀爀猀琀甀搀椀漀⸀挀漀洀

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Glenda Booth, Andrew Haley, Jordan Koepke, Doug Lees, Keith Miller, Eric Wallace, James Wilkinson BEAGLE MIX Angel The Piedmont Virginian is published bimonthly

by Rappahannock Media, L.L.C. P.O. Box 87, Amissville, VA 20106 540.349.2951, info@piedmontvirginian.com Subscription inquiries: 540.675.3338 All editorial, advertising, reprint, and/or circulation correspondence should use the above address, or visit the website: www.piedmontvirginian.com The editors welcome but accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and art. Reprints or bulk copies available upon request. Single-copy price, $5.95. One-year subscription rate, $24.95, Two-year rate, $45.95

Have you talked to

C harlie yet?

Charles Rose is a seasoned property expert. His diverse background and relaxed approach make for easy conversation, whether you’re interested in home-buying, selling or commercial property.

Talk to Charlie today.

© 2017 by Rappahannock Media, LLC. ISSN # 1937-5409 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to The Piedmont Virginian, P.O. Box 87, Amissville, VA 20106.

703-606-8000 • charles.rose@longandfoster.com charlesrosesells.com

PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

| MAY/JUNE 2017 7

Building Fine Homes for over 20 years.

OUR CONTRIBUTORS Glenda C. Booth is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Northern Virginia. She writes about natural resources, historic sites, interesting people, public policy, travel, and other topics for magazines, newspapers, and online publications. She grew up in southwest Virginia and received degrees from Longwood University and the University of Virginia.

Chef Laurie Beth Gills is the owner and Executive Chef of LB’s Classic & Contemporary Cooking, a culinary instruction, catering and garden consulting service. She is the founder of Fredericksburg’s first fine dining group and is also a certified master gardner. www.ChefLB.com

Washington, VA www.RappahannockBuilder.com

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| MAY/JUNE 2017

Andrew Haley opened his Sperryville gallery with his wife, Suzanne Zylonis, in 2000. Haley Fine Art connects clients with artists and the context in which their work evolves.

The gallery is open Thursday–Monday, 10–6, and by appointment. haleyfineart.com Nancy J. Olds is a freelance photojournalist who lives in Reston, Virginia. She has published for several publications including the Civil War News, Hallowed Ground (Civil War Trust), Reston Lifestyle magazine and some contributions to the Patch and the Connection Newspapers.

She is a member of the Civil War Trust and the Bull Run Civil War Round Table in Centreville, Virginia.

Tony Vanderwarker went to Andover and Yale, served in the Peace Corps, Marine Corps and Army. A recovering adman, he is the author of four books, including his latest I’m Not From the South But I Got Down Here As Fast As I Could.

He lives in Keswick with his wife, four dogs, two horses and a Sicilian donkey named Jethro. tonyvanderwarker.com Eric J. Wallace’s writing has appeared in Canoe & Kayak, Adventure Kayak, Modern Farmer, All About Beer, Twisted South, Scalawag, and other national magazines. At present, he writes a travel/outdoors column for The Daily Progress. www.ericjwallace.com.

Tom Davenport’s Newest Documentary The Other Side of Eden: Stories of a Virginia Lynching

O

n July 17, 1932, a black farmhand named Shedrick Thompson is believed to have entered the Markham, Virginia, home of his prominent white landlord and employer Henry Baxley, beat him unconscious, then raped, battered, and left Baxley’s wife, Mamie, for dead. A two-month manhunt ensued, ending only when Thompson’s decomposing body was found hanging from an apple tree on what is now the Marriott Ranch property in Hume.

Word spread quickly when the body was found, and a crowd of about 150 gathered. Only one official—a deputy sheriff—had arrived and was able to view the body only briefly before the crowd set fire to it. Thompson’s death was immediately ruled a suicide by the coroner.

However, Thompson’s death had all the hallmarks of a lynching.

Official evidence was scarce once the body had been burned, and no one was ever charged with the murder or the destruction of the body. But, “current residents … cite the local lore, the stories they’ve been told, combined with a logic born of time and place,” writes author Jim Hall in his book, The Last Lynching in Northern Virginia: Seeking Truth at Rattlesnake Mountain.

More of the story has come to light only recently through Tom Davenport’s, a renowned local filmmaker, and Hall’s investigative

research. They have uncovered the carefully concealed information in the memories of local residents and their descendants. Only now, 85 years after the crimes, are locals starting to reluctantly talk about these events, as though worried an old wound shrouded in silence may reopen.

Davenport’s film, The Other Side of Eden: Stories of a Virginia Lynching, may be viewed as a companion to Hall’s book, further analyzing the underlying racial currents in Fauquier during the early 1930s in an attempt to identify Thompson’s murderous motives and to explore the mob mentality of vengeful white vigilantes.

The film premieres Saturday, May 13, at 7 p.m. at the Highland School Center for the Arts in Warrenton. Hall and other locals mentioned in the film will attend. The screening is free and open to the public. Stream the first seven minutes on Vimeo now!

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In Memorium: George E. Rowand

COURTESY OF THE ROWAND FAMILY

1948 – 2017 Writer, Horseman, Community Advocate

Weddings & Events EVENTSATGRELEN.COM Amanda@themarketatgrelen.com Somerset, Virginia

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| MAY/JUNE 2017 11

HAPPENINGS More information and events at piedmontvirginian.com Submit your event and find an extensive online calendar

BY ROBERT RAUSCH

Steeldrivers

MUSIC • MADISON Graves Mountain Festival of Music. June 1–3, Graves Mountain Lodge, Syria. For 25 years, Americana, roots, acoustic, and bluegrass musicians and their fans have flocked to Graves Mountain Lodge to spend three days in a rustic, beautiful environment where they can see first-rate musicians fill the valley with song. Family-owned Graves Mountain Lodge has welcomed visitors for more than a century, building time-honored traditions and legendary customer service during that time. There’s a homey hospitality, natural beauty, and range of outdoor activities in addition to perhaps the Festival’s best lineup of all time, which comprises 22 of roots music’s foremost acts from across the nation. The band names alone tell a story and set the tone for the festival: Tennessee Mafia 12 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

| MAY/JUNE 2017

Jug Band, Ronnie Reno Band and the Reno Reunion, Seldom Scene. This year there’s Sister Sadie, five fastpicking, quick-fiddling females from Nashville. Vancouver trio Barefoot Mountain, whose catchy Americana infuses powerful live shows with pop sensibility, smooth instrumentals, and a desire to make audiences hoedown.

Jeff Scroggins and Colorado is a high-energy quintet with a spectrum of influences and styles to showcase and push the boundaries of bluegrass. Meanwhile, Mountain Heart fearlessly explores the possibilities of acoustic music, mixing tradition with superlative musical prowess to create an incendiary sound all their own. There are too many wonderful acts to list here, so be sure to buy your tickets to this one-of-a-kind festival!

A DELICATE BALANCE BY JUDITH THOMPSON

HAPPENINGS

ART • LOUDOUN 12th Annual Western Loudoun Artists’ Studio Tour. June 3–4, Various Locations.

This free, self-guided tour beckons visitors to witness more than 60 the region’s most talented artists at work in their natural environment, the studio. Seize this unique opportunity to converse with potters, painters, jewelers, photographers, sculptors, and talented artists across every medium. If you’ve been fortunate enough to go on the tour before, then you’ll be happy to learn that 16 new artists have joined the ranks, appearing alongside five 12-year veterans.

For the first time you can see the abstract, defamiliarized sculptures of Hubert G. Phipps; the analog photographs Mark Paul Thomas shoots with his 1958 Deardorff camera; and the muted, Impressionistic still-lifes and landscapes of Amy Ramsey. Then there are the longtime crowd-pleasers, like Jeffrey Hall, who has opened his studio doors for a dozen years in a row now, welcoming visitors to see his neoclassical sculptures that have appeared in presidential libraries and renowned galleries nationwide. By viewing artists at work, paintbrush to the canvas, the creative process is illuminated, demystifying the process and heightening one’s appreciation for the hard work of artistry. And you don’t have to go home empty-handed; brand new artwork is available for sale in the artists’ studios.

PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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HAPPENINGS FESTIVAL • FREDERICKSBURG

Romeo and Juliet. May 19–21, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas. Manassas Ballet Theatre concludes its season with the beautiful Romeo and Juliet. The familiar, fated romance is brought to life by an international cast, with the Manassas Ballet Theatre Orchestra playing the beautiful score by Prokofiev. The graceful choreography adds another layer of drama to Shakespeare’s tragic tale of star-crossed, crestfallen lovers. With the custom set as a backdrop, the world’s most famous love story unfolds for the company’s final performance of the season. Celebrate the conclusion of another wonderful season!

One of “Five Performing Arts Festivals you must visit” thinktheater2017: July 7 - 30

—TRAVEL PULSE

THE NICETIES

by Eleanor Burgess

WELCOME TO FEAR CITY A World Premiere by Kara Lee Corthron

WILD HORSES A World Premiere by Allison Gregory

BYHALIA,MISSISSIPPI

by Evan Linder

EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL A World Premiere by Chelsea Marcantel

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT A World Premiere by David Meyers

800.999.CATF

Cathryn Wake and Jessica Wortham in The Second Girl by Ronan Noone.

CATF 2016. Photo by Seth Freeman.

