January/February 2023 Suffolk Living

Suffolk, VA 23434 757.539.7695

Ralph L Howell, Jr , DDS I R Leroy Howell, Sr , DDS C Danielle Howell, DDS I Melissa L Kovacevic, DMD

Cover photo by John H. Sheally II

Usually found on mossy logs, tree bases and stumps, British Soldier lichen feature bright red caps.

EDITORIAL

Jen Jaqua Photographer

Rachel Austin Writer

James Robinson Writer

Stephen Faleski Writer

Phyllis Speidell Contributing Writer

John H. Sheally II Contributing Photographer news@suffolklivingmag.com

ADVERTISING

Lindsay Richardson Director of Advertising

Earl Jones Marketing Consultant

Dana Snow Marketing Consultant

Tricia Brown Marketing Consultant sales@suffolklivingmag.com

PRODUCTION

Troy Cooper Designer

ADMINISTRATION

Betty J. Ramsey Publisher

Hope Rose Production

Happy New Year!

With the onset of much cooler days, many of us find ourselves indoors seeking warmth and, if we are lucky, some relaxation time. One of the many benefits winters brings with it is time to catch up on some reading. Whether you are snuggled up by a warm fire, on a break at work, or simply taking a minute out of your day to read we have some great stories for you to pursue.

On the cover this month Phyllis Speidell and John H. Sheally II remind us of the resilient Riddick family and the impact they have had upon Suffolk. Riddick’s Folly is a museum that is open to the public and Phyllis notes, “a treasure trove of Suffolk history. Turn to Page 14 for more of this intriguing story.

Looking for something to do while waiting for the weather to warm up? You’ll want to turn to Page 8. Rachel Austin has pulled together a list of activities for everyone in the family to enjoy.

We have enjoyed watching community members this holiday season and have lots of pictures to share in our Suffolk Scenes section. Suffolk turned out in droves as the United States Capitol Christmas tree made a stop in Suffolk and school children painted downtown windows for some holiday cheer. For these and more turn to Page 21.

Of course, there are more stories within these pages and we hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together. As always, we are deeply appreciative of the many advertisers and readers, whose support makes Suffolk Living magazine possible.

Betty Ramsey, Publisher

what to do Send

To

JANUARY 12

A British Invasion at the Center: Downton Abbey – A New Era will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Join Suffolk Tourism as they present three British-themed blockbuster movies that enjoyed great success in cinemas.

JANUARY 12 TO FEBRUARY 11

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts will host its Shine Exhibit. SCCA offers a variety of art classes throughout the year. This exhibit highlights the work completed by students in these classes along with that of their instructors. The exhibit will

FEBRUARY 18

The Chris Michael Experience will take place at 7 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Chris Michael is a celebrity entertainer who has performed his unique mix of beatboxing, sleight-of-hand, mind-reading, and even dangerous stunts for thousands of thrilled audiences all over the world. His creative mind has worked behind the scenes of ‘America’s Got Talent’ along with three other national television shows. He is currently the performer of choice for the Washington Commanders football team, the U.S. Army, and even the FBI. The comedy magic show is fun for the whole family.

also feature artwork by some of the SCCA administrative staff.

JANUARY 28

Masters of Soul will perform at 8 p.m. at the Suffolk Cultural Arts Center. Masters of Soul is a celebration of the legendary songs and performers that defined Motown and Soul music. This show features stylishly costumed and choreographed performances of both male and female groups backed by the TFC Dance band. Tickets are $30, $38 and $45 for Reserved Seating.

JANUARY 28

The American Girl Program will host two sessions to talk about Marie-Grace, a young girl who moves to New Orleans in 1853 and learns how to make new friends, overcome her shyness and express her love of singing. The two sessions will take place at 10 and 11:30 a.m. at Riddick’s Folley Museum. Call to make a reservation.

FEBRUARY 9

A British Invasion at the Center: Rocketman will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Join Suffolk Tourism as they present three

what to do

British-themed blockbuster movies that enjoyed great success in cinemas.