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CATF.ORG

ROMEO AND JULIET BY B. PAYDEN PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC © 2011

THEATER • PRINCE WILLIAM

Rock the River FXBG. June 3, Old Mill Park, Fredericksburg. This riverside bonanza has something for everyone: live music, local craft beers, whitewater canoeing, and so much more! Live music fills Fredericksburg’s downtown district with grooves from the soulful Carly Moffa, reggae rockers Feathered Fish, and Midnight Spaghetti, whose blend of funk and rap conveys a frenetic enthusiasm. Be sure to stick around for country crooner Jake Owen’s set in the evening, part of the Celebrate Virginia Afterhours series. (Tickets sold separately.) Known for his laid-back country songs and thrilling live performances, Owen is the Platinum-certified singer is of anthems like “Beachin’ ” and “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” among many others. A beer garden is packed with the state’s best breweries, including Fredericksburg’s own Spencer Devon Brewing, Maltese Brewing Co., and Red Dragon Brewery. For the first time ever you can purchase VIP tickets, which grant you front-row concert access, specialty beer tastings, and snacks under a nice shady tent. Peruse the streets lined with vendors, artist booths, cornhole, and food ranging from kettlecorn to Mediterranean cuisine from the Grapevine Café. For outdoors enthusiasts, there is a four-mile trail run and the 37th annual Great Rappahannock Whitewater Canoe Race. Adults, children, and furry friends are all welcome to this celebration of community. Proceeds benefit the American Canoe Association and Friends of the Rappahannock. If you love the Rappahannock River and everything it means to Fredericksburg, then you do not want to miss this event!

HAPPENINGS FESTIVAL • FREDERICKSBURG

COURTESY OF VIRGINIA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Virginia Renaissance Faire.

Weekends, May 13–June 11, Lake Anna Winery, Fredericksburg. Discover the magic in the age of chivalry and romance as the Renaissance is reborn in Virginia. Jugglers, magicians, comedians, musicians, and others fill the stages. Thrill as knights on horseback thunder toward each other, lances lowered. See the Archers of Staffordshire demonstrate their prowess, receive a lesson yourself, then take aim in the daily archery contest. Visitors to the Faire discover a fantastical array of activity amid the bustle of a busy market day in the village. Peruse the finest handcrafted wares—jewelry, pottery, swords, woodworks, and so much more— then have your fortune foretold by a soothsayer. End the day by feasting on turkey legs, Scotch eggs, fish and chips, crepes, and filling your chalices until they overfloweth with beer, wine, cider, mead, and a variety of soft drinks. Eat, drink, and be merry!

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Piedmont Virginian half page horizontal 7.25wide x 4.667” Summer 2017

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HAPPENINGS

BEER • NELSON

Ron White. May 11, The Paramount, Charlottesville.

Comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White first rose to fame as the cigar-smoking, scotch-drinking funnyman from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour phenomenon. Now, as a charttopping, Grammy-nominated comedian and a feature film actor, Ron White has established himself as a star in his own right, a storyteller whose tales range from a childhood in a small town in Texas to his everyday life as one of the most successful comedians in America.

All four of his comedy albums have charted #1 on the Billboard Comedy Charts. He has sold more than 14 million albums (solo and with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour) and been nominated for two Grammys. Come laugh yourself right out of your chair when you hear him lampoon the South.

Inaugural Brewmasters Ball. June 2, Infinity Downs, Arrington. Infinity Downs is home to Lockn’, the Festy Experience, and for the first time ever, the Brewmasters Ball. The 387-acre venue is a natural amphitheater nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. During the event, Fredericksburg native and masterful multi-instrumentalist Keller Williams charms the ball’s attendees with his genre-embracing, funky, soulful grooves. What has more variety, William’s danceable acoustic anthems or the beer garden’s impressive plethora of brews? With suds from some of the state’s finest breweries, imbibers have plenty to sample before voting for their favorites. With onsite camping available in “Garcia’s Forest,” why not stay for the Spartan Race the next day? The 5k obstacle course is a muddy, intense run through the bucolic countryside. Go it alone or enlist your pals to generate some friendly competition. After dashing through the finish line, enjoy a nice sudsy beer and toast to your hard-earned bragging rights, then spend the rest of the day soaking up nature among the gorgeous landscapes of Infinity Downs.

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PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN (L); CAMDEN LITTLETON PHOTOGRAPHY (R)

COMEDY • ALBEMARLE

HAPPENINGS

BY JOHN SHORE (L); BY MICHAEL WILSON (R)

Black Masala MUSIC • CLARKE

MUSIC • CLARKE

River & Roots Festival. June 23–25, Watermelon Park, Berryville. Located along the spectacular Shenandoah River, Watermelon Park is the perfect venue for this family-friendly celebration of heritage, music, local food, the outdoors, and just about everything else we champion here at The Piedmont Virginian. With farmers’ markets, local vendors, tubing down the river, and camping under the glorious stars, this festival beckons visitors to dig deep into the Piedmont’s roots. That’s to say nothing of the music, as rich and diverse as the people that comprise this region. Here you’ll see a performance from a trio of the country’s best Americana musicians: Grammy-nominated guitarist Michael Daves, pioneering banjoist Tony Trischka, and expert fiddler Brittany Haas. Catch a set of indie-folk from Kipyn Martin, a singer whose musical roots sink deep into the muddy banks of the Shenandoah. There’s even traditional gospel from the Ingramettes and a gypsypunk brass band, Black Masala. The Festival benefits four charities advocating for the preservation of the Shenandoah River. Get your tickets now before the earlybird prices end May 31.

John Bullard. May 6, Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville. John Bullard plays a five-string banjo, which you might expect from a Southerner. But there’s a gothic twist: he plays classical music. If you think about it, it’s actually the perfect Southern art—a gentleman plucking Beethoven on a banjo. One minute he’s bush-hogging a field, the next he’s on his porch playing a Bach partita. And to be clear, these aren’t bluegrass renditions, they’re exact classical transcriptions done by a devotee of Baroque and Renaissance music for 30 years. His music has appeared in films such as DreamWorks’ The Rise of the Guardians and The Edge of Heaven and earned the acclaim of luminaries like Pete Seeger, Bela Fleck, and Tony Trischka. Hear some of classical music’s finest compositions in a way you’d never before imagined!

Historic

Middleburg

Virginia

Andre Pater: In a Sporting Light, at the National Sporting Library and Museum • • • • •

May 6 May 19 May 20 May 26 May 27-28

Farmers Market Opens Concert on the Steps, Community Center Art in the ‘Burg, 11-4 Open Late Free Concert, NSLM, 6 PM Hunt Country Stable Tour

• • • • •

June 5 -11 June 16 June 17 June 25 June 30

Upperville Colt & Horse Show Doc Saffer Series, Community Center Middleburg Humane Foundation Gala Middleburg Concert Series, 4 PM Open Late Free Concert, NSLM, 6 PM

The Hunt in Belvoir Vale by John Ferneley Sr. Photo courtesy of National Sporting Library & Museum

Discover our Traditions while creating your own...

Shopping, Dining, Arts, Horses, and History

540 . 687 . 8888

www.visitmiddleburgva.com

MBPA

The Middleburg Business & Professional Association in support of the local business & retail community.

PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

| MAY/JUNE 2017 17

FOOD

Back to the Rootes

Culpeper’s Grass Rootes cooks farm-to-table dishes with a side of history

BY MORGAN HENSLEY, PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACLYN DYRHOLM

Executive Chef Kevin Scott

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T

hough Grass Rootes Kitchen and Cocktail opened only a year ago, a timelessness permeates the New American restaurant’s menu, ambiance, and architecture. The fixtures blend past, present, and future: a wrought-iron lattice alludes to the building’s stint as a Civil War prison; fine art photographs imbue the dining space with a “jazzy, cool, a little funky, and relaxed vibe,” in the words of the owner, Andrew Ferlazzo; and metallic, abstract, hypercube chandeliers by local artist Roque Castro lend the space a futuristic quality.

The menu similarly blends concepts old and new, at once epitomizing and eschewing trendy labels like “farm-to-table” and “comfort foods.” Rather than flaunt these latest culinary buzzwords, Executive Chef Kevin Scott keeps it simple: “Fresh and local,” he says when asked what separates a “good” dish from a “great” dish. Menu items such as seared salmon, fried catfish, and bison sliders showcase Scott’s formal training—he is a graduate of L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, Maryland—as well as his childhood spent in Kansas cooking alongside his grandmother. An industry veteran with 30 years’ experience, Ferlazzo partners with local farms such as Seminole Farm and Flora in Culpeper and Berezan Family Farm in Hartwood, exchanging business for the the coveted first pick of all seasonal vegetables. These recipes, like the dishes at Grass Rootes, are unadorned and simple to prepare, yet they boast a wonderful, intriguing palette of flavors. When sourcing your ingredients, be sure to heed Chef Scott’s philosophy and purchase the freshest local products you possibly can. As Chef Scott would say, “There’s no faking flavor.”

FOOD

Crispy Halibut with Tapenade

Tapenade

Halibut

Ingredients 1 zucchini, cut into 1” cubes 1 large eggplant, cut into 1” cubes 2 red bell peppers, sliced into strips 1 red onion, diced 1 jar of traditional Italian marinara 2 tbsps. capers

salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients 2 halibut (approx. 8 oz.)

1 cup instant potato flakes 1 cup seasoned flour 2 eggs

Method 1. Preheat oven to 425°. Toss eggplant, zucchini, and peppers in olive oil, then arrange on foil-lined baking tray. Place in oven for 20 minutes.

2. On a skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil, then red onion, and sauté. Once sautéed, turn the heat down to low, add marinara, and heat mixture— stirring occasionally—until warm, careful not to bring to a boil.

3. Combine contents of skillet and baked vegetables, then add capers. Set aside.

Method 1. Keep oven heated at 425°.

2. Whisk eggs in bowl and combine potato flakes and flour on a separate large plate.

3. Brush halibut with egg mixture, then coat in flakeflour mixture.

4. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Sauté halibut until golden brown on both sides, then remove from heat and place in oven for five minutes to finish.

5. To plate, make a bed of tapenade and serve halibut atop.

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FOOD

Pork and Beef Meatballs Serves: 8 (~20 1” meatballs) Ingredients ½ lb. organic ground beef ½ lb. organic ground pork 1 Anaheim pepper ½ yellow onion, diced ½ red onion, diced ½ cup Parmesan, grated 1 garlic clove 1 tsp. Italian parsley, chopped 1 tsp. oregano ½ tsp. red chili flakes salt, pepper & granulated garlic Method 1. Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a large baking sheet with baking spray. Set aside.

2. Combine beef and pork in a large bowl. Add peppers, diced onions, Parmesan, garlic, herbs, and spices. Work together into a homogenous mixture.

3. Shape into 1” meatballs and place on the cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until cooked through. When finished, the meatballs should have a golden-brown crust.

5. Serve in a bowl with sliced and toasted baguette. Top with Italian parsley, and enjoy!

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Weekend & Evening Hours Available

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FOOD Story, recipes, and photography

by LAURIE BETH GILLS

Serving Up

Daylilies D

uring a leisurely stroll through Willow Oak’s garden, I was inspired to incorporate the handsome, hardy daylily into my recipes. The flower belongs to the genus Hemerocallis, which translated from the Greek means “day’s beauty,” fitting as this little guy’s bloom only lasts a single day. I was struck by the profound fragrance of the blossom, reminiscent of honeysuckle and summertime.

Then there’s the exquisite beauty of the petals. Presentation is such an important aspect of any culinary dish, and with its long, fiery orange petals, the daylily adds a warmth and exocticism to any dish. Before we get to recipes that highlight the flavor and appearance of the daylily, a quick precaution: there are many hybrid varietals which have not been thoroughly investigated for safety, so stick with the common daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) for these recipes.

Garden Salad Garnished with Daylilies There’s something magical about feasting on fragrant, colorful flowers, and this daylily salad will certainly charm you and yours.

Even if you don’t want to eat the flowers, you can simply use them as a gorgeous, safe garnish. Keep in mind that the flowers will wilt quickly. To preserve them for a few hours—up to a day before serving—gently wrap them in a damp paper towel, place inside an open plastic bag, and store in the refrigerator.

Serves: 4 Ingredients: Dressing (~⅓ cup) 3 tbsps. extra virgin olive oil ½ tsps. finely grated lemon zest 2 tbsps. freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tbsp. white wine vinegar 1 tsp. sugar

pinch of fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad 5 small heads of mixed lettuce: cleaned, damaged leaves removed, and roughly chopped or torn 2 tbsps. mixed fresh herbs (e.g. basil, chervil, and parsley), chopped

chamomile flowers, or any clean, edible, pesticide-free flower 5 daylily seed pods, organic and pesticide-free ⅓ cup radishes, thinly sliced 3 organic, pesticide-free daylily flowers (gorgeous ones only) Method 1. Start with the dressing by combining all ingredients in a small bowl or decanter, mixing well, and letting set.

2. To assemble the salad, combine the lettuce, herbs, and radishes on a large platter. Whisk the dressing, then lightly drizzle half over the salad leaves, and toss.

3. Just before serving, decoratively arrange the radishes, daylilies, seed pods, and any other edible flowers. Finish and top with another small drizzle of vinaigrette and pinch of sea salt.

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16033 Ira Hoffman Lane Culpeper, VA 22701 540-825-8371 800-577-TREE (8733) www.KMLawnGardenArborist.com

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Pickled Daylily Buds RATE APPLICABLE TO NEW YANMAR COMPACT TRACTOR EQUIPMENT. RATE INFORMATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR EXTENSION OF CREDIT. ALL TRANSACTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CREDIT APPROVAL AND SUCH OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE. MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN BASED ON RATE OF 0%. ACTUAL RETAIL PRICES ARE SET BY DEALER AND MAY VARY. TAXES, FREIGHT, SETUP, AND HOLDING CHANGES MAY BE ADDITIONAL AND MAY VARY. MODELS SUBJECT TO LIMITED AVAILABILITY. OFFER IS NOT AVAILABLE WITH ANY OFFER. ***See your local dealer for limited warranty details and information. Certain restrictions apply. Engine Manufacturer specifications and programs are subject to change without notice. Images may not reflect dealer inventory and/or unit specifications.

After leaving a friend’s farm with a large sack of buds, I raced home—without stopping at the food store, mind you—and searched my pantry for ingredients to jar and pickle a few of these flowers right away. This is my quick pickling recipe. Use these pickles in salads, on top of bruschetta, or on a cheese plate.

Serves: 1 pint canning jar Ingredients 1 6 8 ½ 1

4

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shallot, thinly sliced garlic cloves, smashed dill sprigs tsp. mustard seeds tsp. black peppercorns small dash red pepper flakes cups freshly harvested daylily buds, cleaned and white bases removed 1 cup filtered water 2 fresh bay leaves 1¾ cups cider vinegar 2 tbsps. kosher salt 2 tbsps. sugar Method

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22 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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1. Using tongs, place sliced shallot, garlic, and dill in a sterilized 16 oz. canning jar. Add mustard seeds, black peppercorns, red pepper flakes, then fill your jar with the daylily buds and set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, bring the remaining ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat, allow to cool to room temperature, then pour over the buds. Seal the jar and store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

WE’RE MORE THAN JUST BRICK AND BLOCK Visit one of our four showrooms or our website and discover how to take your living outdoors.

Daylily Bud Sauté I discovered in my tastings that a daylily bud resembles a cross between freshly harvested spring peas and asparagus. They also have a light, fragrant sweetness about them that I find interesting. These special buds are paired with brown butter and walnuts, creating an aromatic, balanced nuttiness. Select young buds for the best flavor.

Serves: 4

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Ingredients ⅓ 3 16

cup whole walnuts, skillet toasted tbsps. unsalted butter fresh daylily buds: young, mostly green, and firm fresh thyme and chives flaky sea salt (e.g. Maldon™)

Method 1. Thoroughly wash and dry daylily buds.

2. Toast walnuts in a medium-sized skillet over mediumhigh heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the walnuts are fragrant and beginning to brown, about four minutes.

Remove from skillet and set aside.

3. In the same skillet, melt two tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Cook until the foam and crackling has subsided and the butter is a golden brown with a nutty aroma, about three minutes. Scrape into a small bowl, brown bits and all. Be mindful of timing; it can easily burn since the butter continues to cook even after it’s off the stove.

4. In the warm skillet, add remaining one tablespoon of butter and the daylily buds, along with the fresh herbs and sauté for about five minutes, or until brown on the sides and softened. Add the walnuts and brown butter, stirring to coat.

Season with a hearty pinch of sea salt and serve at once.

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PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

| MAY/JUNE 2017 23

Justin H. Wiley

Peter A. Wiley

434.981.5528 Justin@wileyproperty.com

434.422.2090 peter@wileyproperty.com

132A East Main Street • Orange, VA 22960

503 Faulconer Drive, Suite 6 • Charlottesville, VA 22903

ELEGANT ESTATE IN KESWICK

OLD WORLD CRAFTSMANSHIP

AIRSLIE - Landmark country estate located in the beautiful Keswick hunt area of Albemarle Co. House was completely renovated in the early 1990’s using only the finest materials & craftsmen. Surrounding 507+/- acres further compliments the house and allows the property complete privacy. The estate has many improvements including one of the oldest houses in the county “Findowrie”, 4 tenant/guest cottages, stable complex & cattle barn. Property has numerous rolling pastures that are fenced w/board & wire.

MLS # 496122 • Price Upon Request

WYATT MOUNTAIN RETREAT - The right buyer will fall in love at first sight! A timber-frame stucco residence with soaring spaces (30 foot ceilings, exposed timber beams), detailed millwork, and energy-efficient systems. Unparalleled crafts¬manship. A magnificent home with a dry-laid stone walls, and beautiful gardens all in a com¬pletely private setting with 30 mile views down the Blue Ridge. Lovingly designed and built by architect/builder for own use. 30 minutes to Charlottesville. MLS # 560435 • $1,750,000 Peter A. Wiley – 434.422.2090

Justin H. Wiley – 434.981.5528

MOUNTAIN VIEWS AND RIVER FRONTAGE

BLUE RIDGE VIEWS ~ RIVER FRONTAGE

BABSON FARM - 736 acre farm located in the Somerset area of Madison County with long frontage on the Rapidan River. The 1820’s clapboard house has extensive views of the Southwest and Blue Ridge Mountains. Property includes a working feedlot for cattle and the land is a mix of productive crop land, fertile pasture and some hardwoods. Other improvements include, the 1850 Mummau House, two tenant houses, cattle barn and a large equipment barn.

MLS # 541546 • $5,225,000

THE FIERY FARM - Steeped in history, this exceptional home, c. 1823, is sited on a bluff overlooking the Lynch River and features stunning panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With over 318 acres of fertile pastureland and hardwoods, this quintessential Virginia Farm offers privacy, views and water with a historically significant house and outbuildings. Not under conservation easement. $3,350,000

Justin H. Wiley – 434.981.5528

Peter A. Wiley – 434.422.2090

EXCEPTIONAL FARM 14 MILES TO TOWN

N

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FIRST TIME ON THE MARKET IN 50 YEARS

ST. MARGARET’S FARM - Available for the first time since 1967, this 248 +/- acre estate, with wonderful views of the South West Ridge, located in the Keswick area. The 1919 ca 5,700 sq ft Colonial Revival has great flow from room to room on the first floor, 4 bedrooms on the 2nd floor, 2 additional bedrooms on the third floor with a total of 4.5 baths.

The property has numerous dependencies and farm buildings, including an 18th-century 2nd house. The land, roughly half open and half hardwood, is currently grazed by cattle.

MLS # 560527 • $2,550,000

SCOTTSVILLE FARM - A beautiful, medium-sized horse farm or retreat 14 miles from town. The turn-of-the-century farmhouse is well-sited in the center of 77 acres of fenced pasture and fields, with a beautiful stable, large pond and trails. The farm offers privacy and views and is adjacent to over 1500 acres of protected farmland. A 6-stall center aisle barn with power, hot and cold water, bathroom, tack room, wash stall and shavings storage is positioned near the large outdoor ring.