FEBRUARY 28 TO MARCH 22

The Suffolk Sister Cities International Exhibit will show its 'Peace by Piece: Food Security in My Community’ at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Each year, Sister Cities International selects a theme for area school students to use as the basis for their creative talents, whether it be paintings, drawings, sculptures, poetry, short stories or longer essays. Students are challenged to submit works of art that emphasize various aspects of food security, including the impact of climate change on food production and food consumption.

MARCH 11

ICONS: A Tribute Show will take place at 8 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. ICONS is a tribute show packed with number-one hits of some of the greatest women from the 1960s all the

way to today. This show will keep the audience enthralled and dancing in their seats celebrating some of the most iconic women in music.

MARCH 11

The Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival 2023 will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn. This one-day festival will showcase over 40 best-selling mystery, thriller/suspense, horror, paranormal, historical, romance and women’s fiction authors. Highlights include author meet and greets, as well as book sales and signings and moderated author panels.

MARCH 16

A British Invasion at the Center: Bohemian Rhapsody will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Join Suffolk Tourism as they present three British-themed blockbuster movies that enjoyed great success in cinemas.

MARCH 25

The American Girl Program will host

two sessions to talk about Felicity, a daring and independent girl growing up in Williamsburg, during the American Revolution. The two sessions will take place at 10 and 11:30 a.m. at Riddick’s Folley Museum. Call to make a reservation.

'If you like country, this is the place' Village might have been named for brothers

Story by Stephen Faleski Submitted photos

Traveling toward Suffolk on Carrsville Highway through the southern tip of Isle of Wight County, motorists will pass several farm fields before coming to a wooden sign welcoming them to the unincorporated village for which the road is named.

The village itself, as one might expect, owes its name to someone named Carr — though there's some disagreement as to whether this was Nathan or his brother, Jesse. According to “Historical Notes on Isle of Wight County” by Helen Haverty King, Nathan was the village postmaster in 1836, around the same time the Portsmouth and Roanoke railroad passed through that part of the county. In 1965, however, 77-year-old Rosa Carson Carr wrote a short history of the village, in which she claimed Carrsville was named for Jesse, who had reportedly fathered 21 children.

The name “Carrsville” first appeared in the county's tax book for 1846, by which time “there were plenty of Carrs around, so the place was aptly named,” King concluded.

The job of postmaster later passed to several members of the Rawls family, according to King. Among them was Dr. Gavin Rawls, a physician. He served as postmaster from 1878-1879 and in 1886, was appointed the third superintendent of Isle of Wight County's public school system, a position he held for the next 36 years.

“I have an old desk with a date 1886 that was used by Mr. Duke in the old Carrsville railroad depot,” said Volpe Boykin, a lifelong resident of the village.

Boykin is 63 years old, but has only had access to indoor plumbing for 46 of those years. Growing up in the area during the 1960s and '70s, he can recall having to use an outhouse for the first 17 years of his life and sleeping beneath eight inches of blankets each winter — as his childhood home had no heat save for a coal-burning potbelly stove.

Some days, it would get so cold that ice would begin to form inside his goldfish bowl. To keep the fish from freezing, his grandmother would place

This photo of Volpe Boykin’s father and grandfather was taken just after the store opened.

the bowl on the stove each morning to thaw it out. One morning, he remembered, she had left the bowl on the stove while bringing his grandfather breakfast at his store, and then got distracted chatting with someone there — resulting in the untimely demise of Boykin's childhood pet.

During this time, small country stores like his grandfather's abounded in southern Isle of Wight County, with every unincorporated village — including Carrsville — having at least one. As there was only one grocery store, seven miles away in Franklin, these momand-pop shops were where most Carrsville residents, many of whom where farmers, purchased their day-to-day needs. Transactions were often made on credit, with residents settling their debts after pay day or in exchange for meat they raised or crops they grew.

“Stores were social gathering places,”

Boykin said. “Everybody in that little neighborhood, almost every night, they'd be gathered in the stores. Some of them would be playing music. Some of them would be playing checkers.”