MLS # 558491 • $1,250,000

Justin H. Wiley – 434.981.5528

W I L E Y P R O P E R T Y. C O M

Peter A. Wiley –434.422.2090

PIEDMONT

BY JACLYN DYRHOLM

HOMES

Forsythia cuttings unite the view from the window with the interior in designer Barry Dixon’s home, PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM | Hall. | MAY/JUNE 2017 Elway

25

BARRY DIXON’S

Elway Hall A look inside the designer’s greatest source of inspiration: his Piedmont estate.

BY MORGAN HENSLEY

“W

hat I see when I look out the window, I want to see inside as well,” says Barry Dixon, the world-renowned interior designer and owner of Elway Hall in Warrenton. “That tethers home to place; that’s my mantra.

What could be more inspirational, more indigenous from a design perspective than the Virginia sky, my backyard, the history of the land?”

Set on nearly 300 acres of luscious, bucolic hunt country, the grounds of Elway Hall are beautiful to behold, and teeming with inspiration for the designer. The Edwardian house was built in 1907 as a wedding gift from West Virginia senator and oil baron Johnson Newlon Camden. With 10 bedrooms, 17 fireplaces, and nearly 20,000 sq. ft., the residence was quite the gift to his newlywed daughter, Annie, who is immortalized—surrounded by hummingbirds—in the two-story Tiffany window above the grand staircase. In the 17 years Dixon has resided in Elway Hall, he has opened the doors to Virginia’s Historic Garden Week three times, and holds the record for the most visitors in a single day.

Dixon, who is only the fourth resident in the estate’s 110-year existence, opted to alter very little of the home. Changes were made to the kitchen, the master bedroom suite was expanded, and a swimming pool, replete with a gorThe great hall, used as a ballroom when the house was built in 1907, now serves as a canvas for Dixon to showcase his design vision.

BY JACLYN DYRHOLM

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PIEDMONT HOMES

BY JACLYN DYRHOLM (2, RIGHT); BY JORDAN KOEPKE (1, LEFT)

FACING PAGE: BY KEVIN ALLEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Facing page: The mural in the master bedroom was inspired by French landscape artist Claude Lorrain. Painted by Warnock Studios in Alexandria, the wall acts as a window, simulating the view of the fields as if there no wall there at all. The master bedroom’s chandelier was originally cut crystal. Dixon “deconstructed the formality” by restringing the gilded bronze frame with dried seedpods.

geous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was installed. His reluctance to change the structure and layout of the home stems from his deep reverence for stewardship and the obligation a homeowner has to preserve the house’s history.

“Anyone who owns an old house is a steward. In a way, the house owns you. You take care of the home during your time there, then you pass it on.” He’s made minimal changes to the surrounding landscape as well, and he’s right to do so: with such astounding natural beauty all around, why disrupt the pristine countryside? Rather than impose design on the grounds, he prefers to bask in and draw inspiration from the pastoral setting.

“There is a dreamlike quality to the Virginia Piedmont that permeates every project we do here. It comes right through the window and into the room. It’s very important to link design to place,” he says,

Above: Light filters through a two-story Tiffany stainedglass window. The window was valued at slightly more than the cost of Elway Hall and its original acreage.

Left: “When I get ‘designer’s block,’ I go for a walk with Dinah. Works every time!”

Right: This Copernican armillary sphere— available through Dixon’s Arteriors collection—adds character to his library.

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PIEDMONT HOMES Left: Dinah perches on the Middleburg chair by Tomlinson; Dixon was inspired by the town’s hitching posts to incorporate horseheads into the design. Draped over the arm is a mohair blanket woven from Angora goats born, raised, and shorn on Elway Hall’s farm.

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Bottom left: The shape of this willow chair, available through Arteriors, was inspired by the eggs from Dixon’s hens.

Right: “What I see when I look out the window, I want to see inside as well.”

Dixon’s mantra features heavily into his library.

Amid leatherbound books and astronomer’s fixtures are freshly cut forsythia branches from Dixon’s back yard.

Left: This leatherbound stirrup cocktail table is “a nod to Horse Country,” Dixon says.

BY JORDAN KOEPKE (TOP); BY JACLYN DYRHOLM (BOTTOM)

reiterating his mantra. Glancing through his high-end signatures lines—a series of paints with C2, fabrics with Vervain, home furnishings with Arteriors—one senses that rural reverie throughout Dixon’s work. Hay bales’ spirals are found in his wallpaper, Angora sheep inform his fabrics, a farrier’s anvil inspires a side table, and his paints glisten with names like “Fauquier Spring” and “Warrenton Summer.” One realizes in his vision the deeply rooted imagery of the Piedmont.

His vision as a designer, which he describes as “layered, relaxed, and timeless,” has earned him recognition and acclaim from Veranda (which bestowed upon him the honor of 2010’s Master of Design award), Traditional Home, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, and LUXE magazines as well as appearances on Good Morning America (where he appeared alongside one of his clients, Diane Sawyer), HGTV, and the Style Network. The immense praise his products have garnered stems from his seamless intertwining of luxury and functionality, abstraction and familiarity, tradition and modernity. Barry Dixon’s Elway Hall is remarkable, a flawless model for anyone looking to add a touch of the Piedmont’s aesthetic to their home design. As Dixon would say, “Everyone deserves their own bespoke home … their unique realm for living.”

Facing page: Center left: This vial was inspired by the beakers of English chemists. ”I love to play with the elements: earth, air, fire, and water. I like bringing water inside to create a natural balance.”

BY JACLYN DYRHOLM (4)

PIEDMONT HOMES

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PIEDMONT HOMES The music room is designed around Dixon’s grandmother’s walnut piano.

Whenever possible, Dixon works with local craftsmen. The plasterwork here and throughout the house was done

by Jeff Schardt of Ornamental Plasterworks in Manassas, and the woodwork was done by Warrentonbased Old Town Woodworking.

COURTESY OF SOUTHERN ACCENTS

Selections from Barry Dixon’s Line of Designs for Vervain (Facing page) Warrenton Toile (in Duck Egg) Elway Hall (in Mahogany Celadon) is available as both a wall covering and fabric; the design draws from Dixon’s home (visible in the fabric sample on right swatch) and the surrounding landscape of Horse Country.

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PIEDMONT HOMES

The Naturals

Collection by Barry Dixon for C2 Paint

DARK STEM The darker green stem of the cucumber vines in the gardens at Elway

FABRIC/WALL COVERINGS COURTESY OF VERVAIN; PAINTS BY C2 PAINT; BY KIP DAWKINS PHOTOGRAPHY (TOP RIGHT)

POND RIPPLE The darker shadow in the trough of the waves on the pond surface

THISTLE TIP The geranium pink-red tone of the wild Fauquier thistle

BELLE’S NOSE The soft, tonal pink of my favorite goat’s snout

FAUQUIER SPRING The deep blue-green water tone of the pools at Fauquier Springs

FIELDSTONE The khaki-tan color of the centuries-old stone walls that wind through Elway Farm

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BY REBEKAH GRAVES (2)

HOME & GARDEN

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PIEDMONT HOMES

Moving Through Darkness Into

Light Light Sculptures by Rebekah Graves

From below, cluster of light sculptures as seen from underneath.

Building a Bower: a dwelling, the inner room.

A vision carried for years in the attic of the artists mind; a hanging bed with a canopy of lights above, falling like honey, suspended with movement. The bed is made of black walnut from Albemarle County. Design and installation by Rebekah Graves, silk textiles by Willow Knows.

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PIEDMONT HOMES

Above: Honeycomb Pendant Rebekah’s first light sculpture creation.

The form is sculpted in porcelain, as seen at left, and then cast in Nepalese handmade paper to create the pendant.

BY REBEKAH GRAVES

Event lighting and installations Facing page, top right: Golden Light Bowl, a paper clay vessel that is perfect for holding a votive and adding light and interest to any table.

BY MEREDITH COE

Facing, top Left: The Golden Light Bowl in a table setting. Florals by Southern Blooms

BY KATIE STOOPS

Facing, bottom: Wedding at Pippin Hill in Charlottesville. Lighting by Rebekah Graves. Flowers

by Southern Blooms.

BY SARAH CRAMER SHIELDS

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PIEDMONT HOMES

Artist Statement

A

s living bodies of energy, we are drawn to light. From the moment we emerge from the darkness of the womb, we continue to be transformed spiritually, emotionally, and physically as we move through darkness and into light. There is a calming quality to the warm spectrum, soft and golden, that these light sculptures invoke, creating an environment that pulls you in and wants to hold you there.

Rebekah Graves grew up on a farm in southern Virginia and remembers being drawn to mud puddles and the soft, dappled light in the woods that surrounded her home. She went on to study environmental science and architecture at the University of Virginia, and continues to be influenced by nature, math, meditative rhythm, and a wabi-sabi approach to design. She developed an original process that involves sculpting in porcelain, firing the vessel, and then casting the form with Japanese or Nepalese handmade papers. The result is a light that is soft and muted, pure and organic in its shapes. People are drawn to these sculptures’ radiance, natural form, and the ethereal way they sway in a breeze.

Her light sculptures transform a space into an illuminated atmosphere, emitting a tranquil ambiance that resonates intimately the natural beauty that surrounds.

www.rglightscapes.com | instagram: @rglightscapes PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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Country Living in Rappahannock

MILLWOOD c: 1836. A farm-estate of 154 acres near Sperryville, VA. Extraordinary home of great character, pool house, garages, fantastic setting with Blue Ridge views and lake with log shelter. 90 acres in �ields, 60 acres in mature oak forest. $1,950,000

365 ACRES facing the Blue Ridge with a mile of frontage on the Hazel River. Half open and half forest. Large steel barn with two half baths plus a nice apartment. $1,650,000

WASHINGTON, VA: Double lot, mountain views, large library, dining, family kitchen, living room opens to patio. Three suites, two �ireplaces, desirable features. $699,900

291 Gay St. / PO Box 298 Washington, VA

10 ACRE FARM near Sperryville with small barns and sheds, �ields, fencing, mature trees, strong creek and a beautiful view. Close to Shenandoah Park trail. $399,900

Kaye Kohler Jan Makela Rick Kohler

540-675-1373 KohlerRealtors.com JanMakela.com

PIEDMONT HOMES

Building

in a Stronghold of Open Space

Thoughtful construction from Rappahannock homebuilder Joe Keyser

COURTESY OF JOE KEYSER (BOTTOM) COURTESY OF RUTHIE WINDSOR-MANN (TOP)

BY ANDREW HALEY

P

eople dream of living in the country, a place of peace, quiet, and clean air. Virginia’s Piedmont has been playing host to these dreamers for decades. In a time of mass urban migration, there is a stalwart minority swimming against the tide. In 1790, only one in twenty Americans lived in a city, one out of two by 1920, two out of three in the 1960s, and four in five in the 2000s.

Rappahannock County’s Joe Keyser turns house-in-the-country dreams into reality. “I’ve been building all my life. Even as a kid I loved structure, forts, and tree houses. My grandparents lived in Rappahannock, and growing up I spent a lot of time with them in the county.” Joe earned a degree in mechanical engineering at Colorado State University in 1987 and came back to Virginia in the early ’90s. “I worked

for Charles E. Smith on the Skyline Seven and Worldgate projects, but my heart was in the Piedmont. When the recession hit in 1991, I took the opportunity move back to the Piedmont and start my Joseph Keyser Construction, Inc.” People build houses in the Piedmont for lots of different reasons. It’s not only about retirement anymore. “Clients used to reference their projects in terms of a ‘retirement home,’ but the emphasis has shifted strongly from retirement to lifestyle.” People are living longer and checking out of their first or second career earlier. “My clients are very often in transition—the construction process frequently coincides with other major life changes. Downsizing and second homes are driving forces; people are also building to create an epicenter for family.”

“In our mobile world,” Keyser continues, “people are working harder to make PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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PIEDMONT HOMES

Little Windbury Artist’s home and studio

One of the artist’s bird nest paintings figures beautifully over fireplace.

Little Windbury’s interior spaces were scaled to fit the artist’s life and create a cozy feel. Set in the middle of a perpetual font of inspiration, the artist studio (facing page, interior and exterior) was built before the house. Arbors frame the views and blur the lines between interior and exterior spaces, creating a much larger feel to the studio.

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family happen. Out in the country, free from distraction, Piedmont houses are a great context for the good times. Even teenagers look up from their phones when there is no cell service, and lots of places out here are signalfree. For me, building is always about how a space feels—it’s less about square footage, more about accommodating the things they want to do. I suspect there’s a small group who build to justify owning a tractor.

“As a place, the Piedmont is different: people are more considerate in their approach.

Everyone who builds here wants to protect the place. People come to Piedmont for the views and open spaces; everyone wants to bar the door on arrival,” Keyser says. “It’s a place people dream of, a stronghold of open space.

As a builder, I feel like a steward of the resource—it’s finite, and we’ve seen it change quite a bit. Most of the development in Rappahannock has so far been pretty thoughtful, but it’s not to hard to find places where it’s out of control.

“Building a house is a well-defined process.

Most people start with buying a piece of land.

This can take a long time; it’s not unusual to spend a couple of years looking for the justright spot. It’s not always easy. People can be unprepared for the volume of timely decisions required to complete a project—guiding clients through the decision cycles is one of my principal responsibilities on any project.”

After the land is secured, the next step is to find the right architect. “The best projects happen when the architect and builder have a good working relationship. I’ve had the great pleasure of working with Jay Monroe, of Monroe & Crocker, PC, in Flint Hill. He’s an incredible guy with a knack for combining his architectural vision and the client’s needs and ideas. He’s also a great landscape architect, and when you are building in the Piedmont, melding the home design with the terrain is vital to the success of a project.

“My projects typically take between 10 and 15 months to complete.” Bringing a builder

PIEDMONT HOMES

COURTESY OF RUTHIE WINDSOR-MANN (ALL)

Little Windbury is a project I worked on with Jay Monroe in 2014.

Ruthie Windsor-Mann, a noted Piedmont artist, needed a new studio. We took a phased approach, building the studio first and then following up with a house five years later.

Ruthie’s land was really open; it allowed Jay to site the buildings exactly where he wanted them—that’s rarely the case. Most projects require some specific, focused work to integrate the buildings with the desired sightlines and views.

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PIEDMONT HOMES

Rock Run Farm A gardener’s oasis Rock Run Farm, a project that began in 2010, is also a design by Jay Monroe. The home is nestled into the hillside (facing page, top) to maximize the spectacular views.

Jay brought me in early and we worked on site development. The house is knit into the landscape—we moved quite a bit of dirt and rock.” Around 4,000 sq. ft., the property has an additional guesthouse and garage house. The garage house features a rooftop garden (left); the rock walls are built from native rock taken from the site. The home is constructed of natural materials, stucco, and cedar siding to create the feeling of a home that’s ‘been there’ for a long time.”

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PIEDMONT HOMES

COURTESY OF ROSA CROCKER (ALL)

“In our mobile world, people are working harder to make family happen.

Out in the country, free from distraction, Piedmont houses are a great context for the good times. Even teenagers look up from their phones when there is no cell service.” — Joe Keyser in early in the design process can spare a great deal of frustration later on.

“Getting the scale right is a real key to success. Rightsizing the house, siting it correctly to the view, and then integrating it with the landscape are all central themes in a successful project. It’s best to work with an architect who will meet you on site; the architect and builder need to walk the ground with the client, more than once, and preferably together, to get it right.

“Rightsizing and function, sightlines, and viewshed are the points I come back to on any project. Spend time on the land before you build and work with people who can spend time with you on the site, I guess is my best advice. There are some pretty amazing places in the Piedmont and lots of great opportunities await!”

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CONSERVATION

“This is firefly heaven.

I’ve never seen anything like it.”

—Dr. Kyle J. Haynes

The State Arboretum Flickering fireflies, burrowing bees, savoring silence

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FLICKR.COM/WPLYNN

BY GLENDA C. BOOTH

CONSERVATION

I

n mid-June, the night sky is electrified with millions of twinkling fireflies flashing their bioluminescent signals across the black firmament at the State Arboretum of Virginia and Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce.

“It’s a great lightshow. The effect can be quite stunning,” comments Ariel Firebaugh, who is writing her Ph.D. dissertation on two firefly species.

She often counts more than 100 firefly flashes per minute in a 20-by-20-meter area at Blandy, a plot about the size of a small backyard.

“This is firefly heaven. I’ve never seen anything like it,” adds Dr. Kyle J. Haynes, an insect population ecologist based there. The millions of fireflies frenetically blinking are engaging in courtship, flashing their abdominal, light-emitting organs in search of the “firefly of their dreams.” According to the Boston Museum of Science’s website, “Male fireflies flash while patrolling an area. If a female is impressed, she answers him by flashing from a perch, either on the ground or at some spot above ground, like a shrub.” Firebaugh and Haynes are studying the Photinus pyralis and Photuris versicolor species, specifically the effects of nighttime light pollution on these fireflies’ abundance and mating success.

Firefly research is just one example of what’s going on at Blandy Farm and the state’s 172-acre arboretum. An arboretum is, in short, an outdoor museum of trees, a botanical collection where experts grow different tree species for research, education, and other purposes. Virginia’s arboretum got its start in 1926 when Graham F. Blandy, a New York stockbroker and railroad tycoon, bequeathed 712 acres of his 900-acre estate to the University of Virginia for research. The university hired biologist-geneticist Orland E. White, the farm’s director from 1927 to 1955. A man curious about which plants and trees could grow where, he started planting trees at the fledgling arboretum.

White’s arboriculture has grown to more than 8,000 specimens today. In 1986, the Virginia legislature designated the complex the State Arboretum of Virginia Blandy Experimental Farm.

Here the land gently undulates as vultures soar and hawks glide on thermals above the rocky karst geology of the northern Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley. At the arboretum, trees are nature’s “centerpiece,” but the arboretum and farm are much more than trees. It’s all about biodiversity, ecology, science, education, and exploring nature’s mysteries and resilience.

Fireflies

COURTESY OF VIRGINIA STATE ARBORETUM

Above: Fireflies are cute and elegant by day but downright dazzling at dusk.

Far left: A volunteer scientist catches of fireflies in front of the historic Quarters building at Blandy Experimental Farm.

Left: Firefly researcher Ariel Firebaugh prepares for a night of research at the UVA research station Blandy Experimental Farm.

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CONSERVATION

Pollinator garden Clockwise: Butterflies such as the Cabbage White Butterfly on this Aster are important pollinators at the arboretum.

A pollen-covered bumble bee searches for nectar on Joe Pye Weed.

Bluebells bloom in the pollination garden.

Tremendous Trees Officials have mapped 5,491 individual trees. This includes 546 species of trees and shrubs and 872 cultivars and varieties.

The arboretum is home to 1,300 conifer specimens; one-third of the world’s pine species; 300 ginkgo trees (Gingko biloba), one of the largest collections of ginkgos outside the tree’s native China; the largest variety of boxwood cultivars in North America, 162 types; and a 36-tree cedar of Lebanon allee. A one-half-mile old farm road, today called Dogwood Lane, is lined with 200 dogwoods, many of which are Cornus florida, Virginia’s state tree and flower.

There are 15 state champion trees identified by the Virginia Big Tree project, like the Arizona cypress, a Himalayan white pine, a hardy rubber tree, and a Miyabe maple. The earliest known tree planted dates to 1927, a Norway maple planted by White himself.

This collection of trees is the only mature arboretum on limestone soils on the East Coast.

Beyond Trees But there’s more to Blandy than its trees. There’s a native plant trail, herb garden, perennials, and a wetland pond fed by Rattlesnake Spring that is home to wood frogs, spring peepers, American toads, dragonflies, and occasionally spotted salamanders in the spring. The 34-acre meadow of native grasses and wildflowers attracts northern bobwhites, quail, and rabbits. The American Boxwood Society’s Memorial Garden, with almost 60 boxwood specimens, is surrounded by towering white cedars, junipers, and arborvitae.