Lori Boone Lawrence, another nearly lifelong resident of Carrsville, is nine years younger than Boykin but also recalls the presence of these country stores. Her great-grandfather, in fact, was one of the first AfricanAmericans to own a store in Carrsville. While the store has long since closed, the building itself still stands.

“There was a pool table and a juke box,” Lawrence said. “Some of the older members of the community would go there to shoot pool and listen to music.”

“I remember when the big deal was the drive-in movie theater in Carrsville,” Boykin said.

This, according to Isle of Wight County Museum Director Jennifer England, opened in 1951 and closed sometime during the 1970s. It was capable of hosting 200 cars.

But aside from that and a youth softball league for which Lawrence played, there wasn't a lot for the youth of Carrsville to do, she recalled.

“We still don't have a lot of outlets for things to do,” Lawrence said. “My son wants to relocate for that reason, not a lot of opportunities for young people. But if you like country, easy living, this is the place.”

Not every teen and 20-something wants to leave, though. In fact, Maddie Schimizzi and her fiance', a firefighter with the Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department, just bought a house in the area in July.

The VFD was born in 1957. According to a history written by Carrollton resident Albert

Volpe Boykin of Carrsville still has the counter from his grandfather’s country store. His grandfather bought the manual cash register used in 1932. CARRSVILLE continued from page 10

While most of Carrsville’s once numerous country stores have closed over the decades, Bradshaw’s Country Store - a convenience store and eatery - remains open for business.

Burckard for its 50th anniversary, charter members Walter Johnson, Archer Spivey, J.C. Rose and Elliot Johnson had driven to Alabama to pick up a Navy surplus 1941 International fire engine with four flat tires at a cost of $210 ($1,958.59 in 2020 dollars). The charter members then worked every Saturday at Spivey's shop on the truck until it was restored, repainted and equipped. George “Big Boy” Carr's shop became Carrsville's first firehouse, with the department relocating to

its current station in 1988.

Carrsville is also home to a school, Carrsville Elementary, which also factored into Schimizzi's decision to move there. Built in the 1970s, it was expanded in the 1990s and renovated again in 2018 to include a music room, coinciding with the debut of a program to give all students in grades K-5 20 minutes of violin instruction every day. The school's gymnasium, however, predates the school by several decades.

2022-2023

“My mother played basketball in there,” Boykin said.

Jackie Carr, who represents the Carrsville District on Isle of Wight's School Board, was principal of Carrsville Elementary for seven years, starting in the fall of 2005.

“I can remember my first trip in the school vault; I found framed pictures of past graduating classes and one of the classmates in one picture was my father-in-law, Charlie Eugene Carr,” she said.

CARRSVILLE continued from page 12

Remembering the Resilient Riddicks

A reproduction of Nathaniel Riddick’s office stands next to Riddicks Folly,

Driving in downtown Suffolk you may have noticed Riddick’s Folly, the tall, majestic brick home standing near the corner of Constance Road and North Main St. While the eye-catching structure is a familiar landmark, you may not be aware that it is also a house museum, open to the public and a treasure trove of Suffolk history.

A tour of Riddick’s Folly is an entertaining and enlightening glimpse into the storied past of the city and surrounding area. Constantly evolving, the museum features new and updated displays and events that make repeated visits equally intriguing.

Built in 1837, the four story, 8000 square foot house was home to the Mills Riddick family, descendants of the Col. Willis Riddick who was born and raised in Nansemond County. During the Revolutionary War, Col. Riddick served in the 4th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army that formed in February 1776, at the Suffolk Courthouse.

In 1779 Col. Riddick led a small militia unit, just 200 men armed only with their personal weapons, which attempted to hold off a British invasion. Outnumbered, outgunned and taken by surprise by the British, the small army made a forced retreat to the outskirts of Suffolk.

Many of Suffolk’s residents had fled by May 13 when British troops entering the town set fire to homes, shops and magazines of weapons and provisions. Hundreds of barrels of turpentine, tar, and rum, stored adjacent to Constance Wharf, ignited into a horrendous blaze that, fueled by gusty winds, almost consumed the town.

That the town – and the Riddick family –rebuilt after the war and survived other fires and other wars is a tribute to a shared tenacity and resilience. Years later, in 1837, another disaster –the Great Suffolk Fire – destroyed several of Mills Riddick’s buildings including his own modest home. That same resilient spirit may have led him to construct his 21 room Greek Revival mansion, complete with 16 fireplaces, on the same site.

Other residents, scoffing at the size and Greek Revival styling of the elegant home, dubbed it “Riddick’s Folly.” But the house, like the Riddick family, secured a respected place in the city’s history.

Story by Phyllis Speidell Photos by John H. Sheally II

Mills and his wife, Mary, had 14 children, of which 10 survived to fill the 21 rooms of Riddick’s Folly with life and laughter. Mills worked to increase the family lumber and agricultural businesses. He served as a cavalry captain during the War of 1812 and later represented Suffolk and Nansemond County in the Virginia House of Delegates.

When Mills Riddick died in 1844, just five years after completing his dream home, his son Nathaniel, 25 and a lawyer, bought out his siblings’ interest in the home and took over the house with his wife and five children, and took over the house. When war came again to Suffolk with the invasion of Union forces in 1862, the family fled for their lives to Petersburg. Their beautiful home became a headquarters for Union General John James Peck and his officers. Visitors to the home today can still read messages both Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners scrawled on the walls.

The Riddicks returned in 1865 to find their home ransacked and vandalized with many of their belongings and family heirlooms gone — taken as souvenirs of war. Riddick’s Folly Director/Curator Edward Lee King estimates that about 90% of the family’s belonging were gone.

Ever resilient, the Riddicks repaired the house that remained home to following generations of Riddicks for another century.

In 1967, the family sold the home to Nansemond County to use as office space. An ongoing restoration launched in the early 1980s returned the home to its original grace and charm and led to its new life as the only museum in Hampton Roads dedicated to the early 19th century.

The Riddick resiliency runs strong today in the staff and Friends of the Folly who work constantly to maintain the restored mansion and add to its collections with the goal of

sharing the history of the family and the city of Suffolk with the public. Friends of the Folly helps support the museum.

King and Administrative Assistant Joyice Jones, light up with excitement when they recount the retrieval of long missing Riddick heirlooms now returned to the Folly. King found an original portrait of Mary Taylor Riddick, Mill Riddick’s wife, in High Point, North Carolina. A music book belonging to Anna Mary Riddick, Nathaniel’s daughter, turned up in London and returned to Suffolk. A unique piece of artwork, a schoolgirl needlepoint seized by a Union soldier during the war, returned, decades later, to the museum thanks to the soldier’s descendants.

One of King’s latest coups is the custom silk taffeta wedding dress worn by Ann Willis, Mill’s Riddick’s mother, in 1771 when she married Josiah Riddick. The dress was a gift to the Valentine Museum in Richmond by her

See RIDDICKS page 18

Director/Curator Edward Lee King, left, and President of the Friends of the Folly Fred Taylor.

On display are vintage dresses worn by the Riddick women, including the 1771 wedding dress of Ann Willis.

descendants. King worked for 15 years to have the dress returned to Riddick’s Folly. He did succeed in getting a photo of the dress which he had Major Signs blow up into a life-size stand-up cutout of the dress so that visitors could photo themselves “modeling” the dress.

The only alternative had been to have a copy of the dress made – at an unaffordable price of $10,000. When King heard that the Valentine was downsizing, he again pushed for the dress. After two years of museum protocols, the dress finally came home to Riddick’s Folly in September and is now on permanent display there – next to the life-size cutout. Other Riddick dresses on display include only worn by Anna Mary Riddick –with a 14-inch waist.

In addition to Riddick family displays, the house also holds exhibits about Suffolk native and two-time governor of Virginia, Mills Godwin, and a popular Civil War collection.

King smiled as he remembered a man, a bit disheveled, stopping by Riddicks Folly for a look around. King struck up a conversation with him only to discover that the gentleman he guessed might have been down on his luck was really a doctor who had come straight from mowing his lawn to offer his collection of Civil War weapons. That collection, combined with Civil War era pieces loaned by other collectors, launched the museum’s Civil War exhibit.