People have recorded at least 220 bird species. Shenandoah Audubon monitors 100 bluebird boxes. Birdwatchers have raved about a long-eared owl in recent years, which are “among the 46 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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most hard-to-see birds in North America,” according to David Carr, Blandy’s director. Virginia has averaged one report per year of this elusive bird named for its long, upright ear tufts that resemble horns.

The pollinator garden, largely consisting of native plants, is organized by pollinator instead of seasonal plants, so there’s a garden for plants pollinated by flies, moths, hummingbirds, butterflies, and the wind. Scientists have identified 154 bee species, and the Smithsonian Institution’s D. R. Smith has found upwards of 200 species of sawflies.

The farm and arboretum are outdoor classrooms for students of all ages. Around 7,800 pre-K to twelfth grade students visit each year along with 300 to 600 teachers. Budding scientists can explore topics like seed germination, plant growth, bird adaptations, insect life cycles, and soil science.

The entire Blandy Experimental Farm is an official historic district listed on the National and Virginia Registers of Historic Places. Though buildings such as “the Quarters”—a 10-room, white-washed brick building built between 1825 and 1830 that possibly served as a slave quarters—have been refitted to accommodate offices and student housing, the district retains its authentic historical appearance.

Answering Scientific Questions University of Virginia students have been conducting research on the farm since the late 1920s. The National Science Foundation supports an 11-week, summer undergraduate program in which students research ecology and environmental sciences.

Today, scientists and students are probing topics like predators of eastern painted turtle nests; gypsy moth outbreaks; plants’ chemical defense systems; the effects of human-caused light pol-

COURTESY OF VIRGINIA STATE ARBORETUM

An “old-fashioned” flower, Lupine can be found covered in bees and butterflies in the polinator garden.

CONSERVATION

Trees

“Trees have been referred to as the furniture of the landscape and for their survival all members of society must take their share of responsibility.”

COURTESY OF VIRGINIA STATE ARBORETUM

—Trees of the World, by Bayard Hora

Top: Dogwood Lane is an old farm road, now planted with Virginia’s state tree (and state flower), the flowering dogwood.

Left: More than 300 ginkgo trees (Ginkgo biloba) burst into a blaze of color each fall at the State Arboretum of Virginia, part of Blandy Experimental Farm.

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CONSERVATION

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For the Public The arboretum is open 365 days a year, dawn to dusk, at no charge.

For youngsters: There are outdoor educational programs, nature camps, tree planting sessions, and more.

For adults: Blandy offers a 2.6mile driving tour, four walking trails, a Science Café, a Mothers’ Day garden fair, a sketch group, book club, photo club, tree care workshop, and many lectures on topics like vernal pools and macro photography.

For everyone: On the popular full-moon walks, people listen for screech owls, barred owls, foxes, and tree frogs. And many visitors just savor the soothing silence of the day or the night. blandy.virginia.edu

BLANDY.VIRGINIA.EDU/ARBORETUM

lution on plant growth and the nutritional quality of plants eaten by herbivores; pharmaceuticals’ impact on insects; and the consequences of pesticides in colonies of alfalfa leafcutter bees.

T’ai Roulston, a curator, studies plant-pollinator interactions. One intriguing project examines a parasitic conopid fly that lays eggs on a bee’s larvae. The fly then grows inside the bee and forces the bee to burrow into the ground, literally digging its own grave. An adult fly then emerges from its bee host and goes on to implant more bees with eggs. Roulston seeks to understand the importance of parasitism to bees’ abundance, what controls the population of bumblebees, and how to conserve native bees.

In two test plots at Blandy, the American Chestnut Foundation is crossbreeding American chestnut trees with Chinese chestnut trees, which are naturally resistant to the blight, in hopes of ultimately having genes that provide resistance to chestnut blight fungus. Before 1904, the American chestnut, with trunks up to 10 feet in diameter, was the predominant tree species in eastern U.S. forests, but a devastating fungus made the tree effectively extinct from Maine to Georgia.

At Blandy, visitors, students, and scientists are exploring many of nature’s mysteries, including those amorous little fireflies that twinkle feverishly in the summer night sky.

VIRGINIA’S NORTHERN PIEDMONT IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PLACE. Located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Piedmont is beloved for its scenic beauty, unparalleled in its significance to America’s history, and valuable for its productive family farms, PEC’s primary area includes nine counties in the Virginia Piedmont.

Our work often benefits communities outside of this region as we join in productive partnerships, provide a model of grassroots engagement, and improve policies at the local, state, and national level.

Photo by Bruce Jones

Piedmont Environmental Council

HERITAGE

Riding Through

History

Cavalry reenactors illuminate history and the bond between horse and rider STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY NANCY JENNIS OLDS

A cavalry engagement demonstration at a reenactment of the Battle of Second Manassas in August 2012. The 1st Maryland Cavalry represented the Confederate forces, and the Independent Loudoun County Rangers and the 2nd U.S. Cavalry represented the Union.

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H

ooves thundered as riders drew their sabers above their heads on an early morning. Riders galloped toward the enemy amid the echo of battle cries. They wore gray or blue woolen uniforms and kepis, pistols and carbines hung at their sides. The cavalrymen engaged their foes, their horses making quick turns. Ultimately, the warriors separated, then trotted away to a rallying point as the audience applauded the reenactor’s artful parry.

The audience was invited to meet the troopers and officers and pet the horses, a thrilling interaction for the kids. All of this happened overlooking a former battlefield in Middletown, Virginia, during the annual mid-October reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek.

The Piedmont region is known for its love of all things equestrian: foxhunting, barrel racing, dressage, trail riding, and polo.

It is this group, dedicated to emulating American Civil War cavalry, that cherishes another form of horsemanship coupled with an historical legacy. Working with horses representing Civil War cavalry involves an investment of finances, attention to detail, time, and an adherence to a tradition beyond most of us. However, members of two very active local cavalry groups agree that this living history is a personally rewarding experience and a valuable lesson in teamwork between horse and rider.

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HERITAGE Company H, 4th Virginia Cavalry, Black Horse Troop Bill Scott is the commander of the unit that portrays the Company H, 4th Virginia Cavalry, Black Horse Troop, which keeps a busy annual schedule of events. The Black Horse Cavalry has participated in reenactments throughout Virginia and has been part of the Civil War’s sesquicentennial events from South Carolina to New York. Since the troupe began scheduling programs in 1999, they’ve participated in a litany of noteworthy events, such as the Manassas Civil War Weekend, the Warrenton-Fauquier County Heritage Day Parade, and the surrender at Appomattox Court House to commemorate and conclude the Civil War’s sesquicentennial.

The Black Horse Cavalry has worked with another Civil War reenactment unit, the 1st Maryland Cavalry, Company E, and “The Winder Cavalry.” Pvt. Ruth Shipley, the organization’s president, and her husband, Capt. Garrett Shipley, have participated in reenactments for about nine years. Ruth is the organization’s president and Garrett is a captain. More recently, Ruth’s father-in-law has joined the ranks, as has her father, Richard Merkel, a recent retiree and new initiate in the dismount section of the reenactment troupe.

These units are primarily portraying the Confederate cavalry, though sometimes reenactors must “galvanize,” that is, switch allegiances to level the playing field by ensuring a roughly equal distribution of Union and Confederate “soldiers.” They are careful to emphasize the historical component of the Civil War and shun extreme views and politics—both historical and contemporary.

A confrontation during a skirmish for the spectators at Historic Sully Plantation, August 2010.

The Independent Loudoun County Rangers Dennis Harlow, a Culpeper resident, was the founder of the Independent Loudoun County Rangers (ILCR), a Civil War reenactment cavalry unit which represented an organization whose original corps operated around Northern Virginia. He served as its captain for 15 years. Before he considered forming the ILCR, Harlow researched the story behind the unit.

The founders were primarily Quakers and German-American farmers. They were the only Virginia cavalry that fought for the Union, a perilous choice. Any native pro-Union cavalry unit would have been fighting on their own, without support from Washington, D.C. This required astounding courage both from soldiers and their families, who were often castigated by Confederate forces for their pro-Union allegiance.

Harlow says the ILCR reenactment organization spent 13 years in Front Royal participating in Civil War living history events. They traveled to Trevilian Station in Louisa County, covered the Battle of Cedar Creek for countless years, and were the first of several Civil War reenactment units to appear at Luray Caverns and the first Battle of Brandy Station. They were one of three cavalry units invited to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, representing federal cavalry for the first time in 120 years. The ILCR also appeared on the History Channel in a reenactment of Sherman’s March. The reenactment group treasures its visits to Waterford for the annual Waterford Homes 52 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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HERITAGE Tour & Crafts Exhibit as the original unit began its odyssey in this pristinely preserved historic town.

Training Horses for Cavalry Reenactments The cavalry horse changed warfare more than any other animal on the planet,” Harlow observes. It’s difficult to believe that an animal normally wary of danger would be able to endure the thick of battle with all the surrounding noise and chaos. In reenactments, there is always a lot of commotion on the battlefield, with cannons booming, muskets firing, and pistols blasting. Safety is a priority at these events—though weapons may contain gunpowder, they are not loaded with ammunition. Rarely do horses or riders lose control during the reenactment. The rigorous training provided by these organizations ensures that all participants, riders and horses, perform smoothly and safely.

There are several proven techniques that keep these horses calm amid the clamor.

Ruth Shipley terms it “gun breaking.”

Initially, members fire .22 caliber blanks about 30 feet away while the horses are feeding, once in the morning and again in the evening. Some horses might walk away, but their motivation to chow down overwhelms any wariness. Instinctively, horses are herd animals and may survey the reaction of other horses before deciding how to react. A horse that becomes “gun tolerant” will adjust to the noise of a weapon, but still be skittish. A horse that reaches the level of “gun broke,” Shipley says, will consistently remain calm when weapons are fired, setting an example for the less experienced members of the herd.

Part of the 1st Maryland Cavalry’s training is a competition using “Sgt. Lettuce Head,” a head of lettuce stuck on a pole lined with brass rings and balloons, which is “attacked” on horseback with sabers, pistols, and carbines. This allows the horses to become more adjusted to noise and delights spectators at events. The Black Horse Cavalry has used similar techniques, which they call “Running at the Heads,” to demonstrate the skills of horse and rider.

Although the roaring volley from a cannon seems a more frightening sound, it’s the sharp, high-pitched crack of a pistol

Derek Lanham of Co. H, 4th Virginia Cavalry, Black Horse Troop, riding “Juv,” short for “Juvenile Delinquent,” during the shooting demonstration where balloons are shot while riding at a gallop.

that instantly grabs a horse’s attention, Bill Scott notes. Newly introduced riders learn that any sign of stress coming from the rider can affect the horse’s reaction to the splitting crack of a pistol’s blast. Scott will mount the the most experienced horse and fire a pistol or a cap pistol several times while remaining relaxed in the saddle. The rider communicates restraint, a forbearance that thwarts the steed’s flighty reflex to the loud stimulus. An untested rider firing a gun might tighten their knees or pull on the reins, causing the horse to become uneasy. This physical reaction disturbs the horse, increasing its anxiety and prompting a flight response. Scott always makes sure that the newest equine member and rider line up in formation flanked by two of the most seasoned horses and troopers. The new horse, sensing no signs of anxiety from its companions, will remain calm.

Scott mentions the 150th anniversary celebrations in the Manassas Civil War Days as being one of the most intense trials for his riders and horses. The Black Horse Cavalry agreed to a night ride in the reenactment camp while carrying torches and riding close to the artillery as they

prepared to fire. Meanwhile, reenactors set fire to a railcar in a pyrotechnic display that added further confusion to the night.

As the Black Horse Cavalry approached the flaming railcar, the artillery loosed an unscheduled barrage. Moreover, a crowd of curious spectators nearly surrounded the horsemen and their steeds. Despite the mayhem, horses and riders remained steadfast, stoic, and unperturbed, in keeping with their excellent training.

Types of Horses These cavalry units are family-friendly, as Ruth Shipley will attest; her three-year-old son will always have special memories of his parents and grandparents surrounding him outdoors at various locations where they set up camp. Naturally, horses form an essential part of activities with these families and the horses are treated as family. A diverse family, that is. Though not a requirement, the Black Horse Cavalry is composed of primarily black or dark horses. Among the forty-plus members’ horses there are an almost unimaginable variety of breeds, comprising purebreds, crosses, and “Heinz 57s,” according to Scott. “It is the individ-

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HERITAGE

ual horse, it isn’t so much the breed,” explains Harlow. “Trooper and horse work as a team” The 1st Maryland Cavalry’s horses of choice are the Tennessee Walking Horse, about 10 of 19 in total, favored because of their steady, comfortable gait and calm composure; both traits that would have been much appreciated by the Civil War soldier, although the breed had not been developed as such at the time. Garrett Shipley tried to familiarize a horse from a more recent breed of Tennessee Walkers to become “gun tolerant,” and the horse was bucking all over the place. “Man, your husband can ride!” said one awed witness as Garrett managed to hang on without hitting the ground. One member brings in his Hanoverian, a horse breed favored by European knights clad in heavy armor. “You can train any horse,” observes Ruth Shipley. “It is a matter of how you train them. You’ve got to be able to trust your horse.”

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Top: Confederate and Union cavalry take to their sabers at the 150th anniversary of the Battle of First Manassas in July 2011.

Second row, left: Carson Smith, 10, with brother Jordan Smith, 8, pet some of the Black Horse Cavalry’s horses after a battle reenactment at Historic Sully Plantation last August.

Second row, center: Ruth Shipley on “Gunsmoke” with Garrett Shipley on “Little Joe,” both with the 1st Maryland Cavalry, Co. E at a reenactment of the Battle of Second Manassas in August 2012.

Second row, right: Members of Company H, 4th Virginia Cavalry, Black Horse Troop escort their captive Yankee officer as Genevieve Kirk keeps her son James, 3, safely on the side at Historic Blenheim, Fairfax, April 2016.

Costs of cavalry Reenactments A new inductee to any of these cavalry groups may incur significant costs while acquiring a suitable saddle, tack, weapons, uniform, boots, canteen, and blankets. The Black Horse Cavalry provides temporary loans for some of the gear and networks with preferred vendors who offer member discounts. For example, mentions Scott, the fit of cavalry boots is important and must be just right. “We encourage new members to try the boots on before purchasing them rather than ordering by size. We caution new members to work with an experienced member and not purchase items on their own. Some vendors will just sell to less knowledgeable purchasers something inauthentic just to make a sale.”

Ruth Shipley agrees that the first-timers might be discouraged by the cost—approximately $1,200—to equip a cavalry reenactor. The 1st Maryland Cavalry also provides loaner gear such as used saddles, sabers, and

HERITAGE guns so that new members aren’t left with a feeling of buyer’s remorse. Moreover, she acknowledges, no one should make such a substantial investment into a nonprofit, tax-deductible hobby such as a Civil War reenactment cavalry until they’re committed for the long haul. It took about six years for Shipley and her family to amass all of their accoutrements.

Scott points out that he recommends only one pistol per rider. During combat, Civil War-era cavalry rarely had the opportunity to reload. They would resort to their sabers at close quarters or use their carbines if they were at a distance from the enemy.

The rangers chose Remington pistols, three per rider, and Smith carbines, said Harlow.

Care of Cavalry Horses Early on, the Confederate cavalry arguably held the advantage in caring for their horses’ welfare since most Southern cavalrymen, many of whom had grown up in the saddle, brought their own horses—which were often well-bred and well-trained— from home. The Union cavalry, in comparison, might well have been initially negligent or ignorant in caring for their horses, which were supplied by the U.S. Army.

Many Union horses were underfed, rarely groomed, and miserably contained in unkempt corrals in Washington City, as our nation’s capital was then known. Sadly, a large number of these horses succumbed to malnutrition, neglect, or hoof rot. As the Union cavalry improved, better methods were employed to provide care for horse and rider alike. Horse depots were organized to exchange ill and injured mounts for fresh ones.

Due to the destitution and decimation faced by the Confederacy as the war progressed, the Confederate cavalry never had the luxury of organizing a similar system.

Horses and troops suffered from acute shortages of feed and food. With the Confederacy unable to provide fresh horses to its soldiers, “the best place to get your next horse was from your enemy,” says Harlow.

Reenactment horses, of course, are much better cared for than their historical predecessors.

Each Civil War cavalry organization maintains standards to provide for the horses’ health and safety. Regular vaccinations and excellent healthcare are required for par-

ticipation. The 1st Maryland Cavalry, when out in the field, has some of their riders carry small medical bags for first aid treatment of both horse and rider. In the evening rides involving carrying torches on horseback, some riders stash a fire extinguisher in their saddlebags. Heat related illnesses could strike the rider and the horse, although Harlow claimed that horses are “tough buggers” at reenactment events.

“The War Horse”

In memory of the one and one-half million horses and mules of the Union and Confederate armies who were killed, were wounded, or died from disease in the Civil War. National Sporting Library and Museum, Middleburg

Experience of Cavalry Horses Combat was not just hell for the soldiers during the Civil War; it’s estimated that 1.5 million horses and mules were victims of warfare, disease, and starvation. Original Civil War cavalry had to contend with long rides and few breaks when on the march. Some Civil War cavalry horses never had their saddles taken off for six months at a time.They transported officers, participated in cavalry battles and raids, carried the wounded and deceased back to field hospitals, and pulled artillery and supply wagons on both sides of the conflict. They endured hunger, thirst, minié balls, and cannon fire. They sustained multiple wounds and relentlessly continued until they could go no further. The experiences of reenactors and their horses cannot be compared to their historical counterparts.

While similar cavalry training methods are used, and in themselves are historically significant (and useful in many other modern pursuits, such as large-scale livestock operations), neither reenactors or horses will ever experience the absolute horror of the Civil War: explosions, fire, injury, death, dismemberment, starvation, thirst, disease, and an omnipresent fear. Horses are terrified of fire, blood, and death, and can sense them from a great distance. They are also extremely sensitive to their rider’s emotions; reenactment horses would never have to experience the abject terror that was transmitted from rider to horse during those deadly battles.

Civil War reenactment cavalry events recall a period when horses and mules were the backbone of the military. The special bonds formed between the horse and rider during that conflict are echoed when Confederate and Union reenactment cavalry take to the field in remembrance of the enormous sacrifices that were dutifully made by cavalrymen and their horses amid the tremendous turmoil on American soil.

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MUSIC

Hometown Guitars

Charlottesville luthiers at Rockbridge Guitars handcraft world-class instruments

By Eric Wallace, photography by JJ Huckin

S

ince opening their doors in 2002, the luthiers at Charlottesville’s Rockbridge Guitars have accumulated an unbelievably star-studded list of clients including Dave Matthews, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Jason Mraz, Jon Russell (the Head and the Heart), Mary Chapin Carpenter, Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses), Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Ray LaMontagne, Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), Waddy Wachtel (session guitarist for Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, and more), and Warren Haynes— and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Handcrafting instruments in their shop off the Downtown Mall, the company’s four owners now build about 60 acoustic guitars a year for some of the world’s most talented players. But not so long ago, the company was little more than a seemingly absurd dream harbored by cofounder, Brian Calhoun.

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“When I was in high school, a teacher of mine brought in a musical instrument he’d built,” explained Calhoun. “Fascinated, I wound up doing an independent study that involved building a mandolin.” Diving headfirst into the project, he got hooked.

“I loved it,” he said. “So much so that, after graduating, I did a couple of apprenticeships building mandolins, then violins.”

Only, as a passionate guitarist more into rock and roll than bluegrass or classical, by 2000 the 20-year-old understood he was barking up the wrong instrumental tree.

“I decided I needed to start building guitars,” he said. “And the moment I gave up the other stuff and headed down that path, something just clicked—I knew this was going to work; I was going to make my living building acoustic guitars.”

Calhoun quickly translated his inspiration and ambition into entrepreneurial savvy by enlisting the help of Randall Ray, a childhood friend, experienced guitar maker, and

Facing page: Randall Ray reaming out for bridge pins.

Left: Jake Hopping scraping binding.

Below center: Randall Ray, Brian Calhoun, Adam McNeil, Jake Hopping in their Charlottesville shop.

Bottom: Jake Hopping joining a top.

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MUSIC soon-to-be co-founder of Rockbridge Guitars.

“I wanted to bring someone onboard who was more established to help me learn and get on my feet,” Calhoun said. “Randall did great work and we got along well. He was the perfect guy.”

“When Brian approached me, I was making maybe three, four guitars a year,” said Ray. “I knew he did excellent inlay work, so I got him to do an inlay on a guitar I was building for somebody and the whole thing just sort of grew organically from there.” What Ray means by “grew organically” is that, in two years, Calhoun had convinced him to go into business fulltime. “Brian kept nagging me about turning the ‘hobby’ into a profession,” he said. “Looking back, it seems completely crazy—I guess he was just too young and stupid to know you’re not supposed to just up and easily be able to do this for a living!”

In two years’ time, the duo had experimented and developed an entire lineup of prototypes and were committed to going pro. Forming Rockbridge Guitars, they relocated and set up shop in the downtown Charlottesville studio they still call home today. But doing so came with a caveat, an oath to pursue the road less traveled; that is, to do their own thing. “A lot of builders—and it’s especially true for hobbyists—set out to try to make their guitars sound like an old Martin, Gibson, or whatever,” said Calhoun. “But what Ray and I wanted to do was different. We were determined to build guitars that were unique and absolutely our own or die trying.”

What exactly did that process entail? When fielding that question the guitar makers tend to respond in one of two ways. Approach number one: highly technical geek-speak peppered with lexical references that make sense to few aside from fellow luthiers. The second approach is abstract, philosophical, rife with mystery, and kind of like reading an ancient alchemical treatise.

“The process of chasing a sound is notoriously hard to describe,” said Calhoun, carefully weighing and choosing his words. “To put it as simply as I can, we wanted to combine aspects of our favorite guitars, as well as our favorite guitar sounds from our favorite albums, and Top left: Keith Urban playing a Rockbridge.

Bottom left: Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora, trying out a Rockbridge.

Facing page: Richie Sambora’s custom doubleneck Rockbridge.

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MUSIC

then somehow add some ideas of our own. It was a timeconsuming process—an obsession really. But bit by bit we got there.”

Whatever the magical formula was, it worked. The guitars were golden; like a Taylor or a Martin, a Rockbridge had its own sound. “This is one of the best sounding new guitars I’ve ever played,” wrote the editor of Flatpicking Magazine, Dan Miller, in an early, gushing, laudatory review. And he wasn’t the only one that felt that way. Indeed, the sound was making big waves (no pun intended). Within a year, despite having not so much as a penny invested in advertising, the company booked over a year’s worth of orders. “I’d carry a guitar around bluegrass festivals and ask the players if they’d like to pick a tune or two,” said Calhoun, describing his efforts to get the word out. “At first, they’d kind of groan, but then they’d play the guitar and be blown away. I got a lot of orders that way.”

In fact, flatpicking bluegrass legend Larry Keel purchased his Rockbridge in just this manner. “I think Larry bought the fourth or fifth Rockbridge we made,” said Calhoun, “which gave us a huge, huge boost.”

Another such bolstering came when Dave Stewart of Eurythmics introduced the company to the rock world.

“Pretty soon after that happened, Dave Matthews ended up buying one,” said Ray. “Then Jason Mraz saw him playing it and got one. Then Richie Sambora saw him on The Tonight Show playing his and got one, too. … The whole thing just snowballed. It was this amazing domino effect.”

And for good reason. According to those who play them, a Rockbridge is like no other instrument available. “When I was looking for a second guitar to compliment my 1942 Gibson J-45 banner-head, I’d heard that Brian and Randall were building these amazing modern-vintage guitars and decided to give them a try,” said Bob Miner, who is a Nashville session musician and guitarist for Tim McGraw.

“When the guitar arrived, at first I was blown away by the looks, but then I played it and realized it was the best new guitar I’d ever played. Period.” In fact, Miner was so impressed by the guitar’s tone, having had it delivered straight to the studio, he played it on two Tim McGraw tracks that very day. “Of the few great vintage guitars I own and love, my Rockbridge is every bit as good as my ‘old girls,’ ” he said. “It’s a work of art and I’m definitely proud to play it. I can only imagine what it’ll sound like in the years to come.”

In that last line, Miner broaches a subject Calhoun and Ray take very seriously. While the two have made a name for themselves selling instruments to stars, when asked about the acclaim, the founders shrugged. While they enjoy the notoriety, above all else, they’re hooked on the idea of building handmade heirlooms that will be handed down from generation to generation. “Every guitar we make is a custom work of art,” said Calhoun. “We made a guitar for a guy that had us put his father’s ashes inside the neck. He’ll wind up passing that guitar down to his kids, and hopefully they’ll pass it down to theirs, and so on. So, for me, that means more than anything. That’s what really matters the most.”

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DESSERTS

Snapshots from the end of the day

Mosby Heritage Area Association Executive Director Richard T. Gillespie’s retirement party, Catoctin Brewery, March 20, 2017

Tracy and Rich Gillespie

Rich with MHAA Director of Education Kevin Pawlak

BY DOUG LEES

Jennifer Moore, new Executive Director of the MHAA

Wendy Bebie, Chairman, MHAA board

Eleanor and Dulany Morison

Rich with Childs Burden, President of MHAA

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DESSERTS

Snapshots from the end of the day

The Hylton Performing Arts Center’s 7th Anniversary Gala April 1, 2017

Mary Postma, honoree; Rick Davis, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and Executive Director of Hylton Performing Arts Center

Guests enjoying the reception

Left: Two guests (left) with Barbara Ghadban, Co-Chair of the Gala Committee (right)

BY MELISA PASERO PHOTOGRAPHY

John Stirrup, HPAC Executive Board Chair; Dr. Beth Cabrera; Dr. Ángel Cabrera, President, George Mason University 62 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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Two guests (left), John Gregory (center), Carol Merchant Kirby and Peter Kirby (right), founders of the Hylton Performing Arts Center

LIFE IN THE PIEDMONT

How A Burn Pile Nearly Ate My Eyeglasses The curveballs of country life: the almost-tragedy of the coolest glasses you’ve ever seen

BY TONY VANDERWARKER

COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR

I

n the 24 years I’ve lived in the Piedmont, I’ve become as comfortable around country stuff like burn piles as I used to be around conference tables.

So one day I’m trimming limbs and making trips to the burn pile. I’m wearing my Swiss dentist glasses. Okay, I’m not Swiss and I’m not a dentist, but these are the coolest glasses you’ve ever seen. They’re sleek grey titanium frames with contrasting rims, and every time I wear them people remark how neat they are. I’ve got them tricked out with transition trifocal lenses and detachable sun shields in three different colors.

These glasses are the cat’s meow.

So I pull up alongside the burn pile and offload the branches. One, two, three, four.

“But wait,” I say to myself as I watch the last limb tumble onto the pile. All of a sudden I realize my glasses are gone. Where did they go? Did a limb whip them off my head and send them flying somewhere?

Of course I can’t see anything because I don’t have my glasses. Are they in the Gator? Under the tires? I’m groping around like mad, but no glasses.

Now, if you know burn piles, you know that the surrounding area is covered with burned sticks, agricultural detritus, mud, piles of dried grass—not a pretty sight.

But I can’t see anything anyway. So it’s hop in the Gator time and head back to the house to get some backup glasses and a second set of eyes.

As I head up the hill, I’m hoping that I’m not crushing my Swiss dentist glasses under the tires.

Tony sporting “the cat’s meow” of sunglasses.

“Where did you lose them?” Annie asks when we return to the scene of the crime.

“Sort of around here,” I say, sweeping the entire side of the burn pile.

“Can you be more specific?”

“I’m sorry, one minute they were on my head, the next, they weren’t.”

We’re both slipping and sliding around in the mud, tossing branches aside, two sets of eyes trained on the ground. But the problem is, the glasses are the same shade of grey as the sticks scattered around the burn pile. Plus, it's daytime, so the sun is still high in the sky, causing the transition lenses to darken and blend in with the mud they’re probably sitting in. No wonder the glasses are hiding from me.

Annie has good shoes on so we head back to the house to get some glasseshunting boots. I’m about to give up on my Swiss dentist jobs—talk about a

needle in a haystack. Because I’m cheap, I’m totaling up my loss (it’s substantial).

A normal person could buy a nice refrigerator for what I spent on my frames and sun shields. Not to mention what the lenses cost.

One more shot. We trudge back and forth through the mud, and I’m reflecting, “Just when you think you’ve got country life down cold, it suddenly throws you a curveball.” Lose your prize glasses in the burn pile and the next time I light it, I’ll be watching them going up in flames. It’s not nice to mess with Mother Nature.

We’re almost ready to give up. The sun is starting to set and it’s getting real blowy.

Climbing into the Gator, I stop and say, “Let’s give it one last try.”

We both head back across the field of junk and sticks. I know it’s futile but somehow I can’t give up. Turning and heading back to the Gator, I notice something white and translucent under a bunch of sticks.

Odd color for a burn pile. Reaching down, I grab what turns out to be the rubber nose pad of my glasses and extract them from a bunch of charred sticks. They are muddy and bent, but intact. Either I ran over them or we stepped on them. But they are salvageable.

I turn to Annie, holding up the glasses, and say, “Guess what I found?”

“You’ve got to be glad you took a last shot.”

“Yup,” I say, musing about how close I just came to having a burn pile send my ace glasses up to optical heaven.

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