Beyond exhibits, Riddick’s Folly has a full agenda of special programs from American Girl doll parties to 19th century arts and crafts workshops, art exhibits and a gift shop. The house also serves as a repository of Riddick family archives which are currently being transcribed.

Fred Taylor, a local attorney and history buff, is President of the Friends the Folly.

“Not only is Riddick’s Folly a great architectural building,” he said. “It also tells the story of Suffolk over a few centuries as it grew from a town to a city.”

RIDDICK’S FOLLY

510 N Main St, Suffolk, VA 23434

Hours: Hours of Operation

Wednesday thru Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: (757) 934-0822

Above, A section of the Riddick’s Folly Civil War exhibit. Below, a portrait of Mary Taylor Riddick and her grandson, Henry Clay Riddick.

where am I?

In each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is.

If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift card.

So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner.

Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

suffolk scenes

Capitol Tree

Scott Simon Snelgrove Jr. signs the tree's banner while his grandson Chandler Snelgrove watches.

Charlotte Austin with her mom Rachel and sister Isabella enjoyed the bright lights on the Christmas tree Monday night.

Rachael Dickson, U.S. Forest Service representative, explains the tree rings to Rowan, Silas, Carrie and Evangeline Matsko.

Charlotte Austin with her mom Rachel and sister Isabella enjoyed the bright lights on the Christmas tree Monday night.

Rachael Dickson, U.S. Forest Service representative, explains the tree rings to Rowan, Silas, Carrie and Evangeline Matsko.

Emmy, left, and Aubry Efird sign stickers to add to the Truck’s banner with help from their mom, Haley.

The United States Capitol Christmas tree made a stop in Suffolk on its journey to Washington, D.C.

suffolk scenes

Window Painting

Lincoln Crawford

Maria Morse and Julia Winslow, students in the Talented Art class at Southwestern Elementary School paint a snowy mountain on the Peanut Store window.

Jase Sorey, a student in the Talented Art class at Southwestern Elementary School paints a snowman on the door of the Peanut Store.

Julia Ownby, a student from Southwestern Elementary talented art class, paints a tree on the Peanut store window.

Julia Winslow

Hayden Cole

Booker T. Washington Elementary School students painted the downtown area to provide holiday cheer. PHOTOS BY JEN JAQUA

Tree Illumination

suffolk scenes

Kicking of the holiday season was the Grand Illumination Ceremony at Market Park in downtown Suffolk.

Aslynn Harris

Mark Simmons and Jade Edwards

Brad Spafford and Brooke Spafford

Dannielle Sharp, Dustin Vaughan, Piper Vaughan (baby)

Evan Williams (oldest) and Avery Cartier

Mattison Askew

through the lens: Cynthia Gregory

Sparky, the betta's scales

British Soldier lichen

Lady's Thumb (redshank)

Maple leaf weighed down by water

Moss after rain

Steve and Kathy Russell, Roger Williams, Kay and Mike Gambardella, and Vickie Williams represented Suffolk on a trip to the Arctic Circle during their Alaskan vacation in September. We can check that off the bucket list.

Tonya Sinclair Swindell, local Suffolk News Herald columnist and published author of Nourishment and Encouragement: Poetry For Your Mind, Body, and Soul, is enjoying spending time at Union Point in historic New Bern, NC.

Last edition’s Where Am I?

The

FIRST HIGHWAY: The Nansemond River was Suffolk’s first highway, taking goods and travelers to all of the Chesapeake region and beyond. The Old Dominion Steamship Company made regular stops at the wharf in Suffolk in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Beyond are the wharves of the Norfolk and Southern Railroad, originally the Suffolk and Carolina. That line was built to move lumber from Nansemond County and nearby Gates County, North Carolina, to the wharf in Suffolk.

— COURTESY OF “SUFFOLK IN VINTAGE POSTCARDS,” SUFFOLK-NANSEMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY